Marketing

[phreebees]

How does one go about marketing a new app? I have an amazing app that is going to be submitted once I get into the dev program. I believe this app has the potential to be the next iShoot. However, I doubt it would reach that status given that the appstore is flooded with crap, unless I market it. Does anyone here know what the best way to advertise your app? Can anyone give me a little list of top app review sites so that I can give out some promo codes once I get them? Ill release some promo codes here as well.
Regards

[jmann]

Twitter perhaps? Maybe give something away to make people spread the word about it?

[KoolStar]

Well your best bet if you say its as good as it is, when apple reviews it it could make the staff choice, if it does then your set. There wise, facebook, twitter, ect.

[phreebees]

my app isnt graphic intensive and flashy ( the kinds that apple likes to feature) however, the content is pure amazing. At least thats what the 30 or so people that have seen it has said. I know that if it does break the top 100 barrier it will stay there for a long time. Its an app that can be reused for a long time.Thanks for your suggestions everyone, if you have anymore keep them coming :D

[dejo]

The following is my opinion only based on what I feel I've seen in the iPhone app market:

- Getting featured by Apple is the best way to get maximum exposure for your app. Unfortunately, this is completely up to Apple and you have no say in the matter. I have heard of Apple contacting developers for more background prior to their app being submitted to the Featured committee.
- If your app's acceptance or rejection is somehow controversial, you can gain a decent amount of exposure by having the tech-press talk about the "scandal".
- Paid advertising is probably the next best way to get lots of exposure. Unfortunately a good advertising campaign costs money.

[Darkroom]

The following is my opinion only based on what I feel I've seen in the iPhone app market:

- Getting featured by Apple is the best way to get maximum exposure for your app. Unfortunately, this is completely up to Apple and you have no say in the matter. I have heard of Apple contacting developers for more background prior to their app being submitted to the Featured committee.
- If your app's acceptance or rejection is somehow controversial, you can gain a decent amount of exposure by having the tech-press talk about the "scandal".
- Paid advertising is probably the next best way to get lots of exposure. Unfortunately a good advertising campaign costs money.

dejo, i recall your work "Craig's Harvest" was featured (at the most inopportune time i might add). did apple contact you before it was featured? do you have other paid apps to compare to the success of your featured app?

[dejo]

dejo, i recall your work "Craig's Harvest" was featured (at the most inopportune time i might add). did apple contact you before it was featured? do you have other paid apps to compare to the success of your featured app?
CraigsHarvest was only featured on the Canadian App Store, it turned out. It caused a sales spike but probably nothing close to what we could see if it was the US App Store. And Apple did not contact us before it was featured, at least not for that reason. I have a friend who was contacted. Don't really have any other paid apps that are comparable.

[Darkroom]

CraigsHarvest was only featured on the Canadian App Store, it turned out. It caused a sales spike but probably nothing close to what we could see if it was the US App Store. And Apple did not contact us before it was featured, at least not for that reason. I have a friend who was contacted. Don't really have any other paid apps that are comparable.

that's strange. i didn't realize that local stores had their own feature section. are you based in canada?

[dejo]

i didn't realize that local stores had their own feature section.
Apparently so. I hadn't realized it either until I saw we were featured and then tried to figure out why not everyone was seeing that. I only saw it because I was logged into my Canadian iTunes account, by accident.

are you based in canada?
No, although I am Canadian! But based out of the Denver area.

[Darkroom]

No, although I am Canadian! But based out of the Denver area.

well, at least as an american based developer you have access to 50 free promotional codes for your apps (assuming they are paid apps). unfortunately, only american based developers have access to this (and by "unfortunately" what i really mean is WHAT THE #%!@#%!!!!).

it truely sucks for everyone else on the planet, as this would be an amazing tool which allows developers to submit your app for review, etc.


App Store Promo Codes
(US-based developers only)
App Store promotional codes allow you to offer free versions of your application for review by the media. You can receive up to 50 promotional codes per update of your application.

Obtain promotional codes by going to the Request Promotional Codes module in iTunes Connect and selecting from the drop-down menu the application for which you need codes. (http://developer.apple.com/iphone/marketing/)

[phreebees]

Thank you for your help. It is especially helpful to know that the featured apps are for the localized applications. Does anyone know what application review sites I should hand out my promotion codes to? out of 50, 30 will probably go to my friends and family. 20 of them Im not so sure. Also, sites like Appvee..do they review every app they recieve? I dont want to send them a promo code jsut to have it go to waste. Thank you for your answers.
Regards,
Phreebees

[skm]

I'm interested: what does this amazing application actually do?

[phreebees]

After I get accepted into the developers program, submit it, and it gets accepted you will see. It is GENIUS. you will wonder why no one has thought about it yet. However, since it doest contain flashy graphics and fancy 3d animation, Im afraid it will not catch any ones attention. Thats why I needed some ideas on how to market it.

[Kingbombs]

After I get accepted into the developers program, submit it, and it gets accepted you will see. It is GENIUS. you will wonder why no one has thought about it yet. However, since it doest contain flashy graphics and fancy 3d animation, Im afraid it will not catch any ones attention. Thats why I needed some ideas on how to market it.

realisticlly you don't need to be so worried about saying your idea, also because this is free advertisement (someone asking you what it does so your not breaking the rules by saying)
if you have already completed (which it sounds like you have) and are just waiting for be accepted, i found to be very quick (unless under a company name, but again seems like you are not), then its just the approval time, and if anyone does make it they still have to approve it to, so its seems like you will probably beat them to it anyways
So long winded way to say, it most likly won't make a difference if you say your idea here except to get free advertisement from people that may buy it when they see it here

[icewing]

if you have already completed (which it sounds like you have) and are just waiting for be accepted, i found to be very quick (unless under a company name, but again seems like you are not)

I'm working on creating an app, and was planning on creating a company name to publish it under - are you saying that approvals go quicker if I just use my own name instead of setting up a company?

[phreebees]

Im sorry, no hints until its in review. :D

[Darkroom]

Im sorry, no hints until its in review. :D

there are 10s of thousands of apps on the app store right now. while lots (perhaps most) are dumb trinket apps, webpage replacement apps, official-famous-person apps, etc., there are lots that are also quite original and strong. are you absolutely positive that your idea is totally original?

additionally, don't underestimate graphics. if you truly have a great idea, you would be wise to make it look as good as you say it is.

[Kingbombs]

I'm working on creating an app, and was planning on creating a company name to publish it under - are you saying that approvals go quicker if I just use my own name instead of setting up a company?

can't remember where i saw it but approval time is just over a day for a person whereas a company can take around 5 days,

obviously it varies depending on the amount applying but thats what people were saying i nvarious forums when i applied (mine took about 5 or 6 days once i sent the paper work through for the business)

[phreebees]

I am 100% sure this idea is original. I've looked and researched for similar apps and couldnt find one. Regarding graphics..I'm more a programmer than designer so I'm keeping it simple instead of trying to do something and end up making the entire thing cheesy. The designer will come when the dough starts pouring in ( hopefully ).

[dejo]

Sorry if many of the other developers here are going to sound very skeptical about the genius of your app, but it wouldn't be the first time that someone has posted to extoll the virtues of their amazing app but unable to reveal details of it only to never be heard from again.

[phreebees]

I'll be around, I'll be giving out promotion codes here as well.

[Darkroom]

Regarding graphics..I'm more a programmer than designer so I'm keeping it simple instead of trying to do something and end up making the entire thing cheesy. The designer will come when the dough starts pouring in ( hopefully ).

However, since it doest contain flashy graphics and fancy 3d animation, Im afraid it will not catch any ones attention. Thats why I needed some ideas on how to market it.

you've already identified a problem prior to it's release — it doesn't look good. of course, visual appeal is very subjective, but hiding behind the fact that you are "more of a programmer than designer" and ignoring the importance of a strong GUI is a misstep. mac users are very keen on design, we've paid a premium for it and your app WILL sell better if it looks attractive.

if, however, your app has some revolutionary, mind-blowing functionality, never before seen in the history of software development, you can probably afford to ignore the design (for now, or even indefinitely), but you may want to consider applying for a patent.

It is GENIUS.

another thing to consider is that if you do in fact have a great idea, after your app is released you can expect other similar apps that copy your "genius" idea to pop up with the addition of a strong GUI.

sites like Appvee..do they review every app they recieve? I dont want to send them a promo code jsut to have it go to waste.

app review sites are very general. you'll want to examine more precise avenues. for example, if your app is a fitness app, you could make an appointment with the owner of a local gym franchise to see if they would be interested in some type of cross promotion, or even if they'd let you put up posters/business cards in their locker rooms.

-=-=-=-

[EDIT] concerning business cards, i've found printpelican.com (http://www.printpelican.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=businesscards.businesscard&product_id=6&) to be very good, and VERY cheap. a lot cheaper and faster than any of the local print shops in my area. they have production houses in Miami and Toronto. i once ordered 500 full color (one side) glossy UV coated cards, in a week, delivered for $30 flat. i'd be interested to hear other recommendations about a good online printing business.

[MacToddB]

How does one go about marketing a new app? I have an amazing app that is going to be submitted once I get into the dev program. I believe this app has the potential to be the next iShoot. However, I doubt it would reach that status given that the appstore is flooded with crap, unless I market it. Does anyone here know what the best way to advertise your app? Can anyone give me a little list of top app review sites so that I can give out some promo codes once I get them? Ill release some promo codes here as well.
Regards

I've had some success with 100sounds, so I wrote an ebook, the content of which has been published in serial form in the last two issues of iPhone Life Magazine. Here's a link:

http://www.iphonelife.com/issues/Summer09/TheIdeaComesFirst

I can send you (and anyone else who asks) a draft of the ebook. I'm just putting the finishing touches on it and it will be free. Just something to give back.

Also, feel free to contact me w/ specific questions so I can give you some specific advice. I've helped some other developers get their apps into the Top 20 in their categories.

[Darkroom]

I've had some success with 100sounds, so I wrote an ebook, the content of which has been published in serial form in the last two issues of iPhone Life Magazine. Here's a link:

http://www.iphonelife.com/issues/Summer09/TheIdeaComesFirst

I can send you (and anyone else who asks) a draft of the ebook. I'm just putting the finishing touches on it and it will be free. Just something to give back.

Also, feel free to contact me w/ specific questions so I can give you some specific advice. I've helped some other developers get their apps into the Top 20 in their categories.

i'd be interested in taking a look. i'll assume others would also be interested. could you post the rough draft to this form as a .zip attachment?

[MacToddB]

i'd be interested in taking a look. i'll assume others would also be interested. could you post the rough draft to this form as a .zip attachment?

It's still rough and I don't want it to be widely spread before it's done. It's like a beta!

[Darkroom]

It's still rough and I don't want it to be widely spread before it's done. It's like a beta!

no problem. i'd still like to take a look, if you wouldn't mind forwarding me a copy in a PM that would be great.

[Darkroom]

i recently learned that non-american-based developers still have access to promotional codes, but the receiver of the code must have an american iTunes account. while i still think this is ghetto on apple's part, i assume lots of noteworthy app reviewers are based in the USA and therefore this shouldn't be disadvantageous to non-american-based developers.

After I get accepted into the developers program, submit it, and it gets accepted you will see. It is GENIUS. you will wonder why no one has thought about it yet. However, since it doest contain flashy graphics and fancy 3d animation, Im afraid it will not catch any ones attention. Thats why I needed some ideas on how to market it.

so... how's progress? when do we get to see your work?

[phreebees]

I'm about 3 days from releasing it. I read a very helpful site a member posted regarding reasons why apple would reject and app and have found my own to have a few violations. So after I work those out it'll be ready! Im kind of anxious to get it out, but I dont want to push out junk that will crash and burn.

[Darkroom]

and... ?

[TodVader]

Yeah lol. I forget about that story but I'd be interested in seeing that genius of an app.

[dejo]

I wonder if Judas Answers (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=814019) is the app.

[tutukun]

Ofc you will need to be active on forums, facebook, twitter,etc... the usual

but more importantly, i think the best way to marketing your app is to have a solid idea, good game design and proper execution. People play it like it and they will spread the words.

[Darkroom]

I wonder if Judas Answers (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=814019) is the app.

humm... seems you would be correct. kinda disappointing, really. peter answers for iPhone isn't exactly what i thought would be "genius". :o

[firewood]

How does one go about marketing a new app?

Marketing is a competition for attention. If there are 20 paid app top-100 lists, and more than 20,000 developers fighting to get on those lists, a successful marketing campaign has to do something that at least 90% of those other competing developers can't do. If you don't rise above the visibility of those other 98,000 apps, you might end up with only a niche app.

Whatever a successful iPhone app marketing campaign looks like, it can't be simple and easy, else those other 90% of developers might just bury you by applying a bit more time or money to those same methods doing the same old thing as you.