How to Make an iPhone App and Sell It

An iPhone app in action

More than a half-million iPhone apps have made their way into Apple’s App Store. For those whose dream is to make and sell an iPhone app, some paths are smoother than others. The App Store is an extension of iTunes, so presence in the App Store amounts to a powerful endorsement from Apple. The most surefire way to get into the App Store, according to New York Observer’s BetaBeat, is to create a unique, marketable concept and develop it by following Apple’s guidelines. Specific developer guidelines are available only to registered Apple iOS (iOperating System) developers.

Things You'll Need

• Mac computer

Instructions

Research

1. Go to the App Store home page, apple.com/iphone/from-the-app-store, which is like a gigantic online shopping mall. Once there, browse apps by category, such as Business, Travel, Sports & Fitness, Social Networking, News, Lifestyle, Games, Education, Music, and Family & Kids. Inside each category are thousands of apps. This gives you some idea of which apps have already been made. The computer magazine “MacWorld” also includes pages of apps for you to browse.

2. Develop an original concept. Think about what you wish your iPhone could do, or apps your friends have mentioned wanting. Make note of each time you have to put down your iPhone to use another tool, even something as seemingly unrelated as a tape measure. As reported on CBS News’ Money Watch, Freddie Ann Hodges was a 12-year-old Dallas, Texas, elementary school student who hit pay dirt when she created the “Measure Me” app so that her iPhone could measure her height without the bother of using a measuring tape.

3. Hire a developer unless you are an experienced coder. Either you or your developer must pay $99 a year for the standard developer toolkit. Included in the toolkit are coding guidelines, simulators, interface builders and forums to help your app to conform to Apple’s requirements, which includes Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines, as well as requirements for the executable code.

Develop and Test

1. Interview potential developers. Make sure your developer’s skill set is what your app requires. Determine how large or small a team you need. “Is one person doing all the design and programming?” asks Geoff Brown, a Web developer for Pinnacle Media. “You need to know his track record and how knowledgeable he is. If you have a small budget, find a one- or two-person team with well-rounded skills, who can do everything you need,” Brown adds.

2. Test and debug your app, using Apple’s Xcode’s graphical debugger for real-time performance data. In other words, use Xcode to debug and take notes to identify performance issues before you get to market. To get simulated user experience, put your app on your iPhone via a Wi-Fi connection. This enables you to see how your app actually works, which problems occur and how you can address the problems. Consider real-world beta testers, who will have a fresh perspective and may interact with the app differently than you and your team, who may be too familiar with it to notice some usability issues. Beta testers help ensure you won’t lose sales from problems that were not caught and fixed before your app was available in the App Store.

3. Register as an iOS developer with the Apple iOS Developer Program to create your account. Pay the $99 annual fee. It may take Apple up to 24 hours to activate your account. You cannot submit your app until the account is active.

Get into the App Store

1. Create a distribution certificate. This is an electronic document that verifies your identity with Apple and is necessary for all communication with Apple. Create your app ID, which is a unique identifier that enables your app to fully participate in the App Store once it is submitted and accepted.

2. Create the App Store build, once you have the necessary certificates. The build is where you create the executable code, according to Apple guidelines. Once the build is ready, you can upload your app and submit it to the App Store, using a Mac. The wait time for submissions vary, but it can take as little as two to three weeks.

3. Distribute your accepted app in the App Store using the tools Apple will give you. Apple assists successful App Store developers by enabling them to create sales revenue in various ways. The App Store marketing plan enables App makers to sell subscriptions to your app, to enable your app for ads, to participate in volume purchase plans and to create custom B2B apps. These kinds of tools are not unique to an online market such as the App Store, but the App Store and iTunes have been using these sales-generating tools for several years.

Tips & Warnings

• To avoid a rejection, make sure your app follows guidelines. If Apple rejects your app, it will state why so you can correct the problems before you submit again. It is also important to follow Apple’s terms of service and not submit anything dangerous or inappropriate. You can fix the issues Apple has stated and then resubmit your app.

• You can take advantage of Apple’s ad hoc distribution plan, which enables you to share your app with up to 100 other iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch users. The app developer can designate up to 100 people “friends and family” who get a paid app at no charge.

References

• Apple.com: The App Store
• Apple.com: Apps by Apple
• Macworld: Search App Store
• Apple.com: iOS Developer Library: iOS Human Interface Guidelines
• Conduit: Guidelines for Submitting Your Mobile App to the App Store
• Betabeat.com: How To Get Your Apple App into the App Store
• Apple.com: iOS Developer Program: Develop
• Apple.com: iOS Developer Program: Test
• Apple.com: iOS Developer Program: Distribute
• CBS News.com: How to Build an iPhone App in 6 Easy Steps: Kathy Kristof

Resources

• Apple.com: Developers Tell Their Story
• Apple App Store