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As much as I like the story, those stories are like exceptional lotto millionaire stories which keep the app rush alive, despite growing stats that overwhelmin

As much as I like the story, those stories are like exceptional lotto millionaire stories which keep the app rush alive, despite growing stats that overwhelming majority of app entrepreneurs can't make enough for a living, just with one app. So other kids, don't put too much hope on the possibility that you could do the same. But it could help you land a nice job..

jonny_eh 13y ago
He's not even making much money off this app. He needs to rebuild the app with a better monetization strategy so he — and Schlofman — can start making decent money off it. So even if you're a genius like this guy and make a killer app, it's not likely to make you much money.
- dpcx 13y ago
  "much money" and "decent money" are very different things, potentially. If he's helping pay his parents mortgage, he's making "much money".
  - jonny_eh 13y ago
    I read that to mean his previous Club Penguin apps did that.
- moistgorilla 13y ago
  He made a ton of money off of the first two apps. Enough to pay for his families housing and the education of himself and his sister. But I agree, the app market isn't too reliable for making money. I see much more opportunity for building your resume using the app market instead
  - hanley 13y ago
    From what I could tell, he made most of his money on an app that was using a trademarked name from a video game, I'm surprised no one went after him for that.
- poopsintub 13y ago
  He just gained experience programming apps. Give him time and he'll be better at monetization. 300k impressions a day should yeild over a 6-figure yearly salary.
mikestew 13y ago
> But it could help you land a nice job. That's the advice I give to aspiring app store millionaires: on average there's no money in the app store, but there's plenty of money to be made making apps for someone else. Throw something on the store that's above the level of flashlight app, and point to it when in contact with a potential employer. There is no ??? step, you just move straight to Step 4: Profit.
- sergiotapia 13y ago
  When there's a gold rush, you don't go out looking for gold. You sell the shovels. Tons of money to made building apps for someone else.
- FLUX-YOU 13y ago
  Can't be that easy. Maybe if the employer is looking to pay you 10 an hour.
  - will_work4tears 13y ago
    Well, your resume has to pass the filters, you still gotta do several phone screen interviews (at least one hour long, technical one), three panel interviews, an all day technical interview, and a 6 month "paid" (sorry, below market value) trial period. Then you can get the job. The App only appears to help.
- yaeger 13y ago
  I feel the same about open source in general. People may think "If I write something and it gets enough attention, facebook or google might buy me out" or something to that effect. Basically a get rich quick kind of deal. You only have to write one! thing, cash a multi million dollar check and be set. While that may have happened in the past a couple of times, wanting to start an open source project just because of that possibility would be nearsighted. But starting such a project to promote oneself is not. It is a great addition to your CV. Something future employers can directly check up on.
nsxwolf 13y ago
I've been in the App Store since opening day and in all that time I have made a grand total of $26, far below what I've paid to be in the program. My wife is going to let me do one more app, and if it doesn't earn enough to break even, I am instructed to shut down operations. I am very impressed with and jealous of this kid's success.
- owenversteeg 13y ago
  Same story here, down to the dollar amount, except I was in the WP7 store. I say was because earning cents an hour wasn't a terribly attractive proposition.
- wtbob 13y ago
  Out of curiosity, what are your apps? I don't have any iOS devices--I'm just curious.
yoshyosh 13y ago
Most app entrepreneurs wouldnt go as far as he did w/ regards to marketing. I think that was a big takeaway in the difference of drive. Most stop at facebook ads not working if even that. Extrapolate that approach to problem solving and you start to see a big diff in this entrepreneurs approach compared to others. I agree that luck is involved but don't let that blind you from the other ways he set himself up for a better shot at that.
habosa 13y ago
True but there is enough money in apps to make it fun and worth it as a hobby. I make Android apps and while I had a big flop with a game my two non-game apps have made me a nice chunk of money. I enjoyed making them and there's enough money in it that I'm not wasting my time. Plus it helped me get my job.
pnathan 13y ago
It's not precisely a lotto. He has resilience, horse sense about what people like, and evidently a very high capability of negotiation. While he did manage to hit some luck, he has some skills and capabilities which will take him far if the horse sense doesn't leave with the onset of fame.

jonny_eh 13y ago

He's not even making much money off this app. He needs to rebuild the app with a better monetization strategy so he — and Schlofman — can start making decent money off it. So even if you're a genius like this guy and make a killer app, it's not likely to make you much money.

dpcx 13y ago
"much money" and "decent money" are very different things, potentially. If he's helping pay his parents mortgage, he's making "much money".
- jonny_eh 13y ago
  I read that to mean his previous Club Penguin apps did that.
moistgorilla 13y ago
He made a ton of money off of the first two apps. Enough to pay for his families housing and the education of himself and his sister. But I agree, the app market isn't too reliable for making money. I see much more opportunity for building your resume using the app market instead
- hanley 13y ago
  From what I could tell, he made most of his money on an app that was using a trademarked name from a video game, I'm surprised no one went after him for that.
poopsintub 13y ago
He just gained experience programming apps. Give him time and he'll be better at monetization. 300k impressions a day should yeild over a 6-figure yearly salary.

mikestew 13y ago

> But it could help you land a nice job. That's the advice I give to aspiring app store millionaires: on average there's no money in the app store, but there's plenty of money to be made making apps for someone else. Throw something on the store that's above the level of flashlight app, and point to it when in contact with a potential employer. There is no ??? step, you just move straight to Step 4: Profit.

sergiotapia 13y ago
When there's a gold rush, you don't go out looking for gold. You sell the shovels. Tons of money to made building apps for someone else.
FLUX-YOU 13y ago
Can't be that easy. Maybe if the employer is looking to pay you 10 an hour.
- will_work4tears 13y ago
  Well, your resume has to pass the filters, you still gotta do several phone screen interviews (at least one hour long, technical one), three panel interviews, an all day technical interview, and a 6 month "paid" (sorry, below market value) trial period. Then you can get the job. The App only appears to help.
yaeger 13y ago
I feel the same about open source in general. People may think "If I write something and it gets enough attention, facebook or google might buy me out" or something to that effect. Basically a get rich quick kind of deal. You only have to write one! thing, cash a multi million dollar check and be set. While that may have happened in the past a couple of times, wanting to start an open source project just because of that possibility would be nearsighted. But starting such a project to promote oneself is not. It is a great addition to your CV. Something future employers can directly check up on.

nsxwolf 13y ago

I've been in the App Store since opening day and in all that time I have made a grand total of $26, far below what I've paid to be in the program. My wife is going to let me do one more app, and if it doesn't earn enough to break even, I am instructed to shut down operations. I am very impressed with and jealous of this kid's success.

owenversteeg 13y ago
Same story here, down to the dollar amount, except I was in the WP7 store. I say was because earning cents an hour wasn't a terribly attractive proposition.
wtbob 13y ago
Out of curiosity, what are your apps? I don't have any iOS devices--I'm just curious.

yoshyosh 13y ago

Most app entrepreneurs wouldnt go as far as he did w/ regards to marketing. I think that was a big takeaway in the difference of drive. Most stop at facebook ads not working if even that. Extrapolate that approach to problem solving and you start to see a big diff in this entrepreneurs approach compared to others. I agree that luck is involved but don't let that blind you from the other ways he set himself up for a better shot at that.

habosa 13y ago

True but there is enough money in apps to make it fun and worth it as a hobby. I make Android apps and while I had a big flop with a game my two non-game apps have made me a nice chunk of money. I enjoyed making them and there's enough money in it that I'm not wasting my time. Plus it helped me get my job.

pnathan 13y ago

It's not precisely a lotto. He has resilience, horse sense about what people like, and evidently a very high capability of negotiation. While he did manage to hit some luck, he has some skills and capabilities which will take him far if the horse sense doesn't leave with the onset of fame.