HalfSwede

I have read a bunch of threads on mobile websites vs. mobile apps and would like to pursue developing and selling mobile apps to schools, but first, would love to receive feedback from more experienced mobile developers and let me know if this approach is viable or to let me know what I am missing.

As I mentioned, my target audience will be schools and I'm thinking that a mobile app is the right way to go. The school will use the app to communicate with parents including content updates and Push notifications. In fact, the school will tell the parents at the beginning of the year that one of the primary ways the school will communicate is through the app and that parents are highly encouraged to download the school's app.

The critical feature requirement, as I see it, would be the Push notification functionality. This is why I am learning towards an app. I could go with simple SMS, but I think it would also be helpful to provide parents with a school calendar, list of important phone numbers, schedule of sporting events, etc.

To cover the cost of development, my thought is that the school would need to find several (2 to 5) businesses to make a financial contribution to the school. The fees collected would be paid to me for development and for first year hosting/updates. In return, the businesses would be able to allowed to advertise on the app and send occasional Push notifications. For example, 30 minutes before the conclusion of the Friday night football game, "Joe's Pizza" would be allowed to send a Push notification.

So, bottom line is that there would be zero cost to the school and I would get paid $1000 to $1500 for developing the app. Again, the reason for going with a mobile app vs. a mobile website is the ability to send Push notifications (e.g. weather delays, school reminders, etc.)...at least based on my understanding of mobile apps vs. mobile websites.

What do people think? Does this sound like a feasible strategy?

Cheers,
HalfSwede

eyesocialize

Why not School district App instead of one school app? One school district may have a total of 10 schools all together. I think this will be better than focusing on one school. Either way the approval of the school app has to go through the school board. This is something that I have been planning on doing myself really soon.

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Tsnyder

I think when you get into it you're going go find
out that schools are very difficult to deal with.

For example... if you wanted to do this for this school
year you should have submitted it last year so it could
wind its way through the painstakingly slow approval
process.

I also think you'll find most school districts resistant to
the advertising element.

I like the idea but you have lots of ground work to do before
you can even get started.

Where I live schools simply use emails... not everyone has a phone
that can even use an app.

marshallbailey

I have also thought about doing this... I figured that going thru the board would be to aggravating ( my wife is a teacher and way to much paper work when dealing with boards)

I'm thinking about taking a different approach:

County wide app - covering all local schools
Focus on sports - football, baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, soccer etc...
Advertise via QR code in local shopper - very cheap
Monetize with local business banners - have them created via fiverr ( really hadn't researched the development of mobile banners and how to apply them to an APP )

Just an idea ... but seems simple enough and I don't have to have the boards permission.

Sporting events are public and most schools welcome local promotion of local teams.

Marshall

Njenyus

First, I have to say that you have a great idea.

In my opinion, you are selling yourself way too cheap for a mobile app. That is, unless you don't truly understand what is involved with sending Push Notifications. Using a service like UrbanAirship may help with that, but there are many other facets you may have not thought through.

One idea would be for YOU to find the advertisers. The likelihood of the school finding and committing the advertisers users like you is slim.

Have you thought about what platform you will develop on? Which ones will you develop for? If you don't know how to program, who will develop the program for you? Will they also design the interface?

Those are just a few things to think about.

WillR

I think the idea sounds great on paper, but whether schools would be receptive to it or not is another thing. I know that the school I went to (private school) would have no problem shelling out the money to have an app developed. In fact most of the time they have so much money they are just looking for ways to spend it. I also think it's those more upmarket schools that are most likely to agree to something like this.

But I also know that most of those big schools with the money already have guys who look after all the web side of things so it might be a hard sell for you.

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Aweinerws

It sounds like a great idea! I think it will be a good channel of communication between the school and parents. It will be easy for parents to track events, important dates and other happenings related to academics and extra-curriculars.

I think you should plan your module structure by discussing it with different school authorities. Their needs would be able to guide you well with what the app should have, and what not. Good Luck!