Journey to learning how to do AND market an Android App

Hey all,

This is my first journey and I hope that it gets somewhere (I'll try and make sure that it does, at least to some extent).
Me, I have experience on Java development, so developing in Android is a bit of a jump, but not that big.

I currently plan on making a fun educational-based game where users compete between each other (well, I think it should be fun).

I have 0 knowledge on how to correctly market/monetize an android app correctly, but I'm hoping to find out on the process.

My current TODO List:

1. Integrate APP with Facebook
2. Integrate APP with my own login system
3. Add a few graphics here and there hoping to get a more beautiful APP
4. Find and add the best advertising program to the APP to display ads
5. Think about incentives for in-app monetization and see how in-app monetization programatically.

Well, I guess that points 3 and 5 will be the hardest ones, but have to stay positive!
I'm not sure the frequency with the one I will be updating this journey, but will try to update it at least once every a few days.
Hopefully it will be good for both me and other people that read it!

Thanks for reading!

 

Wish you luck ttrox !

 

Good luck! I have a friend who is pretty addicted to that type of game.

 

i have a decent skill in marketing. i hope to have an app of my own soon and be able to hijack the top positions as bestseller.

Good luck sir.

 

Dearest Opie,

Don't worry about 3 and 5 being the hardest part. JAVA and knowing how to make the damn app is what stops most, you seem to have somewhat of a handle on that tho.

The money is sitting there waiting for you to come and get it

 

Thanks!

I've personally seen so many games that look horrible/are simple and are making it big. I don't mind if I get 5% of that, that would still make me happy for a first try
Thank you!

Good luck to you as well! At least we have to try!

Thanks! I believe that every step on the whole process is a bit of a let-down - as a newbie the most. You think you've everything on your handle and then you find this thing, and that thing, and the list gets way too long.
I believe that once you've some experience on this, everything gets clearer.

Thanks for the support! I'll be trying to finish with the first two steps these 2 days!

 

Good luck on your journey mate I hope you succeed in your journey. btw did you read BigBuddy's thread on Making money with Android apps? If not then you must read it.

 

Hey, thanks! Yes, I believe I've read that thread. If it's the one I'm thinking, it specifically explained that iOS apps were better due to similarity between devices and other things. While I believe that he's right in many aspects, I have to make use of the little knowledge I have of Android.

I've just found I can't edit main post

 

I haven't left this journey just yet - I can say that point N°1 & N°2 have been finished. However, things might go a little bit slow as I have many things on my hands currently.

I decided to leave out for this experiment point N°5, as I would have to rethink a few things about the app itself and anyway I don't think I could get paid by Google anyway.

I'm currently thriving with point N°3 and also with integration between users itself, to play against each other, as I believe that would add a big bonus to the app.

After I finish both of these things, I will try and find the best app advertising program (I have thought on using incentivizez video ads for "bonus" inside the game and banners in the main menu).

 

Read Bigbuddy's thread on android app marketing. You will have a lot of info. Gud luck

 

Follow your dreams and you will get methods your way.

 

Thanks! I already read the most important parts of it and have to see which advertising network to use (I'll probably use banner and video ads).

I didn't lie when I said that I wouldn't update this thread so often really; I did know that my estimation would go a bit off as I don't have more than a few hours per day of the week and the weekend to get onto this. But I can happily say that I got most of the app in a much better shape. I've to make a few more screens and that might be it! It was quite a journey of programming to me.

I hope I will be able to share a bit more of interesting things once I can get this app on the play market. I know the thread is dissapointing so far .

To anyone reading, which ad network would you recommend for me to look into? As I said, I'll use banners and video ads in the app.

 

best of luck mate.

 

Finally after a long time I've been able to release the app!

Now I have to see how I can promote it. Does anyone know of a good platform for advertising this? I've tried with Facebook but for some reason it won't let me continue.

 

good stuff

the BigBuddy thread mentioned earlier, there is a guy in that thread that offers a FB marketing service for apps. I haven't used him myself but I've heard hes pretty effective in getting low cost app installs.

also, BassTrackerBoats who posts on this forum has an Android ranking service where they will rank your app in the Play store for specific keywords, you might want to look into that also.

Don't give up, it took you a while but you finally got it done. Now starts the next phase, getting those installs

 

Good luck guy a great idea

 

Thanks for the suggestion, I actually have seen that service, and if I'm not wrong, it was around 150$ or possibily more with facebook ads. I do not consider it's not worth it as the people who are doing it know much more of it about it than me, but I consider it's still a lot of money for this.

I'll try contacting different sites and people to promote this.

Thanks!

 

Good luck keep us posted bro

 

I'm an android developer, i can help you with whatever you want

 

Thanks! Only thing I'm needing done right now is the promotion of the app. As I figured before, developing it was probably the easiest step!