Your Own iPhone App to Market Your Business?

13 replies
Hi Warriors,

I just bought an iPhone two weeks ago and am still learning how to use it. I'm not a big user of Apple products. I know almost nothing about them. The only other Apple product I own is an iPod Nano, but I LOVE it.

Anyway, I wanted a Blackberry, not an iPhone. But several family members and my fiance all have an iPhone, so I went with that. I'm not a fan of the touch screen and I still don't particularly like it. But the main reason I went with an iPhone instead of a Blackberry is because what you see on the iPhone is more representative of what you see on the Web -- plus you can do so many things with it, even while on the phone.

Anyway...

I'm just learning how to use it and download different apps I want.

I follow Carrie Wilkerson, the Barefoot Executive. I'm a fan on her Facebook page and she just posted that she has an iPhone app! So of course, I immediately downloaded it and it got me to thinking...

What about developing your own iPhone app to market your business? Does anyone know how to do this and what it would take to get it done? Does the number of iPhone users justify the effort and expense? (Actually, the answer to this last question is entirely dependent on your product/service and your market, how technically savvy they are and how many iPhone users are in your customer base.)

I have NO idea what it would take to get an iPhone app developed for my business, but I'm certainly very intrigued and am wondering where I'd even START!

Thanks!

Michelle

I wasn't too sure about getting an iPhone, even when I bought it. But the more I use it, the more I love it!
#app #business #iphone #market
  • Profile picture of the author raskal
    Ive been looking into this for my company as well.

    Best bet is to start here: iPhone Dev Center - Apple Developer Connection

    there is the whole issue of the AppStore though that needs to be addressed before you put lots of time and or money into it.
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    • Profile picture of the author Nightengale
      Thanks for the info!

      Actually, I posted this more out of curiosity than anything else. I'm not really ready to tackle the project of developing my own iPhone app.

      Have a great day!

      Michelle
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      "You can't market here. This is a marketing discussion forum!"
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      • Profile picture of the author Andy Money
        I'm eventually going to get one for one of my sites but I have to hold back until I've got the $$$ to invest in it, right now it wouldn't be practical--I'd only suggest doing this if you have a really unique niche and an existing customer base/mailing list so you can jump start the app, otherwise it'll just get buried.
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        • Profile picture of the author Nightengale
          Good point, Andrew.

          This is a project for when you have "luxury marketing dollars" -- which I don't right now. But it's very interesting to think about. Something I'd like to do when I had the spare time and $$$.

          A fun thing to think about.

          Michelle
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          "You can't market here. This is a marketing discussion forum!"
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  • Profile picture of the author raskal
    Honestly like anything else, it can be outsourced. I see ads on my local Craigslist all the time. I know there is software that's almost WYSIWYG, so if it was a simple App it might not be that costly. Again, getting it into the app store is a whole different beast.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mr. Enthusiastic
    Hi Michelle,

    I'm not an iPhone developer, but I do have a software development background and can add some perspective. This system does looks intriguing. With the iPad's upcoming release, developing for this software environment is even more appealing. I'll probably dive in this year.

    Here are my impressions.

    If someone is already an experienced, talented Mac developer, then they should be able to get comfortable with the basics of iPhone development in just a few weeks. If I was a software manager and had an employee who wanted to move to iPhone (of course, assuming the business model supported this), I would give them a month to make 3D tic-tac-toe that you can play by drawing an X or O in the air with the phone, against an opponent somewhere else in the world, and it should make cute sounds when an X or O appears and store high scores in an online database with a companion web site showing the winners.

    If someone is already an experienced developer outside the Mac, and they already are totally up to speed on object-oriented, event-driven multimedia systems and SQL, (for example, they make Windows or Linux desktop applications and really understand what's going on inside the system), then the transition might take another month or two depending how much they need to learn.

    If I had an employee who needed an extra month or two to complete my challenge, that would be OK, but at 90 days I'd pull the plug and tell them to stick with what they already know. If they want to study outside of work and show me the finished app, I'd then move them over to iPhone when they show they've got the chops.

    If someone is an experienced software engineer but doesn't know about the mindset behind the key concepts involved, then they will have a steep learning curve ahead of them. The shift to objects, events, realtime response type of thinking, if someone used to make something like mainframe accounting systems, can take a year or two and some people just don't get it all.

    The coding syntax can be covered in a one-week seminar, but the reason to think that way - going back to the innovations of Xerox in the 70's which were the foundations of the Mac - is a whole different mentality than the way mainframes work and the way most server systems are programmed.

    Most of what they learn, however, will be useful not just for iPhone/iPad development, but also for working with other popular consumer systems as well as the Web.

    If someone doesn't know what a compiler is, or other basics of development, then they should start with something easier to learn and work their way up to iPhone development. I think that iPhone development is suitable for someone with at least a few years of experience at coding using the kind of concepts I mentioned.

    Once someone knows the basics of iPhone development, it should only take work with a few fairly simple apps to get completely comfortable. At that point they could then explore the different advanced niches of iPhone development. A full-time iPhone developer who's already used similar concepts should be able to really master the platform within a year. At this point they should seldom need to stop to learn new concepts, except as Apple introduces new features.

    Once someone knows how to do iPhone development, then making an app should take anywhere from a week to a few months. It all depends if it's a simple little lookup tool or some kind of breakthrough. Also depends on how well the specification is defined, and how speedy the developer is at making code that works well.

    From the screenshots, I think an app like Carrie Wilkerson's should be possible to completely specify in a few meetings across a week or two, then develop, test, and debug within a month assuming all the content is ready to go (text, pictures, etc. from the client). Then it's just the wait for Apple's approval to distribute it.

    Would it be useful for me to write a guide for clients about how to work with developers to plan out custom software?
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    • Profile picture of the author Nightengale
      Originally Posted by Mr. Enthusiastic View Post

      Would it be useful for me to write a guide for clients about how to work with developers to plan out custom software?
      Yes! I'd be very interested. Thanks so much for your detailed reply. I greatly appreciate it.

      Michelle
      Signature
      "You can't market here. This is a marketing discussion forum!"
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      • Profile picture of the author JBird85
        I love, love, love my iPhone. I had the original and just upgraded 2 months ago to the 3GS (actually most the time I am on this forum I am mobile :p)
        There are production companies such as AppMkr and AppOmeter that will make an app for you for a flat rate (although from reading different things hiring someone through oDesk, eLance, or Rent-a-Coder would be better)
        JBird85
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        • Profile picture of the author mrcouchpotato
          I'm more of a Blackberry man with my BB Storm (similar to iPhone). I know BB has a ton of apps too. I wonder how difficult it is to make one for that phone?

          BTW, I'll stick with BB until the iPhone goes to Verizon. I'm not a big AT&T fan.
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          • Profile picture of the author Peter Szwach
            Some days ago I've came up with an idea to make a platform every no-programmer could download and release their own IP/Training/Advice app on the AppStore.

            Currently we're at it's testing stage and waiting for the first title to be released with SYA.

            The launch of the Slap Your App Engine is scheduled on 04.04.2011. Here is the link: slapyourapp.com
            Our team site: capsoff.info We're iPhone Developers and made a few titles so far.
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  • Profile picture of the author Imran Naseem
    Banned
    I bought an Iphone 3GS myself the other day and I love it. I am thinking of creating my own App too Nightengale.

    I think you can outsource this. I see lots of FREE Apps with ads on.

    It is a powerful piece of device.
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  • Profile picture of the author thaimlord
    Hi

    Disclaimer: I have an affiliation with the link I am about to give you.

    There's a way to get an app for your business here for $495 plus hosting of $60 a month. Hosting is required for push notifications and various other database-related facilities as well as their CMS.

    appmegashop.com
    Get an app for your business. Package includes 1x iPhone app, 1x iPad app, 1x Android app AND 1x HTML5 app.

    The site is just about to launch and they need 100 testimonials so to get that price discount down from $1,495 you'll need to write (hopefully nicely) about the experience. :-)

    Thanks
    TL
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  • Profile picture of the author hustlinsmoke
    I have seen alot of lance workers making iphone and android apps. Wouldn't be hard. just post on Scriptlance or one of the others and bet you get bids quick.
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