I’ve Got A Great Idea For An App…Now What?
This is the starting point for the App Entrepreneur…if you have made it this far and come up with a good app idea then you have already accomplished what many consider to be the most important part of the process.
Now you need to find the rest of your team that will help you take this idea and turn it into a reality.
Unless you are a seasoned veteran in system design, programming and marketing then there is a very good chance that you are going to need a bit of help at some point down the road.
However the first thing you need to do is to proceed beyond the initial brainstorm and start to develop your idea, get it developed then launch and promote it on the app store.
Taking a very simple look at the process steps, they can probably be summarised as 3 key needs.
1. Develop the initial idea as thoroughly as possible and document all of your thoughts. Imagine the app in as much detail as possible and write it all down, this will become valuable as your idea starts to transform into the final design that the programmers will work to.
2. Engage a reputable and reliable app developer that can turn your detailed specification into an impressive app that is ready to be released and sold in the app store.
3. Prepare your app marketing plan including a pre-launch strategy that commences well before you go to market and a launch and ongoing marketing plan to give your app the leverage it needs to be found in the app store searches.
Taking your great concept through to a profitable launch and ongoing growth is a challenging exercise…don’t be misled on that point.
Unfortunately the simplicity of use that we encounter in mobile applications is actually the result of a thorough design, development and testing process that ensures an app meets the expectations of the intended users.
About Brad Davidson
Lessons learnt over last 20 years working across a variety of different industries provide Brad with a unique perspective on the mobile app industry.
A passion for technology was sparked by his first computer in 1985 and exposure to the BASIC programming language and followed up with formal training in system analysis and design in 1993. Brad has delivered many successful project for his clients over the years using both system and web based programming languages and he combines this experience with his love of technology and business to help mobile app creators explore their ideas.
10 responses on “I’ve Got A Great Idea For An App…Now What?”
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There are lots of people who think they have a great concept for an app – and some of them may very well have a great idea, but I have to disagree with the idea that having a good idea is half the battle. That is only the beginning. If I were to estimate, I’d say the idea is only twenty five percent of the journey, and that is assuming the idea has been well thought out.
Say you already have your idea and you take it to an developer is there anything that you should get in writing that states they won’t keep your idea for themselves and tell you it can be done? Or is it a big enough incentive that they are getting paid in the first place? Do they get a percentage of the money that comes in after the launch?
You have picked up on a critical point there Margaret and protecting an app idea is something that is a concern for many people who are developing an app for the first time. Most app development companies in Australia should be happy to provide you with a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) although it is rarely in the best interests of the developer to undertake such practices.
Another concern for developers is security risks. I read about a recent agreement which involves some of the leading mobile application platform operators may help ease company’s concerns. But businesses aren’t the only ones under pressure to figure it out. A lot of the responsibility falls on developers. I hear that Apple, Google, Microsoft, RIM, Amazon and HP brokered a deal with the California Attorney General to take a tougher position on the issue of mobile privacy.
The whole process of developing a mobile app from start to finish including the marketing of it doesn’t sound like a simple process at all. In fact, it sounds both expensive and time consuming. I will admit, I feel a bit daunted by all that you must consider. I wonder how long it takes to learn how to develop a simple kind of app. I wonder if it is as simple as say, HTML 2.0.
There is certainly a lot to be considered when developing an app Salvador. There are many books and courses that can teach you the programming side of app development and it is a bit more complex than HTML. If you have experience with HTML then you should consider HTML 5 as it is now being used to deliver an optimised websites on mobile devices and while it can’t deliver the same experience as a native app, it may provide a viable option in many cases.
I wonder if an app development company or a consultant who specializes in this field can provide some sound advice on the pros and cons and ramifications of attempting to develop a spying app. You know, those apps which you can furtively install into someone’s smart phone without their knowledge or detection, so you can monitor their phone usage and their GPS location. Such apps are at the heart of several controversial debates over legalities.
Interesting question Donna. As far as I am concerned, any reputable app development company would want to ensure that the projects they work on fall within the boundaries of the law. This is certainly our philosophy at App Consultants. Other than that, I would suggest that anyone considering developing an app that falls into a legal ‘grey area’, take the time to create a detailed brief of the app’s functionality and have this reviewed by a lawyer or solicitor to ensure that you have a clear understanding of the risks before making any investment. Having this may also help you convince a developer to work with you if they can properly assess the potential risks for their own company.
I actually have an idea for an app and I was thinking earlier today “now what how do I get it started what does it take to set it up? Who do I call to find someone that can help me by setting it up for me? I thank you for your article but do you have the names of any companies that do that? I am very new to this business.
Thanks for your feedback Peggy. At App Consultants, our goal is to help you develop the concept for your app and then find the most suitable developer to work with. We have relationships with many Australian app developers and have confidence in their ability to develop your app on time. Contact us at any time on 1300 65 45 20 to talk about how we can help.