[Journey] Building an iOS & Android App Empire

[nakamura]

Update:

Looks like the update for my app (described in previous posts) really kicked in. It went from making $200 per month to now making at least $60 per day organically just through IAP.

Even the reskinned version of this app, which has 0 ratings/reviews, where I target low-difficulty keywords with low/medium search volume, gets around 40-50 downloads per day and makes $50 per day. Reskinning the app just took one day (including making screenshots, keyword research, etc.)

So right now, these two apps together (same apps, just reskinned one of them) make me $100+ per day.

However, I think there is a mistake with the ads in my app. The fill rate is extremely low. Not sure if it is on Google AdMob or if I made a mistake integrating it. Will have to check.

This is only for iOS. Making the very same app for Android is possible but will take some time. I will eventually do it next month when I have more time.

Roadmap for now:

1. Create different screenshots and run A/B tests
2. Create awesome ad sets and run Facebook/TikTok/Google Ads
3. Finding bugs or integrating mediation (AppLovin Max)
4. Reskin this app twice, targeting different keywords and niches

1 & 2 should only take a day. Will probably do it today.
Finding bugs will take some longer as I want to wait and check the AdMob performance first
Reskinning the app will also just take a day

 

[vin42]

Update:

Looks like the update for my app (described in previous posts) really kicked in. It went from making $200 per month to now making at least $60 per day organically just through IAP.

Even the reskinned version of this app, which has 0 ratings/reviews, where I target low-difficulty keywords with low/medium search volume, gets around 40-50 downloads per day and makes $50 per day. Reskinning the app just took one day (including making screenshots, keyword research, etc.)

So right now, these two apps together (same apps, just reskinned one of them) make me $100+ per day.

However, I think there is a mistake with the ads in my app. The fill rate is extremely low. Not sure if it is on Google AdMob or if I made a mistake integrating it. Will have to check.

This is only for iOS. Making the very same app for Android is possible but will take some time. I will eventually do it next month when I have more time.

Roadmap for now:

1. Create different screenshots and run A/B tests
2. Create awesome ad sets and run Facebook/TikTok/Google Ads
3. Finding bugs or integrating mediation (AppLovin Max)
4. Reskin this app twice, targeting different keywords and niches

1 & 2 should only take a day. Will probably do it today.
Finding bugs will take some longer as I want to wait and check the AdMob performance first
Reskinning the app will also just take a day

And how much are the expenses for server costs, inferencing costs, advertising costs, iap managing costs, etc.?

 

[nakamura]

And how much are the expenses for server costs, inferencing costs, advertising costs, iap managing costs, etc.?

All organic traffic so far.
No server costs (I am using a third-party API which costs me around $4-5 per month) + Firebase
IAP managing costs? Apple's 15% I guess.
Developing costs were basically $20 for the ChatGPT Pro subscription. And of course, I spent a lot of time developing and optimizing it.

There is a common misconception about the app business. People focus on unnecessary stuff, spending a lot of money on things even without knowing if their app is actually worth it or how their app will convert.

I would never spend thousands of dollars on server costs etc. WITHOUT making sure the app (UX and UI) is as optimized as it possibly can be. Also, I wouldn't invest a lot of money on servers and so on, if I wouldn't know if the app/niche/market is profitable. The same goes for the app store description and screenshots. Before I spend a shit load of money on paid ads on FB/Google, etc. I am testing 5 different screenshot sets to make sure I absolutely maximize the CTR and CR to get the lowest possible CPI. Because in the long term, it makes a huge difference if you pay $0.12 per download or $0.09.

Btw. just got another subscription.



Thats the reskinned app. Made this screenshot in the Appsflyer app. Went live on the evening of the 20th of June and a few hours later already got a subscription. Today is 22nd June and we are half day in. Will probably get a couple subscriptions more.

 

[JohnDoe333]

Update:

I added countless features to my iOS app and really made it look professional. Basically, I reverse-engineered an app that makes more than $100k per month (only with the help of ChatGPT, didn't spend a single $ on devs).

Could you please let us know what does the app do exactly? Does it write an article using credit or what? It would be great if you could throw some light on it. Thanks

 

[FreeMan228]

where can I buy your book?

 

[nakamura]

Could you please let us know what does the app do exactly? Does it write an article using credit or what? It would be great if you could throw some light on it. Thanks

Sorry mate, I wish I could, but if I would, I will put my own apps at risk. Generally speaking, it is never a good idea to publish a niche or giveaway anything related to the niche. Thousands of people read this...and many of them are so desperate to make money, they will do anything (even blackmail or other negative stuff) to get some money. Happened to me a few years ago regarding SEO and one of my websites and I just don't need this trouble again.

where can I buy your book?

The link is in my signature. If you can't find the signature under this post, go to page 1 and check the first post.

Right now I am in the process of writing an update for the eBook. Will take a few days or up to 2 weeks. In there I will describe the keyword research process, what keywords to target, and how to optimize the app to get more revenue.

 

[vin42]

What if I have a two page app ( one page the user requests for information and 2nd page the user gets the result) where the main processing/inferencing is done by the backend cloud. Will my app get approval due to less functionality / low quality issues...if yes, then how to improve the ui so that this simple functionality looks useful for it to get approved?

 

[NamelessRenegade]

Sorry mate, I wish I could, but if I would, I will put my own apps at risk. Generally speaking, it is never a good idea to publish a niche or giveaway anything related to the niche. Thousands of people read this...and many of them are so desperate to make money, they will do anything (even blackmail or other negative stuff) to get some money. Happened to me a few years ago regarding SEO and one of my websites and I just don't need this trouble again.


The link is in my signature. If you can't find the signature under this post, go to page 1 and check the first post.

Right now I am in the process of writing an update for the eBook. Will take a few days or up to 2 weeks. In there I will describe the keyword research process, what keywords to target, and how to optimize the app to get more revenue.

hello sir i bought your book from the link you given
you said you are updating the book will i get the update if i bought your book?

 

[NamelessRenegade]

I think a good way to avoid getting limited is using mediation and do it as follows:

Send Tier 3 traffic to other ad networks (Unity, FAN, Adlovin) and Tier 1 traffic (high quality traffic) to Admob.

I really believe the same guys that are mass flagging my accounts are also the ones which get my account limited. The suspension of the app and the ad mob limit was in the same week...and all the traffic was organic.

how can you send traffic to diffrent ad networks?
is those things are in our control?

 

[olivier]

Right now I am in the process of writing an update for the eBook. Will take a few days or up to 2 weeks. In there I will describe the keyword research process, what keywords to target, and how to optimize the app to get more revenue.

Can I buy the update for the Book if i dont have original book?

For Gods sake Nakamura, can you make / write / give me some additional info how to get niche ideas?
I mean step by step, holding hand and showing where to start.

Taking hand by hand to play store or Google keywords planner and starting to look around what niche is good to jump in.
And telling like: hey, look, this would be good niche, also this would be good etc..

I really need such guidance / book. I can do everything else.
Im willing to pay for serious help. No kidding.

Or just write the stuff in the book
Or just write the app idea finding in different book and sell it.
I will buy it.

I know you're busy but still.. After you find free moment.
Im not asking your niches or to reveal anything sensitive.

I wouldnt reveal myself either if I have working business.

50$/€ a day is a dream. Even 20-30€ a day or even 10$ a day would be just biggest dream to come true.
I have primary job but I need some side income to cover my real world hobby expenses. 200-300 would do just fine for beginning

 

[NamelessRenegade]

Update:

Earnings average: $100 through FAN + Unity daily since my last update. I guess with Admob I would have make way more money. Somehow the earnings for iOS are extremely low with FAN. Its not only that the fill rate is only 70%, but the ECPM is 3x less than on Admob.

With Android FAN is doing pretty well. 90% fill rate and decent ECPM (still lower than Google). And just saying: I already blocked the Tier 3 countries, so the average ECPM should actually be higher than on Admob, where I got a lot of traffic from countries like Indonesia, PH, Thailand and India. Now they are blocked! They can not access my beautiful apps and abuse them, because they are blocked. Very nasty.

Uploaded two more Android apps. One of them got published already. Google took like 7 days to review it. I didn't make any other new app so far, because I was busy updating my existing apps to FAN and Appodeal.

I was drinking a beer last night and I was thinking about what I would do differently if I would start from the beginning:

Depending on the niche of the apps I would:

Probably make two accounts. One safe account, where I only give access to countries, where people won't do unethical crap like mass reporting and another account, where I would just give access to everyone.

About monetization:

I would block Tier 3 countries from seeing ads. Yes, I would lose a few $, but it would keep my account safe.
Or even better: I would use mediation and send Tier 3 traffic to a different ad network. You can actually select the countries you want to show ads to. I would use Admob only for Tier 1 & 2 countries and a network like FAN, Unity, etc. for Tier 3.

Also, I would make sure I wouldn't buy keyword installs or any other kind of "invalid traffic" / bots and run ads. Basically, terminating ANY KIND of risk.

This would probably the best and safest way.

then how can you rank your app in crowded market if you dont buy keywords?

 

[nakamura]

What if I have a two page app ( one page the user requests for information and 2nd page the user gets the result) where the main processing/inferencing is done by the backend cloud. Will my app get approval due to less functionality / low quality issues...if yes, then how to improve the ui so that this simple functionality looks useful for it to get approved?

I think it depends on the overall niche. On Google Play you won't have problems I think. On the Apple App Store it really depends on the person who reviews the app. Generally speaking, you could add a onboarding screen, etc.

Many of the app reviewers (and also the users!) really just judge an app by its looking. If you make it look professional, they will accept the app.

hello sir i bought your book from the link you given
you said you are updating the book will i get the update if i bought your book?

Yes, of course. You will be able to download the new version.

how can you send traffic to diffrent ad networks?
is those things are in our control?

Mediation.
for example:
- ApplovinMax
- Google AdMob Mediation
- IronSource
- Appodeal

Can I buy the update for the Book if i dont have original book?

For Gods sake Nakamura, can you make / write / give me some additional info how to get niche ideas?
I mean step by step, holding hand and showing where to start.

Taking hand by hand to play store or Google keywords planner and starting to look around what niche is good to jump in.
And telling like: hey, look, this would be good niche, also this would be good etc..

I really need such guidance / book. I can do everything else.
Im willing to pay for serious help. No kidding.

Or just write the stuff in the book
Or just write the app idea finding in different book and sell it.
I will buy it.

I know you're busy but still.. After you find free moment.
Im not asking your niches or to reveal anything sensitive.

I wouldnt reveal myself either if I have working business.

50$/€ a day is a dream. Even 20-30€ a day or even 10$ a day would be just biggest dream to come true.
I have primary job but I need some side income to cover my real world hobby expenses. 200-300 would do just fine for beginning

I will soon write it and I will see what I can do, no worries.

then how can you rank your app in crowded market if you dont buy keywords?

Targeting low competitive keywords + ASO

Take a look at the screenshot below. Yesterday I already posted a screenshot of the same app. It was half day in on 22th. Just woke up and saw this:



It went from 118€ to 310€. And this is only the reskinned version of the app. As you can see: Before 20th June the app wasn't even live.

It is also quite funny that the reskinned new version of the app (no ratings, reviews, no external marketing done) gets almost more downloads than the original app.

So my next plan is to reskin the app even further. Targeting different keywords and monetizing it as much as possible.

 

[NamelessRenegade]

thanks man
god is giving you back bcz you help lots of people here so you are getting what you gave
keep it up

 

[nakamura]

thanks man
god is giving you back bcz you help lots of people here so you are getting what you gave
keep it up

Thanks, I appreciate it

 

[olivier]

What you use currently to make apps?
Flutter? React Native ? What else?
You use VSCode?

I have read that React Native is alot faster than Flutter.

I assume you dont use Android studio.

You currrently making and selling only IPhone apps?
You dont work with play store anymore?

How many apps currently you have?
If you dont count same reskinned apps?

Reskinning you do means also changing layout a bit yes?
Not only changing colors?

You are using only your own code (templates) you have developed?
Not using any template from codecanyon or whatever?

They are pretty often outdated and not working.

When you started using Appsflyer?
Is it neccesary when starting or only when you start scaling and have 10-20 apps published?
I checked its only for companies.
You have your own company and registered using that?


What you think: about this:

the keyword(s) for specific thing (app keywords) in Google keyword planner are like this:
Monthly searches 1K – 10K. Competition: Low.

Also the Top of page bid is very very low. Like 1-2 cents.
Btw: i have seen competitor ad on play store. He is the only one. He keeps his app as first in search result

Is this good niche/keywords to target?

What about: 100 – 1K monthly?

Thanks

 

[nakamura]

What you use currently to make apps?
Flutter? React Native ? What else?
You use VSCode?

I have read that React Native is alot faster than Flutter.

I assume you dont use Android studio.

You currrently making and selling only IPhone apps?
You dont work with play store anymore?

How many apps currently you have?
If you dont count same reskinned apps?

Reskinning you do means also changing layout a bit yes?
Not only changing colors?

You are using only your own code (templates) you have developed?
Not using any template from codecanyon or whatever?

They are pretty often outdated and not working.

When you started using Appsflyer?
Is it neccesary when starting or only when you start scaling and have 10-20 apps published?
I checked its only for companies.
You have your own company and registered using that?


What you think: about this:

the keyword(s) for specific thing (app keywords) in Google keyword planner are like this:
Monthly searches 1K – 10K. Competition: Low.

Also the Top of page bid is very very low. Like 1-2 cents.
Btw: i have seen competitor ad on play store. He is the only one. He keeps his app as first in search result

Is this good niche/keywords to target?

What about: 100 – 1K monthly?

Thanks

Wow, so many questions. Most of them are answered in this thread already or also answered in my ebook.

I am trying to make it short: Mostly I am using Flutter and Swift. Currently have around 20-30 apps across all stores including Samsung Galaxy, Huawei App Gallery, Amazon and so on. Some are based on a template, some are developed by myself entirely.

I wouldn't rely on Google Keyword planner that much. Their estimates are just so vague. Also, you are searching for Google search? Or Google Play? User search, products, etc. are different on Play Store than on Google Search Engine.

 

[nakamura]

Update:

Had my best day so far since I started this thread.

Total profit was $650 in a single day.
IAPs: $500
Ads: $150

Since I updated my app on 21st June it brought me $1.3. The reskinned version of this app brought me $750. All organically.

I will reskin this app two more times in the next few days.

Also, right now I am in the process to create ads. Will use Apple Search Ads, Google Ads, TikTok, and Meta.

 

[olivier]

How many different apps in general you have?
I mean unique apps. Not reskinned.

How many niches you work in?
Some niches performing better than others?
If we look your earnings, seems like you found goldmine?!

I saw you told that you reverse engineered app that makes 100k.
Is this your success story also or how that app performs atm?

 

[nakamura]

How many different apps in general you have?
I mean unique apps. Not reskinned.

How many niches you work in?
Some niches performing better than others?
If we look your earnings, seems like you found goldmine?!

I saw you told that you reverse engineered app that makes 100k.
Is this your success story also or how that app performs atm?

I already answered the question 20-30 apps in different app stores. Of course, some niches perform better than others. Ultimately, it depends on the app. I work in a few different niches.

I don't necessarily think I found a gold mine. I had the very same app for 7 months and it only brought me a little bit of revenue. The only difference is I updated the app, added certain features, and most importantly: optimized it for revenue. How I did this and so on, I will explain in my updated ebook soon.

The app is not 100% reverse-engineered. I simply reverse-engineered some of the features of other apps. It's really nothing special. Same as YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, etc. took features from Snapchat and TikTok.

What do you mean by "is this your success story"? I have been earning $100-150 for more than a year already with many other apps.

Btw. you are asking so many questions. The best thing you can do is just to get started.

 

[Mankar Camoran]

Update:

Had my best day so far since I started this thread.

Total profit was $650 in a single day.
IAPs: $500
Ads: $150

Since I updated my app on 21st June it brought me $1.3. The reskinned version of this app brought me $750. All organically.

I will reskin this app two more times in the next few days.

Also, right now I am in the process to create ads. Will use Apple Search Ads, Google Ads, TikTok, and Meta.

hi , isnt reskining the same app in app store bannd ? ,btw you are a legend , thank you for this thread its crazy