Every year, countless apps get developed for iOS. From fitness trackers to fun games, it seems like the app store is constantly being updated with new titles and releases.
If you’re an app or game developer, you can take this as both good and bad news.
Good news because it means there is a growing demand for apps and games. Bad news because there’s plenty of competition out there.
But even though many companies have already dedicated their resources to creating new apps, it’s not too late to get a piece of the action. All it takes is an awesome app and a solid marketing plan to get it out there.
Have you developed an app or game that you feel would be life-changing for people?
Do you want to know how you can get more people to download your creation?
If you’re looking for strategies to promote your iOS app or game, here are 10 tried and tested ways to help you score big in the App store.
Contents In Page
1. Have a free version
Developing an app costs money so it seems counterproductive to let users download your app for free.
But people love free stuff and in a hypercompetitive industry like app development, you need to make people feel that they’re getting something valuable for almost nothing.
One way you can quickly gain a large fan base by creating a free version of your app.
Whether it’s a free trial version or a version with sponsor ads, it should have enough functionality to convince people to pay for the premium app.
Make it your goal to develop a free version that will leave your target market wanting more from the app or game. It has to be addictive enough for them to want to buy the premium version.
2. Create a kick-ass landing page
Many people think that getting featured on the app store is enough to get people interested. And while it will get you a few downloads, you need another catch mechanism.
If you’re serious about taking your app to the masses, it’s also a good idea to create a dedicated landing page for it.
On the app store, you can only do so much to show off your creation. But with a dedicated landing page, highlight the features of the app so that users become more aware of its usefulness.
Don’t forget to use a relevant domain name and optimize your landing page with the right keywords.
Make sure to include screenshots to help your target market see the value of your game or app. Get creative with the descriptions as well.
3. Highlight positive reviews
Word of mouth is still king when launching a new product, game or app. So, don’t underestimate the power of positive reviews. If you want people to download your app, you need to be willing to have it scrutinized by the who’s who in your industry.
One way that you can get reviews for a recently launched app is to submit it to review site like 148appsm and MobileStartupz.com.
Not only will this earn you some initial publicity, but it’s also a good way to get constructive feedback for your app.
How this works is you’ll submit your app or game to be tested by real users for free. They will then use it and write reviews on the site about it.
This can be very helpful for newbie app developers as it gives you the chance you the chance to fix any glitches that you may have missed during the development stage.
4. Optimize your listing
The same way that you optimize a website to be found on Google, you also need to optimize your listing to be found on the App Store.
There are many factors that contribute to how high an app or a game will rank in the search results, but the most important of them all is still keywords.
For example, if you’re launching a fitness game or app, you need to find the right keywords that will help put your app on top of the search pages.
You also need to put them in the right places like the title, description, and meta description to make sure that they get found by your target market.
Also, don’t forget to write a description that will convert visitors to downloads. Add a winner call to action that will make visitors want to try out your game or app.
5. Launch an explainer video
No marketing campaign is complete without an explainer video.
Since people prefer watching videos than reading just plain text, you should invest in an engaging explainer video that will draw users to your app or game.
The great thing about explainer videos is that you can cover different points in just a few minutes. You can even create and release a video series a few weeks leading to your grand launch to really get people talking.
When producing an explainer video, make sure it’s straight to the point and let your creativity do the selling for you.
6. Spread the love on social media
Of course, one of the easiest ways to get your app or game noticed is to post it on your brand’s social media accounts. Don’t hesitate to update fans even if you’re still in the development stage.
But even if you still don’t have social media accounts for your brand, this shouldn’t stop you from making an announcement on your personal accounts to your family and friends.
After all, you need all the publicity that you can get.
7. Reach out to influencers
Since we’re on the subject of getting publicity for your app or game, the best way to gain publicity these days is to get influencers talking about your brand. Influencers can help you promote your app or game to their followers with just one tweet, status, or Instagram post.
Choose influencers, preferably from a similar niche, who are willing to try out your app or game and post about it. They can be tech bloggers, local celebrities, even controversial personalities who can give your brand a boost.
8. Play the numbers game
The rule of thumb is, the higher the ratings, the more likely people will download your app or game. You’ll want to stay in the sweet spot of 4.5 to convince people that your app or game is worth having in their devices.
This is why you also need to think of ways to encourage users to rate your app or game and submit reviews while they’re at it.
Part of the job is reputation management or keeping the positive ratings up while addressing the negative reviews.
9. Give away free merchandise
Since most people love getting rewards, why not give away coupons for freebies to users who give your app or game positive ratings?
You can keep it old school and give away promotional items like coffee mugs, tumblers, and T-shirts to boost awareness for a newly-launched brand.
Or better yet, why not create a freemium product that supports your app or game?
It’s cheaper than giving away promo items.
10. Send a pitch to App Store editors
With hundreds, maybe even thousands, of pitches that app store editors receive every day, how do you write a pitch that stands out from the crowd?
You write a creative pitch that shows how your app is unique and how it will address a specific pain point that your target audience has.
Even if you’re sending a pitch for a game, you can make it more engaging by including screenshots and descriptions that highlight the user experience.
Remember, no matter how useful or how well-designed your app is, it’s important that you work on developing an app that will stand the test of time.
The work doesn’t end with marketing your app. It’s also crucial that you constantly add useful updates to your app to keep ratings and interest high.