Innovation Tactics

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10 Step guide how to create an App & platform business model

The most successful Apps are not (just) Apps – they are the front-end to a platform business model.

The biggest misconception of developing an App is that it is a programming task. That’s the visible part of the endeavour. But most of what makes an App successful happens under the hood: in the business model! That is what I am going to talk about in great detail in this article: the business models that make Apps successful.

This is a 10-step guide on how to develop your own App or shall I say the business model and the App.

Google Business Model Canvas: Strategy Mastery

Even entrepreneurs don’t realise that Google-parent Alphabet is the top App publisher in the US by reach, even ahead of Facebook!

In my mind, there could be not better proof of what I am stating for the last few years: that the success of an App is not based on the App but the business model.

If you want to develop an App, Google may not have been on the top of your list to get ideas from. But I can only recommend that you place them very high when it comes to it! There is an incredible amount we can learn from Google in terms of business model and strategy….

Business Model Canvas Facebook: how to become a giant?

How to create successful Apps?

Facebook is one of the most successful Apps of all time. Facebook and their other Apps (Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger) rank all within the top 5 in 2019. What makes them develop so successful Apps? Are they just great developers? 

Well, the secret is, of course, in the business model. Sadly, many developers and even entrepreneurs seem to be focussing on individual / cool features of an App and think it will come with great success. I recommend not to waste years “developing” into the blue. First and foremost, understand the business model that will power your App. You can do this in parallel to developing your App.

Business model first!

Our articles and products are MBA-level content that can give you an initial understanding of the business model without having to do a business degree.

Twitter Business Model Canvas: overcome stalling growth

If you want to understand what makes a successful Social Media App or a Messaging App, Twitter should be on your list to study. Their trajectory was not as stellar as Facebook but that gives us a great opportunity to learn the traps to avoid. But with about 300m monetisable daily active users, they are still one of the most successful Apps around.

The key ingredient to getting to such a user base is not the App as such. It is the business model behind the App. I have the feeling that many developers and even entrepreneurs are focussing on individual / cool features of an App. I recommend not to waste years “developing” into the blue. First and foremost, understand the business model that will power your App. You can do this in parallel to developing your App.

Snapchat Business Model Canvas: monetise creatively

Snapchat is a super creative App. The way they monetise with non-core features is very helpful for any App developer. 

No doubt, the Snapchat developers are great. But when CEO Evan Spiegel talks about the Snapchat App, it is always full of business model terminology that you may not even pick up if you don’t know that there is a whole theory behind each of those individuals words and terms.

Our articles and products are MBA-level content that can give you an initial understanding of the business model of the most successful Apps without having to do a business degree.

Snapchat is one of those wonderful examples to learn from.

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