The most interesting thing about getting into the Mobile apps development business is that entrepreneurs need no programming experience or huge capital to develop and sell apps.
There are dozens of free and inexpensive tools available on the internet that can guide you through the mobile apps development process without writing any line of code. There are several accounts of very successful mobile apps that were developed in weeks (even days)!
How to make mobile apps for Africa
There are thousands of innovative mobile app developers around the world who have released very successful apps on the global market from their college dormitories and garages. Africans have been missing out of this party. It’s time to take a huge bite out of the rapidly expanding mobile apps cake!
There are dozens of possibilities with mobile apps for solving many of Africa’s everyday problems
Another interesting aspect of the mobile apps opportunity is the access it provides to a wide global market. An app developed in Africa can be successfully distributed across the globe and can favourably compete with apps from other continents. All that matters is that the app is appealing, valuable and useful to the final users.
More interesting is the relatively low barriers to enter this vast global market. There are no ‘big players’ or geographical, educational, gender or age barriers to take part in the vast mobile apps marketplace. Anyone can become a success in this venture – anyone!
The global mobile apps market is still very young and only starting to pick up. There is tremendous room for early African starters to take advantage of the largely undeveloped mobile apps market in Africa. Aspiring African mobile app developers need to focus on ‘Afro-centric’ apps and content that are unique to the culture, tastes and uniqueness of our continent.
There is no doubt that mobile devices and apps will have a huge influence on the way we live, interact and do business in the near future.
How to successfully build and make money from mobile apps in Africa
Now, to the 1-million-dollar question: how can an entrepreneur successfully build and make money from mobile apps?
(1) How to build mobile apps
There are essentially two ways to build a mobile app; you can build it yourself, or get a professional to do it for you. The option you choose depends a whole lot on your situation and expectations.
If you would like to build apps yourself, there couldn’t have been a better time to start. There are some great tools out there that allow you to build an app by yourself without knowing how to write any computer code!
One of our favourites in this regard is Buzztouch. This FREE online resource allows people who know absolutely nothing about building mobile apps to start from scratch to successful launch.
It has a good tutorial course that helps you learn fast. It’s certainly a good place to start if you want to build an app yourself.
It has a good tutorial course that helps you learn fast. It’s certainly a good place to start if you want to build an app yourself.
According to Buzztouch, “All you need to get started is some enthusiasm, a little patience, and a genuine interest in making something great.”
Another great option to building mobile apps is to use professional developers who do this for a living. Outsourcing mobile app development allows you to focus on other business, avoids simple mistakes that come with inexperience and allows you to produce more apps in a very short time!
Some of the professionals you will hire are likely to have built hundreds of apps and know all the pitfalls and challenges. All you need to do is provide them with the idea behind your mobile app and these guys can help you bring it to life. While this sounds easy, choosing the right people to work with here is very very essential.
You need to hire people who can do a great job at a price you can afford.
(2) How to make money from mobile apps
(a) Advertisements
There are quite a number of ways you can make money from mobile apps. One common income source is advertising. However, success with advertising hugely depends on how often your mobile app users will use it.
The higher the frequency of use, the more advert income, the lower the frequency, you would have to consider another income approach.
For example, if an app is for breaking news, weather information, games, sports scores or social feeds which require constant use and interaction, advertisements will be a very effective way to make money.
Businesses around the world are becoming very keen on mobile advertising and tend to pay top dollar for mobile advert space.
(b) Give out a free version with the option to upgrade to a paid version
On the other hand, if your app will not require such constant use (such as reference materials like dictionaries or maps), a good strategy will be to charge for it upfront (usually between $1 to $5).
Another popular variant of this strategy, which has proved to be very effective, is to give out basic versions of your apps for free (‘Freemium’) and allow users to upgrade to a higher paid version with more features.
People love free apps because they are much less risky and allow them to have a taste and feel of the apps before spending any money.
(c) Get paid to build apps for other people
Another good source of income in this venture is to help small and big businesses build apps. As more businesses are noticing higher numbers of customers buying through mobile internet channels, the need to develop a mobile app that provides convenience to customers is becoming very important.
Communities like Upwork.com and are great places to find mobile app development jobs. If you’re confident in your ability to build apps, you can sign up and join these services so you can bid for mobile app jobs.
Remember, if you’re willing to learn how to build apps yourself, Buzztouch is a great place to start.
(3) A word about distribution…
More important than how much you will be asking for your app is how it will be ‘pushed’ (distributed) to the market (final users).
Apps have to be compatible with the major smartphone brands and can be distributed through the iTunes App Store (for Apple devices), Google Play (for Android apps), Amazon Appstore (for Android apps too), Blackberry Appworld (for Blackberries) and the Windows 7 Marketplace (for Windows OS).
However, as brands like Apple can sometimes take a long and winding process before apps are approved for distribution on the Appstore, many mobile app developers are resorting to other creative channels (such as social media) to distribute their apps.
Most consumers are likely to download apps based on the recommendations or reviews they have received. A focus on creativity, quality and utility are necessary to set a successful entrepreneur apart in this market.
Some things you should consider before you start developing and selling your mobile apps in Africa…
Before you decide to build an app for that brilliant idea of yours, you will need to assess your target market and determine that users will find your app useful, entertaining or interesting enough. Most entrepreneurs go ahead and spend time developing apps only to find out that the products are not that useful to the final consumer.
A successful app will fill a real need and solve an existing problem. You seriously need to spend a lot of time to think up a winning app idea.
Another common mistake is to treat this mobile app venture as a get-rich-quick scheme. Yes, mobile apps can become an overnight financial success. However, a lot of apps on the market do not make any money and the competition is very tough; only the merit in your product will take you far in this market.
I recommends that you start off with very simple apps in order to test the skills and the market. As you improve your mobile apps development skills and knowledge of your target market, it becomes easier to take on tougher challenges.
We look forward to your sharing in your challenges and successes. Don’t forget to leave a comment below!
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