Profit, not Quantity

November 15th, 2009

Louie Mantia compares selling iPhone applications to McDonalds:

My point is, just because that McDonald’s has all these people buying up their cheap burgers doesn’t mean that place across the street can’t sell deliciously better seven and a half dollar burgers. They might not sell as many, but it’s not about that. Again, success is measured when you can turn a profit. As long as those guys are making money and can run their business, they’re successful.

So, I have a suggestion. Let’s stop making Apple’s App Store out to be our scapegoat and let’s start publicizing our products on the web a little better. And just as with other businesses, if you can’t make a profit with your iPhone applications, for whatever reason, consider what you’re doing wrong and if there’s any way you can improve what you’re doing.

That’s Apple’s model, too: sell less quantity, but make more per unit. And do that by targeting customers who want (and will pay for) quality products that are lovingly designed and made.

(Via Jorge Quinteros.)