Hi folks. I've been listening to a great podcast (Marketing Your App), and thinking about the best way to monetize apps without detracting from the app user experience too much. Basically, I think there are only a few ways, as below. What method do you use and why? - Paid apps. Probably less downloads, but you earn right from the beginning. App needs to basically have something that is either unique or a different implementation of something than the other apps out there. - Free with In-App Purchase. Usually more downloads initially. There must be some incentive for app users to buy the in-app purchase. I'm finding the In-App purchase plugin a bit clunky (even users that have paid still need to see that screen and click "Restore", so the user experience is not the greatest, plus the user needs to be online even after the purchase in order to get past that screen). - Free with ads. Not the best user experience, but if the ads are not too distracting then this could be a balance between getting users to try your app and also generate some revenue. I'm leaning towards the last option before I push the app update out this weekend (hopefully) and get rid of the In-App purchase. I just find the whole In-App purchase too clunky. What are your thoughts? Steve

How about an In-App Purchase to remove the ads

Do we have that option via our plugins? :-) Cheers

I think very few users will use iap to remove ads. Only realy loyal users will. The others, might as well keep the ads. Thats my thought. Cheers. Miguel

You can always build a duplicate app with JSON Snippet Plugin take out ads then link to the pro ver in your lite app using IAP Tony

Hi Tony. You lost me at IAP :-) How would you tie the lite version to pro version via IAP? Also, I've been meaning to ask 2 other questions: - how do you create a duplicate app? - will the self-hosted version be updated soon so that you can select which plugins to include before downloading the source? Cheers Steve

Steve, Our development team is working hard on lots of new updates! One being self hosted. It is coming just don't have a solid date yet. As for duplicate apps there is a plugin that allows you to copy screens in multiple apps. If you want to offer an ad ver (lite) and a pro ver without ads and you want the apps to be seperate just use that option. What I was meaning with purchsae is in your lite ver you can have an upgrade button. When a user clicks the button it will take them to the App Store to download pro. Describe what the user is getting if they upgrade. "No more ads, feature 1,2,3 added in pro ver) for 1.99) this is the simplest way without coding it. Email if you need to. Tony