App Promotion

[racer_X]

Originally Posted by Ivan

To do this, as soon as you receive the email from Apple saying that your game is ready for sale you need to go into iTunesConnect and change the release date to the current date. If you don't do this then your app will be 2 or 3 pages back on day 1!

Do you mean the availability date under edit details/pricing? because i did that and it did not work...

[Ivan]

Originally Posted by racer_X

Do you mean the availability date under edit details/pricing? because i did that and it did not work...

Yes. I've taken to doing it everytime I do an software update and it has worked everytime. It isn't instant though taken a few hours for it to take effect.

Ivan
_____________
Dynamate Lite (free)
WhatBirdNZ (free)

[adamk77]

Originally Posted by rhuettl

Some of my experiences:

1)
i have done some app list entries on other sites and a video on youtube
=> Only one week with a 10% higher return

2)
One of my apps is 0.99 and i thoght before doing a update i am doing a pro version for 1.59 and the 0.99 for free.
=> Free app got 500% more downloads
=> Pro had 30% of the 0.99 light before!! That was a bad idea :-(

3)
I sold my free again for 0.99 and made the pro version another app (with another icon and name)
=> The 0.99 sold like before my experiment
=> The new app (the pro) sold 50% of the light
=> That combination is better in earnings as the light/pro combo

4) BEST VALUE FOR ME:
I am doing a update of all my apps every week!
=> Earnings are pushed every week!
=> Rating got better
=> I am always on the first page in new apps section

So that may not be working for all apps but test 4) got by far te best results in App Store marketing for me! => Doing every week a new update (with a little benefit or bugfix inside)

Ralf

We wanted to price our first application at $1.99, but decided to price it at $0.99 in hopes of possibly getting ranked.

On day 1, it sold around 40 copies.
On day 2, it sold around 50 copies.
On day 3, it sold around 30 copies
On day 4, it sold around 20 copies
On day 5, it sold around 10 copies.

At this point, we decided to raise the price to $1.99

On day 6, it sold around 10 copies (at $1.99)
On day 7 (yesterday), it sold a bit fat zero copies. We're contemplating on whether we should lower the price again, or raise it to $2.99 or $3.99.

We were ecstatic on day 2 because it seemed like sales were going up. I'm curious to hear stats from others who have had similar sales figures. Has this been your experience?

We have JUST recouped the money we spent on stock photos. So we've made around $20 in profit... not very encouraging

Will releasing an update put the application in the first page of the new apps section (sorted by release date?). I've been hearing conflicting things about this.

[Inkstar]

Originally Posted by adamk77

We wanted to price our first application at $1.99, but decided to price it at $0.99 in hopes of possibly getting ranked.

On day 1, it sold around 40 copies.
On day 2, it sold around 50 copies.
On day 3, it sold around 30 copies
On day 4, it sold around 20 copies
On day 5, it sold around 10 copies.

At this point, we decided to raise the price to $1.99

On day 6, it sold around 10 copies (at $1.99)
On day 7 (yesterday), it sold a bit fat zero copies. We're contemplating on whether we should lower the price again, or raise it to $2.99 or $3.99.

We were ecstatic on day 2 because it seemed like sales were going up. I'm curious to hear stats from others who have had similar sales figures. Has this been your experience?

We have JUST recouped the money we spent on stock photos. So we've made around $20 in profit... not very encouraging

Will releasing an update put the application in the first page of the new apps section (sorted by release date?). I've been hearing conflicting things about this.

what is your app ?

[adamk77]

Originally Posted by Inkstar

what is your app ?

Application is called iHappyBirthday

[Inkstar]

Originally Posted by adamk77

Application is called iHappyBirthday

Ok! I took a look and I suggest that you arrange a photo shoot.
Someone using the app.

It will show what the app is about and its unique features.
I think it will generate more sales.
Most users look at birthday image, don't bother to read and go away :/

Look at iBeer
if they just had a snapshot of the beer it would not have sold so much I think.

but they have someone actually demonstrating the application in one image

hope this helps!

[adamk77]

Originally Posted by Inkstar

Ok! I took a look and I suggest that you arrange a photo shoot.
Someone using the app.

It will show what the app is about and its unique features.
I think it will generate more sales.
Most users look at birthday image, don't bother to read and go away :/

Look at iBeer
if they just had a snapshot of the beer it would not have sold so much I think.

but they have someone actually demonstrating the application in one image

hope this helps!

Hmm, thanks for you input Inkstar.

We've had positive reaction about the application to everyone we showed it to, so we thought it would appeal to more people, but it hasn't. When we conceived the idea, there were no competing apps either. But one appear a week before our release date and another appeared on the exact same day as our release date. Our app looks much better, so I thought we had a good chance. But it didn't pan out that way.

For version 1.1, we'll take your advice and do a photoshoot of the application and perhaps even do a video of it and post it on youtube.

Will apple allow mentioning of the video in the application's description?

[zacware]

Originally Posted by adamk77

We wanted to price our first application at $1.99, but decided to price it at $0.99 in hopes of possibly getting ranked.

On day 1, it sold around 40 copies.
On day 2, it sold around 50 copies.
On day 3, it sold around 30 copies
On day 4, it sold around 20 copies
On day 5, it sold around 10 copies.

At this point, we decided to raise the price to $1.99

On day 6, it sold around 10 copies (at $1.99)
On day 7 (yesterday), it sold a bit fat zero copies. We're contemplating on whether we should lower the price again, or raise it to $2.99 or $3.99.

We were ecstatic on day 2 because it seemed like sales were going up. I'm curious to hear stats from others who have had similar sales figures. Has this been your experience?

We have JUST recouped the money we spent on stock photos. So we've made around $20 in profit... not very encouraging

Will releasing an update put the application in the first page of the new apps section (sorted by release date?). I've been hearing conflicting things about this.

Well, I'm sorry to see you having such low sales but my experience has been similar. The few people who have reviewed my app have given it great reviews. One in fact contacted me directly to tell me how much fun my app was. When I posted the first version back in October, I sold about 400 or so copies. I just did an update this month, and maybe I'll sell another 50. People seem to have mostly sold themselves on the fact that iphone apps should be free. Quite frankly I can't fathom why so many developers are releasing very high quality apps for free, especially in this economy. I see people everyday of the week running in to get their $3 fancy coffees, how people can make a big deal about paying 99 cents for an app is beyond me.

PS.....I looked at your app. It looks very nice.

Also, unless you update your release date to the current date when your update is approved, it won't appear at the top of the list!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[erotsppa]

well the reason why so many people are releasing high quality apps at very low price or free is because everyone thought they're going to get rick quick. Then they realize that majority of the sellers are getting sales roughly equal to what you described. Can't blame them. The media is constantly telling stories of who and who becoming an millionare over night and not a word about the other 98%.

[johnqh]

Originally Posted by adamk77

We wanted to price our first application at $1.99, but decided to price it at $0.99 in hopes of possibly getting ranked.

On day 1, it sold around 40 copies.
On day 2, it sold around 50 copies.
On day 3, it sold around 30 copies
On day 4, it sold around 20 copies
On day 5, it sold around 10 copies.

At this point, we decided to raise the price to $1.99

On day 6, it sold around 10 copies (at $1.99)
On day 7 (yesterday), it sold a bit fat zero copies. We're contemplating on whether we should lower the price again, or raise it to $2.99 or $3.99.

Normally,

If you leave it at 0.99, without updating, the sales will fall to average 2 to 5/day after a couple of weeks.

[ordy]

Sorting your application promote your applications

[No Tie Software]

Originally Posted by johnqh

Normally,

If you leave it at 0.99, without updating, the sales will fall to average 2 to 5/day after a couple of weeks.

That's a bit of a generalization.

There are a number of top selling apps that haven't been updated in months. Mine has had only 2 updates since Dec 12th.

There are other ways to promote your app. My post in this thread, from Christmas Day, had quite a few recommendations, particularly re websites.

I hope you'll take these suggestions constructively.

I've visited the (apparent) website (“Do it until it becomes boring, then keep doing it until it becomes beautiful.” | Scratch Pad) for iHappyBirthday, and while there is some valuable information, it's buried in a blog format. Do you really want to be talking about a crazy driver who almost ran you off the road, or promoting your app? Should my first impression be "iHappyBirthday crashing?" in bold on the home page?

For an app suggestion, consider creating a NEW app (which will get more exposure upon release, from the sites that follow apps) called iHappyBirthdayPro, that lets you specify the number of candles. And get a better domain name like iHappyBirthdayApp.com. Make your home page feature your app.

Here's an excerpt from my post on 12/25:
[quotePlus, I got the domain name, Fun and Clever iPhone and iPod Touch Apps from No Tie Software, and put up a cool Flash demo. Since there isn't a trial version, I wanted people to see how it works. Originally, I didn't have the demo and I was getting a lot of questions. Those have diminished (while sales have increased) so it makes it a lot easier to support.[/quote]

[raymng]

Originally Posted by rhuettl

Some of my experiences:

3)
I sold my free again for 0.99 and made the pro version another app (with another icon and name)
=> The 0.99 sold like before my experiment
=> The new app (the pro) sold 50% of the light
=> That combination is better in earnings as the light/pro combo

4) BEST VALUE FOR ME:
I am doing a update of all my apps every week!
=> Earnings are pushed every week!
=> Rating got better
=> I am always on the first page in new apps section

So that may not be working for all apps but test 4) got by far te best results in App Store marketing for me! => Doing every week a new update (with a little benefit or bugfix inside)

Ralf

Thanks for your information.

3) Could you mind to tell what is your app or what is the category it belong to?

4) Does apple limit the update frequency per month??

Thanks.

[Irisk]

The promotion of the application depend on the category that is it game application or ant other application

[Frenk]

Develop your app according the wants of clients and aware the clients about their new features.

[SYTempest]

Would suggest trying out an ad solution called Adrollo to drive up promotion - you can put up custom ads on your "lite" versions that promote your paid ones, and you can always switch on "real" ads, too, that will pay you money as a developer.

double $$.

Originally Posted by lajos

I think that the "free" or "lite" versions are double edge swords. Here's a couple thoughts:

- Apple doesn't allow the free version to up-sell or reference the full version. At least not anymore. I posted "sketchinz free" in around 12/07/08. The "save" and "upload" button opened up a message that said this function is not available in the free version. I got this email from Apple, with the app rejected:

"sketchinz free cannot be posted because it is a feature-limited version. Free or "Lite" versions are acceptable, however the application must be a fully functional app and cannot reference features that are not implemented or up-sell to the full version. After tapping on the "Files -> Upload" button, sketchinz free displays the alert message "Sorry, this feature is not available in the free version of sketchinz."

So I removed those buttons to make the app non-feature-limited.

- The free version was identical to the full version with the exception of not being able to save and not being able to upload. I always planned having this version, so if you created a sketch with the full version and wanted to send it to someone else, the other person could enjoy your drawing without paying. However you could create drawings with the free version and even without the ability to save I think I gave too much away.

- The free version downloaded thousands of copies, but it only results in as someone said earlier, about 1% full version sales.

Hope this info is helpful to someone. And since we are talking about it, check out sketchinz :: anyone can draw . I think it's a really cool app.



-lajos

[home_dev]

Originally Posted by trapper

What have you guys found to be the most effective way of promoting your app?

My first app went live on the store a few days back and sad to say but I have only received a couple of sales each day so far. Seems my app is already lost in a sea of thousands of others - any pointers in getting things off to a better start?

I read somewhere on this forum that releasing updates of your app can put you in the first page again. (Has anyone found this to be true?)

[neonext]

Originally Posted by home_dev

I read somewhere on this forum that releasing updates of your app can put you in the first page again. (Has anyone found this to be true?)

yes i confirmed it today

[williamapps]

every good information. thx

[iphonedev]

Originally Posted by trapper

What have you guys found to be the most effective way of promoting your app?

My first app went live on the store a few days back and sad to say but I have only received a couple of sales each day so far. Seems my app is already lost in a sea of thousands of others - any pointers in getting things off to a better start?

Check out MillionDollariPhoneApplication.com to promote iPhone/iPod Application!

It is a similar concept as MillionDollarHomePage.com (proven marketing method) with added advantages to iPhone Developers.

▪ iPhone application will appear on the homepage (MillionDollariPhoneApplication.com) forever
▪ iPhone application will also be listed under Pixels list page with search capability (MillionDollariPhoneApplication.com - Pixel List)
▪ There is a prize of $100,000 for everyone (including iPhone Developers) who will subscribe on the site (MillionDollariPhoneApplication.com - MillionDollariPhoneApplication.com Winner!) and become a fan of Million Dollar iPhone Application facebook page (MillionDollarIphoneApplication.com | Facebook). This is to generate traffic to the site.
▪ I will send a weekly email to all the subscriber on the site with the listing of all iPhone applications (MillionDollariPhoneApplication.com - Pixel List). This will promote iPhone applications more!
▪ I will also send email to all subscribers regarding featured iPhone application

[BUGEYE]

I released a "lite" version of my app Arachnid but it hasn't done much for my sales. I might not have made it quite lite enough. But I'm hoping that by adding features to the regular version and withholding them from the lite one, I can entice users to take the 2 dollar plunge.

I released Arachnid Lite concurrently with an update to the full version; in retrospect this wasn't ideal because the two apps appeared side-by-side in the new releases list. In the future I plan to stagger the updates in order to maximize the time that either one or the other is on the front page for my category.