The document provides tips for developing successful Facebook applications. It discusses Facebook's F8 conference which launched the platform to developers, allowing rapid growth of user bases. It emphasizes starting development now to get feedback and prepare for growth, focusing on making the app unique, social, and sticky. It also discusses metrics, targeting demographics, scaling, monetization strategies, and providing a compelling idea for an app like translating posts to a local dialect.

1. Getting love from the Facebook Platform http://apps.facebook.com/facebook_success

2. THE F8 STORY http://apps.facebook.com/treys_f8_story

3. The F8 Invite Random invite must have been an accident Allowing individuals to develop applications before you launch is a good idea (hint hint, impending platform launches).

4. The F8 Event Somewhat predictable, but still awesome From a developer’s POV, this is a great way to rapidly gain a user base From the user’s POV…

5. The F8 User “Possibilities” From the user’s POV…

6. The F8 User Possibilities Access to cool, unheard-of web applications from outside of Facebook Additions to Facebook itself that the company never implemented

7. The F8 Idea Really the first time we’ve seen such third-party integration to a major site Pretty successful Other companies attempting to emulate its success Individual platforms are the future?

8. The F8 Apps All alone Coded hardcore for a few hours Went on family vacation Had to work from dial-up = tragic Sold to SideStep Fun summer in Silicon Valley

9. The F8 Lesson Listen to your fellow developers. Maybe they’ve got a good idea. Love Facebook.

10. CREATING A KILLER APP http://apps.facebook.com/creating_a_killer_app

11. General tips: start now Get in early App fatigue Flooded directory No more good URLs Concentrate on your idea Make it unique The longer you wait, the more likely it’ll be done

12. General tips: start now Don’t spend too much time developing before launching User feedback will guide you (if it’s successful) Prepare to respond to it while your app is still somewhat small Make the app sticky

13. Facebook approach How to use requests How to use notifications Zombies initially blocked for misuse Don’t take things so seriously It’s all experimental Monetization? Ehh…

14. Different types of apps Utilities and games Useful inside and outside of Facebook Well developed because they’re feature-filled Facebook <3s utilities and games New metrics Preventing abuse Games are gaining FBFund Facebook extensions Fads and seasonal applications

15. Define “success” Total users? Active users? Niche users? Users in a specific demographic? What happens next? Sell the app Take it out of Facebook Try to maintain it independently

16. Demographics Changing fast on Facebook Most are not students anymore Most are at least 25 More females Is your app targeting all the people it could be? Mostly English speaking users, for now…

17. Execution Prepare to scale You host the most Facebook app = Facebook traffic Tyler’s “Coping with success” Keep up that growth Deceleration = bad news Prepare for Tuesday night pushes. Seriously.

18. Metrics Think about it before you launch Google analytics/urchin has its own FBML tag You’ll be able to tell from the beginning what works and what doesn’t Maybe we’ll have more advanced analytics soon, but still…

19. Growth #1 tip: make it social Organic growth Verified by latest stats News feed Use images Call to action = cheesy Now templatized! Directory Icon, Name, Screenshot Abuse (aka spam) Don’t use notifications in the beginning Advertising

20. Example App “ The Wall, Lah” Translates wall posts to Singlish “ omg haven’t talked to you in a while” might turn into “alamak! long time no talk lah!” Who does this target? Will it catch on? Is it sticky? How does it spread? Can it monetize?

21. Next up I’ve talked about: The idea Planning Executing So what’s left? World domination Monetization (cue next speech) The best applications, the ones that drive Facebook, are supposed to come from developers, so get to work tonight 