[Journey] Building an iOS & Android App Empire

[DeniX3]

Just went through all 40 pages which took hours. Really amazing journey there.

Wish you best of luck!

 

[Mteck]

My plan is to make apps for Android and iOS in different niches. Later on I will give it a try with mobile games. I want to provide the users with the best possible quality, also in order to get a high retention. I am not going to make easy apps like Wallpaper downloads or something, but something more useful and meaningful.

My main motivation is NOT money. It is to build something sustainable. However, there is A LOT of money to make in the mobile/mobile gaming industry, it is not a secret. Some guys would say it is saturated, but I don't believe so. I just have to be better than the competition. I am willing to go this extra mile.

About me making apps so far:

I started from scratch on February 2020. I had no coding skills and was totally overhelmed with all the knowledge, coding stuff, etc. However, I managed to get the basics and improved step by step. Always learned something new on the way. It was all about getting into this mobile app industry, testing and making experience.

So far I made and monetized around 5 apps so far. I tested the limits, how far I can go until the apps get removed, and also how far I can go with the advertising. There are so many things to consider when making apps. Also, so far I made around $5k or more with apps.

What I got:

- Marketing skills
- iOS and Android developer account
- Ad network accounts
- Knowledge about the market, what I can do and what I shouldn't do (also in regards of Google and their policies)

How will you monetize the apps?

Through ads only so far. I don't plan to implement in-app purchases at this moment.

What ad networks are you going to use?

Admob (has the best eCPM from my experience), Facebook Audience Network/FAN and for some apps Appodeal mediation.

How will you make the apps?

With Swift, Java and for some I will use Flutter.

How will you drive traffic?

Through ads, SEO, social media, in-app ads and ASO

Will you use or do any Blackhat techniques/apps?

No, everything will be whitehat. I found Google has this "zero tolerance" approach on Apps and also on Adsense/Admob. They will directly delete/suspend your account/apps without any chance of reinstating. Basically they don't give a fuck. I don't wanna give them any chance to delete or suspend my account, therefore everything is going to be legit.

Please keep in mind: I don't want to make any apps or my niches public on here. I know many guys (especially in the app business) are copying, using some blackhat techniques or trying to damage/report each other. I want to prevent this from happening.

goodluck bro, is this your first app building, or published several on the store earlier, just asking

 

[MoneyDonor]

Hi, mate, what is your plan for monitization now?

 

[AiintoGo]

Good luck with your JOURNEY

 

[Deleted member 1632651]

How much have you invested so far on your journey?

 

[Deleted member 1632651]

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR JOURNEY

 

[nakamura]

Hi, mate, what is your plan for monitization now?

In-App Purchases + Ads. Or what do you mean?

How much have you invested so far on your journey?

Most investments were the Google Play Developer accounts. Every time $25 each. Then 2x $100 Apple Developer accounts per year. Then keyword installs and ads to test the apps: In total around $2000.

 

[MoneyDonor]

In-App Purchases + Ads. Or what do you mean?

Most investments were the Google Play Developer accounts. Every time $25 each. Then 2x $100 Apple Developer accounts per year. Then keyword installs and ads to test the apps: In total around $2000.

What do you think about additional way of monetization like SDK, for example?

 

[nakamura]

What do you think about additional way of monetization like SDK, for example?

What do you mean by "like SDK"? SDK stands for software development kit.

 

[MoneyDonor]

What do you mean by "like SDK"? SDK stands for software development kit.

I represent a developer's company. To improve our services we need access to multiple IPs. For that reason we created SDK and would like to offer build it into your apps.
If you want, we can discuss details in private

 

[nakamura]

Update:

Currently testing a lot of stuff. For example, I integrated IAP into three of my iOS apps which get around 200 organic downloads each per day. Simple IAPs, just removing ads. Priced at $1.99. Wondering if people are going to make the purchase. I am literally just testing a bunch of stuff to see how it performs.

Also working on 4 different Flutter apps (so in total 6 apps, cuz it's iOS and Android).

These days I am using ChatGPT (GPT 4) to add features to the apps, but let me say this: It is much easier to use ChatGPT for Kotlin/Java and iOS (SwiftUI) apps. For Flutter there are still so many problems. The main reason is Flutter keeps improving and changing, GPT 4 can't keep up with it. And because Flutter keeps changing, many of the SDKs also keep changing. So a lot of code coming from GPT 4 is outdated and not working with the newer versions of Flutter.

Will upload the apps soon and see how it goes.

 

[yiver17]

@nakamura Do you use the same admob account for new google developer accounts (regardless of whether you already used it with google developer accounts that were terminated) or do you create a new google developer account for each google developer account?

 

[golden13]

My plan is to make apps for Android and iOS in different niches. Later on I will give it a try with mobile games. I want to provide the users with the best possible quality, also in order to get a high retention. I am not going to make easy apps like Wallpaper downloads or something, but something more useful and meaningful.

My main motivation is NOT money. It is to build something sustainable. However, there is A LOT of money to make in the mobile/mobile gaming industry, it is not a secret. Some guys would say it is saturated, but I don't believe so. I just have to be better than the competition. I am willing to go this extra mile.

About me making apps so far:

I started from scratch on February 2020. I had no coding skills and was totally overhelmed with all the knowledge, coding stuff, etc. However, I managed to get the basics and improved step by step. Always learned something new on the way. It was all about getting into this mobile app industry, testing and making experience.

So far I made and monetized around 5 apps so far. I tested the limits, how far I can go until the apps get removed, and also how far I can go with the advertising. There are so many things to consider when making apps. Also, so far I made around $5k or more with apps.

What I got:

- Marketing skills
- iOS and Android developer account
- Ad network accounts
- Knowledge about the market, what I can do and what I shouldn't do (also in regards of Google and their policies)

How will you monetize the apps?

Through ads only so far. I don't plan to implement in-app purchases at this moment.

What ad networks are you going to use?

Admob (has the best eCPM from my experience), Facebook Audience Network/FAN and for some apps Appodeal mediation.

How will you make the apps?

With Swift, Java and for some I will use Flutter.

How will you drive traffic?

Through ads, SEO, social media, in-app ads and ASO

Will you use or do any Blackhat techniques/apps?

No, everything will be whitehat. I found Google has this "zero tolerance" approach on Apps and also on Adsense/Admob. They will directly delete/suspend your account/apps without any chance of reinstating. Basically they don't give a fuck. I don't wanna give them any chance to delete or suspend my account, therefore everything is going to be legit.

Please keep in mind: I don't want to make any apps or my niches public on here. I know many guys (especially in the app business) are copying, using some blackhat techniques or trying to damage/report each other. I want to prevent this from happening.

dm me looking for a flutter developer for a quick side project test app

 

[nakamura]

@nakamura Do you use the same admob account for new google developer accounts (regardless of whether you already used it with google developer accounts that were terminated) or do you create a new google developer account for each google developer account?

old ones can be used.

dm me looking for a flutter developer for a quick side project test app

sorry mate, so busy working on my own apps and also in the process of adding content to my app ebook.

 

[ww3]

awesome, following.

 

[nakamura]

Update:

Uploaded two new apps that have already been approved by Apple and Google and are live. Surprised by Google, they only took 2 hours to publish the app. I remember during Covid sometimes it took 6-8 days. Apple took 6 hours to publish it.

Monetized these apps with three different kinds of ads: Interstitial, banner, and adaptive banners (something like MREC).

Then I updated two of my other apps and I implemented IAP (to remove all ads). No clue if people are going to make this kinda purchase. Personally, I would always be willing to spend $1-3 to remove all ads from an app that I am using quite often.

Now I am about to update another app, but this one will take a bit longer.

 

[olivier]

I want to make few apps too but I'm struggling to find ideas.

I have no problem coding etc. Been coding for very long time.

I just have no ideas what app to make.
My biggest struggle.
Digging around in play store but still stuck.

Can you give any tips where to start of?
I asked chatgpt but it keeps generating same ideas.
I ask for 20 ideas then 20 more, then more and they're basically same.

Gpt4 is better with answers but I don't have subscription atm.

You said you uploaded 2 more apps.
They're brand new or your old modified /reskinned?
If new how the heck you find ideas what app to make next?
Like: OK these 2 apps can be good I will make them.
How?

I'm like hitting wall and pulling hair with searching ideas

 

[rtushar]

following

 

[nakamura]

I want to make few apps too but I'm struggling to find ideas.

I have no problem coding etc. Been coding for very long time.

I just have no ideas what app to make.
My biggest struggle.
Digging around in play store but still stuck.

Can you give any tips where to start of?
I asked chatgpt but it keeps generating same ideas.
I ask for 20 ideas then 20 more, then more and they're basically same.

Gpt4 is better with answers but I don't have subscription atm.

You said you uploaded 2 more apps.
They're brand new or your old modified /reskinned?
If new how the heck you find ideas what app to make next?
Like: OK these 2 apps can be good I will make them.
How?

I'm like hitting wall and pulling hair with searching ideas

There are a couple of approaches to finding ideas.

General trends: Just by mouth-to-mouth propaganda what the current hype is. For example NFT, ChatGPT, etc. Basically, the sooner you jump onto the hype train, the more profit you will generate

Keyword research: Finding niches (or subniches) and keywords with high popularity and low difficulty

Rankings: Go to Google Play or App Store and see what ranks in the top 100. Then see if it is worth making it.

About the two apps I made: Last year I already developed a template myself, which is revenue-driven (rewarded ads, interstitials, etc.) with many different screens. Basically, I reskin this app to a different niche.

 

[nakamura]

Update:

I decided to change the approach for one of my apps which is generating around $200 per month with IAP (subscriptions). You might think this is low, but it is all organic. Also, the same app earns me money through ads.

I will put the focus way more on revenue.

Right now I have a soft paywall (basically a screen where it shows all the subscription plans) which shows up every time a user opens the app.

What am I going to do?

- Add more features to give the users more reasons to subscribe
- Will try a hard paywall (so users can only use the app, if they subscribe)
- Will improve the paywall design (adding FAQ, social proof, a video, animations, etc.)
- Add an onboarding screen to this app, which shows all the features
- Add a rate the app prompt right after they subscribed to the app
- Will add a 3 day free trial to the Weekly Subscription to improve the conversion rate
- Will lock most of the free content and make it available for pro users only

So the total focus will be on revenue.

At this moment users can still use the app even if they don't pay. The conversion rate for IAP is 1%. I am sure i can push it to 3-5%. Right now in the process of adding features, etc. hopefully will be done soon.