Mobile App Tutorial For Beginners

Most popular apps are games and utility apps. An app must either entertain the user or solve a problem. Simply speaking a mobile app is either a game or a tool that is used on a mobile device.

In 2007 Apple Inc. unveiled the first iPhone moble device. This is revolutionary in that it is the first time cell phone and Internet technology were combined. In 2008 Google jumped onboard with the first Android smartphone. At this point the advancement of mobile app technology went into hyperdrive.

In July 2008 the Apple App Store was launched. Followed in October 2008 by the Google Play App Store. Which started the mobile app making industry in earnest. Then anyone could create and publish an app. Soon other companies like Amazon and Microsoft got into the business with their own versions of smartphone, tablet and App Store.

A mobile app is technically speaking a collection of digital programs that perform a function while displaying information through a mobile user interface. Realistically a mobile app is a tool or a game used on a mobile device. Native apps are those that are embedded in the device by the manufacturer. Subsequent applications are called third party apps.

Native Apps include the cell phone, GPS technology, bluetooth, and browser technology that comes with the device. Other native apps may include but aren't limited to the camera and text messaging. Legally speaking third party apps need to ask the user for permission to access some of the native app functions.

For instance; an app may want to access the GPS function so the app asks for permission from the user before the app can be downloaded from an App Store. These permissions are necessary to help protect the user from fraud (and the publisher from liability and litigation).

Most popular apps are games and utility apps. An app must either entertain the user or solve a problem. Most apps are free but paid apps offer instant ROI (Return On Investment) and can be worth the time, money and effort put into creating the app over a period of time.

There are five ways to earn money with a mobile app.

1. Sell the app for a cost in the App Stores.
2. Advertising inside the app, such as with AdMob or RevMob.
3. In-App-Purchases where the app sells a product.
4. Charge a subscription fee on a recurring basis.
5. You can use an app to drive traffic to your other businesses or entice your audience to spend money at your place of business.

Apps can be thought of as tools that people use to solve a problem or answer a question. Your knowledge, products and services can be sold through a mobile app. You can even mix and match monetization schemes to maximize return on investment

In App Purchases (IAPs) are a way to sell digital products through the App Stores. Example: a plant care handbook sells for $3.99 from a link in the app but the app is free to download. The actual handbook resides in the app but access is only permitted after an in app purchase. Example 2; your app is a game with multiple levels, Each level up costs $0.99 to access. Example 3; You're a professional who wants to sell your knowledge. A client wants your advice so for $1.99 you review the request and answer her with your professional advice.

The are 2 things about IAPs and they are that the App Stoes take 30% of the sale and they need approval by a review team before publishment. However they do cover taxes and currency exchange. IAPs feature world wide syndication and do the financial transaction, currency exchange and payments to you.

Third Party Transactions can be accomplished in serveral of the usual ways. Specifically credit card and PayPal. Many shopping carts support mobile transactions in the same way online shopping works. You can use a third party shopping cart to take orders for products sold by you or services performed by you offline.

Third party transactions typically come with bank (or PayPal) fees in the order of 1 - 3% plus a small transaction fee. You have to do any exporting yourself and you are responsible for taxes. But in the long run are much cheaper to do for the merchant than IAPs.

Unlike a desktop computer where people have to be sitting in front of it, a mobile app can be accessed just about anywhere in the world. On the go, standing up, sitting down, laying about or couch potato people use their mobile devices everywhere.

A mobile app is different than a website in that it needs to be simple, fun and easy to use. A mobile app allows you to connect with your audience through their smartphones and tablets. Whether you are an online business or a brick and motor company an app can improve your connection with people.

The real question is 'how do I use a mobile app for MY business?' It all starts with an idea! Your app needs to do something or be entertaining. Think about what it is your business does. Then add that thought to the end of this sentence: "A mobile app could..."

You might be an author or an artist who wants to release their work to a world wide audience. You might be a professional and want people to know more about your skills and talent. You could be an online soloprenuer or website builder that wants to reach the mobile marketplace. No matter who you are a mobile app can work for you and your business.

In your favorite note taking method write down what you think your app should do. This should contain the scope, concept and planning of the app. It can be a simple sentence or long multipage document. Then answer these 4 questions.

1. Context - where will the product be used?
2. Persona- who is the target market?
3. Vision - How will the product be used?
4. Budget - How much time and money are you willing to spend on design and development?

Next thing to do is figure out what your app will look like. This important step leads to establishing design requirements and general layout of your app. Visit our library of mobile app templates and see what others apps can do.

Take notes on what pages and functions you want included in your app. Keep in mind that your app can access other functions on mobile device like, phone, email, maps, and social media. You will want all the tools needed to make mobile apps all in one place. We hope you select MiAppMaker.com as your mobile app source.

There are so many sizes and platforms to consider the first thing you need to determine is which type of app is right for you. Do you want to build for iPhone, Android, Kindle, Windows, web app or a combination?

There are now 5 major app publishing methods you can publish in. They are:

• iOS for the Apple App Store. (iPhone and iPad)
• Googpe Play App Store. (smartphone and tablet)
• Amazon Kindle. (fKindle Fire tablets)
• Windows Phone Marketplace. (smartphone and tablet)
• Your own Web App hosted on your own website (desktop and laptops).

Most popular build method is for Android devices. Second is for Apple iPhone and iPad. Amazon Kindle is growing fast but has a smaller marketplace.

This is important because each platform should have the app to be built for it. You Can create a universal app that works on most platforms but there are drawbacks and limitations to doing it this way.

A universal app (one that works on all devices) can save cost and development time but the functionality might not be supported on all platforms. Developing an app for each platform takes longer and costs more but will be supported better in each platform.

Not all functions in an app are cross-platform from device to device. Meaning, what works in iPhone might not work in Android. Android technology is more universal but Apple's technology can be platform exclusive. Like PhoneGap is only on iOS devices.

Your app creation tool should include everything from idea starting to publishing in the App Stores. Publishing is a lot more complicated than it appears on the surface. For instance Apple and Google require that you join their developer programs.

You can either become a developer yourself or hire a developer and publish on their account (recommended). Being a developer requires a lot more knowledge and computer skills than one might think.

Becoming a mobile app developer is easy. Simply register at Google Play Developer or Apple Developer Program. These are not free to join but the cost is reaonable. Apple Wants $99.00USD/year. Google developer program is only $25.00USD/Forever.

Mobile App Developer skills you should have.

• HTML, CSS3 and Javascript programming languages.
• Graphic artist to make icons, backgrounds screenshots, images, etc
• Certified Apple and Google Mobile App Developer.
• Internet marketing skills
• Mobile App and Website development skills

There is a lot more to publishing than just submitting your app to the App Stores. With the amount of knowledge needed to know it is wiser to hire a developer who does most of the work for you.

You must thoroughly test your app before it is submitted to the app stores because all apps are reviewed by an app store review team before being published in the App Stores.

It is wise to go through your app page by page and make absolutely sure everything looks good and works correctly.

If your app fails this test it needs to be revised, fixed, re-submitted and re-reviewed. If you mess it up too many times in a row your app may never get accepted.

The review process can take from a couple of days to a couple weeks to complete depending on how busy the review team is. You should get a professional developer to check your app prior to submission (highly recommended).

When you submit your app to the app stores you must enter a contact email address. The review team(s) will contact you to let you know if you have issues with your app and to let you know when it is accepted and published.

You will need a lot of graphic art to accompany your mobile app during the submission process. You should have at a minimum (1) screenshot and (1) icon. The max number of screenshots you can submit vary from 1 to 8 for each screen size - phone, retina and tablet.

The more screenshots you have the better. You can have up to 18 similar icons for your app. But all the icons must be very similar to each other. You will need a Splash Screen to display while your app is loading. You will need to have a short AppName, a short and long description and a list of keywords.

Icons are used in the app store and on devices to launch the app.

You may need to get certain certificates for your app, like for age verification and rating, push notification and In-App-Purchases. You need to register an app id, and copyright it. You need to agree with and comply with each "Terms of Service" agreement. You need to submit banking and tax information.

Mobile App Tutorial Usage Tip

All the links open in a new window. You can follow along in the tutorial on one screen and operate the builder in another screen.