After all, that’s the whole point of this, right?
But if you rush through the development process, it could end up costing you more money in the long run.
You don’t want to cut corners.
However, being too much of a perfectionist can stretch the development stages too long, which can bleed your pockets dry.
That’s definitely not something you want either.
So it’s important to find a middle ground between those two ends of the spectrum.
A word of warning – while you’re mileage may vary, there are always ways that you can gauge how long it will take to build your app before it launches.
I’ll go over the factors that impact your development timeline.
As an industry expert who has lots of experience building apps, I’ve narrowed down the most important elements that you need to consider to plan a realistic timetable.
After you read through this guide, you’ll have a much better idea of how long it will take to build your app.
If you’re trying to improve your existing company, you’ll need to crunch some numbers to figure out if it’s worth it to build a mobile app for your business.
Once the app development process is completed, you’ve got to make a crucial decision before you make it available on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Are you going to charge users to download it? Or will you make a free app?
One of the reasons why so many people decide to charge for downloads is because they don’t know any other way to generate money for the app.
After spending so much money on development, they think the only way to get a return on the large investment is by charging a fee per download.
This is a common misconception.
Free apps can generate real money.
That’s right.
You’ve just got to make sure you take a smart approach to this strategy.
There are lots of big players out there who are making lots of money. You can achieve this similar success as well if you follow a few very important monetization strategies.
Understand the users
Understand the competition
In-app purchases and advertisements
The art of subtlety
So if you’re up in the air about whether or not offer your app for free, I’d say that free is definitely your best option.
All you need to do is follow these tips, which I’ll outline in greater detail as we continue.
Mobile users are not used to paying for their apps.
So it’s unlikely they’ll make an exception for yours.
I’m sure there’s something similar that’s available on the market, so they could just get it for free somewhere else.
So your best choice is to offer or it without charging anything. Then try to get as many free app downloads as possible and look to other options for revenue streams.
As an industry expert who has been through this before, I can tell you from personal experience that it works.
This guide will teach you everything you need to know about how free apps make money and how to have success with a free app.
Whether you’re creating an app from scratch or launching one for your existing company, the first step is figuring out how you’re going to develop it.
You’ve got a few options to consider.
You can learn how to become a mobile app developer on your own, but that’s not necessarily realistic for everyone.
Do you know how to write code for apps?
I’m willing to bet that’s not part of your current skillset.
Don’t get me wrong – it’s not impossible to learn how to code.
But do you really have the time for that?
If you’re currently running a business, I’m sure that takes enough time out of your day as it is. I don’t want to discourage you from learning a new programming languages for software development, but I’m just trying to be realistic. As an expert in this industry, I know how much time and effort it takes to learn how to code.
My experience has taught me that the first app someone builds after learning to code isn’t going to be flawless.
If your app has bugs, glitches, or other problems it can increase the chances of user abandonment.
You don’t want to fall into that category.
So now that we’ve ruled learning to code out of the equation, I’ll give you the most reasonable option. Hire an app developer.
If you start to shop around, you’ll learn that there are so many different options and price ranges.
It’s overwhelming.
You may be tempted to just go with the cheapest option, but you don’t want to sacrifice on the quality.
On the flip side, you don’t want to necessarily pick the most expensive choice.
You’ll quickly realize that the priciest developers can cost upward of $1 million.
So, now you’re asking yourself – how much should hiring an app developer actually cost?
It’s a fair question.
While I can’t give you an exact number, I tell you what to look out for to help narrow your choices.
Here’s everything you need to know before you get started.
So if you launch on the wrong platform, you could be neglecting your primary target audience.
If only there were a solution that didn’t force you to choose.
Spoiler alert – there is.
But we’ll get to that later.
For now, we’ll operate under the assumption that you’re building a native app.
In this case, you’ll have to pick between Apple and Android. But iOS and Android app development are very different.
Here’s why.
The code for native apps doesn’t work on both platforms.
If you want to have an app that’s available in both stores, you’ll need to develop two different ones from scratch in order to meet the requirements for each operations system.
It’s a long and expensive process.
Trust me, I know from experience.
But with experience also comes knowledge.
I’m here to share expertise with you so that you can make an informed decision before you dive head first into the wrong operating system.
I’ll even show you a way that allows you to launch on both platforms simultaneously.
Here’s what you need to know.
First, I’ll break down all of the factors that you need to consider before you finalize a decision between iOS and Android apps.
Feature sets
The features are related to the basic functions of your app.
What exactly is the purpose of your app?
The answer to this question will depend on the code that gets written for development.
You’re going to get less money per purchase, but that’s spread over way more people.
Android users dominate the market share.
I’ll show you some more specific numbers when we talk about the different types of people using your app in a little bit.
The advantage of releasing your app for free on the Android platform is that you’ll be able to get more downloads.
But your users may not be as engaged since they’re not investing anything into the download.
So the key to this strategy is coming up with a way to get money from people who use the app the most.
Charge for app upgrades and premium services to enhance their experience.
Release cycles
Here’s something that developers don’t always think about right away when they’re trying to figure out which platform is better for their business.
You’ve got to consider which software version your users are using within their respective platforms.
Obviously, your app needs to be written in code that’s compatible for with the most up to date software versions.
But there’s a major difference between Apple and Android devices here.
Apple
The majority of Apple users are running their device on the most current version.
In fact,95% of Apple users have one of the two latest operating systems installed on their devices.
This makes programming and development easier because you can estimate what your app is going to be able to do.
You’ll just need to be prepared to come up with more updates to optimize the user experience based on the software they’re using.
But for the most part, you won’t need to worry about software from a few years ago.
Android
Android users are not all up to date on the most current operating platform.
Since these users are all over the place, you might have to develop for older versions that are out of date
Oreo and Nougat are the two most recent versions of the Android software.
Less than 20% of users are operating on these systems.
This makes your development process more complicated since you have to accommodate such a wide range of versions.
Tablet usages
When people think about building mobile applications, they immediately think of cell phones.
But you’ve got to take tablets into consideration as well.
If you’ve got a minimum of a few hundred thousand dollars to spare and up to a year of time to invest, you can probably build two native apps at the same time.
But for everyone else out there you’ll have to choose between Apple, Android, or the third (and probably most reasonable) option.
When to develop for Apple first
You’ve got to find some common connections between your customers and the behavior of Apple users.
These are some valuable pieces of information that you can use to your advantage when making this decision.
Here’s something else to consider.
95% of Apple mobile users are running their devices on iOS 10 or iOS 11, which are the two latest software versions.
You want to make sure that your app is running smoothly and fully optimized at all times.
So iOS development isn’t a bad idea for your company if you have the ability to make constant updates for your app in order to keep up with Apple’s latest software requirements.
When else is the best to develop your app for Apple first?
If you have lots of time and money.
Despite everything else we’ve just covered about iOS users and how their behavior is related to your company, that’s the reality of the situation.
Developing an app for Apple is expensive.
It’s also going to take a really long time complete the process.
Once it’s built and your app finally launches, it will continue to cost you lots of money.
Regular maintenance isn’t cheap either.
Plus you’ll need to pay for third party subscriptions, server space, and other hidden expenses associated with development and maintenance.
Large corporations can afford this, but these costs aren’t reasonable for the average person.
When to develop for Android first
As we just discussed, there are definitely some circumstances where it makes sense to develop on the iOS platform first.
Well, the same holds true for Android.
While statistically speaking, Apple users may have more money and higher education, Android users just completely dominate global web traffic from mobile devices.
So the chances are higher that you can find your target market somewhere within this group.
But saying that you can’t go wrong by developing on Android first would be an overstatement.
As I said earlier, the split between Android and Apple is closer to 50/50 in the United States.
So if you have an American business and you’re building an app to enhance the customer experience, Android won’t always be the clear winner.
But here’s a scenario when it will be.
Do you plan on using push notifications to keep users engaged?
It’s a great strategy to drive sales and increase ROI.
3.48% of Android users open push notifications, while only 1.77% of push notifications get opened on Apple devices.
Android users are also more likely to opt-in to receive additional notifications.
So if this is part of your marketing strategy when it comes to targeting users after they’ve already downloaded the app, I’d lean towards starting with Android.
Here’s something else to consider when it comes to your marketing strategy.
Before you can entice users with push notifications, you’ll need to get them to download your app in the first place.
So not only will you have a larger audience to reach, but it’s cheaper to get those people to download your app as well.
But those downloads won’t necessarily translate to money, depending on your business.
Android users are less likely to make an in-app purchase than Apple users.
So that’s not good news for ecommerce apps or for those of you who plan to offer paid apps.
However, if you have a great strategy set in place for mobile ads, developing on Android first could benefit you.
That’s the leading source of revenue for the Android platform.
Due to the points that we just talked about, it’s more expensive for you to develop a long term customer relationship on Android.
But even though that cost is higher, you have a better chance of getting more long term customers, simply because there are so much more Android users out there.
Remember earlier when we talked about how Apple users stay up to date on their operating software?
Well, here’s how Google stacks up.
Less than 20%Â of Android devices are running on Nougat and Oreo, which are the two latest operating systems that were released.
You will obviously still need to make changes and improvements to your app after it launches.
But you won’t need to do this in order to keep up with new regulations based on the most recent Android operating system.
You’ll just need to make sure that your app is compatible with older versions of the Android software as well.
It’s also easier for your app to get approved on the Google Play Store.
Basically, it’s a quick process that just makes sure you’re not violating any of the policies.
The approval process is automated and mainly focuses on violations such as spyware, malware, copyright infringement, and sexual content.
It’s a much more lenient approval compared to the iOS App Store.
Similar to Apple, if you’re going to develop on Android first, you need lots of time and money.
Actually, you’ll need even more money.
The Android development process costs 30% more than Apple.
It takes a long time too.
So if you’re in a financial position where you can afford to tie up the majority of your funds in development for the next year, go ahead.
But this isn’t realistic for all startups and small businesses.
There’s a third way: hybrid app
If you don’t want to go through the trouble of having to choose between Apple or Android development, building a hybrid app is the solution.
Hybrid development allows you to develop on both operating systems at the same time.
They get built using HTML5 and JavaScript on the web.
One of the best parts of a hybrid app is that it doesn’t require any complicated coding skills.
Anyone can do it.
Since you can build these without code, it’s not necessary to hire an app developer.
This cuts down on costs tremendously.
It also significantly speeds up the process.
You won’t need to wait a year to launch your app like you would through native development.
It’s all about finding the right platform to customize your hybrid app on the web.
Now compare these numbers to the quotes you got from various app developer agencies.
There’s really no comparison.
What you pay for a month using BuildFire would barely cover an hour of work from a developer.
Cross platform apps are ideal for people who don’t want to choose between iOS and Android.
You can launch your app on both operating systems simultaneously without having to build two separate apps.
It’s also the best option for people who can’t reasonably afford native development costs and want their app available for users to download as fast as possible.
Final Thoughts on Android and iOS Development
So, which is the best operating system to build on first?
It depends.
There are certain scenarios that favor Apple, like if you’re targeting an American audience with higher education and a substantial annual income.
But there are circumstances where Android development makes more sense too.
Like if your target market is global and you’re planning to drive sales through ads instead of in-app purchases.
Both of these platforms have one thing in common. Mobile app development isn’t always easy.
It’s going to take a long time to develop your app, and it’s going to cost a ton of money.
Not everyone has unlimited time and funds.
That’s why hybrid apps are the solution.
Services like BuildFire can help you build your app without worrying about the operating system.
It’s less expensive, faster to build, and easier to maintain.
This will help you focus on the user experience and get more customers on both the iOS and Android platforms.
Will you develop on Apple, Android, or decide to build both simultaneously with hybrid development?
In order to do both of these things, you’ll need to get your app ranked on the Apple App Store.
Nobody will be able to see, find, or download your app if it’s not ranked properly.
It all comes down to search optimization.
You may be familiar with this concept if you’ve done search engine optimization (SEO) for a website.
Well it’s the same idea here, but the rules and algorithm are slightly different.
If you’re not sure where to get started, fortunately, you’ve come to the right place.
I’ve got experience building my own apps as well as apps for other people, so I’m an expert when it comes to getting ranked in the App Store.
Every time I do consulting with a company, there’s always someone in the room who doesn’t think that the search ranking is important.
Let me take a minute to address this points in case you or someone in your company feels the same way.
I tend to hear something along the lines of, “We’ve got other ways to promote our app. We can generate downloads from our website, social platforms, email, and other marketing strategies.”
While I won’t argue that those are all valid ways to promote your app, the data still suggests that your app store ranking will significantly impact downloads.
Anyone can come up with an app idea. With so many mobile applications available on the App Store and Google Play Store, it seems like everyone is putting those ideas to use.
But how many of those apps are actually making money?
Before you go through the long and often expensive process of learning how to code and developing an app, you need to sit down and come up with a plan.
Depending on which type of app you’re planning to create, the answer may vary. Different types of app categories have more success than others. The most profitable mobile apps cater to the broader mobile app market. Some of the top apps include gaming apps, dating apps, fitness apps, entertainment apps, lifestyle apps and more. These app categories generate revenue on the app stores through a wide range of methods.
First, you’ve got to segment yourself into one of two buckets.
You generate $5,000 per month, so your annual revenue is $60,000.
But if it costs you $56,000 to run and operate the app, your profit is only $4,000 for the entire year.
Don’t get me wrong, that’s better than being in the red.
But I see this all too often when I’m consulting for different companies. They get so focused in on their revenue, that they don’t realize their profits are so low.
The basic formula to determine profit is by subtracting your total costs from the total revenue.
As an industry expert, I’ll explain to you which types of apps make the most money so your company can be profitable.
You should be proud of all the hard work, effort, and money you put in while completing this process.
Now that you released your app on the Google Play Store, you can just sit back, relax, and watch your software climb the app store rankings – right?
Wrong.
If you want your app to actually make money, which I’m assuming you do, you’ll need to get more app downloads.
Don’t be discouraged if you aren’t seeing a massive surge of downloads right away.
As an expert in this space, I can give you some tips for how to get downloads fast. These tips go beyond your app title, app icon, app page, app screenshots, user reviews, and basic tools for app promotion. I’ll help you target real users that will lead to more app downloads by building a quality app.
Follow my guide, and you’ll be on your way to 1,000 downloads faster than you ever thought was possible.
Just because your app didn’t have the initial success that you thought it would, it doesn’t mean that it’s time to enter panic mode or do anything drastic.
I’ve steered you in the right direction when I explained how to get downloads on the Apple App Store, and now I’m going to do the same for the Google Play Store.
Here’s what you need to know if you want to be successful and how to increase app downloads in Google Play Store.