I think you are on to something elektrobank. While (pay) advertising probably can't get you into the top lists, as you said it could definitely help you move up a few spots if you are already there. And moving up the charts should have some sort of compounding effect due to increased visibility.
I've been trying to think of the major "humps" to get over in terms of visibility. Let me know if you think I've missed any.
Top 5, Top 10, Top 15, Top 25, Top 100
Full list below
Code:
iTunes Mobile App Store
Top 5 Paid Apps - Start of the Top Paid Apps Page
Top 25 Paid Apps - Bottom of the Top Paid Apps Page (Without clicking more)
Top 5 Category Paid Apps - Start of the Page
Top 25 Category Paid Apps - Bottom of the Page (Without clicking more)
Top 5 Sub-Category Paid Apps - Start of the Page
Top 25 Sub-Category Paid Apps - Bottom of the Page (Without clicking more)
iTunes Desktop App Store
Top 5 Paid Apps - iTunes Front Page
Top 10 Paid Apps - App Store Front Page
Top 15 Paid Apps - Start of the Top Paid Apps Page (Varies on Screen Resolution of iTunes)
Top 100 Paid Apps - Bottom of the Top Paid Apps Page
Top 10 Category Paid Apps - Category Front Page
Top 15 Category Paid Apps - Start of the Category Top Paid Apps Page (Varies on Screen Resolution of iTunes)
Top 100 Category Paid Apps - Bottom of the Category Top Paid Apps Page
Top 20 Sub-Category Paid Apps - Sub-Category Front Page
Top 15 Sub-Category Paid Apps - Start of the Sub-Category Top Paid Apps Page (Varies on Screen Resolution of iTunes)
Top 100 Sub- Category Paid Apps - Bottom of the Sub-Category Top Paid Apps Page
I guess getting into the Top 5 is where it's at (duh). Though I guess if you are near there you are already making really good revenue and probably have the dough to spend on tons of pay advertising. Heck, you don't even have to be near there as last I heard it takes like 1000 sales to breach the top 100.
