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$80,000 a Month in App Sales by Outsourcing Everything

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Re: $80,000 a Month in App Sales by Outsourcing Everything

#101

Post by AndrewWarner »

kranner wrote: post #92
epo wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think slimy get rich quick was referring to the snake oil peddled by the interviewees. If Andrew can be accused of anything, it is for writing a sloppy puff-piece and not submitting these fantasy claims to any scrutiny.

If I recall correctly, in previous interviews Andrew has talked about running background checks and verifications on reported incomes. Overall I think he's a great interviewer.

Thanks Kranner.

When I interview someone who wasn't referred by someone I know or when I'm unsure of the numbers before an interview, I often ask them to log into their affiliate or paypal or bank account to show me activity using Skype's desktop share. Or I ask for their accountant to confirm their numbers. Or I ask to see their tax returns. I always keep what I see private.

In this case, I didn't need to do that because: a) $80k per month for iPhone makers isn't shocking -- as other have said in the comments -- b) anyone who checks out the app store on a regular basis will recognize the apps these guys made because they're often the most popular in their categories. You can check on this right now, and c) the big part of this story was that they outsourced everything and elance confirmed that.

Finally, I can't be 100% accurate with every interview I do -- not even close. I count on readers to point out when I get my data wrong and when I let my interviewee get away with lying.

I don't think that's the case here. But when it comes up, say something.

I respect readers' opinions and feedback. Anyone is welcome to call me "slimy," but there's no need to do that to get my attention.

Re: $80,000 a Month in App Sales by Outsourcing Everything

#102

Post by vaporstun »

mattmanser wrote: post #54
stevenp wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a great point. Looking at these apps, they're certainly not anything like ConvertBot or Instagram. As an app developer myself, I think I could have easily made most of these apps in my spare time without a ton of design skill, yet they're really successful. Definitely food for though.

What food for thought? Choose to throw your life away on meaningless shit so you can say you made some money, or do something you care about? Most of us here could easily make a $200k consulting a year. Does it make you happy? No. Would making shite apps and essentially scamming people make most of the people here happy? No. You gotta remember that the kind of person who does this kind of shit is basically a bit of a…

With all due respect, I think you need to step off of your high horse and realize that there is value created, even in crappy apps that spam. Sure it's not as "beautiful" as a well done app that took many man hours of creation/polishing, etc. but it gets the job done and gives access to some people who may not otherwise have it.

Also, making cash in order to buy the freedom to do the things that make you happy I believe is righteous.

Further, I fail to see how their actions are "scamming people"? They are creating FREE apps. If the user doesn't like it, they can delete it. It is not as though they are SELLING subpar apps and then giving people the finger when they as for a refund. There is no scam in a value for value transaction and, by downloading a free app, it seems to me they ought to expect them not to be of the highest quality and/or to have ads.

Re: $80,000 a Month in App Sales by Outsourcing Everything

#103

Post by run4yourlives »

gregpilling wrote: post #73
run4yourlives wrote: post #58

Did anyone actually ask them to verify these numbers? Did a third party do so? Extraordinary claims ($80K a month) require extra-ordinary evidence. They don't even really seem to know what their revenue is like, but their fairly certain about the large size of the numbers... normally, that's the smell of bullshit. Tom Vu's girlfriend wants to see the proof of these claims.

Ahh, Tom Vu. Whatever happened to him and his late night infomercials? I remember his great quote - "Do you think these girls like me? NO, they like my money!"

Apparently he plays poker these days.

Re: $80,000 a Month in App Sales by Outsourcing Everything

#104

Post by phlux »

callmeed wrote: post #50
ajg1977 wrote: post #30

I don't know what to think about stories such as these to be honest. My inner entrepreneur says "Wow, great job guys! I wish you every success". My inner software developer winces, and fears, both professionally and personally, that the ever-growing number of such low-quality apps will eventually make it pointless for developers to invest in creating a ConvertBot or Instagram. (FWIW I currently make $15k a month from…

It definitely creates a lot of noise and worries me as someone who is just about to enter the mobile app market. I just finished some iOS training and am working on my first paid app. What would you say is the key to getting where you are? Apps with true utility–or something else?

Where did you take iOS training?

Re: $80,000 a Month in App Sales by Outsourcing Everything

#105

Post by sofal »

BonesLF wrote: post #39
epo wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Now I know its snake oil, this page has all the wording and techniques of a classic get rich quick scam.

It's only a scam if you fail. Hell, most people give up even when the blueprint is right in front of them. It's time to stop making excuses and realize that there is so much money to be made on this here internets that the best idea is to TRY HARDER. caveat: Yes, this may be a bit slutty. But I don't know if you noticed this Halloween - slutty is in.

It's only a scam if you fail.

So it's not a scam if you make money off it?

Re: $80,000 a Month in App Sales by Outsourcing Everything

#106

Post by muhfuhkuh »

mattmanser wrote: post #54
stevenp wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a great point. Looking at these apps, they're certainly not anything like ConvertBot or Instagram. As an app developer myself, I think I could have easily made most of these apps in my spare time without a ton of design skill, yet they're really successful. Definitely food for though.

What food for thought? Choose to throw your life away on meaningless shit so you can say you made some money, or do something you care about? Most of us here could easily make a $200k consulting a year. Does it make you happy? No. Would making shite apps and essentially scamming people make most of the people here happy? No. You gotta remember that the kind of person who does this kind of shit is basically a bit of a…

There's a wide yawning gulf of difference between $17000 a month and $80000 a month. One is the average for a senior SW rockstar in the Valley and can afford you a nice 3BR/2BA "meh" house in SF that may very well be on the border of Sketchytown; the other (if consistent and/or repeatable) is Burj al-Arab 3000 square foot suite on holiday, owning condo a short walk to the Marina and the Palace of Fine Arts, FU money.

And, what makes you think they aren't doing something they care about? They are attacking niches within the app store with extreme prejudice. And, that in itself is allowing them to do whatever they feel like doing. The ultimate goal of building a business is to gain the resources to help you manage your _time_ the way you see fit, whether that is through philanthropic causes, building lasting businesses in other areas, self-actualization, focusing on the family, or examining the finer things in life. The #1 goal on DHH's and Zuck's and Ballmer's mind-- the double super secret final endzone fat lady singing goal-- is money. Let's _never_ forget that.

And, how is making derivative apps and giving it away to make ad revenue "shite"? It's simply another avenue to success. I guess patio11 should just hang his head in shame for working on "yet another work scheduler app". This line of thinking is just lazy and supremely pompous.

Moreover, how does conducting a very public and financially candid interview merit being called "a social retard?" That's just such a vicious and insulting attack that I can't even begin to see why anyone would upvote it. Pathetic. And, the envy in you is so deep and bile-ridden as to be wading in it.

Re: $80,000 a Month in App Sales by Outsourcing Everything

#107

Post by lzw »

atleta wrote: post #96
run4yourlives wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think making massive money on crap that enables you to spend time on things you actually do value - be they other apps, a family, hobby or passion to save the world - is a perfectly valid way to live life. Your post sounds like nothing more than sour grapes.

Depends... making money on crap (that the market and people want) is OK as long as you use it to spend time on things that you think would be useful for people, the society. Spending this time (i.e. money) on yourself (family, hobby, whatnot) is not ethical.

How is it not ethical to use the results of your own labor for your own benefit? To presume that our labor (whether you think the quality is "crap" or not) belongs to other people or "society" is to presume that we are slaves to others and that somehow it is unethical to work for ones own benefit.

Re: $80,000 a Month in App Sales by Outsourcing Everything

#109

Post by jimbokun »

klochner wrote: post #52

I'm not a marketing expert, so correct me if I'm wrong here ... Let's assume an iphone app gets CPM of about $1 [1,2] So if their first app grossed $100k, that means about 100M impressions. That sounds insanely high to me - 100 impressions each for 1M users? 10 impressions for 10M users? When I then see that they're trying to sell books for $99 a pop so you can cash in on their winning techniques [3], it rings of lat…

"(and his prior supplements business)"

He made his money from this, and busted his butt to build that business.

4 hour work week is about how he was able to continue to live off that business, while devoting only 4 hours per week to it. It was an alternative path to selling it off or continuing to burn himself out as a hands on manager. There's also a lot in there of various things he tried and failed.

Overall, it's similar to the YCombinator ideal of busting your butt while you're young to solve the "money problem" once and for all. 4 hour work week is a different approach to the same goal.

Re: $80,000 a Month in App Sales by Outsourcing Everything

#110

Post by chc »

atleta wrote: post #96
run4yourlives wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think making massive money on crap that enables you to spend time on things you actually do value - be they other apps, a family, hobby or passion to save the world - is a perfectly valid way to live life. Your post sounds like nothing more than sour grapes.

Depends... making money on crap (that the market and people want) is OK as long as you use it to spend time on things that you think would be useful for people, the society. Spending this time (i.e. money) on yourself (family, hobby, whatnot) is not ethical.

Why is it unethical to spend your money on your family? I think that's a claim that needs more explanation.
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