There are multiple ways of using technology to make money. In this presentation I talk about my personal views and experiences of developing mobile apps and monetizing the apps to generate revenue. What are the improvements, trips and tricks that can be used to increase the customer base and revenue. Also I give reasons why I chose developing mobile apps rather than selecting other options out there.

1. Making Money with
Technology
Kasun Kodagoda
Software Engineer | 99X Technology

2. DISCLAIMER
This presentation contains details about personal experiences, ideas
and viewpoints that are opinionated and based on experience gained
through hands-on development on the developer’s favorite platform.
The content of this presentation may differ with your ideas and
understandings. Viewer discretion is advised.

3. So you want to make money,
eh?

4. Popular Options

5. • Hard to get going
• Hard to get established
• Unpredictable
• Hard deadlines
• No continuation
- Continuation of projects
- Continuous source of income
• Cheap Pay
- Especially when starting for first time.
Why I Don’t Like Those Options?

6. Cheap Pay, But Why?

7. What I Really Want?
• Massive potential customer base
• Central place to sell out products
• Ease of start
• Predictable Income
• Established platform to sell products
• Ability to continue with my products
• Fair payment system
- Where I decide the price of the product

8. Does that Ring a Bell?
;)

9. Ad Clicking Networks…
Right? Right?
^_^

10. Nope.. These :)

11. Is Mobile Apps the
Answer?

12. 8.6billion
Mobile Devices in 2015
12.1billion
Mobile Devices by 2018
5.8billion
Mobile Users Worldwide in 2015
Source: The Radicati Group Inc. Mobile Statistic Report 2014-2018

13. So, What Makes a
Successful App?

14. Great Ideas
Hard Work
&
Perseverance

15. Something Much Better
Something Completely New

16. Perseverance
“You might not be an overnight success”
“Event overnight success stories have persevered for a number of years
before they were successful”

17. But..
I Don’t Have a Unique Idea
:’(

18. Don’t Worry, You Can
Make it Work
:)

19. Market Research
User Experience
Customer Feedback/Interaction
Analytics
Localization

20. Market Research
• Your target audience
• Other similar apps in the market
• How you can improve
• Download and try for your self
“How can you make your app better than other apps?”

21. User Experience
• Intuitive app experience
• What makes a good UX?
- User Interface
- Performance
- Security
- Reliability
- Usability
• User experience is what keeps your customer
• It can make or break your app
“Better user experience, Satisfied customers, More downloads, More Revenue"

22. Customer Feedback/Interaction
• It’s important to get customer feedback
• It’s more important to act on those feedback
• Make is easy for customers to give feedback
• Encourage it
• Interacting with the customer helps to build
trust
• In fact they are the one's who are using it
“Customer feedback is what helps to improve your app, Don’t ignore it…"

23. Analytics
• It’s key to know how your app is doing.
• What features does the customer use the most?
• What does they don’t use?
• Does your app satisfies your intended audience?
• What needs to be changed?
• Analytics can help you answer these
questions
“It always good to know how your app is doing, and what your app is doing…"

24. Localization
• Not all speak English language
• Not all countries use English as the main
language
• Customer might like to use their native
language more
• Make the app speak their language
• It makes the app closer to the customer
“Break the language barrier, Make the app more personal…"

25. Starting App Monetization

26. Select Best
Business
Model
Publish The
App
Market The
App
Optimize The
App
High App
Revenue
Learn for the
next app
Develop the
App
Select the widest
audience
Learn from
feedback &
performance

27. So, What Are The Business
Models?

28. Paid Apps
In-App Purchase
Mobile Ads

29. Paid Apps
• Traditional model
• Can have paid + trial
• Most of the apps used to use this model
• Conversion rate is around 1 – 5 %
• Two ways of implementing trial experience
- Feature Limited Trial
- Time Limited Trial
• Only limited options can be given to customer
• Most of the work managed by the OS
“You can use this model, but there is something much better.. ;)"

30. In-App Purchase
• Best model for higher revenue
• “Freemium” Model
• Able to sell digital items in the app
• Published in the Free section of the store.
• Add value to app through IAP
• Two types of digital material
- Consumables
- Durables
• Offer many options to the customer
• You have some amount of work to do this
“Large customer base, better UX, more options translate to more money… ^_^"

31. Mobile Ads
• Show mobile ads from ad providers
• Your chosen platform may have ad provides
• There are many third party ad providers
• Intelligent use of ads is important
• Good for apps that are
- Frequently Used
- Used for many hours per day
• Can combine with other 2 business models
“Smart use of ads is important for revenue and to keep the customer with the app ;)"

32. Mobile Ads (Best Practices)
• Don’t be intrusive
• Don’t compete with the content of the app
• Make the add a part of the design
• One ad per page
• Auto collapse when no network connectivity
• Auto/Manual refresh of the ads
• Trap exceptions and display your ads*

33. Any More Tips & Tricks?
:)

34. Create Great UI
• Make a UI that resonate with app functionality
• But UI is not the whole picture
• Be mindful of the overall UX
• Try to stick to platform guidelines
• Use excellent quality images/media content
• Think about how user interacts with the app
“Guidelines are good, but don’t limit yourself. Sometimes difference is better…"

35. Attractive Store Details
• First 2 lines of the description is important
• List out the features
• Add update log + Bug fixes
• Use quality screenshots that makes sense
• Create an attractive app icon.
“First impression is the key, That is true for apps are well :)"

36. Implement Feedback Mechanisms
• Rating, Feedback prompts
- BUT, Don’t nag to users
• Crash reports
• Entice the user to give feedback
“If you get this right, Users themselves will suggest better features. Trust me... ;)"

37. Monitor & React to Feedback
• Add features
• Fix bugs and reduce app crashes
• Test your apps thoroughly
• Try to automate the testing process
• Test your app on multiple devices if possible
• Update your app often
- At lease once a month is great
- This helps to keep your app on top
“Feedback is good, But its what you do with it that matters.. ;)"

38. Use Platform Features
• Take advantage of platform features
• App Icons, Tiles, Notifications etc.
• Make the app blend in with the platform
• Make your app behave like native OS apps
• But do not over do it.
“Users selected a platform because they like it. So shouldn't we give more of what they like? "

39. Localize Your App
• Customers like to use their native language
• English is good, But its not for everyone
• Speak to users in their own language
• Especially important for countries with large
populations
• Reach a bigger market
• Often very easy to implement.
“Hmmm, How do I select languages for translation? .. :("

40. Application Analytics
• As your app grow, analytics is more important
• But it can help you at the beginning as well
• Know issues with your app before users complain
• Most platform provide this in their own stores
• There are lot of third party services as well
• Use analytics to
- Chose localization languages
- Use promotional, ad targeting
- Changes in price
“Analytics is your best friend when you need to take that crucial decision…"

41. Marketing & Promotion
• Go as company rather than a individual
• Use social media to your advantage
• A website would help a lot
• Use analytics to target your promotional
material
• Post on groups, forums & communities
• Drop the price once in a while ;)
• If people are talking about your app, reach
out to them
• Get in to dev communities
“Proper marketing can give you that extra $$$ you are looking for. ^_^"

42. Marketing & Promotion

43. Use Ads, If Possible
• Ads are effective
• But they may cost you.
• Look for cross promotional ad platforms
- AdDuplex
• Use analytics to target your ad correctly
“Ads may cost you, but the ROI might blow you away.."

44. Go Multi Platform
• Try not to stick to a single platform/OS
• Will increase your potential customer base
• Significant boost in revenue
• Make use of features, that one platform may
not have
• Use cross-platform tools for development
• There are not only phones out there
- Tablets
- Game Consoles
- TVs
- Touch Devices (eg. Surface Hub)

45. Here’s Some Inspiration For You

46. 350Million
Devices Running Windows 10 in 2015 192countries
Worldwide
1billion
Goal of Windows 10 Devices By 2018
Source: Microsoft

47. 1$
Per App
0.0005%
Of Total Customer Base
175,000$
Revenue per App

48. Holy S#*T
That’s a lot of
Money

49. You Have No Questions…
Right?... ;)

50. Thank You
For Not Throwing Rocks At Me ^_^