This document outlines David Adkin's experience building and selling 12 no-code apps in 12 weeks. It discusses how to find clients for no-code app projects, how to estimate the time and price to build an app, designing the app features and database, developing the minimum viable product (MVP) in iterations, and tasks for publishing and launching the app. The key recommendations are to clearly define the app features and scope of work, set proper expectations on no-code limitations, develop the app incrementally with testing, and plan for beta testing, launch, and future versions with the client.

1. I BUILT & SOLD
12 NO-CODE APPS
IN 12 WEEKS
Here’s Everything I Learned

2. David Adkin
Hey No-Coders!
Co-founder of Adalo
@david_adkin

3. Agenda
1 Intro
5 Minutes
2 How to Sell No-Code Apps
15 Minutes
3 Selling Exercise
15 Minutes
4 How to Build No-Code Apps
10 Minutes
5 Building Exercise
10 Minutes
6 Top 5 Must-Dos & Wrap-up
5 Minutes

4. My Story
Architecture UX Designer Entrepreneur
2007 - 2013 2012 - 2018 2018 - Today

5. 12 Apps in 12 Weeks!
BuzzerBeater
Book local barbers now
PeriDeals
Find perishable deals
Tavolo
Dining made easy
Beyond Boundaries
Track progress in program
Entrees By Laura
Find perishable deals
Tavolo - Restaurant
Dining made easy
DevMarket
Buy dev projects
Second Street
Internal feedback app
CITCOR
Cannabis training tracker
Lifetime Performance
High end workout app
LucasPye BPT
Drug tracker
TCR
Doctor chat app for Africa

6. Websites vs Apps
No Code Conf Site Twitter

7. Websites vs Apps
Twitter No Code Conf

8. The Times They Are a-Changin'

10. But it’s a lot more complicated…

11. Selling No-Code Apps

12. The Perfect Client
It matters even more for no-code apps.

13. Client Assessment
Tech Experience Their App’s Chance at Success
Go With the Flow Level of Commitment

14. Tech Experience
They can explain their app idea
They understand the concept of an MVP
They can barely even use an app
They don’t believe in the idea of an MVP
Able to use the no-code tool

15. Their App’s Chance at Success
They have an existing audience
There’s a plan for their app to make $
They don’t really have a defined idea
There’s no business value
Possible to make with a no-code tool

16. Go With The Flow
Personal connection
They have a fun attitude
Uncomfortable with uncertainty
They need to have ever last detail figured
out before they want to commit to the project

17. Commitment
They have a team
(If startup) they’ve taken steps to make the
business real
Change their ideas all the time
Too busy to commit
Don’t follow through

18. “All Hat and No Cattle”

19. Finding Clients
Social Media Content Marketing Freelancer Groups
The Traditional Ways Freelancers Find Clients…

20. Finding Clients
What’s New For No-Code App Builders?
New Kid on the Block Existing Clients Local Advantage

21. Finding Clients
Startups
Go to Local Startup Events
Talk with Incubators & Accelerators
Bid on sites like Upwork
Existing Business
What are they doing with spreadsheets?
Always be thinking about apps.
Rinse & repeat.

22. First Meeting(s)
What’s their app idea?
Pre-Meeting
Is it worth your time?
Do research on their space.

23. First Meeting(s)
Talk about every possible feature
Features Discussion
Set no-code expectations
Discuss native vs web app
(narrow down later)

24. First Meeting(s)
Try to figure out their budget
Initial Pricing & Timeline
Explain app complexities
Give them a general range

25. What pages? Home? Pricing? Team?
Website Features
Blog?
Ecommerce?

26. Do they need multiple apps for the different users?
App Features
Web app or mobile app? Push notifications?
Payments? Marketplace? Digital goods?
Chat?
Booking or sending requests?
Social media type features? Following?
Browsing? Images? Video? Audio?
Integration with external data sources?

27. Red Flag Features!
AR/VR
Algorithmic Feeds
Complex Computations
Mobile Games
A.I.
Video Tracking

28. Estimating the Time & Price
Login, Signup, Create Profile
Browse Classes
Book and Bid Appointments
App Version 1
Chat with Teachers
Weeks 1 to 3
Reviews/Teacher Ratings
Admin Notification Center
Promo Coupon Code
App Version 2 Weeks 4 to 5
Wanted in V1 But Moved to V2
Did a Test to Confirm Possible
Accurate Estimation is Key

29. Estimate Hours and Multiply
Coming Up with a Price
40 hours * $50/hr = $2k
Normally between $2k - $10k
Charge less when you have no
previous apps built to grow your
portfolio
Make sure to talk about payment
works for more features after
you’re done!

30. Making the Sale
Show Them Their Future!
Make a quick version of a portion of it.
It’s your secret weapon.
But don’t spend too much time… it’s risky.

31. Making the Sale
Have a PSA & SOW!
Get a Professional Service Agreement Template
A clearly defined Scope of Work is critical.
An email is better than nothing!

32. Scope Creep is Real!

33. Building No-Code Apps

34. Designing the App
Login, Signup, Create Profile
Browse Classes
Book Classes
App Version 1 Features
Create Classes
Overall Navigation & Organization First

35. 3 Overall Types of Screens
List Screen Details Screen Add/Edit Screen

36. Designing the Database New!!
Classes
Class Name
Class Image
Class Teacher
Class Proficiency
Class Description
Class Notes

37. Designing the Database New!!
Email
Users
Password
Profile Picture
Name
Classes
Image
Description
Requested Date
Requests
Status
Video Meeting Link
Proficiency
Type
Person Who Made Request
Requested Class
Teacher
What are all of the data collections?

38. Designing the Database New!!
Email
Users
Password
Profile Picture
Name
Classes
Image
Description
Requested Date
Requests
Status
Video Meeting Link
Proficiency
Type
Person Who Made Request
Requested Class
Teacher (R)
(R)
(R)
Find the Relationships

39. Developing the MVP
Build Feature 1 Test Feature 1 Build Feature 2 Test Feature 2 Build Feature 3
(Just like an actual tech company and dev team would do!)

40. If You Don’t…

41. Publishing Tasks
Setup Legal Business
Apply for DUNS number
Apple Developer account
Android Developer account
Website
Privacy Policy
Text descriptions for app stores
Screenshots for app stores

42. Launching
Coach Teammate Cheerleader
3 Roles for You to Play

43. Scope Creep is Real!

44. Timeline
First Meeting(s)
Days 1 - 7
Making the Sale
Days 7 - 14*
*Could be a lot longer. Sometime it stalls at this point and they take a long time to commit.
Designing the App
Days 14 - 21
Developing the MVP
Days 21 - 36
Testing & Publishing
Days 36 - 42
Launching
Days 42 - 48

45. Top 5 Must-Dos & Wrap-up

46. Make sure they’re on board with the concept
of an MVP.
1#

47. Make sure you figure out the list of features
before you make the sale.
(& you have that in a PSA!)
2#

48. Make sure you understand the limits of the
no-code tool you’re using.
3#

49. Make sure you build it feature by feature
(while testing along the way).
4#

50. Make sure you work with them on a beta,
launch, and future iterations plan.
5#

51. Thanks!
(If you’re interested in trying out Adalo let’s chat!)