The Art of the App Store: The Business of Apple Development

Book description

A unique behind-the-scenes look at what makes an application succeed in the App Store

With this invaluable book, Tyson McCann offers a non-technical look at all aspects of the iPhone application development landscape and gets to the core of what makes a popular—and profitable—application. From knowing your customer to to launching a successful app, and everything in between, this must-have guide navigates such topics as developing a concept, analyzing the competition, considerations before the launch, marketing, building a community, and maintaining market share. . . to name a few.

Coverage includes:

  • Setting Your Goals, Costs, and Expectations

  • Researching the App Store Market

  • Knowing Your Customer

  • Plotting the Stages of Development

  • Guidelines and Expectations for Developing Your App

  • Creating Free and Freemium Apps

  • Creating Paid and Premium Apps

  • Adopting Apple's Approach

  • Riding the Social Networking Wave

  • Feedback, Maintaining, and Scaling

Open the vault to App Store success with this indispensable guide!

Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  6. ABOUT THE TECHNICAL EDITOR
  7. CREDITS
  8. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  9. CONTENTS
  10. INTRODUCTION
    1. WHO THIS BOOK IS FOR
    2. WHAT THIS BOOK COVERS
    3. HOW THIS BOOK IS STRUCTURED
    4. WHAT YOU NEED TO USE THIS BOOK
    5. CONVENTIONS
    6. ERRATA
    7. P2P.WROX.COM
  11. Chapter 1: A Brief History of Time in the App Store
    1. TIME IN A TABLE
    2. THE EARLY APP STORE
    3. THE MODERN APP STORE
    4. SUMMARY
  12. Chapter 2: Setting Your Goals, Costs, and Expectations
    1. CONFRONTING THE “HERO INVENTOR” SYNDROME
    2. CONSIDERING YOUR FUNDAMENTAL COSTS
    3. CONSIDERING YOUR OPTIONAL COSTS
    4. MANAGING YOUR EXPECTATIONS
    5. SUMMARY
  13. Chapter 3: Researching the App Store Market
    1. EXAMINING THE NUMBERS AND TRENDS
    2. MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON RESEARCH
    3. ANALYZING SUCCESSFUL APPS
    4. ANALYZING UNSUCCESSFUL APPS
    5. MIXING AND MATCHING
    6. SUMMARY
  14. Chapter 4: Knowing Your Customer
    1. UNDERSTANDING APP STORE DEMOGRAPHICS
    2. MEETING YOUR CUSTOMER'S EXPECTATIONS
    3. SUMMARY
  15. Chapter 5: Plotting the Stages of Development
    1. LEADERSHIP AND YOUR TEAM
    2. CONCEPT THROUGH RELEASE
    3. SUMMARY
  16. Chapter 6: Guidelines and Expectations for Developing Your App
    1. POTENTIAL RISK AND REWARD
    2. APP STORE BUSINESS MODELS
    3. CREATING FOR A MULTITASKING WORLD
    4. THE HALF-SECOND WINDOW
    5. DEPICTING THE PHYSICAL WORLD
    6. SUMMARY
  17. Chapter 7: Creating Free and Freemium Apps
    1. APP REVENUE TERMINOLOGY
    2. BUSINESS REASONS BEHIND REVENUE MODELS
    3. CONSIDERING RISKS AND REWARDS
    4. HOW TO SUCCEED WITH A FREE APP
    5. HOW TO SUCCEED WITH A FREEMIUM APP
    6. SUMMARY
  18. Chapter 8: Creating Paid and Premium Apps
    1. BUSINESS REASONS BEHIND REVENUE MODELS
    2. CONSIDERING RISKS AND REWARDS
    3. HOW TO SUCCEED WITH PAID APPS
    4. SUMMARY
  19. Chapter 9: Adopting Apple's Approach
    1. INFUSING AN INSANE AMOUNT OF CARE
    2. ADAPTING APPS TO IPAD
    3. CASE STUDY: TAPBOTS
    4. SUMMARY
  20. Chapter 10: Riding the Social Networking Wave
    1. FOSTERING THE ULTIMATE VIRAL MARKETING: SOCIAL NETWORKS
    2. TAKING CUES FROM FACEBOOK
    3. IGNORING FACEBOOK CONVENTIONS
    4. REWARDING USERS FOR PROMOTING YOUR APP
    5. SOCIAL INTERACTION AS FEATURES
    6. PROVIDING THE TOOLS FOR USERS TO CONNECT
    7. SUMMARY
  21. Chapter 11: Feedback, Maintaining, and Scaling
    1. EVALUATING FEEDBACK
    2. MAINTENANCE ISN'T JUST FIXING, IT'S MARKETING
    3. SCALING
    4. SUMMARY
  22. Appendix A: Reading List of Recommended Books
    1. APP DEVELOPMENT
    2. CREATIVITY AND INSPIRATION
  23. Appendix B: Online Resources
    1. RESEARCH AND METRICS
    2. PLANNING AND COMMUNICATING
    3. DEVELOPING
    4. MARKETING
  24. INDEX

Product information

  • Title: The Art of the App Store: The Business of Apple Development
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: December 2011
  • Publisher(s): Wrox
  • ISBN: 9780470952788