Facebook applications

[yobuckz]

Does anybody know how difficult it is to get a new facebook application approved these days? What are your opinions on building one and monitizing it this late in the game?

 

[andyt]

It's not difficult at all to get a new facebook application approved. They'll approve pretty much anything into the directory, and my opinion is that it is extremely difficult to grow and monetize a large app compared to a year ago. Building it is about the same difficulty as the beginning.

 

[nstory]

I created a few Facebook applications in December/January (practically forever ago now, I guess). Back then, and I assume now, their approval process for the directory was no big deal. Like, unless your app was explicitly pornographic, approval was a sure thing.

You could (can?) leave your app in "public beta", and it would still function just fine, without needing any approval. Considering that the directory will get you ~0 installs (who the fuck browses the facebook application directory, really) - if your app is super sketchy, just don't bother submitting it.

As for getting traffic and ultimately money - good luck. That shit was already super saturated a year ago. It's probably almost impossible now. If you want to get in the application game, look at some of the other networks. Almost all of them have application API's, and they are a lot less competitive.

 

[PinstripeRambo]

Don't bother.. every wannabe entrepreneur has flooded Facebook with their shitty apps. On top of that Facebook has really cracked down on the viral features that got those original apps big in the first place. To grow an app now you'd need a big advertising budget, not worth it imo, unless you're a good games developer.

 

[yobuckz]

Thanks for the feedback. I had a good app idea but I'll stay away from this.