By: Steph Dlugon
The iTunes App store has over 75,000 apps available. Roughly 8,500 new or updated versions of existing apps are being added each week. This means that consumer behavior is bound to change. With so much variety, app users are likely to think twice about downloading just anything. Let’s take a quick look at what the bounty of apps means.
The iPhone holds 148 apps at any given time. Sure, these apps can be switched out when users sync their device, but the goal of any developer is to land a coveted spot on the phone. When the app store first opened, a lot of unworthy apps were downloaded just for the sheer novelty. A recent Business Week article points out the difference between then and now. The game development company “Pangea generated $100,000 from 10 App Store games in July, compared with $750,000 from only two games available in July 2008, just after the store opened. “
The honeymoon is over. Consumers are getting savvy. And the app store continues to boom.
It makes sense that app developers would turn to marketing to help their apps get some limelight. But what’s the right approach? Here are a couple of free options that may help generate some buzz.
YouTube
Create a simple video demonstrating the features and functionality of your app and post it on YouTube. Be sure to add keywords to help lead traffic your way. Consider creating a YouTube channel if you anticipate the creation of additional videos.
Professional Reviews
Users will eventually review your apps. But scoring a review with a “professional” reviewer can have a big impact. Call or email bloggers, online reviewers and other thought leaders to try to get them to write about your app. While it’s true that you can’t control what they say, you can try to help them along by providing them with a detailed reviewer’s guide.
