Here's an adaptation of an article by Nitesh Agrawal, founder of startup help site indiez.io, on how to come up with an app idea. Apps have changed our lives. Now it is very difficult to imagine a world without Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and other things. The first thing I do when I wake up is pick up my smartphone. And I'm not alone. Approximately 44% of the world's population uses smartphones and does what I do. And this is 3.7 billion people. Why? Yes, because apps are cool! They changed the business, gave us new employment opportunities, helped us become more mobile, and in general they were very useful. Applications concern key areas of our lives.
If only I could automate this...
At Indiez (a startup help site), we spoke to over 600 startups from over 30 countries. I kept asking them the same question: “How did you come up with this?” Some of the answers to this question were extremely interesting, and it will be useful to know about them for those who are just looking for an idea for an application. One of the most common answers goes something like this: “We ran into a problem and realized it would be great if there was an app to solve it.” In practice, we come across something like this all the time. How to easily and easily share an audio file with your friend? How to solve the laundry problem as soon as possible? What could you come up with so that you don’t have to open the door for guests yourself?
If you think about what you have to do every day, you will realize how many problems still need to be solved. Think about which question is most relevant to you. Here you have a ready-made idea for an app!
They didn't think about business
Neither should you. A successful application does not have to be a profitable business formula, at least not initially. Create an app to attract people. If the users of your product are happy, you will always find a way to make money from it later. Did you know that WhatsApp (arguably the most used app on the planet) has not generated any income for a long time?
They adapted an existing application
You should be so haunted by a certain app that you keep wondering, “How did it become so popular?” This is another idea for a startup. Can you improve the performance of an existing application? But is this right? Yes, absolutely! You can always do what's best. Instagram has blatantly copied Snapchat's tools. And your idea doesn't have to be completely innovative.
What app do you use every day? Do you have any ideas on how to improve the performance of this application?
They used their creativity and played with the idea
Many interesting applications are a combination of two completely unrelated fields. The Uber for grocery is the Instacart. GetAround is Airbnb for cars. Practice connecting the unconnectable! If you don’t give up, the result will be like in the gym - you will improve day after day. It's especially nice that you can do this anywhere and anytime... Standing in line, commuting to work, or even in the bath.
Explore the App Store and Play Store
If something is especially popular, then this is a good indicator. Paul Graham said, “The only way you can avoid competition is by avoiding good ideas.” Insight and understanding of the issue will help you put aside fears about crowded venues. You can explore apps and view their reviews. If the reviews are bad, you have a great chance to improve the situation. For example, there are many travel booking apps, but only a few of them provide truly high-quality service. You can have a great experience doing SEO. For example, an application for booking a five-star hotel. Or an application exclusively for business trips. One of our clients noted that he learned this thanks to “ niche to win ”. The chart below will give you an idea of what works and what doesn't.
Group discussion with friends
This is a funny approach to the problem. Instead of playing " exploding kittens " over lunch, you can come up with an idea for your future app together. Many founders I've talked to got their startup idea during a party or get-together. I'm sure your views may differ, and this factor will further enrich the overall idea. Friends can tell you about their daily problems, the solution for which can be found in the new application. Do you know what is the most useful thing about all this? You will immediately have your first few users!
Look for a source of inspiration
One of our clients got an idea from Y Combinator startup requests. I Googled it and realized there are many similar places to find inspiration. I liked Reddit and Ideas Watch . Have a look there, maybe you will find something interesting for yourself.
What's next?
When you have a lot of app ideas, you may be faced with a serious dilemma: which one should you start working on? Ask yourself the following questions:
Which idea is the easiest to implement?
Everything ingenious is simple. You can always make adjustments later. But make the original version as clear as possible! Firstly, it will be easier for you to test it, and secondly, you will save a lot of money.
Which idea can be implemented in the shortest possible time?
Release timing is very important for a product. You have to release the product, get feedback, fix the glitches, and release the next release. Work on one product can take from several months to a year. Don't waste too much time before graduation. Bring to market faster!
Which app can you quickly find users for?
Are you a restaurant owner? Then a food technology startup is a great idea for you and can set you up for long-term success. Many startups fail because they cannot find their audience. You will eliminate many risks if you quickly find your first 50-100 users.
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