The Real Path to Getting Your App Featured by the Apple With over 2 million applications in App Store today, the competition for getting noticed by editors is heavy. Every iOS mobile app development company wants its app to get featured in the App Store. A place on the featured page is a practical method to get more traffic and ultimately more downloads by boosting visibility. Though there are no right or wrong ways to get featured, there are actually tactics you can use to increase the chances to get the perfect shot.
But, Why Apple Features App? Without applications, users would not find their iPhone devices as valuable. Hence, they undoubtedly play a huge and vital role in Apple's business. Billions of dollars of revenue is the perfect reason for Apple to appreciate and thank developers for their contribution. Moreover, Apple likes to uphold a healthy relationship by featuring their work and appreciating quality applications. With the recent updates in iOS 11, the menu bar has a Featured tab. What is so trendy about this Featured tab? Well, the application will be curated by editors in the Today, Games, and Apps tab along with Stories. Apple is also removing support for 32-bit iOS application to kick-out inactive and useless applications. It will result in a cleaner App Store and users will avail up-to-date applications only. This is certainly a major breakthrough which will allow users to search apps easily. Less clutter also means that your app has the best opportunity of getting featured. Now, How to Get Highlighted in App Store? If you have a great mobile app with creative design beforehand, you are all set to release the
application in App Store. Submitting application does not mean you are done. You should make it visible in App Store so that it can reach to the maximum number of users. So how to do this? Below are best tips to get your application featured by App Store editors. 1. Error Free Features and Functionality Apple is well-known for the consistency, and they won't entertain any single performance and quality related issues. Therefore ensure that your app is of the highest quality. It is ironic to say why would Apple choose to promote a defective app? Your application should be simple, intuitive, and useful. Before thinking about being featured, test your application completely and try to fix all bugs. 2. Build Native Apps for Quick Results Developing a native app is your safest bet. Apple undoubtedly wants to feature apps that are built specifically for iOS, not cross-platform. If you want to be featured in the App Store, you should focus your efforts on core iOS app development and build a native iOS app. Of course, native applications are of higher quality and always provide better user experience. Native applications emphasise more on core APIs that means application access information about smartphone's hardware like camera, battery, etc. While hybrid apps, you’re typically compromising the user experience so that it can be used on other platforms. When it comes to getting featured, you’ll have a much better chance if you build a native app. 3. App Store Optimization is Key Around 63% of apps are discovered through the App Store searches. If you are missing App Store Optimization (ASO) within App Store, then you are missing the largest discovery channel available to boost search ranking. It is meant to drive more traffic and ultimately more downloads by increasing visibility. Keywords should be strategically put in every part of various sections of app listing. The title of your listing must include your targeted keywords. However, you should find a balance between including keywords and keeping your title short and relevant. 4. Leverage Your App Store Page Does your App Store page do a good job at persuading the user to download the app? If not, then App Store for iOS 11 certainly does it for you. In latest App Store, product pages for individual apps have been redesigned to underline the most distinguished product details. You need to optimize your app page at best level as each and every content on your page plays a crucial role in determining whether or not a user will download an app. In short, more appealing the description, better the chances of getting featured in the App Store. 5. Promote Apple How to stay up-to-date with the recent Apple releases? Either you can attend to their annual WWDC event or frequently pay attention to Apple’s Developer Forum. Apple always tries to promote their products so aligning your application objective with them is the best way to get featured. How is this possible? Suppose Apple is promoting a particular API, you could develop an
application that supports this new API. But, before you go, make sure your application fit with Apple's standard to meet overall business objectives. Some Considerations to Keep in Mind There are a number of factors that matter whether your application gets featured or not? There is no specific checklist or formula, but there are some elements that editors consider such as
Usability and quality of UI Efficiency and functionality Uniqueness and ingenuity How is your app helpful to the latest software (eg. tvOS Apple Watch, 3D Touch) and more
Wrapping it Up!! Mobile app development companies need to fill in form as early as possible and provide amazing visuals for the feature banner. Once your app deployed in App Store, you can keep track on the number of downloads along with rating and reviews. A quality app with unique features will eventually get noticed. For that, you have to add a lot of value for users and understand what they expect in your app.