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Comment by nurettin | Hacker News Reader

Not sure if I should share this, as it is a trivial and obvious thing to do. Recently I created a ramen-profitable on google play with currently a couple of thousand users.

The idea is to look for apps that have low ratings, high downloads and lots of recent comments, then make them better. You can use synonyms and the same niche category to increase visibility on google play. This is where the money is.

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> Not sure if I should share this, as it is a trivial and obvious thing to do...

Probably worth linking here to Derek Sivers' post "Obvious To You, Amazing To Others": https://sivers.org/obvious

I've heard of your method before, but I first read it in Fast Company in a story called The Amazon Whisperer, and while it might seem obvious now, I thought it was amazing when I first read it: https://www.fastcompany.com/3021229/chaim-pikarski-the-amazo...

That article on FastCompany about the Amazon Whisperer is incredibly eye-opening. Thanks for linking

This technique also works for Wordpress plugins, and just about any other paid category with reviews.

You can go into wordpress.org, just take a look at the download numbers and it will tell you flat out like whether somebody’s downloads are increasing overtime or are they decreasing, when the last updates were, all that kind of information. And you can get a sense from that information alone as to whether or not it would be possible to put another plugin that offers similar functionality

http://www.startupsfortherestofus.com/episodes/episode-249-f... (search "12:54")

You can also find WordPress plugins that have a good install base, but the author is looking for someone to adopt.

I adopted a refer spam blocker plugin (https://wordpress.org/plugins/block-referer-spam/), added some features for a paid version (https://www.blockreferspam.com/) and it's doing pretty well.

This is the only non-vague, useful comment to this thread so far. A specific tactic that can be practically applied.

Don't worry, I've thought about doing something similar - I'm sure others have too. Still not so many people doing it that your niche will dissappear.

Would be interesting if you would plug your app(s) though. Might boost your sales too :-)

It is a highly localized radio player. Reduced data usage seems to be highly demanded by customers and other app owners tell users it's impossible. But I know nothing is impossible :-)

I am currently experimenting with a streaming proxy that will channel data with 60-70% reduced quality (for customers who aren't audiophiles).

Like everything in engineering, I imagine it is a balancing act.

I'm often amazed how good enough downsampled 480p video can be (e.g. on YouTube). If you're solving a problem for people, +1 to you.

My apologies if you're already aware of this: there are cheap VPS providers with unlimited bandwidth, perfect for these "streaming middleman" type of audio/video applications.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13798023

How are you monetising it? Is it a paid app (upfront/in-app purchase)?

I opted for in-app because then I won't have to manage two releases on play store. (demo/free app and paid app)

A quick list of such apps:

(Tools) Claro downloads: 10000000 rating: 3.0

(Entertainment) Free Music Download downloads: 5000000 rating: 2.3

(Simulation) Laser 100 Beams Funny Joke downloads: 5000000 rating: 2.6

(Racing) Liberty Auto downloads: 5000000 rating: 2.7

(News & Magazines) PressReader (preinstalled) downloads: 5000000 rating: 2.9

(Tools) SAMSUNG TV & Remote (IR) downloads: 5000000 rating: 3.0

(Entertainment) MYTF1 downloads: 5000000 rating: 3.0

(News & Magazines) Hürriyet e-gazete downloads: 5000000 rating: 3.0

(Entertainment) NetMovies downloads: 1000000 rating: 2.2

(Communication) SoftBankメール downloads: 1000000 rating: 2.2

(Entertainment) YouTube for Android TV downloads: 1000000 rating: 2.4

(Lifestyle) NissanConnect downloads: 1000000 rating: 2.4

(Entertainment) blim downloads: 1000000 rating: 2.6

(Travel & Local) HRS App downloads: 1000000 rating: 2.6

(Simulation) Night Vision Camera Prank downloads: 1000000 rating: 2.6

(Action) Dead Drunk Lover (very hard) downloads: 1000000 rating: 2.6

(Arcade) Happy Win Bro The Wheels Mode downloads: 1000000 rating: 2.7

(Simulation) Face scanner What age Prank downloads: 1000000 rating: 2.7

(Finance) (앱연동) Droid-X 안드로이드 백신 downloads: 1000000 rating: 2.7

(Board) Twist Your Fingers! downloads: 1000000 rating: 2.8

(Lifestyle) U+TV앱(리모콘) downloads: 1000000 rating: 2.8

(Tools) Universal TV Remote downloads: 1000000 rating: 2.8

(Simulation) Woman Hypnosis simulator downloads: 1000000 rating: 2.8

(Finance) 앱프리 - 전자서명, 앱프리 downloads: 1000000 rating: 2.8

(Music & Audio) Virtual Flute downloads: 1000000 rating: 2.8

(Books & Reference) T-Mobile eReader downloads: 1000000 rating: 2.8

(Tools) KSfilemanager for FUJITSU downloads: 1000000 rating: 2.9

(Casual) Funny voice changer! downloads: 1000000 rating: 2.9

(Tools) Universal TV Remote downloads: 1000000 rating: 3.0

(Simulation) Adult Stunner Simulator downloads: 1000000 rating: 3.0

(Arcade) City Craft: Building downloads: 1000000 rating: 3.0

(Simulation) Iron Glove Laser Simulator downloads: 1000000 rating: 3.0

(Lifestyle) Mos Burger downloads: 1000000 rating: 3.0

(Tools) Too Many Items FREE downloads: 1000000 rating: 3.0

(Entertainment) B tv plus downloads: 1000000 rating: 3.0

(Entertainment) Smart-AC Universal Remote Free downloads: 500000 rating: 1.7

(Communication) Visual Voicemail Plus downloads: 500000 rating: 1.9

(Racing) Car Driving Simulator downloads: 500000 rating: 2.2

(Finance) NFC Pass downloads: 500000 rating: 2.3

(Travel & Local) VZ Navigator for CasioCommando downloads: 500000 rating: 2.3

(Lifestyle) ARITAUM downloads: 500000 rating: 2.3

(Photography) Photo Eraser downloads: 500000 rating: 2.4

(Communication) 안전신문고 downloads: 500000 rating: 2.4

(Simulation) Pocket ball hologram simulator downloads: 500000 rating: 2.5

(Entertainment) PLUS7 downloads: 500000 rating: 2.6

(Action) Pixelmon Hero GO downloads: 500000 rating: 2.7

(Lifestyle) REALTOR.ca downloads: 500000 rating: 2.7

(Simulation) Pet Spook Simulator downloads: 500000 rating: 2.7

(Entertainment) TOPModel Community App downloads: 500000 rating: 2.8

(Casual) Juegos de Vestir downloads: 500000 rating: 2.8

(Tools) Dog Whistle PRO downloads: 500000 rating: 2.8

(Entertainment) Weight Machine Scanner Prank downloads: 500000 rating: 2.9

(Tools) Quick Measure downloads: 500000 rating: 2.9

(Entertainment) TVチューナー downloads: 500000 rating: 2.9

(Sports) Combate Play downloads: 500000 rating: 2.9

(Video Players & Editors) WatchBig! downloads: 500000 rating: 2.9

(Lifestyle) KT 인증 downloads: 500000 rating: 2.9

(Arcade) hunting craft survival war downloads: 500000 rating: 3.0

(Arcade) Ender Dragon Mod for Minecraft downloads: 500000 rating: 3.0

(Entertainment) Telewizja Tu i Tam downloads: 500000 rating: 3.0

(Entertainment) Sky Sports Mobile TV downloads: 500000 rating: 3.0

(Health & Fitness) Heart Rate Tester downloads: 500000 rating: 3.0

(Arcade) VCMI downloads: 500000 rating: 3.0

(Tools) Sharp Smart Remote downloads: 500000 rating: 3.0

(Casual) Spin the Bottle Kissing Game downloads: 500000 rating: 3.0

(Tools) WiFi Display downloads: 500000 rating: 3.0

(Tools) URL HOME downloads: 100000 rating: 1.0

(Sports) 7Live - Take your TV with you! downloads: 100000 rating: 1.4

(Productivity) Connect2 downloads: 100000 rating: 1.8

(Tools) Little Pony Minecraft downloads: 100000 rating: 2.0

(Productivity) Backup Assistant Optimus Zone downloads: 100000 rating: 2.1

(Entertainment) Hacks Tip and Trick for Agario downloads: 100000 rating: 2.1

(Productivity) Easy OTG Camera downloads: 100000 rating: 2.1

(Entertainment) T-Pain Voice Auto Tuner downloads: 100000 rating: 2.2

(Health & Fitness) PowerSensor downloads: 100000 rating: 2.2

(Entertainment) Gift Code Generator downloads: 100000 rating: 2.3

(Entertainment) Thug Life Maker downloads: 100000 rating: 2.3

(Communication) Ben App downloads: 100000 rating: 2.3

(Simulation) ガンダムエリアウォーズKR downloads: 100000 rating: 2.3

(Simulation) Crafting Dead downloads: 100000 rating: 2.4

(Business) MySurvey downloads: 100000 rating: 2.4

(Shopping) Eldorado Store downloads: 100000 rating: 2.4

(Video Players & Editors) VR BOX KOREA downloads: 100000 rating: 2.4

(Travel & Local) Alitalia downloads: 100000 rating: 2.4

(Productivity) iTrio Laser Pen downloads: 100000 rating: 2.4

(Music & Audio) Mp3 Music Download downloads: 100000 rating: 2.4

(Entertainment) テレビ視聴 downloads: 100000 rating: 2.4

(Entertainment) 아이템매니아! 안전한 게임! NO.1 아이템 거래! downloads: 100000 rating: 2.4

(Health & Fitness) TomTom MySports downloads: 100000 rating: 2.4

(Entertainment) 천국에서 온 편지 downloads: 100000 rating: 2.4

(Productivity) Alice Webmail downloads: 100000 rating: 2.4

(Entertainment) M6 mobile downloads: 100000 rating: 2.4

(Arcade) Guide for Geometry Dash downloads: 100000 rating: 2.4

(Communication) emobileメッセージ（旧EMnetメール） downloads: 100000 rating: 2.4

(Trivia) 바보퀴즈 downloads: 100000 rating: 2.5

(Strategy) Crack the angry birds egg downloads: 100000 rating: 2.5

(Simulation) Flashlight Form Simulator downloads: 100000 rating: 2.5

(Productivity) EDITOR TEXT FOR PDF downloads: 100000 rating: 2.5

(Books & Reference) Mine Little Pony Mods for MCPE downloads: 100000 rating: 2.5

(Entertainment) 3player downloads: 100000 rating: 2.5

How did you query such list?

crawled google play data earlier and filtered offline.

Thanks for the reply. Did you face any issues during crawling process like access restrictions. If you share your practice I will be appreciated.

My crawler is modified from https://github.com/KopLyf/GPlayCrawler. Crawled 100k+ apps without any access issue.

I just tested this with `apt install python-scrapy python-pymongo && scrapy crawl google`. It seems to download one by one.

Edit: Interesting, it also downloads comments in my locale. Google play seems to be responding according to my IP information.

Ad supported or paid?

Ads are awful. It is currently a one-time purchase. Edit: this is one more thing that others were doing wrong.

Edit: Google ads are inane in my localization. You mostly get adult lines and "you caught a virus" scams despite opting out. Google doesn't seem to do anything about it despite complaints. I get paid because I removed the ads (even from demo version) and I do it gladly. Good riddance.

Reminds me of the time an ad managed to somehow break out of its boundaries and present the user with a popup. It still amazes me, this was Google Adsense for Android, but I saw it with my own eyes. And guess who received the bad reviews..

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