What To Do When Your App Idea Is Already On The Market
Posted 6th June 2013 at 07:13 AM by MobiDev
An idea is a fragile and precious thing; it requires to be well-thought over before being shaped into something tangible. If your idea concerns a new mobile application, you have to check whether this idea has already found its way to the vastness of application stores. At any moment you might discover that the brilliant idea conceived by your mind, is an app that's already in the store. Should you abandon it in disappointment? Or should you actually take the idea and implement it better than it has been by someone else?
First, it's good to emphasize that a research is a necessary thing; you have to gather loads of information before taking any steps. You know the purpose of your future application; you know the features you want to be there. Thus must be checked the corresponding categories on application stores. Find similar apps, if any, and check their ratings, descriptions and reviews. Then feel these apps in use, download them and see how they work. See what's good and bad about them. All this information will be handy anyway.
If there is a similar app that has a number of reviews and downloads, it doesn't mean that you have no chance of making a more successful one; it only means that there is a demand for such a product. Meanwhile, among similar mobile apps, people will naturally choose the ones that are cheaper, more convenient, faster, more helpful and reliable. With all the gathered information, see how you would improve or alter the existing software product:
Improve The App
The simplest solution. You can improve the existing app in a number of ways. If it lacks convenience in use, think over a more proper user interface. Improve the app in its offline capabilities. Provide more comprehensive functionality. There can be more than one app, rival to yours. Just make sure to offer distinct and attractive peculiarities, so that people would know that your app was exactly what they were looking for. See how much the app must be altered. There can be a significant solution that will be enough to drastically tip the scales in your favor. Think like your users and figure out what they want and need.
Find Another Target Audience
Alter the features for a more specific audience (age, gender, occupation etc.). Or maybe you could make the app for a specific country or region, or another mobile platform. Or perhaps on the contrary, the specific app there is, needs some generalization.
Choose Another Way Of Monetization
There are several monetization models to choose from or to combine. Check how the existing app is monetized, then think of your own, better way. For example, if it's a paid one, you may offer a freemium model to let users try it out; and there include an essential paid in-app upgrade of features. But keep in mind, that a free model must be good enough itself, in order to attract users.
Now it's time for another research. Check once more the opinions in app reviews. Consult with those friends and colleagues, who can provide you with a valuable opinion, or, even more important, some unique ideas. Form the entire picture of what you want to alter, and what you want to bring to your target audience. A competitive product in demand has all the chances to surpass its counterparts and win a great share of users.
First, it's good to emphasize that a research is a necessary thing; you have to gather loads of information before taking any steps. You know the purpose of your future application; you know the features you want to be there. Thus must be checked the corresponding categories on application stores. Find similar apps, if any, and check their ratings, descriptions and reviews. Then feel these apps in use, download them and see how they work. See what's good and bad about them. All this information will be handy anyway.
If there is a similar app that has a number of reviews and downloads, it doesn't mean that you have no chance of making a more successful one; it only means that there is a demand for such a product. Meanwhile, among similar mobile apps, people will naturally choose the ones that are cheaper, more convenient, faster, more helpful and reliable. With all the gathered information, see how you would improve or alter the existing software product:
Improve The App
The simplest solution. You can improve the existing app in a number of ways. If it lacks convenience in use, think over a more proper user interface. Improve the app in its offline capabilities. Provide more comprehensive functionality. There can be more than one app, rival to yours. Just make sure to offer distinct and attractive peculiarities, so that people would know that your app was exactly what they were looking for. See how much the app must be altered. There can be a significant solution that will be enough to drastically tip the scales in your favor. Think like your users and figure out what they want and need.
Find Another Target Audience
Alter the features for a more specific audience (age, gender, occupation etc.). Or maybe you could make the app for a specific country or region, or another mobile platform. Or perhaps on the contrary, the specific app there is, needs some generalization.
Choose Another Way Of Monetization
There are several monetization models to choose from or to combine. Check how the existing app is monetized, then think of your own, better way. For example, if it's a paid one, you may offer a freemium model to let users try it out; and there include an essential paid in-app upgrade of features. But keep in mind, that a free model must be good enough itself, in order to attract users.
Now it's time for another research. Check once more the opinions in app reviews. Consult with those friends and colleagues, who can provide you with a valuable opinion, or, even more important, some unique ideas. Form the entire picture of what you want to alter, and what you want to bring to your target audience. A competitive product in demand has all the chances to surpass its counterparts and win a great share of users.
Total Comments 0
