“Can I really make money with iPhone apps?” is a common question developers ask. You might think that there isn’t much to be made from cute games and fun apps, but don’t be fooled: the app revolution has made it very possible for an individual developer to make an app that reaches huge audiences and makes real money.

Take a look at the numbers to see how possible making money with iPhone apps is. When you create an app, you’re tapping into a huge – and quickly growing – audience of users. There are over 50 million iPhone and iPad touch users out there, plus a growing number of iPad users. These people are your potential market.

And what a market it is! By 2013, people in the U.S. will buy $4.2 billion in mobile applications according to the Yankee Group. While the App Store isn’t the only place to buy mobile apps, it is the largest and most popular.

Plus, people are eager to buy apps. It’s become one of the main reasons people buy an iPhone or iPad, in fact. Users want to tap into hundreds of thousands of helpful, easy-to-use, or just plain fun apps. These clever software programs created especially for the iPhone turn the device into something new.

People have quickly grown to love apps. The average iPhone user has 65 apps and spent $80 to get them, according to AppFire. And, they don’t just download the free apps. The vast majority of iPhone users they surveyed (93%) have bought at least one paid app. According to AdMob, half of iPhone users buy at least one paid app every month.

This means there is a real opportunity to make money with your app because it’s clear people are  excited to buy them. There is a demonstrated need out there for what you’ll sell, which is the best position to be in when you’re looking to make money from your idea.

So, we have a built-in audience of users and a clear desire for them to buy. But, is it easy for you to reach them? That is the final step when it comes to making money from apps. Even if there is a market of potential customers, you still need to be able to sell them your app.

The answer is yes, you can easily sell your app to customers. You don’t need to set up an online store, or figure out how to accept credit cards. You don’t even need to create a website to make money with apps.

Apple has done much of the heavy lifting for you by creating the App Store, its hugely popular mega-mall where people shop for and buy apps. It’s easily accessible from iTunes, as well any any iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. And while you are probably familiar with what the App Store is, you might not have thought about how much it does to help you make money by selling apps.

The App Store has a built-in audience – millions of people who visit it to browse the latest apps. Getting to the App Store is just one click away to anyone with an iPhone. Users know the apps they buy will be easily installed on their device, and have been tested by Apple to work. It’s easy for people to browse and safe for them to buy.

As a developer, you have to submit your app to Apple for review. But this step is far outweighed by the prize you receive when you’re approved: access to millions of potential customers.

Audience, willingness to buy, and easy access – these are the three key ingredients that can help you make money with iPhone apps. You can take advantage of this opportunity by creating the next great iPhone app.

What has your experience been making money with iPhone apps? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

Selling your app is not the only way to make money in the App Store. Putting advertisements in your app can be an easy way to turn your free app into a profit. But how do you get started inserting ads in your app?

We will show you the basic steps to show ads in your app, and offer helpful links to companies that sell ads for you. Several mobile advertising companies have made it simple to put ads in your iPhone apps and start making money. Here is how you can insert ads in your apps and make the most of this prime opportunity.

Step 1. Choose a mobile ad service

If you are developing an iPhone app or already have created one, your first step to inserting ads in your app is to choose one of the many companies that will sell ads on your behalf. They line up advertisers to put messages online and share a part of the profits with you, the app developer.

Here are some options to consider:

• AdMob
• Medialets
• Smaato
• Mobclix
• Tapjoy

Signing up with these companies is like having a full-time ad sales force working you around the clock. You do not have to find sponsors, deal with billing, or insert each ad in your app. They do the work for you.

Step 2. Insert code into your app

Once you have signed up with one of the mobile ad providers, your next task is to choose where the ads will appear in your app.

You usually just put some lines of code in your app that says where the ad should appear. For example, someone at Mobclix showed how to insert the code in just a minute and other companies offer equally easy set ups.

Many times, you get paid based on how many times your ad is shown to users or clicked on by users, so it is important to choose a good location for your ads. On the other hand, you do not want the ads to distract too much with the operation or enjoyment of your app. You might want to test several different sizes and locations for your ads over time to see which ones work best in your app and yield the biggest profits – that is step three.

Step 3. Test and tweak

Once you insert the code, users who download your app will start seeing the ads – but your job is not done. To make your ads perform their best – and boost your profits – you will need to keep an eye on them and make any tweaks necessary.

The service that provides ads probably offers you a way to track their results. Take the time to learn how to use the reporting interface and what all the charts mean.

Then, start experimenting to see what works best with your users. You could decide to change the size or location of ads. Maybe you want to show ads only after every other startup or when the user takes a specific action. Keep on testing and tweaking for best results.

If you have a free app in the App Store or you are developing one now, consider placing ads in your app. It may not be right for every app, but the three basic steps we shared with you make it easy to get up and running today.

If you are interested in learning more about making money by having ads in your app, keep checking this blog for more tips. And, for the latest articles and advice, sign up for our email newsletter today.

Everyone knows they should keep track of their money, but many people think it’s a chore. How do you make an iPhone app to make it easier, and then get people excited about it?

That was the challenge for Sandro Pennisi, whose iPhone app MoneyBook makes it simple (maybe even fun) to keep tabs on your expenses. From building a Twitter following to creating a website, Sandro has found many ways to spread the word and build interest.

Learn his secrets for promoting MoneyBook, including how to easily make a slick video showing your app in action.

Marketing Your App: What is your app and what does it do?

Sandro Pennisi: Our app is named “MoneyBook” and is a beautiful, simple and usable financing app. It helps keeping track of expenses and your budget.

So we wanted to create an app that is both powerful and usable because we think there are too many apps which try to be a desktop app on a mobile phone. But I think that’s the problem, they forget the user and the usage scenario. It’s a mobile phone and not a desktop. On a phone you spend only a few seconds with an app, maybe also because you’re on the road etc…

I think this is one important thing for iPhone developers. Their app has to make something better than the others.

MYA: What have you done to promote your iPhone app?

SP: Of course we did everything to promote it, with writing review sites etc., and we got a couple of reviews, which helps a little. But the problem is, most of these review sites aren’t really well known and haven’t many readers. So it’s not always helpful.

Twitter is one of the biggest things we did. We started with 0 followers and now we’re nearing 200 followers in a month or so. I think it’s important to always reply on feedback and questions and show to the people that you’re actively developing it.

We also have a blog and we found this is a very good way to stay in touch with the community. We  announce new features there and comment on all things about our app.

MYA: Your YouTube video looks great and it’s a good idea for developers to show their app in action. How did you create it?

I recorded the screen with the great ScreenFlow app for the Mac. So while I was clicking on the iPhone Simulator, the app recorded the screen. And then I did all post processing also in ScreenFlow. It has possibility to replace the mouse cursor with this big white dot. You can zoom in, zoom out, fade in images, background music. Almost everything you need.

Sure it’s not as cool as an Apple iPhone ad but we tried our best, also we tried to keep the video as short as possible. I think nobody wants to watch 5 minutes of a video. 45 seconds or so are perfect in my opinion.

MYA: What tips do you have for developers who are trying to sell their apps?

I think if you have a good product, make some promotion, and stay in touch with the community, then success will come.

MoneyBook is available in the App Store by clicking this link

Do you have an iPhone app? Would you like to see it featured on this blog? Find out how.

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How would you like to sell your iPhone app to millions of potential customers, with more signing on every day? Imagine that you offer your product 24 hours a day every day of the year and make money even while you are sleeping. You could focus on developing a great app because details such as credit card processing where taken care of for you.

Yes, we are talking about the App Store – the online super-store created by Apple where app developers sell their software and the millions of people around the world who have an iPhone or iPod Touch shop and buy.

As a developer, the App Store is where you need to be if you want to successfully sell your app and make money. How do you get listed in the App Store? You must submit your app online to Apple for review and approval.

To submit your app to the App Store, you use iTunes Connect, a service available through Apple’s website. First, you will need to join the iPhone Developer Program and pay a fee. Becoming a member is a requirement for submitting your app, and also allows you to access development tools, sample code, and FAQ guides.

Make sure you carefully read the guidelines for submitting your app on the Apple website to help you increase the chances the application you submit will be approved. Also, double check you have everything that is required to submit your app, such as a description of your app and an icon that meets their specs.

When you submit your app, Apple will need to review and approve it before you appear in the App Store. To maximize your chances, make sure you carefully test your app before submitting to ensure it works as you intended. Fix any bugs before submitting your app because errors can be a reason for rejection.

Also, make sure you are allowed to use any and all photos, videos, music, and trademarked words you use in your app. Improper use of copyrighted materials can also lead to your app being rejected from the App Store.

Submitting your app to the App Store is the first step to selling and making money from your great idea. If your app is approved, it will be put up for sale and made available to a large audience of iPhone and iPod Touch users.

There are many ways to promote iPhone apps you create so you increase your sales and boost your profits, and this site is here to help you. Sign up for our helpful, spam-free email newsletter today and receive a free App Marketing Power Pack plus more money-making tips in your inbox.

Many developers wonder, can I really make money by selling iPhone apps? Just look at the numbers: by 2013, Americans will buy $4.2 billion in mobile applications according to the Yankee Group. Make this year your time to start cashing in on this exploding opportunity – we’ll show you how.

Your opportunity to profit from iPhone apps is growing as more people buy an iPhone or iPod Touch, which can both run the apps you will make. Over 30 million iPhones have been purchased so far, meaning you have a large and growing audience of potential customers.

2010 looks to be another huge year for the iPhone as the leading smart phone continues to soar in popularity. This means that you will be able to make more money by selling your app to more people.

The first step to making money with iPhone apps, is to create your app. The most important part of the development process is to have an original idea for an app that will help people in their everyday lives. Ask yourself, what problem does my app solve? Making money really comes down to solving your customers’ problems, and the best developers know that they can only profit from an idea that truly helps make their customers’ lives easier (or at least a little more fun).

Next, get your app listed in the App Store. As 2010 starts, there are over 100,000 apps for sale in Apple’s superstore. How many apps there will be at the end of the year is anyone’s guess, but you want to make sure yours is one of them if you want to start cashing in.

Before you start making money with iPhone apps, though, spend some time thinking about your marketing plan. How will people find your app? Why would people want to buy it? What is the right price for my product? These are all critical questions to ask yourself before launching your app – and to keep asking yourself while you are selling it.

We would like to make it easier for you – sign up for our email newsletter and receive our new App Marketing Power Pack for free. It is stuffed with helpful tips to help you boost your profits. Plus, each newsletter will show you the simple shortcuts to increase your sales. Sign up today

There are many helpful articles and wonderful tools out there to help you promote your iPhone app, but how do you find them? It’s a question we get asked often here at Marketing Your App, so we put together a list of essential app marketing resources you will want to bookmark.

Check out our Ultimate List of iPhone App Marketing Resources for 73 websites, blogs, articles, tools, tips, and yes, even apps that can help you boost your sales.

Use this huge list of resources to inspire your app marketing and make publicizing your software easier. Let your developer friends know, too. See the best tips, tools, and articles in our app marketing resource list.

There’s one question that most iPhone app developers get wrong and, unfortunately, it leads them to spin their wheels rather than making money.

“Who would want to buy your app?” I ask.
“Everybody!” you say.
“So, a small-town mom with two kids and a college student in the city are both going to want to buy your app?” I reply.
“Well, maybe not…” you say.

You’ve worked so hard and spent so much time creating your iPhone app that it’s tempting to think that everyone will want to buy it. No software will appeal to everyone, even the hippest, newest app. And that’s OK.

In fact, it’s better that way. Imagine trying to create your app to please everyone! There just aren’t enough hours in the day.

Instead, you need to focus on the exact type of person who would love to buy your app. Marketers call it your target market and it’s the secret to happy customers and more sales.

Who will buy my app (and who won’t)?

Now that we know not everyone will want to buy our app, the first step is to define the people who will. It’s so hard to think in terms of big groups, so use this easy shortcut: just picture one person in your mind. The exact type of person that is the perfect customer for your app.

What are his interests? What type of websites does she visit? Where does he live? What kind of job does she have?

Sometimes, it’s almost easier to imagine who is not in your target market – who would absolutely never download or use your app even if you paid them. Picture them in your mind and then take the opposite.

Your customer is king

Now that you know the type of person who will love to buy your app, keep them in mind with each decision you make while developing and marketing your app.

For example, say you are going to ask a blog to write about your new app. If you thought  the audience for your app is everyone, you might just submit it to the same sites as everyone else. But, if you knew that your app is the favorite of rich urban preppies, you would try to get write-ups from very different types of blogs than if your audience was cost-conscious senior citizens.

Knowing who your audience is – and isn’t – for your product is the first step to successfully marketing your app. Taking just a minute to picture exactly the type of person who your app will attract already puts you far ahead of your competition. Now, you can focus on creating an app that people will happily pay you good money for.

Want to learn more secrets for marketing your iPhone app? Learn how to boost your profits – even if you’re just getting started today – by signing up for our email newsletter now. It’s stuffed with helpful tips plus you’ll get our new guide “5 Ways to Make Money with iPhone Apps” free.

The one thing that can set the iPhone app you made apart from all others is having a large number of rave reviews. Your customers know that you, as the developer, can say whatever you like in the description. But they will trust what other customers just like them say.

Having many 1-star reviews can sink your app, but attracting 5-star votes will give your app instant credibility. With over 100,000 options in the App Store, you need every edge you can.

But reviews are important for more than just that. When someone does a search in the App Store, what is written in the reviews will be taken into account. If you have many well-written comments that call your application a great “card game”, you stand a better chance of being listed in the search results when customers look for that phrase.

How can you get great reviews for your iPhone apps? Here are 3 insider tips to help you attract more 5-star reviews:

1. Create a winning app

Of course, it all starts with a stellar offering. As an iPhone app developer, make sure your creation has a clear benefit to the people who will buy it.

What to do: People download apps because they make their iPhones do something new and make their lives better. They will happily give you a rave review if your app does that.

2. Give people a way to offer feedback

Many poor reviews are because something in the app is not working how it should (or people think it should). Or, people have an idea for a new feature or improvement that would make your app 5-star worthy. You do not want those people to give you low scores but you still want that valuable feedback.

What to do: If you have a website that goes along with your app, make sure you have a way for people to contact you. Or, include your email address right in the description in your App Store.

3. Tell your customers what to expect

Especially when they pay for an app, people will be disappointed if the app does not do exactly what they expect it to. You may have a great app that does one thing well but if people expect it to do something else, too, they could give you a low review.

What to do: When you describe what your application does in the App Store, list everything it does – but do not exaggerate. It is tough, because you want to make your app sound like the one thing that your customers cannot live without. But, if you avoid promising more than you can deliver, you will see happier customers and more 5-star reviews.

Do you have an iPhone app that is not getting the sales it should? Find out insider’s tips to help you profit from your apps by signing up for our email newsletters in the form below. Don’t miss out on these exclusive money-making tips!

What market for smartphone apps is growing fast. Want proof? It’s already a $343 million opportunity for developers like you. And, in just 4 years, it will explode into a $4.2 billion market.

Those are the findings of a new Yankee Group report profiled in eMarketer. What does this mean for you? There has never been a better time to build and sell an iPhone app than today.

The iPhone has proven itself to be much more than just another gadget and the App Store has shown it is serious business. Real money is being spent and made by selling apps and it’s not just by large companies. The power of the app revolution is that it’s become so easy to create and market apps that individual developers can do it on a shoestring.

Better yet, people are hungry for apps. They use their iPhones frequently and are looking to do more with them. In the eMarketer article, they predict that by 2013, almost half of all cell phone users will access the mobile internet at least once a month. This gives you the opportunity to reach people wherever they are with your software – and to profit whenever they click “Buy”.

Take the first step to profiting from iPhone apps today – sign up for our email newsletter in the form below. As a special thank you, you’ll get our new guide “5 Ways to Make Money with iPhone Apps” free.