Big Mike, Blame Chris Hunter

8 replies
Okay, Mike - you may already know I'm a complete tech dummy. One thing I don't "get" is apps. I know they're little things that help you do things on sites like Twitter, Facebook, and phones (ie: Joel's iFart).

Gaseous funnies aside, I'm curious how or IF a normal person can conjure up an app themselves and how they'd go about it.

Specific questions I have (Chris told me to "Ask Big Mike") are:

1.) I want to know the benefits as an entrepreneur to developing an APP. I don't see how the iFart can generate money for Joel, but I'm not sure if people pay for it or what. Take another example - someone who has a Twitter book developing a Twitter app. How does that help business, or does it?

2.) How do people develop ideas for apps? I guess where I get confused about this is, is someone sitting around one day saying, "I wish there was a way to Poke someone on Facebook?" so they hire someone to create a software to do it?

3.) Can you do an app for any site or only those that allow it? Could I do apps for Squidoo, Hub Pages, my own blog, etc?

4.) Let's say I thought of an app idea - something I wished users of Twitter could do, for example, what's the next step? Do you post a project on Elance telling software developers of your idea? Can't they swipe it and do it themselves? What's the cost of an app development?

If you're sober enough to answer any or all of these questions, I would be very grateful for your wise input
Tiff
#big #blame #chris #hunter #mike
  • Profile picture of the author Glenn Grundberg
    Originally Posted by TiffanyDow View Post

    If you're sober enough to answer any or all of these questions, I would be very grateful for your wise input
    Tiff
    He's probably sober Tiff, but at this time of Saturday morning (in Greece) I'd worry more about the intense hangover fog...
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    I'm Baaaaaack...
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  • Profile picture of the author GarrieWilson
    I'm not Mike but....


    Originally Posted by TiffanyDow View Post

    1.) I want to know the benefits as an entrepreneur to developing an APP.
    Several...

    1. Branding
    2. Traffic generator
    3. "List" builer
    4. To sell
    5. To sell the app to a company

    I don't see how the iFart can generate money for Joel, but I'm not sure if people pay for it or what. Take another example - someone who has a Twitter book developing a Twitter app. How does that help business, or does it?
    Joel gets paid for every sale.

    A twitter APP could make you money in ads, premium services, or even flipping the app. To name a few...

    2.) How do people develop ideas for apps? I guess where I get confused about this is, is someone sitting around one day saying, "I wish there was a way to Poke someone on Facebook?" so they hire someone to create a software to do it?
    People come up with different ways. For example, I have a free site and it hit me one night so I paid someone to make it.

    Most of mine are things that I want for myself though. Like my pop3zapper.com site.

    3.) Can you do an app for any site or only those that allow it? Could I do apps for Squidoo, Hub Pages, my own blog, etc?
    Any site BUT some might forbid it in the TOS.
    4.) Let's say I thought of an app idea - something I wished users of Twitter could do, for example, what's the next step? Do you post a project on Elance telling software developers of your idea? Can't they swipe it and do it themselves? What's the cost of an app development?
    Goto RentACoder and require an NDA to be signed before they can see the description.

    Cost depends on several factors. Coder, what it does, time scale, etc.


    Garrie
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  • Profile picture of the author BIG Mike
    Banned
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    • Profile picture of the author Tom B
      Banned
      Originally Posted by BIG Mike View Post


      Developing an app is not as complicated as most people seem to imagine. You don't need to be overly technical to do it - you just need to be a good manager. I imagine you could do this easily enough...just keep asking questions, explore the possibilities and do it!

      Especially when I created a software program that allows other non programmers to create software.

      What? You didn't think I will let Big Mike have all the fun. eh?


      Tiff, you can really use software as a marketing tool. You don't need to look at it as someone purchases and you make money type of thing.

      I like to use software to increase my optin lists.
      I like to add websites into my software that I can change by updating a redirect.
      I love adding banners and so on..

      You can make sales and it can be a long term thing. A lot of the things people say about article marketing can be said about using software as a way to generating sales or traffic. If the software is good, then the user will use it many times and they see your ads every time they open it.

      It can also go viral if you get the right app with the right crowd. I find it much easier for software to go viral than anything else.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Hunter
    Big Mike never fails to deliver!
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    Ok, sure. You can follow me on Twitter - http://twitter.com/Chris_Hunter ;)

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  • Profile picture of the author Louis Raven
    Hey Big Mike,

    I like the sound of going the JV route and giving away 50%. You never know, you may become really good friends like yourself and Diego and then the possibilies are endless

    If you don't mind me asking.. would you create another app or focus on other methods?

    Great thread Tiff & thanks guys.

    Louis (sucking up the knowledge)
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  • Profile picture of the author write-stuff
    Tiffany, "app" is short for "application". It comes from the early computer days when there were "applications programs" and "systems programs". A systems program ran the system or devices. An applications program did something for the end user. Nowdays the term is used a bit more broadly. An app is a program that is meant to work inside of or in conjunction with a larger, more encompassing program (except in the case of a "standalone app" which is still subordinate to the operating system [or interpreter, internet browser, etc.]). Very small programs with a limited set of actions are frequently called "applets".
    - Russ
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  • Profile picture of the author TiffanyLambert
    This thread is an example of why I love the WF and my fellow Warriors. Thanks for all the good information - especially from the big Greek fella himself who sobered up JUST enough to clue me in

    I think the whole "software" word just scared the bejeezus out of me so I shied away from it, but I'd like to dip my toe in sometime. I'll keep it on my radar!
    Thanks,
    Tiff
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