App monetization: Top mobile ad networks and other ways to make money from apps

Selling your app is only one way to make money from it. There are a lot more ways to make money from mobile apps. In this post you'll find a list of all mobile add networks as well as a selection of the best mobile ad networks. You will also find how you can monetize your app through in app purchases, surveys, rewards and more. Obviously, each application is different and you should experiment with different combinations of these and other monetization methods to determine what works best for you.

App Store Optimization: ASO tools for higher app store ranking

App store optimization (ASO) is the process of improving the visibility of a mobile app in the app stores (iTunes for iOS or Google Play for Android). Just like search engine optimization (SEO) is for websites, A.S.O. is for mobile apps. Specifically, app store optimization includes the process of optimizing the presence of the mobile app in the app store (App icon, App description, keywords, screen shots, etc) in order to achieve a high rank in an app store's search results and top charts rankings.

Outsourcing your app: Freelancing websites for finding mobile app developers

If you are not a programmer, learning how to code your own app will take too long and it will take even longer to produce high quality results. Therefore you either need to find a programmer to team up with you and form a partnership, or get a freelancer to program and/or design your app. These freelancing websites allow you to post your project for free and receive offers from both mobile app development companies and mobile app developer freelancers, you don't have to accept an offer if you are not completely satisfied.

Mobile app builders: App making software for people with no coding experience

With do-it-yourself app makers, anyone can create a mobile app for all major mobile devices (iPhones, iPads, and Android phones and tablets) in a matter of minutes, with no coding necessary. With these app maker software, there is no need to install or download anything, you can just drag & drop app pages to create your own mobile app online. This is an ideal solution if you are on a tight budget and you want to create a simple app for your business or for fun.

Mobile app development courses: Learn how to create an app and make money from it

You can take online courses about almost anything that has to do with the app business, from coding and reskinning to app store optimization and marketing. Online courses are usually very good value for money, they are convenient and you can take them from the comfort of your own home. Another advantage is that you can start learning immediately and follow the pace that suits you. Visit the websites below and start your mobile app development training today.

Mobile app localization: Make your apps accessible all over the world

Why limit your app sales to just one market? Mobile app localization is no longer just a nice-to-have. Mobile app stores are global, so your application should be too. The next person to download your app could be located anywhere in the world. While your app might be globally available, it might not be global-ready. Check out these resources that will help you localize your app and reach a wider audience.

Mobile app crowdfunding: Where to get funding for your application

If you want to develop a mobile app and you don't have enough money, you can seek funding using online crowdsourcing platforms. There are generic crowdsourcing websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, but there are also crowdsourcing sites that specialize in mobile applications.Crowdfunding a mobile app is not easy, it is best that you learn about crowdfunding best practices from free and paid courses on Udemy.

Mobile app marketplaces: Buy and sell apps & app source code

These are the websites that you can use to buy and sell mobile apps as well as source code that can be re-skinned. Obviously, if you buy apps instead of developing them from scratch, you save a lot of time. App reskinning in the process by which you take the source code of a mobile app and you insert new graphics, giving it a totally new look. There are many people who have made a business out of reskinning apps. You can learn more about reskinning from the free and paid courses on Udemy.

App podcasts: Listen and learn about the app business

Podcasts are one of the best ways to learn (or be entertained) while doing something else. You can be running, washing dishes, or commuting while at the same time you are getting great tips on building  your app business. Don't miss the opportunity to learn from people that have already crashed, burned and figured out how to do it better. They will fast-track you to success without having to repeat their mistakes.

Exchange mobile app installs, links and banners

If you can't afford to pay for an advertising campaign for your app, you should look at the following sites that allow you to trade install, links and banners with other developers. You promote them, and they promote you for free. The process is fully automated and fair. Keep in mind that when you use this method to increase your mobile app installs, you are using advertising space that you could have used to display third party ads that would bring you cash.

App review sites and blogs: Get bloggers to promote your mobile app

If you are an app developer you probably understand the value of generating word-of-mouth about your app. A great way to get this started is by acquiring reviews from app reviewers. These bloggers can get in front of important app evangelist to get the conversation started about your app. If you are an app developer you will be able to use this list of mobile app review websites and blogs to start individually reaching out to some of the top app reviewers for iPhone and Android.

App review exchange: Get positive app store reviews for your app

Many people see an app icon, skim the first part of the description, flick through the screenshots and read the reviews from other people before deciding if they should download the app. If there are bad reviews saying it doesn’t work, they are less likely to download the app.
The services below allow you to exchange app reviews for free. You give a positive review to another app and you receive a positive review for your app.

App sites and blogs: Websites that will keep you updated about the mobile app industry

A list of sites and blogs that publish excellent articles about mobile app marketing, app store optimization, mobile app reskinning, mobile app development and much more. It's a great way to learn and stay informed about the app business. Whether you are an aspiring appreneur or have been developing apps for years, it's equally important to be informed of the latest trends, news and changes in the app publishing business.

Game engines: Create cross platform games

Many successful games were created with one of the game engines in this list. You can find both 2D game engines and 3D game engines, according to your needs. Game engines allow developers to create games that are compatible with multiple platforms like iOS, Android, Windows, BlackBerry and many more. Although these game engines make it easier to create games, you do need to know how to use them. Luckily, for the best game engines like Cosos2D and Unity you can find plenty of free and paid online courses.

Mobile app prototyping tools: Create version 1.0 of your app in just minutes

Prototyping is one of the first steps of mobile app development. The difficulty for a lot of people is getting from that idea to something more tangible, and it can seem impossible if you don't have any technical or design skills. But in fact, it's a lot easier than you might think. Using one, or a combination of the prototyping tools below will allow you to create a tangible mobile app prototype, and build something you can use to show a potential co-founder, colleague, customer or investor what your idea is and how it works.

Sounds and music for games and mobile apps

Use these resources to get sounds and music for your apps. There are both free and paid solutions for you to choose. There is a list of resources for further reading on the subject of music and sound creation if you want to become more proficiant, but some of these tools are easy and fun to use without any experience what so ever. If you are making a simple game, there is no need to pay a professional for your audio assets. 

Mobile app testing: Get feedback from real users

When you beta test an app, you let a set of people try out the app before it’s released to the general public. Your testers may discover issues that you’ve overlooked, such as misspellings, confusing app flow, or errors that could cause the app to crash. You’ll then have a chance to fix those problems before you release the app to the public, resulting in a more polished final product.

Mobile app analytics tools: Keep track of your app's performance

Mobile analytics are an essential part of the mobile software development life cycle, and continue to provide benefits throughout the life of a live app in production by providing data that can be used to improve user engagement, increase user retention and identify specific functions to enhance the overall user experience (UX). Mobile analytics is critical for continuous improvement of the app itself, as well as for gathering useful business intelligence.

Mobile app bug tracking software: Keep your app bug free

Every software development project needs bug and issue tracking to find and fix problems within hundreds, or even thousands, of lines of code.
Incorporating bug and issue tracking within your workflow ultimately results in a better end product. We've listed free bug tracking tools, which you can use to speed up your development process and manage critical issues and errors. These apps are suited for both indie app developers and large mobile app development companies.

Mobile push notification providers

What is a push notification? Push notifications let your application notify a user of new messages or events even when the user is not actively using your application. On Android devices, when a device receives a push notification, your application's icon and a message appear in the status bar. When the user taps the notification, they are sent to your application. Notifications can be broadcast to all users, such as for a marketing campaign, or sent to just a subset of users, to give personalized information.

PR and media services for mobile apps

With millions of mobile apps currently available in both the iTunes App Store and the Google Play store, it’s clear that leveraging public relations for apps is necessary to distinguish your app from the rest of the market. These resources will help you plan and execute successful public relations strategies for your apps, that will lead to more downloads and ultimately more profit for you.

List of app stores: All places where you can publish your mobile app

Don’t think Google Play and Apple’s App Store are the only distribution channels for your apps, as you can see below there is a healthy eco-system of third party app stores and directories that can help get your app noticed. Some of these app stores will  give you a better cut of the revenues than the traditional 70/30% split offered in the App Store, some will let you target audiences in different markets, such as Asia and Africa, or let you offer your app as a white label product. Some may simply help you by offering a less crowded space to thrive in.

Mobile UI designs: Ready made user interfaces for apps

This collection of websites will help your app look pretty! A beautiful and user friendly user interface design will help improve the overall user experience (UX) and ultimately the success of your mobile app. You don't have to spend a fortune or be a professional designer for your app to look good, Just browse through these websites and chose among hundreds of mobile app UI designs that are already made.

Free one to one consultations about the mobile app business

These professionals are willing to show you the ropes of the mobile app industry for free. If you are somewhat new app developer, you can certainly use the advise of more experienced appreneurs and professionals. You really have a lot to gain and nothing to lose, so don't hesitate to contact them and request a free - no strings attached - consultation.

Free images that you can use however you like in your projects

Finding completely free images of high quality is a tedious task - due to copyright issues, attribution requirements, or simply the lack of quality. This collection of websites offer a large number of free stock images that you can use without attribution in any way you want, digital or printed form. These are copyright free images, and royalty free images, you can download them and use them as if they were your own.

Landing page creators

Are you looking for a great way to generate buzz prior to launch? How about to market an already launched app? Either way, you’ll want a dedicated page to show the world what your app can do: Your landing page. Currently, there are a number of online service that can help you to set up a free landing page with an email opt in within minutes.

Graphic design software: Free and paid design tools for 2D and 3D designs

Whether you're designing your app for iOS, Android, both or another platform entirely, there's a ton of great resources on the web. Here you will find lists of free and paid design tools for both 2D designs and 3D designs. If you are not a very skilled designer, you can always find a freelancer to do the work for you.