August 8, 2011 at 22:42TOP 7 - in 7 days. Marketing iPad Apps on the Apple Store
I’ll start not with the promotion methods themselves, but with the preparation, which is no less important than the promotion and promotion of the application itself. Immediately make a reservation that I give as an example only paid applications and the Russian Apple Store.
You just can’t imagine how important the elements are the 72 * 72 pixel icon in the program directory. I believe that it is better to have an attractive icon and screenshots, but the limited functionality of the application itself, than the sophisticated functionality of the application and a nondescript icon. A user who roams the AppStore, in search of something, can be attracted only by an icon and nothing more. Make a very visible icon so that it stands out against the background with others (fewer small details), let it be contrasting colors with a bright frame or a beautiful illustration, also do not forget about the HD icon if your application is for iPad. For an example, look at a picture with an apple and at screenshots - that’s what I’m talking about.
After the user was interested in the icon and he went to the product itself, a large-sized icon and screenshots immediately struck the eye. I think this is one of the key points, if the user didn’t like the screenshots, he won’t go into details, such as: description, requirements for iOS, size, etc. Only after that the user begins to view the details of the product itself. At this stage, the product description becomes important, try to indicate in 214 characters all the advantages of your application.
Before publishing the application on the AppStore, be sure to work on the following: keywords, sections (main and additional), try to specify all sections that are suitable for your application, do not save on sections, because in additional sections there is a chance to get into New & Noteworthy.
Before starting my marketing activity I read a lot of articles, there was even such “Marketing for mobile applications: 50 ways to promote the application for iPhone” , after reading a long laugh at some points. A couple of good reviews were published on Habré “Promotion of the program in the Apple Store, using an example of a very specific application” and “How to increase the rating of free programs in the AppStore” . Having gathered everything together and tested on my application, I can draw the following specific conclusions:
1. The publication of press releases on thematic sites. This method has proven to be the most effective. Type in Google “an overview of the iPad (or iPhone) applications” or “the directory of the iPad (or iPhone) applications”, write down a list of sites, contact the site administrators and send them an overview of your application, including links to screenshots and to itunes. Since many people ask for promo codes, you need to be very thrifty with promo codes, don’t give more than three, this is quite enough, although many ask for five, remember you have only 50 of them.
2. PR Gage service , proved to be with the best side. I ordered the cheapest package, which costs only $ 39.
3. Banners on themed sites. Almost all more or less visited sites have a link for advertisers with a price list, if not, ask for prices for a monthly banner placement. Many resources indicate unrealistic prices, but believe me, there are sites with normal traffic of 15-20K, on which the cost of a monthly banner placement will cost from 4000 to 6000 rubles, which is quite acceptable.
4. If you have pages on social networks (facebook, vKontakte, twitter, etc.), be sure to give a link to your application. Maybe this way of promotion is weaker than the three above, but believe me that there isn’t much advertising in this sector, for example, I asked my friend to post a link to my application on facebook, and he has 4,000 friends. I am sure that this brought a certain effect for the development of the application.
5. Be sure to try the iPhone resource , however, at the time of writing, the server was giving a 500 error. Try to directly contact Arthur (administrator) and ask to view your application.
6. Regarding the review on Youtube and the application site itself, I’m not talking anymore, these are for granted things that must be done before launching the application itself.
All of the above methods helped us break into the TOP 7 of the most downloaded applications on the Russian AppStore. Remember that marketing must be carried out immediately after your application is in the main directory of the AppStore, if you linger for at least one day, then everything will be more expensive and longer. For myself, I made a small conclusion that if the application does not pay for itself during the first month of publication, then the likelihood that it will pay for itself in the next month is very small.
Yes, one more small tip, it’s better to set the publication date later, no one knows how much your application will be in moderation.
Next time I’ll write how long they stayed in TOP 10, and what promotion methods were used additionally (there are a couple more ideas, we will try).
You just can’t imagine how important the elements are the 72 * 72 pixel icon in the program directory. I believe that it is better to have an attractive icon and screenshots, but the limited functionality of the application itself, than the sophisticated functionality of the application and a nondescript icon. A user who roams the AppStore, in search of something, can be attracted only by an icon and nothing more. Make a very visible icon so that it stands out against the background with others (fewer small details), let it be contrasting colors with a bright frame or a beautiful illustration, also do not forget about the HD icon if your application is for iPad. For an example, look at a picture with an apple and at screenshots - that’s what I’m talking about.
After the user was interested in the icon and he went to the product itself, a large-sized icon and screenshots immediately struck the eye. I think this is one of the key points, if the user didn’t like the screenshots, he won’t go into details, such as: description, requirements for iOS, size, etc. Only after that the user begins to view the details of the product itself. At this stage, the product description becomes important, try to indicate in 214 characters all the advantages of your application.
Before publishing the application on the AppStore, be sure to work on the following: keywords, sections (main and additional), try to specify all sections that are suitable for your application, do not save on sections, because in additional sections there is a chance to get into New & Noteworthy.
Before starting my marketing activity I read a lot of articles, there was even such “Marketing for mobile applications: 50 ways to promote the application for iPhone” , after reading a long laugh at some points. A couple of good reviews were published on Habré “Promotion of the program in the Apple Store, using an example of a very specific application” and “How to increase the rating of free programs in the AppStore” . Having gathered everything together and tested on my application, I can draw the following specific conclusions:
1. The publication of press releases on thematic sites. This method has proven to be the most effective. Type in Google “an overview of the iPad (or iPhone) applications” or “the directory of the iPad (or iPhone) applications”, write down a list of sites, contact the site administrators and send them an overview of your application, including links to screenshots and to itunes. Since many people ask for promo codes, you need to be very thrifty with promo codes, don’t give more than three, this is quite enough, although many ask for five, remember you have only 50 of them.
2. PR Gage service , proved to be with the best side. I ordered the cheapest package, which costs only $ 39.
3. Banners on themed sites. Almost all more or less visited sites have a link for advertisers with a price list, if not, ask for prices for a monthly banner placement. Many resources indicate unrealistic prices, but believe me, there are sites with normal traffic of 15-20K, on which the cost of a monthly banner placement will cost from 4000 to 6000 rubles, which is quite acceptable.
4. If you have pages on social networks (facebook, vKontakte, twitter, etc.), be sure to give a link to your application. Maybe this way of promotion is weaker than the three above, but believe me that there isn’t much advertising in this sector, for example, I asked my friend to post a link to my application on facebook, and he has 4,000 friends. I am sure that this brought a certain effect for the development of the application.
5. Be sure to try the iPhone resource , however, at the time of writing, the server was giving a 500 error. Try to directly contact Arthur (administrator) and ask to view your application.
6. Regarding the review on Youtube and the application site itself, I’m not talking anymore, these are for granted things that must be done before launching the application itself.
All of the above methods helped us break into the TOP 7 of the most downloaded applications on the Russian AppStore. Remember that marketing must be carried out immediately after your application is in the main directory of the AppStore, if you linger for at least one day, then everything will be more expensive and longer. For myself, I made a small conclusion that if the application does not pay for itself during the first month of publication, then the likelihood that it will pay for itself in the next month is very small.
Yes, one more small tip, it’s better to set the publication date later, no one knows how much your application will be in moderation.
Next time I’ll write how long they stayed in TOP 10, and what promotion methods were used additionally (there are a couple more ideas, we will try).