The phenomenal success of the iPhone and the iPod touch has ushered in a “gold rush” for developers, but with well over 100,000 apps in the highly competitive App Store, it has become increasingly difficult for new apps to stand out in the crowd. Achieving consumer awareness and sales longevity for your iPhone app requires a lot of organization and some strategic planning. This book will show you how to incorporate marketing and business savvy into every aspect of the design and development process, giving your app the best possible chance of succeeding in the App Store.

The Business of iPhone App Development was written by experienced developers with business backgrounds, taking you step-by-step through cost-effective marketing techniques that have proven successful for professional iPhone app creatorsperfect for independent developers on shoestring budgets. Although there are a few iPhone app marketing books on the horizon, they appear to tackle the subject from purely a marketers perspective. What makes this book unique is that it was written by developers for developers, showing you not only what to do, but also how to do it, complete with time-saving resources and ready-to-use code examples. No prior business knowledge is required. This is the book you wish you had read before you launched your first app!

What youll learn

• Transform your iPhone app into a powerful marketing tool with easy-to-use concepts and code examples.
• Analyze your ideas, research the competition, and identify your audience to evaluate sales potential.
• Protect your business and intellectual property and avoid potential legal hassles.
• Utilize several revenue-generating business models such as in-app advertising, affiliate programs, and In-App Purchase. Includes an extensive chapter on tapping into the Store Kit API.
• Build synergy with in-app cross-promotion and social networking.
• Improve usability and implement effective testing, plus a comprehensive walkthrough of provisioning and ad hoc distribution.
• Create a pre-release buzz online with Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and a dedicated web site promoting your iPhone app.
• Successfully navigate the App Store submission process.
• Execute a post-release marketing strategy by crafting effective press releases, soliciting app reviews, and leveraging the power of promotional sales and giveaways.

Who this book is for


This book is for any developer looking to build a successful business selling iPhone and iPod touch apps in Apples iTunes App Store. All the code examples included in this book can be downloaded from http://iphonebusinessbook.com/

Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Seeing the Big Picture in a Crowded App Store Marketplace  
Chapter 2: Doing Your Homework: Analyzing iPhone App Ideas and Performing Competitive Research 
Chapter 3: Protecting Your Intellectual Property.
Chapter 4: Your iPhone App Is Your Most Powerful Marketing Tool
Chapter 5: Money for Nothing: When It Pays to Be Free   
Chapter 6: Exploring New Business Models with In-App Purchase and Affiliate Programs
Chapter 7: Testing and Usability: Putting Your Best Foot Forward 
Chapter 8: Get the Party Started! Creating a Prerelease Buzz
Chapter 9: Keys to the Kingdom: The App Store Submission Process
Chapter 10: Increasing Awareness for Your iPhone App    

Customer Reviews & Comments
In order to get a jump on this a few weeks ahead of print, I got the e-book version direct from Apress. And what a treasure trove of great ideas & resources it is! Anyone interested in the business side of doing iPhone apps (and indeed, mobile apps in general) will find a lot of valuable info here. In fact, this has to be one of the most comprehensive surveys of information & hard-won wisdom in the entire mobile sector (and much of this knowledge could certainly be applied to other platforms as well). The author(s) cover an array of different topics, including: - doing effective market research - a great section on intellectual property and legal issues - user interface design tips - pricing strategies and case studies of different business models - methods of distribution - how to write an effective press release - savvy marketing via web, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, et al - and more ... Moreover, they've have mapped out the chapters to correspond very logically into Planning / Development / Release phases ... and most importantly, the content consistently exudes experience and insight. So, bottom line: I'd say this title is a no-brainer for anyone serious about doing business in the still-nascent -- and largely uncharted -- mobile space. And as for me, I'm especially looking forward to perusing this little gem even more ... on my shiny new iPad. :) Sweet! ~~~ Apress has created a number of great titles in just the past year or so, and if this is any indication of what's to come, they'll continue to be a preferred vendor for this kind of informative content.

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