The Basics of App Re-skinning

Developing an app entails a lot of time and a lot of money. If you can cut back on time and cost for app development, then that would definitely work to your advantage.

Take an app source code and re-skin or flip the app, and you instantly have your own app that you can distribute to app stores. You get to save time, money, and labor, and you can easily jump onto marketing your app to your target users.

Re-skin apps? What is that?

App re-skinning or app flipping is simply changing an existing app’s look. You create positive ROI by using an existing app framework by changing how the app looks. You don’t exactly copy another person’s idea – you simply use another source code, but change the content, the graphics, the sound effects and all external stuff. The code stays, but the looks change.

There are actually many advantages to using an existing app framework.

You get to save costs and time.

As stated above, you do not have to have a developer team to make a working app. You do not have to hire a developer to code an app, and you don’t need a designer to make mock-ups of what your app would look like. You do not exactly need to have original sounds made by a sound engineer. All you need is an imaging tool to tweak the graphics. You can use stock photos. You can also use stock sound effects and music. Basically, your labor workforce can actually be simply you.

Also, since you just need to put on your graphics and sounds, you do not have to wait for a longer period of time to actually see the progress of your app. The code is already there and you simply just need to fix it. You don’t have to wait for months just to see a working version of your app – you can simply check other apps which actually use the same code as yours.

You can use the code again to make more apps.

Buying a source code will allow you to make several apps using the same code. Because you just have to re-skin it and make it look different without really altering the experience, you can make a number of apps from the same code. This is always an advantage, because instead of having 1 app with advertisements, you can now have 10 or 20 apps running the same advertising codes, all at the same time. They can be marketed at the same time, making you, the developer, gain more revenue through these advertisements.

You don’t spend or invest a lot of money.

An app source code is a lot cheaper than putting together a developer team to make an app for you. You just have to pay for the source code and you can basically do whatever you want. App flipping makes investments low, but gives a very good ROI. As you make more apps from the same source code, you make your investments per app lower, since you are just using the same code. At the end of the day, you get more revenue than you actually expect you would have.

You can easily push your app in an instant.

Because app re-skinning can be fast, and is surely faster than the whole app development process, it’s easier to release it to the public. In a short span of time, you can easily distribute the re-skinned app to various app platforms and stores. You do not have to wait for months. It can easily be released, and it can easily be done.

By releasing an app fast, you can also start marketing and selling it to your target consumers in a short span of time. You may even make an app in a week, and then subsequently release it to the public also in a short time.

How to Flip an App.

Flipping apps do not entail a deep knowledge in programming. The source codes somewhat serve as a template – you just need to provide for everything that needs to be put on that template.

The first thing you should think of is acquiring an app source code. The right source code would dictate how an app behaves and how it feels. It serves as the skeleton and the foundation for your app, so you have to choose wisely.

Most codes include documentation as to which ones have to be replaced. These usually include the images and the music, and other content to make this skeleton a full-bodied app. Generally, source codes just need to have their graphics replaced. Add some music and sound effects, and you’re generally good to go.

If you are not good at working with graphics, you can always hire somebody to do it for you. After all, hiring a designer is significantly cheaper as compared to hiring a full app development team. Depending on how you would want your app to feel and look like, make sure that your designer communicates with you clearly so you can effectively relay what exactly your app would look like.

You focus on your ideas. Do not focus on the management of your app, because it is already there in the skeleton. Tweak how it looks like, and make it yours. Think of themes that work or that would appeal to your target users.

Where to find source codes.

There are code marketplaces where you can buy codes. Sellers typically offer codes depending on the quality. These marketplaces also help you choose from a wide array of source codes, and let you contact the seller even before purchasing.

Other code marketplaces allow you to buy the full rights to an app. You can re-skin that app, or even re-sell the code. However, these codes are typically more expensive than the codes with limited licenses in marketplaces.

There are also some independent developers. Most of them can be found inside various online forum places. You can join some social network groups for indie developers, and try to negotiate the best price for his own source code.