B2C apps typically use a freemium model to make money off of in-app purchases and ad revenue. You could also make a paid monthly subscription model work in several categories, such as Newsstand. The challenge is finding the balance between giving enough functionality away for free so that your app can attract and retain users. Only if user retention is high does your app stand to monetize well over time.
A word of caution though related to free-to-play apps: http://m.ign.com/articles/2014/04/10/two-thirds-of-mobile-free-to-play-gamers-quit-after-24-hours.
Basically, the only safe bet in mobile development in particular (and business in general) is to create something beautiful, unique, and entertaining (or helpful), and then to market, market, market it and build a tribe of fans.
Hope this helps,
Austin
These are two big topics and a lot has been said about these on the internet. So, I will focus on few key points. In order to gain traction, you have to do some marketing. However, marketing has to be targeted towards early adopters and influencers. To attract them, your app has to be unique, engaging and solve one problem very well. Focus on getting your first 100 users from this group. Other things you can do is to reach out to various newsletters and blogs, fine tune the app store optimization for your app, make your app easy to share.
As for generating revenue, there are several models as well like ad-supported free app, freemium, in-app purchase, add-ons or cross sell. You have to think through which one makes most sense for your app. And none of these models work, if you don't have enough active/paying users. So, in early days, you have to focus on growth and expect to not make money for some time.
I am the owner of a Mobile Apps development Company. We have developed more than 200 apps till now for our clients. While working and seeing our clients make money with apps, this is what I can summarize for making money for free B2C apps:
Before that, I assume that your app fulfils the following criteria:
1. Satisfies a need. Need can be any task which can be done on the go.
2. App has UI which is simple to understand and does not require you to provide "image overlays" to explain what the app does.
There are two steps to make money:
1. Get more downloads
2. Then make a pitch.
1. Get more downloads:
* Don't plan to put all features in single update. Split it into multiple updates and update the app regularly, make be once a week. This way your app will keep coming in latest apps section on the appstore. I am sure you would have noticed an uptick in downloads in days following the release of your app.
2. Make a pitch
* Find out the general profile of your users. Knowing this you will have fair idea about their needs. Now, find providers who can fulfil their needs.
If nothing works, put your app as paid app at a higher price, say $4.99 or $6.99. I have seen people make good money using this strategy too.
Without knowing what your app is, that is all I can say.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call or email me.
Good luck!
Priyadarshan Joshi
CEO
TaxSmart Technologies Pvt. Ltd
pjoshi@itaxsmart.com
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