Lessons Learned From Being An Indie App Developer

Lessons Learned From Being An Indie Developer

Michael Szumielewski

Why listen to me?

• Successful Indie App Developer since 2013

• 18 apps on the App Store

• 5 million downloads

• Featured on the App Store & Apple.com

Define what you want to achieve before you start

• What kind of an app developer do you want to be? (Full-time? Part-time? Portfolio building? Just for fun? Experimentation/learning?)

• Different goals demand different approaches

• Assumption for this talk: All-in, one-person team, non-game apps, only source of income

Your chances of success are slim…

• 50% of app developers earn <$500/month

• 75% of app developers earn <$5,000/month

• You can make it, but you probably won't...

Build a great product

• Build something that you will use yourself

• Focus on doing one thing really well

• Focus on long-term app ideas

• Focus on user retention

• Avoid building something nobody wants (do market research, talk to users, get feedback)

Time is your most valuable asset

• Evaluate every product decision based on time spent vs expected result

• Being busy != Being productive

• Cut unsuccessful features/processes/products

Learn App Store Marketing

• App Store visibility is a big problem

• Learn ASO (App Store Search Optimization) to get more organic downloads

• Befriend Apple employees & press people („It’s not about who you know, but who knows you“)

Don't reinvent the wheel

• Programming: use frameworks, best practices, don’t build it yourself if somebody else already did it for you

• Business: emulate your competition, learn from their mistakes

It's not too late

• New opportunities arise periodically (examples: new iOS versions; new iPhone features; Apple Watch; Apple TV)

• Update your old apps for new iOS features (Delight your users; Apple loves to feature apps that make them look good)

Build your network

• Look out for possible business opportunities

• Learn from other developers and product people

• Go to meetups ;)

Work-Life Balance

• The goal is to get a nice passive income stream, have more time and actually have a life

• Have hobbies that have nothing to do with your work

• Stay healthy (eat well, work out, go outside)

Don't give up

• Always be realistic & honest with yourself

• Don’t give up if you have a promising product with some traction

• If you get it to work, Indie App Development is one of the best jobs on the planet

Thanks!Michael Szumielewski

[email protected]

http://visualhype.net

@visu