How to Get an Apple Feature on the iTunes App Store
Every app developer who creates an app using the iOS platform would love to get some ‘Apple love.’ Receiving free marketing and the equivalent of a pat on the back from the largest corporation in the world is the marketing Holy Grail for every app developer, large or small. Unfortunately, many mobile developers find it very hard to get noticed in the iTunes App Store, let alone by Apple. With thousands of apps released each week, it is very hard to stand out from the crowd. However, there are some ways to separate your app from pack. If you follow these steps you are far more likely to receive some ‘Apple love,’ than those who choose to do nothing and pray for Apple to come knocking on their door.
1) MAKE A GREAT APP
Before you start complaining that Apple doesn’t help the little guys you need to take a good hard look in the mirror. Did you create something that is a truly great, or did you just make another crappy app? Sure it seems so simple to create a pixelated and truly flawed game like Flappy Bird, but if it was so simple why didn’t you create it yourself? Why should Apple tell its customers about your great App if your App really isn’t that great to begin with? Making a great App is usually the longest and hardest part of this process and you probably won’t get it right on the first try but if you make an App that is great, you will have a much better shot of Apple promoting it. Apple strives to create great products and if your product is great, they will promote it.
2. INCORPORATE iOS PLATFORM FEATURES
If you want Apple to do something for you, you should do something for them. They are a company that goes through great lengths to perfect their hardware and software features, always launching a truly special product (well…maybe not iOS 8). How does your app take advantage of their unique platform? Is your mobile game integrated with Game Center? Does your app use their Gyroscope feature? Or have you made sure to NOT incorporate any key Apple platform features like so many other app developers. So since you did nothing to highlight their platform in your app, ask yourself why should they help you out?
3. GET THEIR ATTENTION
If you focus on step 1, and step 2, step 3 won’t be as hard. Most likely your great app that incorporates iOS platform features will make its way up the iTunes charts. If it isn’t, maybe it’s not that great. Of course there will always be apps that are really amazing but will struggle to be seen. This is where your marketing plan comes in. Are you spending advertising dollars to drive users into your app? Are you cross-promoting your apps and keeping users in your network? Are you using social media? Also, when you can’t drive enough traffic sometimes it helps to partner with a larger mobile company with the experience, network, and connections to drive traffic to your app. (Want to publish your Mobile Game? Try Magmic.)
I’m not saying that getting a feature from Apple is easy; I just think it’s important to make sure you do everything in your power to place the odds in your favor.
