So breezing through the Google headlines this morning for a headline different from all the rest, I came across an article about being a top 25 mobile app and how to stay there. We all know that mobile apps are the new idea that makes the world spin ’round and that’s a great thing. I won’t confess to anything less than being tied lock and stock to my Android and Apple products. Where else can I have my books, photos, music, banking, and entertainment all in one tiny and shiny package? Being in the top 25 in the iTunes store is nothing short of a huge honor and is equally as difficult to stay there as it was getting there. No one will tell you while developing an app that being a top app isn’t one of their goals, as it should be.
Some of the clips from the CNET article:
“Staying in the rarified Top 25 ranking on Apple’s App Store is a bit of mad science for companies like Rovio, the makers of Angry Birds.
Apple has its own, closely guarded algorithm for determining where an application lands. There are, or course, other forces at work that push apps into popularity–such as news stories about the apps, or the good fortune of an app being featured by Apple. But with a combination of luck, timing, marketing, and savvy development, small companies like Rovio have created their own tool kits for staying on top.
Of course, it helps if you have an addictive game such as Angry Birds, with a nice movie tie-in like the recently released animated film “Rio.” But fun, bird-based projectile games aside, there are tricks and strategies for making it onto Apple’s list and staying there, such as formulating a constant stream of updates, adjusting the price tag, and giving users a way to spread the word about the app.
“You have to think about these things from the inception of the game,” said Phil Larsen, marketing director for Halfbrick Studios. “You need to say ‘we’re going to make this game, and it’s got to have these particular features and longevity.’”
“The basic lesson–as in mobile software, as in software, as in all consumer products–is that if you have a compelling product. It’s the best hedge against dropping off into nothingness,” Zotto said. “The overall message is, “If you’re selling something that solves problems, people are going to be happy about that.”"
I wont deny, Angry Birds is beyond addictive, and an app that makes my life easier is getting downloaded pronto! This article has alot of great points that are worth the read to get some insight to take your app to the top level.
You can read the whole article at CNET : http://news.cnet.com/8301-27076_3-20058702-248.html#ixzz1LCrCnol4
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