More and more consumers are opting to pay for premium apps. In 2012, Strategy Analytics released forecasts of $2 billion shelled out for paid apps per-quarter market share. As an app developer looking to make the next big hit, think outside the gaming sphere to generate revenue. By targeting under-served demographics with your next app, you will compete with fewer developers and earn a larger share of the pie. Consider these demographic segments during your brainstorming process.
Fitness and health apps make $1,000 per month more than gaming apps, according to Vision Mobile. The market is fairly saturated with fitness tracking apps that allow users to log runs, reps and miles. Consider a niche app that allows users to follow a particular workout, such as deadlifts, kettlebells or high-intensity internal training. Or select an underrepresented demographic, such as college students, male yoga students (brogis) or folks with diabetes. By catering to a smaller market share, you’ll stand out and gain positive press.
There are far fewer food and drink apps than games, and the category naturally caters to niches. If you love craft beer or artisan cocktails, creating an app that allows users to follow and rate brews and beverages is a natural fit. Trendy food demographics begging for apps in
clude gluten free, paleo, vegan, vegetarian and DIY. If you love making cheese, canning food, altering recipes for clean eating, grilling or using a slow cooker, turning your passion into an app can have a big payoff.
From drawing to video editing, artists and hobbyists will pay a premium for creative apps. If you can deliver a better video editing, photo filtering or design app that integrates with a user’s social media portfolio, you stand to bring in high earnings. Already-developed standouts that can inspire you include the $5/download photo editing tool Snapseed; $7.99/download Sketchbook Pro, a drawing app that integrates with Photoshop; $12.99/download Pinnacle Studio, which bills itself as a better iMovie’ or the $4.99 GarageBand, an audio recording and editing tool.
Shoppers still love a bargain, and the retail app niche accounts for $3,377 per month, according to Vision Mobile. There is always a market for shopping apps that reward customers for loyalty, as people love comparison shopping and reading customer reviews on the go. Especially when purchasing big-ticket items such as cars or engagement rings from Macy’s, customers have come to rely on online information. Incorporating this into store-specific or item-specific bargain hunting apps can earn you a loyal customer following.
The demographic with the largest monthly download revenue is real estate, which earns $5,456 per month, according to Vision Mobile. Real estate apps can help consumers browse MLS listings or open houses, search for homes to rent or buy, view amenities or crime statistics for a neighborhood or even snap a picture of a dream house and find information on the property’s assessed value. These apps are naturally ad-friendly, as local businesses can directly connect with consumers in geo-targeted areas.
