4 ms·

I 've been living off facebook apps since 2008. Upside: life free of commitments. Downside: Too much free time. Right now, i 'm doing a PhD course.

no_gravity 15y ago
Interesting. Are you making money off your own facebook apps or by writing facebook apps for others?
- zerostar07 15y ago
  Own. Given the speed with which you can test new ideas on the platform, i don't see why anyone would want to work on the cheap making apps for others.
  - nateberkopec 15y ago
    What kind of apps? Games, mostly?
    - zerostar07 15y ago
      Games. Nothing else sells on facebook. Seriously, don't even try it :)
davcro 15y ago
Also living off Facebook apps from 07. Biggest downside is having too much free time and working alone. Right now im studying for the MCAT
- Hyena 15y ago
  Would you mind giving some income information? Like a rough approximate or something? The viability of this strategy is something I'm very interested in.
  - zerostar07 15y ago
    It all depends on the number of users and the nature of your app. Typically 1-2% of users buy virtual goods, and eCPM from ads is pretty decent for US/Aus/EU/Ca audience. Aim for an addictive experience and the users will come.
tlack 15y ago
I'd love to hear more about your apps if you're comfortable with sharing the information. Background: I've been working for a couple of months on a Facebook Page app called FanBldr.com and I've found it fairly difficult to operate.. it's hard to get feedback from users, Facebook is always updating the platform, and I'm not even sure what percentage of my users will upgrade to paying once I drop the paywall bomb. I find traditional web app development easier to manage and operate in the long term.
- zerostar07 15y ago
  I am on hold for G+ or the next social platform. Facebook has decided to screw developers after they signed the Zynga deal that guarantees for them 30% of zynga's revenue (I won't be surprised if at some point facebook buys Zynga and closes the platform) OAuth is all I use, i keep facebook integration to the absolute minimum. Working as an external website means it's completely portable. Minor changes are needed to turn it to a G+ application.

no_gravity 15y ago

Interesting. Are you making money off your own facebook apps or by writing facebook apps for others?

zerostar07 15y ago
Own. Given the speed with which you can test new ideas on the platform, i don't see why anyone would want to work on the cheap making apps for others.
- nateberkopec 15y ago
  What kind of apps? Games, mostly?
  - zerostar07 15y ago
    Games. Nothing else sells on facebook. Seriously, don't even try it :)

davcro 15y ago

Also living off Facebook apps from 07. Biggest downside is having too much free time and working alone. Right now im studying for the MCAT

Hyena 15y ago
Would you mind giving some income information? Like a rough approximate or something? The viability of this strategy is something I'm very interested in.
- zerostar07 15y ago
  It all depends on the number of users and the nature of your app. Typically 1-2% of users buy virtual goods, and eCPM from ads is pretty decent for US/Aus/EU/Ca audience. Aim for an addictive experience and the users will come.

tlack 15y ago

I'd love to hear more about your apps if you're comfortable with sharing the information. Background: I've been working for a couple of months on a Facebook Page app called FanBldr.com and I've found it fairly difficult to operate.. it's hard to get feedback from users, Facebook is always updating the platform, and I'm not even sure what percentage of my users will upgrade to paying once I drop the paywall bomb. I find traditional web app development easier to manage and operate in the long term.

zerostar07 15y ago
I am on hold for G+ or the next social platform. Facebook has decided to screw developers after they signed the Zynga deal that guarantees for them 30% of zynga's revenue (I won't be surprised if at some point facebook buys Zynga and closes the platform) OAuth is all I use, i keep facebook integration to the absolute minimum. Working as an external website means it's completely portable. Minor changes are needed to turn it to a G+ application.