Mobile apps development has now turned into a full-fledged billion-dollar industry. This is the reason why giant corporations are recognizing the importance of leveraging this opportunity.
Because of this, it has become a reason of worry for independent startups and developers who face a direct threat from such well-established large companies.
However, in reality there is no reason to worry. If big enterprises have a huge advantage of capital backup, even small setups have their own benefits.
In fact, sometimes the presence of big names actually helps small names to flourish. Let us look at a few simple tips through which small developers or startups can hang around in parallel with big players:
Use the lower entry bar to your advantage
Creating a mobile app requires relatively much lesser cost than creating software. Also, mobile apps creation involves less sophistication and is released easily in the market.
Hence, the field is broadly open for all, whether large enterprises or independent setups.
As an example, a person named Ethan Nicholas created iShoot game right back in 2009, in his extra time, which ultimately rose to No. 1 spot on iOS App Store.
Risk-taking becomes easier
Being an independent developer, you cut down the risks involved in promoting a brand, payroll obligations, and pleasing shareholders. Because of this, you can experiment multiple times to gain success, unlike companies who are concerned every time before experimenting.
Flexibility helps you to be an early adopter
Bureaucracy in big organizations is a difficult thing to deal with. This can lead to a delayed response from the market. Because of too many different kinds of people thriving in such giant setups, a concept may have to pass through several layers of approval before the actual work gets started. Meanwhile, you are in a position to offer, a similar offering all by yourself.
Partnerships help you to succeed
Large corporations are very apprehensive in collaborating with others. Hence, it takes long for such giants to come to a partnership agreement. While being an independent developer, you can collaborate with similar independent or small setups from a pool of a wide social community of talented people.
Scope gets extended when large organizations put forth steps forward
Imagine you are having a vacuum repairing shop and another vacuum repairing shop opens up in your neighborhood. This might worry you as the vacuum repairing market is quite limited and now you will be sharing a limited market with your competitors.
However, that is not the case with mobile apps. The mobile apps industry is growing at such a rapid pace that it has scope for everybody to thrive.
Especially when brand names move into a specific app space, it automatically creates emerging opportunities in that space for independent people or startups.
Reap benefits from a fierce competition
When giant corporations fight towards creating a particular kind of application, you can leverage the whole situation by creating a unique app at a relatively low cost in the same space to win the bidding war.
Innovation takes over impossible
Today possibly every kind of app has tremendous competition out there. Some are created by individuals, some by companies. However, that did not discourage Evernote to create a note-based application.
The market was already saturated but still they succeeded by bringing in innovative features which other similar application was not able to deliver.
This is the reason that even in a saturated market; Evernote attracted more than 14 million customers worldwide.
Patent your concept
Creating a great application is very important. However, to protect it from duplication is even more important. While the app is in the process of development, invest some of your time in studying the patent and copyright law basics.
Do a preliminary research on Google, how to save your application by imposing copyright. Meet an attorney, and do patent filing as early as possible before your competitors.
Also, do take care of other intellectual property needs such as contracts, licenses, and agreements. Investing your time in these legal formalities will help you to save your efforts, time, and resources beforehand down the line.
Ready to act independently
As we discussed, being an independent developer or setup comes with a whole lot of advantages when compared to a giant enterprise. By being an independent mobile application developer, you can save a lot on your costs, time, and resources.
Do not underestimate the power and capabilities of your large competitors, but at the same time do not underestimate your own caliber. Do not fear of being small or financially less capable.
Mobile apps industry has room for everybody to survive, and looking at the number of players entering each day, the mobile apps industry is here to last for a long time.
