Why All Mobile Apps Do Not Make Money?

The thing about mobile applications … there are hundreds of thousands of them – on App Store, Android Marketplace, BlackBerry App World, and more. Some of these are great and some don’t stick around long enough to see the light of day. Why do some apps click and some fall flat? Coz’ a mobile app is about so much more than getting the code together.

When people get an idea for a mobile app, they ignorantly think that’s all it takes. In truth, that’s really just the first, very small step. An idea is just the seed, after that there’s brainstorming, designing, coding (for multiple platforms or form factors), testing, testing, some more testing, marketing, and finally submission, approval and publishing. If all you have is an idea with no time or resources to invest in the necessary aftermath … don’t even bother. Without a plan, your app is as good as dead.

Many enterprise heads mistakenly believe that all their mobile app needs to do is offer the same things as their website. Well, that doesn’t give users any reason to shift over to the app, does it? Mobile apps must leverage on the USP of mobile devices – portability. Besides that, apps should remain serviceable without an internet connection if the customers’ needs are such. Apps that offer full functionality, convenience, strong implementation, user-friendly interface, and performance are the ones that get adopted, with the help of targeted marketing of course. You’ve got to hit the right notes with your target audience and support your app, even if it doesn’t see significant adoption or sales initially.

Building an application for the web is not the same as building a mobile app. Though smartphone capabilities have evolved in a big way, mobile app developers still have to work with smaller screen size, lower CPU and GPU power, smaller or no keyboards.

Some of the top-selling apps interoperate with the inherent capabilities of mobile devices – accelerometer, GPS, camera, etc. – for greater user interaction and hence, popularity. Another point to ponder? Almost all of these come with a reasonable price tag. Selling thousands for $2 beats selling a hundred for $10, right?

Identifying a niche market, discovering a solution … that’s all great. But without a strong business plan backing an idea, it’s just another fish in the ocean.

So what do you want to create, just an replica of your website on mobile or an usable & engaging mobile app?

Before jumping your guns for your mobile apps, do consider to have a small chat with Drona Mobile consultants at +91 22 6758 1740