A Discussion on the State of Apps in an Open API environment

Someone mentioned that it was the nature of the apps pre-event10 (10invites only) getting a headstart and that has somewhat snowballed into a gap no one can close…. and that is is the indicative nature of this app business, this young business we’re in. True — but in my earlier post, I really do think they dont get that much activity. Try making a computer game out of a diskette these days, the easier it is to bootleg, the easier it is to lose what is an unassailable lead. Now make an app that is good and military grade like Xbox — then you’re much safer cos those guys in China are sweating it out figuring how to hack that machine.

On un/assailable leads, …actually, its the same in finance, and in real estate…. etc. The more base capital you have the more you can utilize that leverage ratio — in banking, it means borrow more debt to buy even more infrastructure, capital equipment, secure more vendor relationships.

There will be few successful apps like that in the near future, simply because what the social network wanted to do, when it opened its API was to say, “look you guys go figure out how to entertain my people”, and now that they’ve seen what are easy wins. I don’t think there will ever be a social network that does not offer Top Friends as a core feature, or multimedia sharing UNLESS they didn’t want to have the job of hosting these things — and thats why there are still these winners hanging around.

In the meantime, if I were FB, I’d just facilitate the innovation, and hope app developers actually help me pull in more subscribers for me *which they are doing*. — but thats FB’s perspective. (FB) I’ll wait till I IPO, then buy up all those companies. Think about this, apps are making money at cents per CPM. For FB. its a Price to Earnings multiple x $1 earning. If their multiple is 20 when they IPO, it would be so cheap to buy everyone up.
>>> or they go desktop, and if any app wants to go through their desktop, you actually have to pay a service fee.. <<<<

For the app developer, there will eventually be greater barriers to entry. Its kinda like Hollywood, every waiter is a struggling actor, every messenger boy is a screenwriter, and every asian guy is looking to be the next kungfu star *fcyk the typecasting yeeeaaahhh* but you can make all the indie movies you want — you get a Sideways and a Fargo from time to time — but you have to find some way to blow your way to the top, get your way through the door, and you can only do it with something exceptional.

*i had to make it not boring sorry for the added dramatic effects*

BUT KNOW THIS, THERE ARE MANY COUNTRIES OUT THERE WITH MANY PEOPLE WHO DON’T USE FACEBOOK. I know someone building a social network in Turkey — if you know how to translate your app into Turkish, maybe you can go conquer the Ottomans this time.

I was going to say, I’ll be happy to hook some of you guys up… but know what? the only way those guys will open up to you without a free-for-all all-access API, is if you give them a suite of apps to implement. I dont think Zombies could knock on any social network door and say, “Hey you know I’m really good at creating this thing, can I…” SLAM. door slam.

(continued)

Ok, pop quiz hot shots, so you’re gated by your networks and the scope of who you know, and who your friends know, and who your friends’ friends know.

where is the one place *two actually* that people still don’t look at when they launch apps.

Groups,… people, groups and events. That is one party there’s no velvet rope around. You have a sesame street app, go post it right on the wall of these little kids’ groups. You have a tripadvisor app *yes the big boys dont know how to do it too*, you go and post it in those happyfeet-ed(?) groups who love to share photos of exotic locations and poetry written under the stars.

I tried it out already. It works. Do that vs. do flyers. And when you go and post your app, for goodness sakes’ design yourself an ad. I did that for my apps 2 weeks into June. I just post a photo (ad) and tag that photo with my app’s address.

I dunno why i am giving away ways to make money. Remember to donate to charity if you use this tactic and make it good.

>>> Im going to plug these two developers who have absolutely no wish to dominate the world and were just happy to release an app, called MyCalendars…. with the calendars of many cultures (chinese lunar, egyptian, mayan, etc,) can you see how easy it is, if they rearrange the placement of those words, the customization of what calendar they show, if they were to selectively target community groups, countries, cultural events? They have less than 10 users I think, if you want, try publicizing that app for them in your own networks and groups and watch…, I believe that one done right can easily hit hundredthousands of users. apps.facebook.com/mycalendatr(s) i forget<<<<