[Journey] Building an iOS & Android App Empire

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.

Good luck. Keep us posted.

So not knocking your skill set...

IF you started in FEB are you planning on starting out with baby steps? So starting out with basic apps, improving or changing what's out there no currently and then scale to more complex things as your knowledge and skill level improve?

OR

Are you just going to jump straight into the deep?

I assume its scaling up along the way but wasn't sure.. What are you doing on the visual side of things you got that covered as well or are you going to use resources or hope to partner up with people on some apps or hire out for the skill you need? If you thought that far ahead - I'm just interested really more than bashing / picking holes

good luck with it, we already had contact. We can continue to exchange information, I will follow it.

t2van said:

So not knocking your skill set...

IF you started in FEB are you planning on starting out with baby steps? So starting out with basic apps, improving or changing what's out there no currently and then scale to more complex things as your knowledge and skill level improve?

OR

Are you just going to jump straight into the deep?

I assume its scaling up along the way but wasn't sure.. What are you doing on the visual side of things you got that covered as well or are you going to use resources or hope to partner up with people on some apps or hire out for the skill you need? If you thought that far ahead - I'm just interested really more than bashing / picking holes

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I was building my knowledge like I was building a house. First I learned the basics and the fundament. Then I started to build the whole framework. Then I went on to build more pages, added features (sharing, rating, firebase, Apple/Google Sign In, etc.).

If I really need help or need some bugs fixed that I can't handle by myself, I will hire someone on Upwork.

It also depends on how complex the app is going to be. I try to publish the best possible version first. I don't want to constantly change the whole app with new updates. I just want to update the apps here and then to add new features or content if necessary.

Selo53 said:

good luck with it, we already had contact. We can continue to exchange information, I will follow it.

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Thanks a lot mate

did you published apps before to the stores?

mnrfas said:

did you published apps before to the stores?

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Yes, I did, so I could already make some experiences and earn some money.

nakamura said:

Yes, I did, so I could already make some experiences and earn some money.

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good.. if you got time, i'm interested in the process of publishing to the IOS app store.. i heard its a lot more complicated than the play store.
thx

mnrfas said:

good.. if you got time, i'm interested in the process of publishing to the IOS app store.. i heard its a lot more complicated than the play store.
thx

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They have a very high standard, means they are very picky which app they are going to allow. Also, need MacOS (Xcode) to upload the apps to the store. The developer account is $99 per year as far as I remember.

Lesson 1: Don't give Google a reason to suspend your Admob or Apps - Zero Tolerance Policy

Almost finished my first Android app. Now I just need to wait until Google/Admob sends the verification letter to my address. Last time it took around 5 days, so I guess I will receive the letter someday within next week.

(TL;DR below)

Before I had another Admob account, but Google suspended my Adsense (which had basically NO earnings!) and therefore they also suspended Admob automatically. This was quite weird, because they suspended my Adsense account because of one domain, which used to be Blackhat, but which I didn't use for around one year. I had no Adsense earnings, I only had Admob earnings. So I really think they were just looking for a reason to suspend my whole account.

They did it just before they had to pay me around $4k and of course the money was lost then. They are fuckers, I don't trust them and no one should.

As I heard I was not the only one this happened to. End of July 2020 they suspended so many accounts.

So here is my advice for you, if you ever wanna start Admob/Adsense or making Apps for the Play Store:


Google is extremely powerful. YouTube, the Play Store, the Search Engine, Maps, Gmail, etc. basically everything belongs to them. Basically they can collect unlimited data, not only from you, but people around you as well.

Never ever give them a reason to suspended you. They have a zero tolerance policy. They are going to ban you for whatever reason they want. There is NO ONE who is regulating them. They are the judge, the lawyer, police, prosecutor, etc. all in one.

Just a few days I had this ridiculous situation: I added a new feature to one of my older apps. Suddenly another random button didn't work properly. This button suddenly wanted to open another app. It was never meant to do this, but something triggered this and went wrong. However, what did Google do?

They suspended the application! They didn't send me a warning. They didn't send me an email and asked me to fix it. Somehow they figured it out and they decided to TOTALLY suspend the app. No questions, no warnings. I could have fix the problem just within ONE MINUTE by removing the button. Really. They probably knew it was very easy to fix, therefore they didn't even give me the chance to do it. So, what did I do? I sent an appeal. I told them I could have fixed it and I asked them to make the app live or at least reinstate it in a way I can edit it.

Guess what? They didn't reply.

And this is exactly what I mean. They can do whatever they want to do. You CAN NOT talk to anyone. You are getting automated emails. They don't need to reply. They have absolutely NO responsibility. Or to say it in another words: Google is a dictatorship. They are the master, they are the law, you have no rights.

Lets say I want to sue Google. I would go to my german lawyer, he would send a letter to the german office and they would probably tell me I should send this letter to the US. Bam, I would have to tens of thousands and it would probably take a long time. For a small guy, entrepreneur or dev, it is absolutely not worth it.

And guess what guys: Whatever you are doing: They are going to find it out. Sooner or later. You can trick them for a short time, but once you are on their radar, they are going after you and simply press the "suspend" button.


TL;DR

Google is getting smarter and smarter to recognize blackhat techniques. Sooner or later they are going to find out and they will suspend you. You won't have any chance to get your app or account back. Basically, it is a lifetime ban. Don't let this happen. If you have your first Admob/Adsense account right now, don't do Blackhat stuff on it. It is not worth it. Use other ad networks like PropellerAds for Blackhat stuff.

They have a zero tolerance policy. If they think you are violating their policy, they will block/suspend you without any questions or warning. You can send as many appeals or threaten them with a lawyer, they are not going to rethink their decision.

Google is in a position of power. The Play Store belongs to them. Adsense/Admob belongs to them. The Search Engine belongs to them. They have access to almost every Android phone.

I hope this will help some guys who are starting out. When I started Admob/making apps I thought "oh well, I will make apps, advertise them with Admob and then lets see", but nope, they are strict and they unpredictable. In other words: You are their bitch...they don't take prisoners....they will not use vaseline before f*cking you...no no, they are going to use bird grit...and you don't know when, how or where, but it is going to happen and boy it will hurt

Good luck with your thing man! How can I find someone that can develop an easy to develop app for me?
I tried to find someone here but they're all time wasters and my thing is a really easy job to do.

Thanks

AndreiDoesMarketing said:

Good luck with your thing man! How can I find someone that can develop an easy to develop app for me?
I tried to find someone here but they're all time wasters and my thing is a really easy job to do.

Thanks

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Try Upwork, lots of talented fellas there

Good luck, this is such an interesting and nice project
Why dont use flutter for all the apps?

nakamura said:

Try Upwork, lots of talented fellas there

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Thanks man
Can you recommend someone.?

skule said:

Good luck, this is such an interesting and nice project
Why dont use flutter for all the apps?

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I am still struggling with this coding language a bit, even tho its pretty cool. Another problem I had was: Apple Store wouldn't accept the app, because they said "there were not enough native Apple features". Even tho I implemented some. I am not really sure what they expected.

Flutter is definitely nice and smooth, really high quality and modern as well. I should spend more time to study it.

AndreiDoesMarketing said:

Thanks man
Can you recommend someone.?

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I only used it twice for fixing something, not sure about making a whole new app. I will PM you a name.

Great.. All the best..

Good that you have opened this thread. As you know, I've been working on my app for 1 year and have invested a few Euros. But i don't have an admob yet, i bought some ratings, so i already used the blackhat method, which was noticed immediately after your statements and that would be fatal. All my efforts and the money I invested would be gone. Which provider would you advise me? PropellerAds?

Interesting, I saw you commenting about wanting to get into this again. I'm playing around with apps (and PC games *cough Steam *cough*) for fun on the side. I have to say, so far, SEO is a lot easier/better than Apps/ASO, but then again I'm no pro on Apps, ASO and paid marketing for it. It was actually easier to rank with ASO vs SEO though, their "sandbox" is about 3 weeks (according to my tests targeting very easy keywords) VS Googles 3-6 months.

Will be testing some Google Display/YouTube ads soon with apps.

Take a look at r/shittymobileads for paid ad inspiration (see what Gardenscapes/Lilys Garden etc are doing. Genius. Match-3 with "visual stories" combined. Ads are out of this world.)

Wish you luck, will follow this journey closely.

Stackz said:

Interesting, I saw you commenting about wanting to get into this again. I'm playing around with apps (and PC games *cough Steam *cough*) for fun on the side. I have to say, so far, SEO is a lot easier/better than Apps/ASO, but then again I'm no pro on Apps, ASO and paid marketing for it. It was actually easier to rank with ASO vs SEO though, their "sandbox" is about 3 weeks (according to my tests targeting very easy keywords) VS Googles 3-6 months.

Will be testing some Google Display/YouTube ads soon with apps.

Take a look at r/shittymobileads for paid ad inspiration (see what Gardenscapes/Lilys Garden etc are doing. Genius. Match-3 with "visual stories" combined. Ads are out of this world.)

Wish you luck, will follow this journey closely.

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Awesome, thanks for the recommendation. I spent hours reading through study cases and so on. Its really interesting, especially when it comes to mobile games. There are so many things to consider to make a decent game while optimizing ad earnings.

Selo53 said:

Good that you have opened this thread. As you know, I've been working on my app for 1 year and have invested a few Euros. But i don't have an admob yet, i bought some ratings, so i already used the blackhat method, which was noticed immediately after your statements and that would be fatal. All my efforts and the money I invested would be gone. Which provider would you advise me? PropellerAds?

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I would use mediation, for example Appodeal. It combines many ad networks so you will get a high matchrate (amount of ads being shown). Within Appodeal you can use many different ad networks.