The Foundations Of A Successful App [Infographic]

Creating a mobile app may not be too terribly difficult these days, but creating a successful app is a different matter altogether. The app markets are simply too saturated, and very few apps are able to accumulate many downloads—only one in six smartphone apps exceed 500 total downloads. Three out of every four apps earn the developers less than $500 per month.

StartApp took a look at top app developers on the Google Play Store to find out what sets their apps apart from the rest. Two important discoveries were made: incorporating social features within apps add significant value and playing live with real people ensures a diverse experience. One of the popular apps today is Blood Brothers, a dark fantasy game about a hero turned vampire. The game has more than seven million users and is the top mobile game in 27 countries. The game has a popular “social trading” feature. Another incredibly popular mobile game is Words With Friends, a word game that is played against other users. The game boasted 7.5 billion minutes of playtime in December 2012. Players use the game to feel more connected with friends and family.

Other popular mobile games include Minecraft, Dragonplay Poker, and Candy Crush Saga. To learn more about what sets these apps apart from the crowd, check out the infographic below!