Great Idea for Mobile App - no Programming Knowledge!

[James Fabian]

Hi Everyone,

If anybody has any experience with this type of thing or could offer some advice it would be a big help in helping me get going. I just don't know where to start and I'll be honest, I've never run a business or developed a product/app before. I do have an electronic engineering degree / technical background though.

Long story short - I have, what I consider, a great idea for a new mobile app for android / iOS.

Problem 1: I can't program mobile apps and it's been a looong time since I've programmed in assembler/C++ - I've forgotten most of it.

Problem 2: I don't think I have enough time/motivation to learn how to program for android and/or iOS. Being brutally honest with myself, I think if I tried to start learning it to the level of detail that would be needed to create an app that's in my head, it would take far too long and I would get too bogged down and lose track and motivation.

Also, when it comes to making the app 'secure' etc and adding certain functionality, which, I consider advanced-ish, I don't think my technical knowledge will be enough to produce a robust app which is fit to be mass used by the whole world like instagram (my app is nothing like instagram). You can't just "russle up" an app in an amateurish way and hope it has the same success of instagram.

Problem 3: This may be a possibility but the issue is, if I take it to an app development company, or hire a freelancer etc, I'm scared someone will steal my idea just like what happened with Facebook (highly recommend watching the film "The Social Network" which is based on that if you haven't seen it).

Has anyone been in this situation or known of anyone who's been in this situation, if so what advice could you offer me? What resources could you point me to? What would you do in my situation?

Any help or guidance would be much appreciated.

Thank you

James

 

[APW]

Hi,

I have created a few apps in the past and the only thing I would say is if you don't have the time to learn it then pay someone to do it.

I wouldn't worry about people stealing your idea because firstly app designers are too busy building apps rather than stealing ideas and secondly any idiot can have an idea it takes a special Person to see what that idea can become and how it should be pushed forward.

Of course you can just get them to sign a confidentiality agreement.

 

[The Byre]

I feel for you bro, cos I had this idea for an app and it was stolen by some geeza called David Guetta.

I better explain. I is a maja Nicki Minaj fan and I posted here, yes, right here on UK business forums about my app. It was for an app that projected a hologram of Nicki Minaj and as soon as I did that, bang, he'd gone and stolen my idea and even made a video of it.

He called it 'Hey Mama!' wot is dissing Her Minajesty, just cos she is 33. But then for being so old, she looks cracking. My mum don't look nothing like her, but then she's even older and she's on welfare. My mum I mean, not Nicki. Nicki's not on welfare.

My idea was for a hologram of Her Minajesty that we could have and we would be able to like hang with Her Minajesty and talk and stuff. Only thing is, I didn't know anybody who could like make the app happen, so it never happened. I asked my mate Brian, but he didn't know anybody what does apps either, so it still didn't happen.

I would like to talk to Her Minajestie, even just as a hologram and we could like talk about the World and all its problems. She knows stuff on account of her age. And she watches Judge Judy and that is all about legal stuff and the law.

You can tell that Her Minajestie is dead intelligent, cos she writes cryptic stuff that even I don't get, like she writes about a snake and her pet cat all the time and how he keeps going out in the rain or falling in the pool and how her pet cat is so wet, he's gonna need goggles.

That'll be a metaphor for something deep.

Well, Guetta must have read wot I wrote and he has like millions, so he made it happen. I wrote to him, asking for my cut - I mean, it wos my idea to start with - and he never even replied to my postcard. Talk about disrespect Bro!

Don't give up the dream!

 

[James Fabian]

I stopped reading half way through your third paragraph. You've got far too much time on your hands.

 

[James Fabian]

Thanks APW. Confidentiality agreement isn't worth jack unfortunately. It is extremely difficult to prove someone stole your idea. Also if I'm not mistaken, you can't protect an idea, only a patent or working prototype.

It's not an abstract idea I have, I developed it (in my head) pretty far... have got a very good idea how the user interface will look, it's functions, how it will be launched, how it will generate revenue etc. Just don't know how to make it happen without it being robbed.

Does anybody else have any advice?

 

[garyk]

Problem 4: Marketing/visibility of your app.

Forget everything else because unless you have a route to market (i.e. existing large audience) or deep pockets no-one will find your app. As of nearly a year ago there were 1.6 *million* apps on Android and a similar amount on the iOS app store. How will people discover yours?

Just trying to give you a reality check here. The days of putting on app on the store and getting downloads/income are gone. Thats why you see app makers spending a ton of money on marketing. Heck mobile strike have a ton of ads running and they have hired the services of Mr Schwarzenegger.

Your issue is not getting the app built, its getting it 'out there'.

 

[Mark T Jones]

Problem 4: Marketing/visibility of your app.

Forget everything else because unless you have a route to market (i.e. existing large audience) or deep pockets no-one will find your app. As of nearly a year ago there were 1.6 *million* apps on Android and a similar amount on the iOS app store. How will people discover yours?

Just trying to give you a reality check here. The days of putting on app on the store and getting downloads/income are gone. Thats why you see app makers spending a ton of money on marketing. Heck mobile strike have a ton of ads running and they have hired the services of Mr Schwarzenegger.

Your issue is not getting the app built, its getting it 'out there'.

This. As you will have seen from 'The Social Network' the market goes to the marketeer, not the first or even the best product.

It may be that your idea is unique - even so, if it is any good there will be 1000 pretenders as soon as you launch it (assuming it is any good)

Programing skills are readily available - work on your marketing before you tart spending on development.

 

[MrComputerSaint]

I feel your pain with the trusting people, I to have a great idea for a localised (But global) app and I'm in the same boat, I don't have the skills to program an app. But If I wait 6 months to learn to program the app, then someone else might think of it first.
So paying someone becomes an attractive prospect.

But think also, when you create the app and it's getting downloads, what's to say someone wont come along an steal the idea and make an app with a slightly different title?

I'd say pay someone to make it, but get a person who has a good rep, maybe on freelancer. Get an NDA/confidentiality agreement signed. Then it's on the market and you got there first.

 

[Lloyd N8N]

I created an app, which I thought was going to be huge, i.e make loads of money!

I used an app development co with NDA. They're not interested in stealing your idea, because it doesn't matter if you have the best app in the World, you need people to know about it - so marketing is the most important thing.

This is where I fell short.

Good luck - make it happen if you truly believe in it. It's better to regret what you've done than what you haven't done.

 

[ethical PR]

Hello James

I can't seem to see this in your posts but what budget have you identified to develop your app and what budget have you set aside for marketing it.

As others have said marketing your app is going to be key.

In your situation, I would do some market research and identify the costs of producing and marketing your app, including doing some research around what's already out there and what differentiates your app, as well as an understanding of what sort of customers might buy your app and your price point.

You can then make a judgement call on whether it is something that you want to invest in.

 

[James Fabian]

Thanks for your suggestions guys.

The less money I can invest the better. I'm not a greedy person, I'd be willing to give up equity to investors if they are going to put in the money to make it happen (I would want to own the controlling stake in the business though). If I have only 51% of £2 million I'm still a millionaire - don't mind if investors have the rest.

I haven't done any estimations on money to be honest because my idea is still new, it's not like I've had this idea for years. I wouldn't even know how to 'estimate' costs, I've never done anything like this before.

All I have done, is had an idea, sketch out wireframes and what the UI/UX will look like in a little notepad, and jot down ideas on how it would be marketed, the features it would have etc. I often sit in starbucks or on a park bench scribbling down the endless ideas that keep coming into my head.

I plan to spend very very little money on marketing - if any.

You might think I'm crazy and it can't be done, but I believe it can. The techniques and tactics that I've got in my mind to make the app explode are so damn sneaky that when I was sitting on the toilet and brainstorming as I usually do, I just started laughing out loud. I'm also pretty lethal with SEO.

It's not about trying to light a massive fire. It's about strategically lighting a tiny fire or fires in such a place and with such timing, that it will spread itself rapidly.

Just think Whatsapp. How much advertising did Whatsapp do?? ; ) But mine will be even more shareable than Whatsapp.

The nature of the app itself, causes it to get self-marketed - people will want to share it. I believe it will also be one of those addictive apps.

I just wish I was a master programmer lol. Ahhh man I dunno what to do. It's so frustrating when you know you have a killer idea.

 

[James Fabian]

My app will be free with zero advertising. I will get the masses using it and addicted to it. Once the app has exploded, and, everyone is addicted, THEN, I will start charging. ; )

 

[James Fabian]

I created an app, which I thought was going to be huge, i.e make loads of money!

I used an app development co with NDA. They're not interested in stealing your idea, because it doesn't matter if you have the best app in the World, you need people to know about it - so marketing is the most important thing.

This is where I fell short.

Good luck - make it happen if you truly believe in it. It's better to regret what you've done than what you haven't done.

That's interesting Lloyd, thanks for sharing. If you don't mind me asking how much did you spend on having the app company develop it? Are you still persuing it?

 

[Opinion87]

I plan to spend very very little money on marketing - if any.

You might think I'm crazy and it can't be done, but I believe it can. The techniques and tactics that I've got in my mind to make the app explode are so damn sneaky that when I was sitting on the toilet and brainstorming as I usually do, I just started laughing out loud. I'm also pretty lethal with SEO.

*sigh*

 

[ethical PR]

Thanks for your suggestions guys.

The less money I can invest the better. I'm not a greedy person, I'd be willing to give up equity to investors if they are going to put in the money to make it happen (I would want to own the controlling stake in the business though). If I have only 51% of £2 million I'm still a millionaire - don't mind if investors have the rest.

I haven't done any estimations on money to be honest because my idea is still new, it's not like I've had this idea for years. I wouldn't even know how to 'estimate' costs, I've never done anything like this before.

All I have done, is had an idea, sketch out wireframes and what the UI/UX will look like in a little notepad, and jot down ideas on how it would be marketed, the features it would have etc. I often sit in starbucks or on a park bench scribbling down the endless ideas that keep coming into my head.

I plan to spend very very little money on marketing - if any.

You might think I'm crazy and it can't be done, but I believe it can. The techniques and tactics that I've got in my mind to make the app explode are so damn sneaky that when I was sitting on the toilet and brainstorming as I usually do, I just started laughing out loud. I'm also pretty lethal with SEO.

It's not about trying to light a massive fire. It's about strategically lighting a tiny fire or fires in such a place and with such timing, that it will spread itself rapidly.

Just think Whatsapp. How much advertising did Whatsapp do?? ; ) But mine will be even more shareable than Whatsapp.

The nature of the app itself, causes it to get self-marketed - people will want to share it. I believe it will also be one of those addictive apps.

I just wish I was a master programmer lol. Ahhh man I dunno what to do. It's so frustrating when you know you have a killer idea.

 

[ethical PR]

Thanks for your suggestions guys.

The less money I can invest the better. I'm not a greedy person, I'd be willing to give up equity to investors if they are going to put in the money to make it happen (I would want to own the controlling stake in the business though). If I have only 51% of £2 million I'm still a millionaire - don't mind if investors have the rest.

I haven't done any estimations on money to be honest because my idea is still new, it's not like I've had this idea for years. I wouldn't even know how to 'estimate' costs, I've never done anything like this before.

All I have done, is had an idea, sketch out wireframes and what the UI/UX will look like in a little notepad, and jot down ideas on how it would be marketed, the features it would have etc. I often sit in starbucks or on a park bench scribbling down the endless ideas that keep coming into my head.

I plan to spend very very little money on marketing - if any.

You might think I'm crazy and it can't be done, but I believe it can. The techniques and tactics that I've got in my mind to make the app explode are so damn sneaky that when I was sitting on the toilet and brainstorming as I usually do, I just started laughing out loud. I'm also pretty lethal with SEO.

It's not about trying to light a massive fire. It's about strategically lighting a tiny fire or fires in such a place and with such timing, that it will spread itself rapidly.

Just think Whatsapp. How much advertising did Whatsapp do?? ; ) But mine will be even more shareable than Whatsapp.

The nature of the app itself, causes it to get self-marketed - people will want to share it. I believe it will also be one of those addictive apps.

I just wish I was a master programmer lol. Ahhh man I dunno what to do. It's so frustrating when you know you have a killer idea.

You're being completely unrealistic - you have nothing to invest in - you don't have a business, you haven't carried out any market research, you haven't developed the app and you have neither a marketing strategy or the funds to market it.

If you aren't willing to invest in your own idea why should anyone else.

Get real.

 

[Mark T Jones]

Who's your dealer? That's some seriously good stuff he's selling you