The Business of iPhone and iPad App Development: Making and Marketing Apps that Succeed [Paperback]

Dave Wooldridge (Author), Michael Schneider (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 25, 2011 | ISBN-10: 1430233001 | ISBN-13: 978-1430233008 | Edition: 2

The phenomenal success of the iPhone, iPad and the iPod touch has ushered in a “gold rush” for developers, but with well over 300,000 apps in the highly competitive App Store, it has become increasingly difficult for new apps to stand out in the crowd. Achieving consumer awareness and sales longevity for your iOS app requires a lot of organization and some strategic planning. Updated and expanded for iOS 4, this bestselling book will show you how to incorporate marketing and business savvy into every aspect of the design and development process, giving your app the best possible chance of succeeding in the App Store.

The Business of iPhone and iPad App Development was written by experienced developers with business backgrounds, taking you step-by-step through cost effective marketing techniques that have proven successful for professional iOS app creators—perfect for independent developers on shoestring budgets. No prior business knowledge is required. This is the book you wish you had read before you launched your first app!

What you’ll learn

• Analyze your ideas and competition, and identify your audience to evaluate sales potential.
• Protect your business and intellectual property and avoid potential legal hassles.
• Transform your iOS app into a powerful marketing tool.
• Build synergy with in-app cross-promotion and social media, and Apple’s Game Center.
• Utilize revenue-generating business models such as in-app advertising and In-App Purchase. Includes extensive coverage of the iAd framework and the Store Kit API.
• Improve usability and implement effective testing.
• Create a pre-release buzz online with Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and a dedicated website.
• Successfully navigate the App Store submission process.
• Execute a post-release marketing strategy with press releases, app reviews, promotional sales and giveaways.

Who this book is for

This book is for any developer looking to build a successful business selling iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps in Apple’s iTunes App Store. All the code examples included in this book can be downloaded from http://iphonebusinessbook.com/.

Table of Contents

1. Seeing the Big Picture in a Crowded App Store Marketplace
2. Doing Your Homework: Analyzing iOS App Ideas and Performing Competitive Research
3. Protecting Your Intellectual Property
4. Your iOS App Is Your Most Powerful Marketing Tool
5. Social Inception: Promoting Your Apps Within Apps
6. Money for Nothing: When It Pays to Be Free
7. Monetizing Free Apps with iAd and Other In-App Advertising Opportunities
8. Exploring the Freemium Model with In-App Purchase
9. Testing and Usability: Putting Your Best Foot Forward
10. Get the Party Started! Creating a Prerelease Buzz
11. Keys to the Kingdom: The App Store Submission Process
12. Increasing Awareness for Your iOS App
13. Online Resources for App Research and Marketing

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

As the founder of Electric Butterfly, Dave Wooldridge has been developing award-winning web sites and software for 15 years. When he's not creating Mac and iPhone apps, he can be found writing. Dave is the author of The Business of iPhone App Development: Making and Marketing Apps that Succeed and has written numerous articles for leading tech publications, including a monthly software marketing column for MacTech Magazine. Follow Dave on Twitter @ebutterfly.

At the beginning of 2009, Michael Schneider left Silicon Valley technology firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati to found HiveBrain Software. HiveBrain publishes a variety of applications on the iTunes App Store, the most notable of which, TouchType, peaked at #13 in the U.S. App Store. Michael continues to practice law under the name Bitwise Legal, focusing on software and interactive media clients. Notable clients include Bungie and Innerfence. Follow Michael on Twitter @hivebrain.

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Apress; 2 edition (March 25, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1430233001
• ISBN-13: 978-1430233008
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 0.9 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #124,248 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #29 in Books > Computers & Technology > Apple > Development & Programming > iOS & App Development
  • #86 in Books > Computers & Technology > Hardware > PCs

More About the Author

As the founder of Electric Butterfly, Dave Wooldridge specializes in UI design and iOS app development, and created the official iPhone app for NovelRank (available free in the iOS App Store). When he's not building Mac and iOS apps, he can be found writing. Dave is the author of "The Business of iPhone and iPad App Development" (Apress) and "The Developer Sketchbook" series, is a co-author of "Beginning iPad Development for iPhone Developers" (Apress), and has written numerous articles for leading tech publications, including a monthly software marketing column for MacTech Magazine. He has also served as an adjunct professor for New York University SCPS.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Most valuable book on my shelf April 20, 2011

By B. Hobbart

Format:Paperback

As an independent developer I came across the first edition of this book while browsing Barnes and Noble. It seemed like something I should read, although like most developers the thought of devoting time to learning about best business and marketing practices was about as exciting as washing socks. Consequently I barely looked at the book as it gathered dust on my shelf. Fortunately this updated and expanded edition came along just before I embarked on my first serious paid app development project. The first 8 pages alone made it clear to me how much more there is to developing and selling a successful iOS app than I would ever have imagined. I figured if I developed a great app and did some cursory marketing via forums, blogs etc that from there word of mouth would get the rest of the job done for me. I was wrong. WAY wrong.

This book should be considered a must-have for any iOS dev - independent or otherwise. It takes you from pre-development planning (that's right - you've already missed some opportunities if you have blindly begun development without considering some of the tips provided here) through intellectual property protection, in-app social marketing, pricing strategies, advertising etc. to app submission, release and ongoing marketing. The content of this book not only helps you to market your app but it also informs your design decisions so that your app helps to sell itself. Yes - there is additional work required beyond the coding we prefer to focus on, but it is this additional effort that enables us to take advantage of all that hard work creating our apps. Buy this book and read it before your project begins. It will open your eyes and undoubtedly help you succeed.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Outstanding! May 9, 2011

By Business Guy

Format:Paperback

This is by far the most comprehensive and detailed book available on the business aspects of iOS app development. I have been developing for the App Store since its inception and currently run one of the most successful independent development studios on the App Store. If there's one thing we've learned during our App Store journey, it's that the little decisions you make about how to market, promote, and upsell your products make a huge difference in how much success you achieve.

Dave Wooldridge and Michael Schneider do a great job distilling many of the best practices for marketing and selling iOS apps. They take the time to discuss the different options available and evaluate the pros and cons of each option. Each discussion is illustrated through screenshots from actual apps and anecdotes from the developers that made them.

This is definitely the most useful book I have on my iOS bookshelf and should be required reading for every iOS developer who is serious about making money on the App Store!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Required reading _before_ your code your app. April 21, 2011

By Mark Johnson

Format:Paperback

This is a fantastic book, required reading before you ever start developing a mobile app. It will help you think about making something that you are able to sell, and then it walks you through how to present and promote your apps. There's lots of good pragmatic coverage about the realities of making money with apps, and lots of great case studies and examples drawn from real apps.