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Making a living as an
independent mobile developer


                Minh Tran
     Principal developer at TranCreative LLC
About me
• K37 Tin mềm ĐHBK Hà Nội
• Started developing for WM as a hobby since
  2002
• Took 10 years to realize working for big
  companies brings neither fun nor money
• Having apps for iOS, Android, WP, WM,
  WebOS, Bada, Mac, PC, all developed by self
• Made first M from selling mobile apps
Typical indie mobile app developer
• Develops by themselves for end users
• Has no major upfront investments
• Depends on income from selling apps
Is it possible
to make a living by selling apps?
Easily, if you…
• Have a working wife, or
• Stay home with parents




     If not, don’t quit your full time job yet,
                    let’s see…
Up front cost
• Hardware – Macbook and a couple of devices
  – $2000 or more
• Registration for a membership program
  – $99/year
• Time to learn and to build first app
  – Priceless
                                         © MasterCard
Which kind of apps to develop?
•   High quality apps targeting a lot of users
•   Niche apps for a vertical market
•   Custom apps for clients
•   Brand new type of apps
    that never exists before
    (possible?)
Which mobile platform?
•   iOS – Strongly recommended
•   Android – Recommended
•   Windows Phone – Good to have
•   Black Berry – Huh?
•   bada – What!
•   …
How to make a good app?
• Passion / Eat your own dog food
• Attention to details
• Good UI – Less things
  on screen
• Correct English
• Sexy graphics
DIY vs. Hire
• Are you good at it?
• Do you have time?
• Cost effective?

• Typical costs for copy writing $50-100/page,
  icon designing: $300-$500/icon
• Good contractors are expensive but OK
  contractors can be available at very low rate
How to make money
• Traditional paid apps
• In-app purchase
• Free apps with advertisements
  (iAd, AdMob…)
• Cross sell with other products
• OEM contracts
• Custom apps
How to launch/promote an app?
• Hire professional for marketing copy writing
• Time the first launch
• Prepare media way before launch/update
• Publish screencast videos (YouTube)
• Create buzz around products - just talks about
  it everywhere - Twitter/Facebook/blogs
• Buy ads/professional promotion
Build a long term business
• Product update cycles
     updates don’t bring revenue, but needed
• Customer support/retain
     really not that bad (unless the app is bad)
• Think ahead of ways to sell to existing users
• Build a fan base, make
  users do marketing
  works for you
Other tips/recommendations
•   Look for solutions in open source projects
•   Solve a popular problem with a unique UI
•   Start small
•   KISS
•   First release is very important
•   Don’t be put off by existing
    products
What is my chance of making $
• Top 200 iOS app in a category: 100s copies/day
• Top 200 iOS app in entire store: 1000s copies/day
• Top 10 iOS app in entire store: 10000s
  copies/days
• iAds/Ad Mobs: eCPM ~ $2.00

 you need at least one app in
top 200 of a categories or 100
thousand impressions/day to
make a good living
It’s not easy, why bother?
• Working for self feels good + Freedom
• Able to do a lot of things and learn a lot of
  skills
• Successful apps have very
• long tails to live off
• Have a chance to make
• big money
When should I quit my full time job?
• Have a successful app that is bring in 4x your
  day job
• Need to find more time for both jobs
• Have a solid idea to stay sane working alone
  most of the time
Questions & Answers

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Making a living

  • 1. Making a living as an independent mobile developer Minh Tran Principal developer at TranCreative LLC
  • 2. About me • K37 Tin mềm ĐHBK Hà Nội • Started developing for WM as a hobby since 2002 • Took 10 years to realize working for big companies brings neither fun nor money • Having apps for iOS, Android, WP, WM, WebOS, Bada, Mac, PC, all developed by self • Made first M from selling mobile apps
  • 3. Typical indie mobile app developer • Develops by themselves for end users • Has no major upfront investments • Depends on income from selling apps
  • 4. Is it possible to make a living by selling apps?
  • 5. Easily, if you… • Have a working wife, or • Stay home with parents If not, don’t quit your full time job yet, let’s see…
  • 6. Up front cost • Hardware – Macbook and a couple of devices – $2000 or more • Registration for a membership program – $99/year • Time to learn and to build first app – Priceless © MasterCard
  • 7. Which kind of apps to develop? • High quality apps targeting a lot of users • Niche apps for a vertical market • Custom apps for clients • Brand new type of apps that never exists before (possible?)
  • 8. Which mobile platform? • iOS – Strongly recommended • Android – Recommended • Windows Phone – Good to have • Black Berry – Huh? • bada – What! • …
  • 9. How to make a good app? • Passion / Eat your own dog food • Attention to details • Good UI – Less things on screen • Correct English • Sexy graphics
  • 10. DIY vs. Hire • Are you good at it? • Do you have time? • Cost effective? • Typical costs for copy writing $50-100/page, icon designing: $300-$500/icon • Good contractors are expensive but OK contractors can be available at very low rate
  • 11. How to make money • Traditional paid apps • In-app purchase • Free apps with advertisements (iAd, AdMob…) • Cross sell with other products • OEM contracts • Custom apps
  • 12. How to launch/promote an app? • Hire professional for marketing copy writing • Time the first launch • Prepare media way before launch/update • Publish screencast videos (YouTube) • Create buzz around products - just talks about it everywhere - Twitter/Facebook/blogs • Buy ads/professional promotion
  • 13. Build a long term business • Product update cycles updates don’t bring revenue, but needed • Customer support/retain really not that bad (unless the app is bad) • Think ahead of ways to sell to existing users • Build a fan base, make users do marketing works for you
  • 14. Other tips/recommendations • Look for solutions in open source projects • Solve a popular problem with a unique UI • Start small • KISS • First release is very important • Don’t be put off by existing products
  • 15. What is my chance of making $ • Top 200 iOS app in a category: 100s copies/day • Top 200 iOS app in entire store: 1000s copies/day • Top 10 iOS app in entire store: 10000s copies/days • iAds/Ad Mobs: eCPM ~ $2.00  you need at least one app in top 200 of a categories or 100 thousand impressions/day to make a good living
  • 16. It’s not easy, why bother? • Working for self feels good + Freedom • Able to do a lot of things and learn a lot of skills • Successful apps have very • long tails to live off • Have a chance to make • big money
  • 17. When should I quit my full time job? • Have a successful app that is bring in 4x your day job • Need to find more time for both jobs • Have a solid idea to stay sane working alone most of the time