FARK.com: (7096181) Wake up call: 59% of mobile apps don't earn enough to break even [infographic]

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		Wake up call: 59% of mobile apps don't earn enough to break even [infographic] (bgr.com)		24
		More: Interesting, mobile apps, application software, ipad app, BGR, data points, iPhone, iPads

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1820 clicks; posted to Geek » on 09 May 2012 at 3:07 PM | Favorite | share:

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dopeydwarf		2012-05-09 01:45:46 PM

Same as it's always been. The key to success is: 1. advertising, 2. advertising, and 3. advertising.

thomps		2012-05-09 02:31:19 PM

80% of mobile apps are half-finished pieces of sh*t. it's a crowded market with a low barrier to entry, of course most aren't going to be successful.

mainstreet62		2012-05-09 03:11:26 PM

The other 41% of apps are loaded into slingshots and fired at the porcine class and their structures.

Current Resident		2012-05-09 03:11:49 PM

Was the obvious tag not available in the app store?

Khellendros		2012-05-09 03:14:53 PM

These statistics aren't terribly different than any start-up business model. Most make no money, and fail to turn a profit or even cover start-up costs. Most businesses that succeed are those that have enough capital to cover start-up costs AND have the money to expand to their next stable business plateau without having to rely on current revenue.

way south		2012-05-09 03:19:50 PM

59% of mobile apps are fart buttons.
Moving on...

Dragonflew		2012-05-09 03:22:54 PM

Of the hundreds of thousands of apps, the percentage of useful/fun ones is very small.

This is skewed by the fart buttons.

Jim from Saint Paul		2012-05-09 03:26:14 PM

I still want that "Cut The Rope" game for my Windows phone in app form (the website version sucks).

Arkanaut		2012-05-09 03:30:09 PM

How many of those are free?

DVDave		2012-05-09 03:30:41 PM

Current Resident: Was the obvious tag not available in the app store?

Also came here to search for the Obvious Tag.

poot_rootbeer		2012-05-09 03:51:55 PM

This core finding echoes what we believe as a leading app marketing and strategy firm, that in order to make an app a successful business you need to ensure that you have a budget and time allocated to marketing and promoting your app."

ct.fra.bz

Egg Council says: buy more eggs!

moothemagiccow		2012-05-09 03:57:41 PM

well no farking shiat

downstairs		2012-05-09 04:00:24 PM

You're not going to convince me that 41% do break even.

physt		2012-05-09 04:04:35 PM

downstairs: You're not going to convince me that 41% do break even.

I'm in the 41%. I believe it. Paid off my laptop, software license and It pays my car payment every month. Of course, I didn't really have that much in the way of investment money.

lordargent		2012-05-09 04:28:00 PM

Jim from Saint Paul: I still want that "Cut The Rope" game

Omnom

1) Make a neat game with an endearing character
2) Expand into other merchandise
3) Profit

cut-the-rope.com

/ You know you want one

files.g4tv.com

/ buy me now

piercedgeek		2012-05-09 04:40:15 PM

lordargent: Jim from Saint Paul: I still want that "Cut The Rope" game

Omnom

1) Make a neat game with an endearing character
2) Expand into other merchandise
3) Profit

[cut-the-rope.com image 600x470]

/ You know you want one

[files.g4tv.com image 606x454]

/ buy me now

Had an idea for an app, doesn't really need an endearing character, but now that you mention it... my god it's brilliant, I'll make it work, some how!

Masso		2012-05-09 04:57:39 PM

I submitted this with a better headline last week.

Icetech3		2012-05-09 05:32:37 PM

Um... could it be the fact that 90% of mobile apps are complete shiat or no needed? that might have something to do with it...

lacydog		2012-05-09 05:59:23 PM

There's a lot of apps that are basically freeware designed by computer science people that had some time on their hands and said something like:

*You know what? There needs to be a dice app that has all the D&D dice on it. I'll never have to carry around physical dice again!
*Hey! The microphone on these smart phones can be used as a decimeter! I bet people would like that. You can take your phone to concerts and find out just how bad they are for your hearing.
*I bet that I can program it so that the flash from the camera phone stays on, turning the phone into a flashlight. That would be way better than trying to use the display as a flashlight
*Can I make auto-tune, the app? I'm pretty sure I can
*You know what would be awesome? If I could, with a few swipes of a touchscreen, instantly summon the sound of a vuvuzela/the easy button/YEAAAAAHHHHHHH/Inception noise/Sad Trombone

These apps aren't designed to be profitable at all, and were probably not that hard to make with sufficient knowledge of programming. So it's not like it matters that they're not profitable.

/I have the Vuvuzela app
//And the soundmeter app
///And the dice app

downstairs		2012-05-09 06:40:36 PM

lacydog: *Can I make auto-tune, the app? I'm pretty sure I can

There's one for Android, but it sucks. I got it free just to fool with it for fun.

ShadowDES		2012-05-09 07:14:58 PM

My apps - solipairs & solipairsFREE are in the 59% currently. But my development costs were extremely low, and I think over time they will at least end up breaking even.

If I had more money to put into marketing, I think it would help.

lordargent		2012-05-09 08:22:27 PM

piercedgeek: Had an idea for an app, doesn't really need an endearing character, but now that you mention it... my god it's brilliant, I'll make it work, some how!

Worked for angry birds, they not only merchandised the hell out of that franchise, they also got some advertising dollars from google (chrome) and t-mobile.

Market the hell out of it, before its popularity fades.

image.toesmile.com