Getting featured on the App Retailer homepage is like bagging a beachfront property, full with a toilet for each bed room and electrical gates. It’s gold star actual property, and getting featured on the App Retailer is the dream of most app groups.
Sadly, very like web optimization, there isn’t a assure that if you happen to do the work, you’ll get featured within the App Retailer. Nonetheless, very like web optimization, the potential rewards are nice sufficient that it’s value spending time placing collectively a compelling proposition.
In spite of everything, it stands to cause that an awesome huge splashy graphic selling your app as At the moment’s Choose will get you extra impressions and downloads. However there’s additionally a halo impact. Extra downloads will imply that you simply rank higher for the key phrases you’ve optimising for, so when you received’t be getting featured on the App Retailer completely someplace so outstanding, there will likely be a constructive longtail impact in your downloads.
Sounds good, proper? Clear your diary, and let’s get to it.
To enhance your income metrics, deal with methods rising in-app purchases and subscriptions, resembling providing precious premium options or implementing subscription tiers.
However keep in mind, whereas income is an element, Apple prioritises apps which might be high-quality and supply nice person expertise. Merely rising your app income with out person satisfaction received’t do the trick.
Let’s face it, all of us secretly dream of creating it into the “Yet another factor…” second of an Apple keynote.
By embracing the newest iOS improvements, you not solely enhance your app’s performance but additionally enhance your possibilities of gaining recognition from Apple, resulting in elevated visibility and potential function alternatives.
Bear in mind, thrilling occasions not solely entice new customers but additionally maintain present customers engaged, resulting in larger retention charges and, finally, better app retailer success.
#1 Submit your app
Apple is all the time looking for thrilling new apps, video games, updates, In-App Occasions, and compelling tales to function. To appoint your app for App Retailer that includes, submit particulars about your app in App Retailer Join. You may submit nominations individually or import a number of nominations utilizing a CSV file. Bear in mind, when making a single nomination, it can save you it as a draft in App Retailer Join earlier than last submission. Nonetheless, nominations imported through CSV are mechanically submitted. You may edit submitted nominations. Apple makes it straightforward to handle all of your submissions. The That includes Nominations dashboard means that you can view all of your nomination entries. It’s divided into three sections: Drafts (unsent nominations), Submitted (nominations despatched to Apple), and Archived (previous nominations). You may simply handle and replace the small print of your nominations inside every part.#2 Be bug-free
Apps are examined and selections are made by precise people, so it ought to go with out saying that you must solely submit your app when it’s bug-free and on level. Apple’s App Evaluate workforce completely evaluates every app. Bugs and crashes will doubtless lead to rejection or delays within the assessment course of. You need to use Apple’s TestFlight to search out beta testers to assist with testing your app. In the event you’re nonetheless ironing out kinks, delay your submission. A delayed submission is best than a rejected one or an app plagued with bugs after launch.#3 Get your ASO as much as scratch
App Retailer Optimization is a entire different submit however with out optimising your itemizing correctly, there’s little or no probability your app will get featured. Your key ASO components embody:- screenshots and app previews
#4 Pitch upfront
That includes lead time varies, so be sure to plan your submission upfront! Permit a minimal of two weeks for consideration, and ideally submit nominations as much as three months upfront for broader that includes alternatives.#5 Your efficiency metrics matter
In the event you’ve received a low churn charge and excessive person engagement, you’ll be thought-about a high-quality app and stand a greater probability of getting featured on the App Retailer. (We’ve received an awesome report on combating person churn so be sure to test it out!). Why? Allow us to clarify. A low churn charge signifies that customers are actively engaged along with your app and usually are not rapidly uninstalling or abandoning it. This signifies a excessive degree of person satisfaction and a precious app expertise. Excessive person engagement metrics, resembling day by day energetic customers (DAU), weekly energetic customers (WAU), session length, and in-app buy frequency, exhibit that your app supplies worth and retains customers coming again for extra. These metrics point out that your app is effective to customers, making it extra more likely to be thought-about for that includes.#6 Replace your app frequently
Common updates are an vital sign to Apple that you simply’re an engaged developer, which is their favorite sort of developer. Constant updates present Apple (and customers) that you’re actively sustaining and enhancing your app. This demonstrates a dedication to offering a high-quality and up-to-date expertise. Common up to date may positively influence your app retailer rating. Ensure you keep away from releasing minor updates with out substantial worth. Concentrate on delivering updates that embody vital enhancements, new options, or important bug fixes.#7 Design with Apple in thoughts
Apple’s aesthetic is distinct – it’s glossy, minimalist, and user-friendly. It is smart that they are going to attempt to replicate this within the App Retailer, so load the cube in your favour by mimicking this look along with your graphics. When designing your app, take into account:- Simplicity and readability – Prioritize clear and uncluttered interfaces. Use ample white house to create a way of spaciousness and enhance readability.
- Consistency – Adhere to Apple’s Human Interface Pointers (HIG) for constant use of system fonts, colors, and UI components. Guarantee your design is constant all through the app.
- Concentrate on person expertise – your navigation and interplay with the app must be intuitive. At all times take into consideration the person asnd their must create a seamless expertise for them.
- Excessive- high quality visuals – Use high-resolution photos and graphics which might be visually interesting and in line with Apple’s aesthetic.
#8 Maximise scores and critiques
Whereas it may be tempting to submit your app as quickly because it’s launched, the extra constructive scores and critiques it has the extra doubtless getting featured on the App Retailer will turn out to be a chance– 90% of the apps and video games featured within the choices are rated from 4 to five stars. (Don’t attempt to cheat the system, Apple has methods of sniffing out paid-for critiques…) There are a couple of methods you may increase the variety of constructive critiques. First, encourage customers to go away a assessment by in-app notifications. It’s vital you choose the best second, for instance after somebody finishes a degree or makes use of the function they like. Pop up a pleasant reminder asking in the event that they’d like to go away a assessment. Secondly, don’t underestimate buyer assist. When somebody reaches out with a query or an issue, reply them rapidly and genuinely. And keep in mind, it’s about high quality, not amount. A number of real 5-star critiques are method higher than a ton of low-quality ones.#9 Reply to your critiques
Responding to person critiques is important for a number of causes and you must do it anyway no matter whether or not you’re getting featured on the App Retailer or not. Responding to critiques, each constructive and destructive, demonstrates that you simply worth person suggestions and are actively engaged along with your group which in flip builds a constructive relationship along with your present customers. Velocity issues too. Once you reply promptly and successfully to person inquiries and suggestions you exhibit glorious buyer assist and user-centric strategy. This additionally sends a constructive sign to Apple that you simply’re caring developer, which will increase your possibilities of getting featured on the App Retailer. Right here’s an awesome instance of top-notch assessment administration strategy from Canva.
#10 Use app localization to your benefit
Localization with culturally related and applicable content material will help getting featured on the App Retailer. In the event you promote your app in several nations, be sure to tailor your app itemizing towards their viewers, whether or not that’s translating and culturalising the copy and key phrases of your itemizing or utilizing applicable screenshots reflective of the market. Localized apps exhibit a real effort to cater to the precise wants and preferences of customers in several areas. And this dedication to offering a seamless and pleasant expertise for customers across the globe is what Apple loves. And when accomplished efficiently, localization will help you attain a wider viewers and construct a powerful world person base. It’s a win-win, whether or not you’re getting featured on the App Retailer or not.#11 Concentrate on rising income
Let’s not overlook that Apple will get a minimize of your income (and never a small one!). In the event you’ve received an app that makes some huge cash, it’s extra more likely to nab a spot on the homepage. Why is that? Excessive income usually signifies a profitable and precious app. It exhibits that customers are prepared to pay for the app’s options and companies, demonstrating its value to Apple. There are some nice examples of apps which have accomplished it proper, resembling Leica who wished to point out off the brand new filter device.
To enhance your income metrics, deal with methods rising in-app purchases and subscriptions, resembling providing precious premium options or implementing subscription tiers.
However keep in mind, whereas income is an element, Apple prioritises apps which might be high-quality and supply nice person expertise. Merely rising your app income with out person satisfaction received’t do the trick.
#12 Make it accessible
Get conversant in Apple’s accessibility finest practices, and ensure your app meets as many necessities as potential. Apple strongly insists on know-how accessible to everybody, no matter their skills. This consists of customers with disabilities resembling visible impairments, listening to impairments, motor impairments, and cognitive disabilities. To make your app extra accessible you might need to think about using Apple’s Accessibility options in your app resembling VoiceOver, Dynamic Sort, and AssistiveTouch. Additionally make sure that ample color distinction between textual content and background to enhance readability. By doing that, you’re not solely rising your possibilities of getting featured on the App Retailer but additionally enhance general person expertise for a wider viewers.#13 Go exhausting on the innovation angle
Apple likes to do issues first, so in case your app is doing one thing no person else is, spotlight that in your submission. For instance, your app might need a groundbreaking interface or person expertise design. Or it utilises cutting-edge applied sciences, like augmented actuality or synthetic intelligence. In the event you actually really feel that your app has one thing distinctive to supply, make certain to let Apple know.#14 Improve your downloads
It’s a irritating catch-22 state of affairs – an app with plenty of downloads is extra more likely to be featured. And why do you need to be featured? So you may get plenty of downloads. However a spot on the App Retailer isn’t the one method of accelerating downloads – put your finest advertising and marketing efforts, resembling Apple Search Advertisements campaigns, into this step and it’ll pay dividends. However past Apple Search Advertisements campaigns there are numerous different methods you may attempt to enhance downloads. Firstly, ensuring that your app retailer itemizing is as much as scratch, this implies optimising your title, key phrases, description and screenshots to obviously talk your worth proposition and increase visibility. Don’t overlook that social media channels is usually a highly effective device to advertise your app, have interaction with customers and construct a group round your app.#15 Go viral
Even higher than steadily rising downloads is a sudden and large leap in downloads. If you may get your app promoted by an influencer or the topic of a viral TikTok, you’ll considerably increase your possibilities of getting featured on the App Retailer. There’s a cause why the worldwide influencer advertising and marketing market was estimated to achieve a file of $24 billion in 2024. The facility of viral progress is big. A viral second can expose your app to tens of millions of potential customers inside a really brief time, considerably rising downloads. Moreover, when a well-liked influencer is utilizing an app, it builds belief and provides a degree of authenticity, encouraging customers to attempt it. And at last, virality additionally increase the natural progress as customers unfold the phrase concerning the constructive expertise they’ve along with your app. In the event you’re learn how to combine virality into your app progress technique, however with out rising your acquisition price range, try our newest weblog on Viral Loops.#16 Use Apple’s newest options
Apple is consistently rolling out new app capabilities – in-app occasions, customized product pages, promotional in-app purchases, and so forth – and if you happen to can combine them into your app technique, you’re giving Apple a method of exhibiting off their newest darling. In case your app can seamlessly combine these new options, you’re primarily giving Apple a major instance to spotlight of their advertising and marketing supplies and developer programmes. So, to offer your self a greater probability at getting featured on the App Retailer, keep up to date on the newest Apple developer bulletins and actively discover how these new options can improve your app’s person expertise.
#17 Optimise for the newest iOS launch
Once more, if you happen to can construct one thing into your app that takes benefit of a horny new iOS function, resembling Apple Intelligence and Picture Playground, you stand an opportunity of being highlighted when Apple highlights that new launch. By incorporating these options into your app, you turn out to be a dwelling, respiratory testomony to the worth of the brand new iOS launch.Let’s face it, all of us secretly dream of creating it into the “Yet another factor…” second of an Apple keynote.
By embracing the newest iOS improvements, you not solely enhance your app’s performance but additionally enhance your possibilities of gaining recognition from Apple, resulting in elevated visibility and potential function alternatives.
#18 Play the App Retailer’s sport
Over time the App Retailer has turn out to be extra editorialised, with sections frequently altering (on the time of writing, there are spherical ups for Spectacular Sports activities Video games, For Little Ones, or Again to College). In the event you can consider a catchy round-up you would take part in, add that to your software. So, how do you get your app into one among these coveted spots?- Assume “theme”: Fastidiously analyse upcoming seasons, holidays, and trending subjects. Can your app match into any related themes?
- Be inventive: Provide you with some catchy and compelling assortment concepts that your app might probably be featured in. For instance:
- “Productiveness Energy-Ups”
- “Journey Necessities”
- Submit your strategies: When submitting your app for assessment, subtly trace at potential assortment matches.
#19 Make the most of in-app occasions
Well timed promotions make the App Retailer extra dynamic, so if you happen to’re planning an in-app occasion, resembling sport competitions, film premieres, or live-streamed experiences, spotlight that in your software. To maximise this chance, be sure to plan forward. When submitting your app for assessment, spotlight any upcoming in-app occasions. This provides Apple advance discover and will increase the possibilities of your app getting featured on the App Retailer in related collections and even on the App Retailer’s principal web page. You may as well increase the visibility of your in-app occasions by utilizing related key phrases associated to your occasion in your app’s metadata. For instance, if you happen to’re internet hosting a “Summer season Music Pageant” in your app, embody key phrases like “reside music,” “pageant,” and “summer time live performance.”
Bear in mind, thrilling occasions not solely entice new customers but additionally maintain present customers engaged, resulting in larger retention charges and, finally, better app retailer success.
#20 Get into the seasonal spirit
I wager the App Retailer may have a seasonal part come this Spring. Count on to see curated collections highlighting themes like “Spring Cleansing,” “Outside Adventures,” and “Spring Break Enjoyable.” In case your app matches any of those spring-themed classes, make certain Apple is aware of!#21 Inform your story
In Apple’s phrases, “We spotlight distinctive tales — for instance, a behind-the-scenes take a look at how a developer launched an app that modified an trade or supported their group”. In the event you’ve received a human angle as to why your app exists, now’s the time to shout about it. From our expertise with submissions, speaking about your organization values, range, inclusion and equality initiatives will help your case. Mentioning these alongside options and components of in-app occasions you’re working which might be actively contributing to your customers (inspirationally, mentally, financially, and so forth.) can enhance your possibilities of getting featured on the App Retailer.#22 Share your promo plan
If you’re about to be featured closely on Love Island, there’s a devoted Advertising Plan part on the shape for this data (in addition to non-Love Island particular advertising and marketing). Not solely does a formalised advertising and marketing plan point out you’re an expert outfit, but additionally if you happen to can exhibit you’re doing an enormous advertising and marketing push at a particular time, your prized App Retailer spot might coordinate with this.Getting your app featured on the App Retailer – the subsequent steps
OK, so that you’ve actioned 21 of these 22 ideas, and also you’ve been featured! What now? Now it’s time to trip that wave. Particularly, it’s time to reap the benefits of that enhance in site visitors to focus on some extra aggressive however larger quantity key phrases – you’ve received the next probability of rating for them than at every other time. Adapt your metadata to mirror that. And naturally, your site visitors will inevitably lower after that spike. However within the phrases of somebody extraordinarily zen, don’t be unhappy it’s over, be completely happy it occurred and naked in thoughts it might probably occur once more! Alternatively (and extra proactively), spend money on a little bit of paid advertising and marketing…Supply hyperlink
