Starting a Successful App Business-Choose Your First Platform Wisely

Competition in the app business today is so fierce, you have to develop no less than the possible best and most fluid app ever to stay in the game. Fact of the matter is every platform has its own unique set of required coding skills. There are only 3 stores to sell your app: Google Play, App Store or Windows Store. Decide in whose hands you want to put the fate of your app by answering these questions.

Want to Get Rich?

The revenue generated at the Apple App Store to Google Play is at a ratio of 8 to 1. Apple does pay more for top developers who build their apps to be sold, not downloaded for free. The Windows 8 Store is still small in terms of its revenue, but it allows apps to run simultaneously on a PC, tablet and Smartphone – more mediums, more downloads.

Paid or Free (with ads)?

The majority of Android apps from Google Play are free and reliant on monetizing through advertising. You may even make more money than you would from selling your app upfront. As for Windows, there aren't many ad networks which support Windows 8's funky ad formats. So you'll probably want to sell your app for a fixed price.

Want to Play or Get Real Quick?

The Apple App Store does have notoriety as a hard nut to crack, especially for new developers – more reluctant to promote the new guy. If you want to generate a decent amount of downloads in a faster time frame, go for Android.

Be Professional – Users love to use simple, professional apps. Have the best possible app in your niche.

Balance monetization and annoying your paymasters – Don't annoy your users with too many ads or in-app purchases when going for free apps with ads. Also changing your monetization scheme during an update will make you lose users.

Be transparent when using ads – Write about every monetization plan or in-app purchases you're using in your app's description page. Users will see from the permissions needed anyway.

Update often, but not without a reason – Constant improvements keep users. Also start working on an update when the number of users, or ratings, are dropping.

Support and Respond – Support as many devices and device screens. Respond to your users' feedback via e-mail or comments.