Money Making App Users – 5 Tips for Capturing Your Biggest Customer

You have an awesome app idea.  It’s totally new and fills a need in the marketplace. You’re thinking that it’s going to be a BIG hit.  We’re talking piles of cash!!
One thing to consider before you unleash hell is – knowing your BIGGEST market demographic, right?
There are more than 1.5 million apps in the App Store and the vast majority of them get lost in the shuffle. But don’t worry, this won’t happen to you.  Your app is going to stand out against the masses and fulfill your dreams because you made sure to include mobile’s TOP audience.
People under 25 are the most important age group for developers.  Why?  Because 85% of people aged 18 to 24 have smartphones.  What’s even better is – they also have money!
The 18 to 24 year old person also spends a ton of time using apps – an average of 37 hours per month.
That’s not even including talking, texting, taking photos…  That’s someone spending 37 hours a month sucked into Clash of Clans or Angry Birds.
Insane!!!
I don’t have 37 hours a month to play with apps, but I DO have time to develop them!
You definitely want to tap into this demographic.  Getting traction with this group can have a HUGE impact on the success of your app.
So, what do people under 25 want?  Here are some things to keep in mind.

1.  Think about functionality and convenience

What’s in it for me?
That’s what people in this age group ask themselves before downloading a new app. They’re looking for apps that are convenient, functional, and simple to use. They want something that will make it easier to get through the day.
Think about ultra popular apps like Uber, Pocket, and Instagram.  Being able to get a ride anywhere is convenient.  Saving articles for offline reading is useful.  Snapping and sharing a picture on Instagram is easy. These apps serve a specific purpose and they do it well. That’s why they’re successful.
If you don’t want to waste your time developing Uber 2, the good news is, you don’t have to.   Keep reading Yo…  I’ll show you a mind blowing case study that will save you from competing with the top dogs.

2.  Create hyper-focused apps

People under 25 like apps that do one thing – and one thing only – as long as it’s done really well.  Forget “kitchen sink” apps that do lots of things poorly. This age group is more interested in specialty apps.
Just look at Yo, which is a big hit with this demographic. A lot of older people just didn’t get it.
You mean all you do is send one word?  Yo?

But this app KILLS it!  It was ranked #1 in Social Networking, and not because of it’s icon design.
I could have picked thousands of developers on Odesk to develop this app in just WEEKS (banging my head against the wall)!
But the app went viral among the younger generation and raised $1.5 million in funding.

Yo is getting nearly TEN THOUSAND downloads a day.  That’s 300,000 new monthly average users (MAU).  Can you imagine the kind of fun you could have putting together a killer backend for this app?  Call me Yo!
It’s tempting to load up your app with features. But when developing apps for people under 25, leave the extras out. Take your app idea and whittle it down to the key functions.

3.  Make sharing easy

The younger generation likes to share everything about their daily lives. Almost anything is fair game, whether it’s a bad hair day, goofy face, or silly joke.  If it gets a positive response, that’s cool.  If not, oh well.
But that doesn’t mean that today’s youth wants all that stuff to be around forever.  That’s why Snapchat is so popular among the younger generation. It lets them share stuff (even naughty pictures) without having to worry about future employers seeing it.
You’re probably not interested in developing the next Snapchat.  However, you CAN develop a video editor or add-on for Snapchat.  There are even loads of app templates already created for you with sharing features built in.  All you need to do is find a template and customize it to a demand in the marketplace.
Once you have your idea, add the virality.  Viral looping is a great strategy – tell your friends in exchange for in-game value.  Candy Crush was literally able to crush the charts by using a viral loop that gave existing users something back.  A bonus level, or life could be the difference between 1 user and 10,000.
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4.  Create something original

Young people value creativity and originality.  A lot of apps go viral when they do something that no one has seen before.
Uhh…how am I supposed to come up with THAT idea?
Don’t worry, if you don’t have any ‘original ideas,’ find a successful app and make it even better!  Start by identifying an existing need in the marketplace and coming up with an innovative solution.
Still drawing a blank?  Check out our Steal This Idea blog section.  OR, signup for Bluecloud Select and get access to 75 app ideas the Bluecloud Team whizzed together + talk over ideas with some of the most successful developers out there.  You can get everything here.

5.  Build a truly mobile solution

People under 25 take mobility seriously. They use lots of different devices, including tablets, smartphones, and laptops.  It’s important to be able to access information across devices throughout the day.  That’s why cross-platform functionality is essential.
For example, many college students take notes on their laptops. But they want to be able to review those notes before class on their smartphones, or later on their tablet.  It’s important for developers to create a seamless experience for young users who are constantly switching between screens.
Once you have validated your app’s functionality and revenue streams, start thinking cross-platform.

6.  What’s the bottom line?

Creating a hit app is a lot easier than you think. Even better news is that young people are ready to try out your app. If they like it, they’ll even share it with their friends. Your app could go viral almost overnight. The opportunity is there.
When building your next hit, think twice before skipping over this demographic.
Are you stealing teenagers lunch money with your apps?  Share your experiences in the comment section.