App market areas for your mobile application development
The mobile applications industry currently undergoes dramatic growth which has never been seen before. With the present variety of mobile OSes and increased demand for apps for all these platforms, the number of mobile software developers and mobile applications development companies also rises.
Two major platforms — iOS and Android — are the leaders in the modern mobile market. Applications for iOS can only be submitted to and downloaded from the official Apple Store, while Android apps can be downloaded from several mobile app markets like Google Play (previously known as Android Market), Amazon Appstore for Android, 1Mobile, etc.
How to succeed in the mobile app development business?
Companies behind app markets have made many improvements to enhance accessibility for both developers and customers. They aim to make submitting and maintaining apps as easy as possible.
To succeed in mobile app development, it is important to build two versions of your app: one for smartphones and another for tablets. Modern users frequently purchase these types of devices. Additionally, developing your app for at least two mobile platforms, such as iOS and Android, is beneficial.
However, simply having your app available in the store is not enough to make it popular or profitable. The competition is fierce, with high-quality apps in every category, from mobile games to enterprise-oriented applications. This does not mean the mobile app market is saturated, but it does mean you need to carefully consider the market area you plan to enter.
In this article, we will analyze which areas of the app market are currently the most beneficial for starting your mobile app business.
What apps are popular among mobile users?
If you want to develop a commercially successful mobile application, it’s important to study the current data concerning the most popular and profitable apps recently sold. For example, according to the Developer Economics 2012 report, communication and social applications generated the largest profits among other apps (approximately $4,500 per month) last year. Take a look at the list of the most profitable app categories of 2012:
- Social Media and communication apps
- Fitness and Medical apps
- Maps, Navigation and LBS (Location-based service) apps
- Enterprise, Business and Productivity Tools
- Mobile games and Entertainment
- Video/music apps
- Education
- Various utilities
The best ideas for mobile app development
The development of Mobile Gaming Apps tailored for smartphones or tablet devices is still a profitable idea for building your business. In recent times, mobile gaming sector is booming and has undergone dramatic 397% growth since 2007 when there were only two major mobile games providers. Note that HTC Dream — the first commercially available phone using Android — came out in late 2008. В These days multiple providers upload their games to the app stores and users gladly download them on their phones. In fact, gaming applications are the most frequently downloaded from both the Apple and Android app stores. The main success factor in the gaming app development business is a creative idea matching users’ tastes and desires and a good team of developers behind you.
Social Media (SM) and Communication Applications
Social media like Facebook and Twitter involve a huge amount of people messaging each other, uploading photos, liking and sharing tons of content. SM are also widely used for business purposes including advertising and selling products and services, building contact networks and communicating with potential and existing customers. As we mentioned earlier, communication and SM apps were the most profitable in 2012, leaving behind other categories of mobile apps. Therefore, portable messaging apps, programs allowing to easily utilize different SM features, etc. may bring good money to their developers. It was already impossible to forget Facebook buying Instagram for $1 billion, but the Tweeter going public this autumn and the recent $3 billion Facebook’s offer turned down by Snapchat really makes one think of the potential of social media. There has to be some pie for everyone there, so why not give it a shot?
Applications Offering Problem Solutions
Problem-solving apps like education, fitness applications, travel and LBS (location-based services) programs also gained great popularity among mobile devices’ users. Busy modern people want to obtain information on the go, for example, about the location of hotels, restaurants, state institutions, etc. and they are ready to pay for small smooth tools and services helping them in everyday life. The mobile application providing users with some relevant information, e.g. sport or weight loss program guides, health and medical tips, travelling information, etc., may become very handy and rapidly sold. The number of paths to choose from here is truly countless, but staying (or at least starting) with an app for the niche you know and care about helps greatly.
Apps for the Target Audience
This idea overlaps with the previous one but focuses on targeting a specific audience within a domain of life, whether large or small. Instead of solving a particular problem, you aim to address the needs of a specific group.
It is crucial to keep your target audience in mind. People will use your app if it makes their life and work more comfortable. With creativity and some luck, your app might become a part of their daily routine.
You could develop a professional application that provides important information, tips, or data analysis for certain activities or businesses. For example, you might create an app for architects, police departments, or medical and educational institutions. Alternatively, you could build apps that support hobbies, such as creating embroidery patterns.
Success in mobile app development depends on a thorough analysis of your target audience’s needs and your ability to meet those needs.
Summing up
To make your mobile app development business successful, having great ideas and the drive to implement them is not enough. You must also conduct thorough market research. Before creating mobile software, check if similar applications are being downloaded willingly.
Sometimes, a seemingly brilliant idea might not attract customers. This could be due to poor execution, but often, it indicates that the idea itself might not be as brilliant as initially thought. Don’t be afraid to make conceptual changes and experiment during the market research and development process.
For example, you can better understand your target audience by adding a poll on your social media page or official website, or by presenting a prototype app. Implement basic marketing strategies, such as advertising your future app, showing concept screenshots, and ensuring the app has an attractive UI and design.
Regardless of which category of the mobile app market you choose to enter, remember that success relies on a deep understanding of users’ needs combined with a strong, original idea.
