Talk I gave at the BarCamp 4 of Auckland (July 2010). I talk about lessons I have learned during my facebook years. I give tips about how to start a facebook application, how to grow and retain your user base and other various Facebook strategy tips. I hope you will find it useful.

1. Tips from a retired Facebook app developer Aymeric Gaurat-Apelli

2. Who am I? French .Net developer Readify consultant in Australia Turned into an entrepreneur thanks to Facebook current project: TaskArmy

3. Why I may have a (interesting || different) point of view? I am French (let me explain ) 2 years 6 languages 15 applications 3500 dollars a day 1m users a day 10m users reached 20m page views a day

4. Why ‘retired’? Volatile market Platform dependence API continuous changes Gaming business There is a thin line between entertaining people and wasting their time

5. My mistakes Business ‘friend’ story Php story Underused emails Lost focus Cheaters Monetization/Optimization Money is a mind twister

6. Strategy tips Make a game Listen and interact Target on ‘fresh’ markets Build a community Ask for their email addresses

7. High potential apps RPG-type apps Fads Event related apps Poker app in French 

8. Game features that worked for me Level system Progress bar Competition Against yourself Against your friends Against everyone weekly Against everyone in group In-app chat Limited amount of actions

9. Watch out for cheaters! People have more time than you 0.01% of the users can ‘pollute’ everyone else Smart vs lazy design Care for the community Tough challenge

10. Launching your application Friends and family Ad networks Facebook ads

11. Facebook ads Cheap-ish Avoid US, UK, Canada, Australia Scandinavian countries are your friends The power of the “Likes” criteria Start small Genetic algorithm

12. Growing your userbase Email marketing is king User wall updates Page updates

13. Questions? http://aymeric.gaurat.net @AymericG