To App or Not to App

Mobile devices and apps are changing the way we live. It is estimated that 50% of American adults now own a smart phone and most people will download dozens of apps each year. Besides smart phones, apps are used on tablet devices like the iPad and the new generation of e-readers like the Kindle Fire and the Color Nook.

Lots of people I talk to in the helping professions want to create an app. It's exciting to think that your advice, your video, or some exciting digital tool you create, would be as close as a person's pocket or purse. When a person needs help, your app is there.

So what about you? Do you want to create a self-help app?

 Although I’m a big advocate of apps, particularly those that solve address life's everyday problems, it's important to note that creating an app is not a small endeavor. There are three main things to think about before you decide to take this plunge.

The first thing to consider is why you want to create an app.  If your idea is to make a lot of money, I would say to you “don’t quit your day job.” Very few apps make much money.  For example, a developer I know who creates health related apps, recently told me that he considers an app successful if it sells a thousand copies a year. If an app sells for three to five dollars, you can see that is not a lot of revenue considering the cost of development as well as the maintenance of the app to fix bugs or improve functionality.  

But making money isn't the only reason to create an app.  You can use an app to promote a product or service. You can use an app to collect e-mails or Facebook fans. You can use an app as a way to foster goodwill for your practice or your business. The reason you are creating the app is the first thing you have to think about, because this will be a major factor in determining the functionality.

The second consideration is of course the cost of creating an app. The cost of an app can range from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the app’s complexity. Assuming your don't have thousands of dollars to spare, one site that can help you in funding your app is www.Appbackr.com. Appbackr is the first crowdfunding marketplace for mobile apps. Developers connect with 'backrs' to help fund, market, and distribute their apps. Backrs make a profit as the app sells in retail app stores.  Some apps are in development when a person seeks money, while others are already developed. 

The third thing to keep in mind is that after you create your app, you still have to tell the world about it. Just like creating a self-help book, your app has to be found among the hundreds of thousands of other apps.  And just like a self-help book, you will have to use a variety of marketing tools, from social media to publicity, to tell the world about your great product.

If you are reading this blog, I will assume that you want to create an app in order to help others. In my next post I’ll review some of my favorite apps that have been designed to help people with various problems, and I'll talk about why they are so useful.