• Marketing your app (PR) & list of 100+ review sites
gyroscope
I am here.Member, Sous Chef, PRO Posts: 6,598
Hi, if you don't know, especially if you've just started with app-making, there's a simple thing to consider which is obvious but can still take time for "the penny to drop". That is, no matter how good your app is, if no one knows it's there you've a 99.999% chance of hardly any downloads. (Whether you like it or not, you have to compete for attention with approx. 1000 other apps submitted every day (for Apple, at least) which the majority will find their way into the store; not to mention the million+ apps already in the iTunes store.
So marketing is key; but... this can be expensive and a lot of times, there's the chance you'll be pouring money down the drain, so be careful there, especially with PR companies promising you incredible coverage for fifty quid, for example.
One press release site which seems quite solid - and some people have got good results from - is prmac. ( http://services.prmac.com/pricing/ ) Their services range from free to Extended Distribution ($22.95) and more.
For interest, I'm finally going to start using this company for my three existing apps, as well as the fourth one I'm working on at the moment (and any subsequent apps as well).
Another way to get your app known - again, if you haven't realised, or don't know - is to get a review site to review your app. This way can have a really dramatic effect on your sales especially if you're given a good review from a big site.
There's quite a few lists of review sites floating about so here's just one I found this morning, a blog post called "The Holy Grail List of App Review Sites (100+ and Counting)" which includes a spreadsheet with all of the sites listing + other info, number of Twitter followers to the site, for instance. http://www.appbattleground.com/2013/10/26/best-app-review-sites/
Here's another list although a lot are probably the same as on the list above: http://maniacdev.com/2012/05/ios-app-review-sites
Hope this is of help to someone, even if it simply spurs you on to get your app "out there" a bit more so as to generate more sales...that's my aim, wish me luck! I wish you luck too. :-)
Any more marketing tips/advice, etc for everyone? Why not post here?
So marketing is key; but... this can be expensive and a lot of times, there's the chance you'll be pouring money down the drain, so be careful there, especially with PR companies promising you incredible coverage for fifty quid, for example.
One press release site which seems quite solid - and some people have got good results from - is prmac. ( http://services.prmac.com/pricing/ ) Their services range from free to Extended Distribution ($22.95) and more.
For interest, I'm finally going to start using this company for my three existing apps, as well as the fourth one I'm working on at the moment (and any subsequent apps as well).
Another way to get your app known - again, if you haven't realised, or don't know - is to get a review site to review your app. This way can have a really dramatic effect on your sales especially if you're given a good review from a big site.
There's quite a few lists of review sites floating about so here's just one I found this morning, a blog post called "The Holy Grail List of App Review Sites (100+ and Counting)" which includes a spreadsheet with all of the sites listing + other info, number of Twitter followers to the site, for instance. http://www.appbattleground.com/2013/10/26/best-app-review-sites/
Here's another list although a lot are probably the same as on the list above: http://maniacdev.com/2012/05/ios-app-review-sites
Hope this is of help to someone, even if it simply spurs you on to get your app "out there" a bit more so as to generate more sales...that's my aim, wish me luck! I wish you luck too. :-)
Any more marketing tips/advice, etc for everyone? Why not post here?
Comments
http://gmbox.ru/video/live/live-prezentaciya-knigi-sergeya-galenkina-marketing-igr
http://www.gdcvault.com/play/1019528/Full-Court-Press-Engaging-the
Wow, @imGua ! Great stuff; I look forward to seeing those as I'm sure other members will too. Cheers for posting. :-)
Anyone else with more marketing tips, videos, etc? (Although I think @imGua has won the grand slam on the vid. front... ;-) )
********** bump **********
*** LAST BUMP *** :-)
If you've released an app and weren't lucky enough to get reviewed by one of the big boys, you can still work at STEADILY growing your downloads over time.
My first game World Of Hidden Objects is highly rated and has had many thousands of downloads since launching last May. I'm constantly adding new content to keep it fresh and the fan base is growing daily.
My second game which hasn't done well could have been completely lost in the App Store by now but I still get a constant steam of downloads and I think it's down to this - my loading page for World Of Hidden Objects has a prominent "Check out my new game" message and there is a flashing icon linking to it on the homepage.
I think my fans are checking it out. So produce a quality app, build your fan base and cross promote wherever you can.
Unfortunately I think there are only a lucky few that make it big in a quick fashion. For new developers like me, I think it'll take hard work, cross promoting, patience and time.
Also don't give up. My second game with relatively poor download numbers has given me really good feedback so I know what's wrong with it - so I'm busy working on a relaunch using a completely different name, style and have changed how you play it e.g. I've done away with coin purchases which is putting players off.
Thanks for adding to this thread, @darrelf ; good points made. Sorry you didn't get any mileage out of my post tho' (nor @jamie_c ) but hey, I'm sure it'll be useful for someone, somewhere... ;-)
My mission yesterday morning was to trawl through the internet collecting contact info for reviewer websites, a hellish mind numbing task. And pretty much as I logged in to Gamesalad, as if by magic this post appeared!
Thanks for that!
Interesting comments, @Team6Labs My op., you're right about not being able to make decent money any more, although I'd add the words relatively easily.... the bubble burst quite a while ago... but that doesn't mean decent money can't be made... we all have to find that one app each that goes viral....... ;-)
Google Glass... I think that kit is potentially a waste of time (and a waste of money), and would even go as far to say it's a dead end direction, dead-in-the-water technology... but then maybe it's not aimed at my generation and I just don't get it....
Also, what's to stop muggers from ripping them off your face... plus I think they look a bit silly... and it seems to replace thinking in some situations where decisions are given for "the glasses to decide"...
But... they'd be great for Augmented Reality Games in a controlled environment, I think...
Anyhow, sorry, you can tell I've got a "bee in my bonnet" about Google Glass. ;-)
btw....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-KmFSmkDyr8
@Thunder_Child & @Braydon_SFX Cheers, this thread has been aided admirably by the vids posted by @imGua as you see .... and as @jonmulcahy pointed out, it's gonna take a while to watch them all... :-)
Whoops, missed you... cheers to @sadida172 as well for your post with advice. :-)
For your info, prmac has reduced their prices for Extended Distribution (now down to $19.95) and Extended Distribution with VNR (Video News Release) - (now $90.95).
(The limited free option is still available too).
http://services.prmac.com/pricing/
@WhySoCREATIVE Hope you find the posts useful :-) (Be prepared to have a few hours spare to watch all the videos from @imGua tho'... ;-)
Check out the Reviewlancer website for app Review exchanging for Free. This will provide you real mobile reviews and rating for your apps.