What is a Killer app

A “killer app” is a term used to describe a software application or product feature that is so valuable and compelling that it motivates consumers to purchase or adopt the platform or device it runs on.

Your killer app is that thing you can do for a customer that is so valuable that they won’t go anywhere else. For Joe’s first MSP, this was Saga for PI lawyers. For F1IT, it is broken cables for dentists.

This is a crucial concept when it comes to MSP Marketing: you should know your killer app for your target market.

The idea here is that you don’t need to know everything about an avatar; you must know something.

Here are some examples of killer apps:

1. VisiCalc on the Apple II: One of the earliest examples of a killer app was VisiCalc, a spreadsheet program released in 1979 for the Apple II computer. Before VisiCalc, spreadsheets were typically maintained by hand or with cumbersome methods. VisiCalc revolutionized this process by allowing for easy data entry and instant calculations. Its utility made the Apple II particularly attractive to businesses, greatly expanding the personal computer market beyond hobbyists and the professional realm. It wasn’t just another software for the Apple II; it was the reason many people bought an Apple II in the first place.
   
2. Automatic Lane Change in Tesla’s Autopilot: As self-driving technology advances, several features have emerged that exemplify the potential of autonomous vehicles. One such feature in Tesla’s suite of self-driving capabilities is the automatic lane change. This feature allows the car to automatically change lanes without driver intervention, making highway driving so much easier. This is ALMOST enough for me to shell out $199 a month for self-driving. (In fact, I do pay for it if I am going to do a lot of driving, and I always enjoy the lane change feature.)
   
3. Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo Entertainment System: Video games had suffered a significant market crash in the early 1980s. Super Mario Bros., released in 1985, wasn’t just a successful game—it rejuvenated the entire home video game industry and made the NES a household name.
   
4. App Store for the iPhone: While the iPhone was already revolutionary as a piece of hardware, the introduction of the App Store in 2008 allowed third-party developers to create applications for the device, exponentially increasing its utility and appeal.

As you do your research, find at least one problem that can become a killer app. Eventually, you should have 3-4 so that when you are having a sales conversation, if killer app one isn’t so interesting to them, you can pull out another.