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Lessons Learned From Being An Indie Developer
Michael Szumielewski
Why listen to me?
• Successful Indie App Developer since 2013
• 18 apps on the App Store
• 5 million downloads
• Featured on the App Store & Apple.com
Define what you want to achieve before you start
• What kind of an app developer do you want to be? (Full-time? Part-time? Portfolio building? Just for fun? Experimentation/learning?)
• Different goals demand different approaches
• Assumption for this talk: All-in, one-person team, non-game apps, only source of income
Your chances of success are slim…
• 50% of app developers earn <$500/month
• 75% of app developers earn <$5,000/month
• You can make it, but you probably won't...
Build a great product
• Build something that you will use yourself
• Focus on doing one thing really well
• Focus on long-term app ideas
• Focus on user retention
• Avoid building something nobody wants (do market research, talk to users, get feedback)
Time is your most valuable asset
• Evaluate every product decision based on time spent vs expected result
• Being busy != Being productive
• Cut unsuccessful features/processes/products
Learn App Store Marketing
• App Store visibility is a big problem
• Learn ASO (App Store Search Optimization) to get more organic downloads
• Befriend Apple employees & press people („It’s not about who you know, but who knows you“)
Don't reinvent the wheel
• Programming: use frameworks, best practices, don’t build it yourself if somebody else already did it for you
• Business: emulate your competition, learn from their mistakes
It's not too late
• New opportunities arise periodically (examples: new iOS versions; new iPhone features; Apple Watch; Apple TV)
• Update your old apps for new iOS features (Delight your users; Apple loves to feature apps that make them look good)
Build your network
• Look out for possible business opportunities
• Learn from other developers and product people
• Go to meetups ;)
Work-Life Balance
• The goal is to get a nice passive income stream, have more time and actually have a life
• Have hobbies that have nothing to do with your work
• Stay healthy (eat well, work out, go outside)
Don't give up
• Always be realistic & honest with yourself
• Don’t give up if you have a promising product with some traction
• If you get it to work, Indie App Development is one of the best jobs on the planet
