When you look at your competitors in the digital product space, you’ll notice that many of them are offering eBooks, video courses, memberships, and similar products.
These options are proven to be successful, and we’ve explored several of them in this website already.
But there’s another product that’s gaining traction: creating and selling apps.
Not only are apps increasingly popular and profitable, but this market is also less saturated than eBooks and courses, providing a unique opportunity to stand out.
So, how do you get started? First, you need to decide what kind of app you want to create.
Essentially, think about what problem the app will solve for your users, and what benefits it will offer them.
This initial stage requires some brainstorming and research to pinpoint a strong app idea.
Start by Brainstorming Ideas
It’s important to think about what kind of app would be most useful for your audience.
As someone familiar with your niche, you probably already have a sense of the types of tools your audience might find valuable.
Perhaps you’ve experienced a specific problem within your niche that hasn’t been solved, or you’ve thought about how much easier certain tasks would be if there was a tool available.
This is the perfect starting point for developing your app idea.
Example: Let’s say you run an online fitness business, and you’ve noticed that while there are plenty of apps tracking general fitness, there are few focused on helping users maintain proper form during exercises.
Maybe your audience has frequently asked you for tips on posture or exercise form.
You could develop an app that uses AI and motion detection to provide real-time feedback on posture during common exercises.
This unique, niche solution could set your app apart from more generic fitness trackers.
Ask Your Audience for Input
Don’t underestimate the value of direct feedback from your audience.
Sometimes the best app ideas come from simply asking your users what tools they would find helpful.
While they might not have specific app ideas in mind, they will likely have pain points or challenges they’d love to solve.
Here’s an approach you can take: Send out a survey asking your audience what their biggest challenges are related to your niche.
From their responses, you can extract insights to guide your app development process.
For example, if your audience consistently says they struggle with managing multiple social media accounts, this could inspire you to create an app that simplifies social media scheduling across multiple platforms.
Research Existing Apps and Identify Gaps
Take a look at the existing apps in your niche and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. Are there gaps in the market?
Are there overly complex apps that perform too many tasks, leaving room for a more focused, simplified tool?
Or conversely, are there many single-purpose apps, but no “all-in-one” solutions for users who need to streamline multiple tasks?
This type of research can provide valuable insights into your app’s positioning.
If you notice a trend of complex, multi-functional apps, consider developing an app that does just one thing exceptionally well.
On the other hand, if your niche is cluttered with simple tools, maybe there’s an opportunity to develop an all-in-one solution that consolidates multiple functions into one platform.
Example: In the world of SEO tools, some platforms offer a wide variety of features, from keyword tracking to competitor analysis.
However, many SEO professionals may only need one or two of these features, like keyword research or backlink analysis.
This opens the door for you to develop an app that specializes in just one of these tasks, offering users a less overwhelming and more affordable alternative.
Choosing the Right Type of App
Once you’ve come up with your app idea, the next step is deciding what type of app to create.
There are three primary types: mobile apps, web-based apps, and downloadable desktop apps.
The choice depends on your goals and how your users are most likely to interact with the app.
Mobile App:
These are apps designed for smartphones and tablets.
If your app is meant to be used on the go, such as a tool for helping users track their calorie intake or fitness progress, a mobile app is the most logical choice.
People carry their phones everywhere, making mobile apps ideal for tasks that require real-time input and flexibility.
Example:
If you create an app to help users make healthy dining choices at restaurants, it makes perfect sense for this to be a mobile app.
Users will want to access it on their phones while they’re at a restaurant, making food decisions in real-time.
Web-based App (SaaS):
These apps are accessed through a website, where users can log in to use the service. This model is great for apps that require frequent updates or collaborative use.
A web-based app also allows you to offer subscription services, providing you with recurring revenue.
Example:
PageDyno is an example of a web-based app that allows users to create landing pages.
Users log in to the platform via a browser, and since the app is hosted online, they can access their landing pages from any device.
Downloadable App:
These are apps that users download and install on their computers.
This model is often preferred for tools that users want to access offline or those that require local computing power.
For example, you could create an app for copywriters that generates attention-grabbing headlines based on input from the user.
Example:
If you’ve created a headline generator for marketers, it might be most effective as a downloadable desktop app.
This way, users can access it without being dependent on an internet connection.
Designing and Developing Your App
After deciding on the type of app, you’ll need to plan out its design and functionality.
This means thinking through every detail of the user interface (how it looks) and its features (what it does).
This is where a software architect or developer can be incredibly helpful.
You want to map out every screen and every interaction a user will have with the app to ensure a seamless experience.
For example, let’s say you want your app to have a dashboard where users can track their progress toward a goal. It’s not enough to say, “I want a blue dashboard with a progress bar.”
You’ll need to outline exactly how the dashboard functions, what data users need to input, how that data is processed, and what the final output will be.
Hiring an experienced developer can help with not only building and testing the app but also debugging it to ensure a smooth user experience.
Integrating Your App Into Your Sales Funnel
Once your app is ready, it’s time to figure out where it fits into your sales funnel.
You might offer it as a standalone product (either free or paid), as a bonus to other products, or as part of a membership site.
For instance, if you’re selling a course on dieting, a calorie-counting app could be an excellent bonus to incentivize purchases.
Tip: You can also release a “lite” version of your app with limited features to use as a lead magnet or low-cost product.
Once users experience the lite version, they’ll be more inclined to buy the full version with all the features unlocked.
In Summary
Creating an app can add tremendous value to your sales funnel.
Whether you’re selling digital or physical products, there’s likely an untapped opportunity within your niche for a useful app that solves a real problem.
Just one final note: Be sure to license and protect your app using a platform like ProductDyno.
Without proper licensing, people could easily steal, refund, or even pirate your app.
Using a secure platform ensures your app is protected, allowing you to focus on what you do best—developing great products that bring value to your customers.
By expanding on the original content and adding practical examples, you can see that app development is a flexible, powerful option for growing your business, no matter your niche.
Whether you’re solving a common problem, filling a gap in the market, or creating something entirely new, the potential for success is significant.
