If you’re stuck wondering how to get your app noticed in Apple’s App Store, you’re not alone. Garnering interest among an incredible sea of more than 4.5 million apps is no small feat and only those who take a proactive approach to marketing will make it to the top. Getting your app noticed takes attention to detail and a fair bit of elbow grease, but you can definitely make it happen.
How to get your app noticed
Let’s discuss a few great ways to get eyes on your app in the App Store.
1. Paying for installs
For developers looking to attract the attention of users of other apps, it can be especially beneficial to make use of a pay-per-install type of advertising program. Similar to affiliate networks that offer payment and rewards for referring customers to existing offers, pay-per-install networks provide a direct avenue for developers to promote their apps as well as monetize them by facilitating in-app promotions.
Cost per install (CPI)—the amount of money a given advertiser is prepared to pay for each legitimate install that is sent their way—must be aligned carefully with the actual revenue generated from each new user. As long as new users can be expected to recuperate (and, ideally, exceed) the expenses involved in acquiring them, advertisers can expect to see positive results from their pay-per-install campaign.
2. Pursuing guest post opportunities and publication placements
Blogs and content-based websites that cater to the smart device community and mobile phone enthusiast space can be excellent outlets for your advertising efforts. Submitting guest posts to the websites that allow them and paying for coverage on those that offer such options can be a tremendous help in getting the word out about your app in its early days.
You can also take advantage of your own web presence by forming a blog dedicated to your app and its development. This can prove to be particularly effective for forming a lasting connection with your audience without coming across as too “salesy.” Although a blog dedicated to your app is effectively an advertisement, it doesn’t necessarily come across that way. Writing about your challenges, solutions, events, and lessons learned can inspire others not only to seek out your app and use it, but also to nurture their own creativity.
3. Leveraging third-party ads
Promoting your app directly on the platform it’s provided on is a powerful option to consider, although Apple’s App Store doesn’t offer opportunities to pay for this kind of promotion directly. Instead, you’ll need to rely on the quality of your app and the story behind it to get Apple’s curation team’s attention. Apple recommends reaching out to their curation team eight weeks prior to your app’s launch if it’s new or a big update is on the horizon.
Advertising your app on alternative app stores can also be a game-changer for its overall visibility and popularity if you’re open to developing for other platforms.
You can also seek out ad placement opportunities within other apps to gain visibility from a potentially more engaged demographic. Google, Facebook/Instagram/Meta, and Twitter, among many others, offer direct ad placement options within their apps, making it possible for you to quickly expand your reach.
4. App store optimization
Think of app store optimization (ASO) as the SEO concept applied to the app space. App visibility comes down to the same similar batch of factors as content visibility in a web search, with only a few key differences. Unlike SEO, ASO takes advantage of app store-specific paradigms such as ratings and reviews, as well as usage metrics to make a positive impact on visibility. It is common for those looking to optimize their app store visibility to optimize any of the following factors:
- The app’s name
- The app’s description
- The keywords associated with the app
- The general usage and quality metrics gleaned from the app
- The app’s uninstall rate
- The app’s reviews and ratings
- The links leading back to the app’s primary download page
It’s important to remember that the goals webmasters have for their websites differ significantly from those of app developers looking to get eyeballs on their creations. The former may wish to facilitate a sale, display advertisements, or simply capture new readership, whereas the latter is almost always aiming for new users to install their apps and keep them installed for as long as possible.
5. Trying influencer marketing
Vlogs and channels devoted to app reviews across platforms such as Youtube and TikTok can dramatically boost your app’s reach. All you need are the right people producing the right content to reach the right audience—at just the right time. Influencers on these platforms often offer promotional opportunities for pay and could be just as excited about sharing your app with their audiences as you are.
By offering benefits for brand advocacy, you may be able to make influencers of all your current users as well. Rewarding social shares and other word-of-mouth tactics can turn average users into your most valuable marketing weapon.
6. Get guidance from us
To learn more about meeting your audience wherever they are and achieving strong product-market fit, consider working with a dedicated digital product agency equipped to help you every step of the way. Our team at VeryCreatives has worked with multiple innovative companies to create and launch numerous successful digital products. Book a call today to learn how we can help your app succeed.
