“Half the battle with marketing an app is finding a unique story which helps to sell the product.” Last Updated: March 29, 2019 Confidential charts revealed by the United Kingdom’s Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) parliamentary committee show that in 2014, Whatsapp was getting more popular and potentially had all the chances not only to compete but to successfully win the battle over Facebook Messenger. And one day you come up with an app idea. Put Your App Idea on the Paper. To make investors or large companies interested, you may want to develop a minimum viable product (MVP) first and show its prospective profitability. With a clickable prototype or just designs, which should not take longer than a couple of weeks to create, the next stage is one of the most important steps in the early days of a startup as it is meant to sell the app idea and serve users even before building the product. To find programmers, try searching online freelance sites or talent networks. Be ready to put in the effort and draft a business plan so that those who can invest in it could trust you. No credit card required — try all features! Tap to unmute. The primary audience is the group of people most likely to use your app. Sign up for free to MobileAction for more insights and to boost your app growth. When Facebook acquired Instagram in 2012, the latter was not generating revenue. So they purchased or invested in other firms locally to get their gaming products into the western markets. What monetization strategies do they use? A few examples include 500Startups and TechStars. The simplest way is to search online for tech unicorns, research about recent acquisitions and investments. For instance, Tencent failed to make WeChat successful in the US. Hiring a coder gets expensive. The business concept should be a detailed document based on the previous two steps. The alternative is to use an app building platform, like BuildFire. Not all ideas are profitable, so be aware of the risks before funding development. So if your idea is indeed revolutionary and you submit it to Apple, they can develop it and make it successful, but nobody will ever find out who is the real hero. If you have a great app idea, you can submit it directly to Mobile App Fund, if it passes a series of tests and reviews, we will fund the design, development, deployment and marketing of the app, and share the profits with you. Pick the companies that are relevant to your business. First, try to explain your idea in a digestible, easy-to-understand format. It turns out that Chinese app publishers learn very fast how to market their apps to the US and European users. But have a look at the examples above. Pick the ones that are closest to your app project in terms of idea, features, target audience, and markets and do more detailed research on those products. We've been helping billions of people around the world continue to learn, adapt, grow, and thrive for over a decade. In 2016, Google purchased the Israeli startup, Waze. Investors need to know: The goal of your app … For Google (or any of the big tech guys), to notice your app, the product needs to have the quality to help the corporation fight and outperform its rivals. Anyone who tells you selling your app idea is easy, has never tried to sell one themselves. In this blog post, we will tell you about which companies you can sell it to and describe specific steps to help you make money from your app idea. Think about who your app is meant to appeal to and who is most likely to use it. However, without the right funding for your winning app, that idea will probably never see light of day. If you’re lucky, you may get an offer from a company interested in buying your idea. The application fee costs $200 to $400 USD. If you’re creating a weather app, you may be helping people track the weather. In our previous blog post “I Have an Idea for an App” – Here is Where to Start and What to Do, we described what it takes to develop an app. Avoid posting specific details other people might take, especially if you don’t have a patent. (To learn more about interstitial ads, check out our latest blog post!). You may have a revolutionary idea for the next big app. For instance, list a radio app in the app store with words like free, radio, and music. For instance, you may come up with a task tracker app that functions like a game. Facebook does not pay for any type of ideas – whether it is an app, or a feature, or some kind of technology. There are smaller companies, and there are businesses outside the US who might be willing to purchase your app project. Put the app idea to paper: Having an app idea is not only about deciding your niche or thinking of one user-case scenario. Don’t limit yourself to your country or region only. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/9e\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/9e\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-1.jpg\/aid10909583-v4-728px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":485,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a1\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a1\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-2.jpg\/aid10909583-v4-728px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":485,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/32\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/32\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-3.jpg\/aid10909583-v4-728px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":485,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/40\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/40\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-4.jpg\/aid10909583-v4-728px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":485,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e0\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e0\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-5.jpg\/aid10909583-v4-728px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":485,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4b\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4b\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-6.jpg\/aid10909583-v4-728px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":485,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d6\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d6\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-7.jpg\/aid10909583-v4-728px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":485,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c5\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c5\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-8.jpg\/aid10909583-v4-728px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":485,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fa\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fa\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-9.jpg\/aid10909583-v4-728px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":485,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f9\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f9\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-10.jpg\/aid10909583-v4-728px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":485,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1a\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-11.jpg\/v4-460px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-11.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1a\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-11.jpg\/aid10909583-v4-728px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-11.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":485,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/70\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-12.jpg\/v4-460px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-12.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/70\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-12.jpg\/aid10909583-v4-728px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-12.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":485,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/de\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-13.jpg\/v4-460px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-13.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/de\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-13.jpg\/aid10909583-v4-728px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-13.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":485,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/53\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-14.jpg\/v4-460px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-14.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/53\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-14.jpg\/aid10909583-v4-728px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-14.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":485,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/11\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-15.jpg\/v4-460px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-15.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/11\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-15.jpg\/aid10909583-v4-728px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-15.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":485,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4e\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-16.jpg\/v4-460px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-16.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4e\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-16.jpg\/aid10909583-v4-728px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-16.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":485,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/36\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-17.jpg\/v4-460px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-17.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/36\/Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-17.jpg\/aid10909583-v4-728px-Sell-an-App-Idea-Step-17.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":485,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, https://www.forbes.com/sites/jaysondemers/2013/08/27/6-steps-to-decoding-your-target-audience/#105071fb15cf, https://applikeysolutions.com/blog/how-to-sell-an-app-idea, https://www.forbes.com/sites/eladnatanson/2018/02/08/service-based-monetization-its-time-for-a-new-app-revenue-stream/#c3523c6cb7de, https://www.zdnet.com/article/so-you-have-an-app-idea-and-want-to-make-a-bajillion-bucks/, https://medium.com/@AppInventiv/how-to-perform-competitive-analysis-for-your-mobile-app-idea-dc8f033fe340, https://leandecisions.com/2012/09/how-to-create-an-effective-weighted-pro-con-list.html, https://thenextweb.com/insider/2015/05/07/does-your-mobile-app-need-a-patent/, https://hackernoon.com/create-a-working-conceptual-prototype-for-your-app-in-less-than-a-week-ce904fe3bc5d, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qAcPVaL2lQ&feature=youtu.be&t=77, https://www.rocketspace.com/tech-startups/startup-funding-101-the-5-most-reliable-ways-to-get-funded, https://www.forbes.com/sites/allbusiness/2015/02/05/20-things-all-entrepreneurs-should-know-about-angel-investors/, https://medium.com/lessons-from-mckinsey/how-to-pitch-your-idea-for-investment-617f4b2f622, https://www.igeeksblog.com/why-app-store-is-charging-30-percent-commission/, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. What is also important, it has good perspectives to monetize. It’s certainly not easy, even for the most disruptive app idea and therefor app idea sales are extremely rare. For example, you might type weather, temperature, or forecast to find weather predicting apps. A backer will invest in your concept and profit from it. Don’t pitch the product – pitch the investment. They need to know their ROI. Most buyers look for well-defined ideas and may require a working prototype. Your business concept presentation already includes information about launching activities. To sum up, knowing that tech giants don’t reward for mere ideas, think again if you still want to offer your app idea to Facebook, Google or Apple. The bad news is that Apple does not accept any ideas. Doing this increases your chances of selling the idea. You decide your app will search stores to recommend outfits a user is likely to buy. This article has been viewed 8,569 times. The app helps people who want to dress nicely but don’t have a lot of time to shop. Write down the primary audience for your app. The channel you decide to use depends on your personal preferences. Back then, the photo editing app (btw, its clone would’ve taken you at least 1 thousand hours to build!) Very often, you see the news that big corporations like Google, Apple or Facebook buy smaller companies to help them compete against each other. Recently, it was reported that Google was planning to acquire “Firework” – an app similar to TikTok. So, if you feel altruistic, you can submit your idea through an online form, but don’t expect money in return. try to create the customer portrait). Building and selling an app can be costly. For example, in 2014, Facebook bought a virtual reality product called Oculus VR. Although they are very open to suggestions from the community, they will not give any money to people who submit their offers. For example, design your fashion app to find sales from many different sources. It might be very hard to implement an app idea on your own. These are real precedents, and if you want to receive several million or billion US dollars for your app, you’ll need to work hard. Be authentic and show the actual benefits of your idea. First, put all your abstract thoughts on paper. Marking that up by 30% means you’ll be charging your clients $39,000. Be aware of any competition you have to deal with. Most often, business concept presentation has such topic blocks (but feel free to add other valuable information if you feel it’s important for the investors): Yes, we were talking about how to sell an IDEA for an app.