Monetizing Android Apps The Right Way
A recent Distimo report shows that 80% of paid apps in the Android Market have been downloaded less than 100 times. Add this to the fact that at present, there are only two paid Android apps that have been downloaded more than 500,000 times around the world and you will quickly agree that something needs to be fixed in Android land.
Looking specifically at games, there are 5 paid games in Google Android Market with over 250,000 downloads worldwide compared to 10 paid games that generated more than 250,000 downloads in the United States in just two months. You get the idea right?
Your initial reaction to this might be to think that Android users just aren’t as apt as iOS users to pay for apps. In fact, nothing could be further than the truth.
One way app developers can make more money in the Android platform is by developing apps that are supported by in-app purchases. The freemium based model is a concept that has proven itself, regardless of the platform users are on.
Another solution to increase sales is offering better the payment methods because for most end-users Google Checkout just doesn’t cut it.
Increasing revenue via in-app purchases
Android developers are starting to learn that integrating in-app billing into their mobile apps leads to the most significant monetization strategy. To best optimize this practice, developers can draw from the experience of other apps in currently in the market as well as Android developers.
One of the best in-app tips we can give you is: Make it crystal clear in the app’s description that it can be augmented with additional features via in-app purchase. This is your app’s first opportunity to promote future add-ons. The app’s description is your opportunity to let users know that the app is feature-rich and expandable. Don’t forget, in-app purchases can be as complex as extra features or as simple as extra lives and gems.
On a side note, cross selling mobile apps is a strategy that is quickly picking up steam. Leverage users from your free apps towards offering your paid apps in the form of offer walls. In a future post we’ll look at the entire AppSnips suite of solutions such as Try and Buy, Subscriptions, Bundling, Alternative payments and how you can best take advantage of each option.
Increasing payment methods
Selling your app to end users on a global means you have to do it on their terms. Android developers have always seen the lack of payment method one of the main issues in the Android Market. In fact, Google’s Eric Chu said “We believe that direct carrier billing is a key payment option because it lets users purchase and pay for apps more easily,” In addition “It’s also important because it offers a convenient way to buy in regions where credit cards are less common.”
AppSnips delivers the flexibility of both premium SMS and direct billing payments across multiple global operators.
In conclusion – As with all good things in life, you can choose to look at the current lack of paid downloads on the Android Market as a huge challenge, or focus on the significant monetization opportunities ahead by integrate the AppSnips solution for your Android app.
Want to find out more? Sign up to the AppSnips Newsletter, follow us over on our the AppSnips Facebook page or Twitter account @AppSnips. Working on a hot Android App? We’d love to talk and help you maximize your reach.
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