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I think the app store has become much more about marketing now when you are entering with a new app. Most of the built in discovery tools are focused on apps wi

I think the app store has become much more about marketing now when you are entering with a new app. Most of the built in discovery tools are focused on apps with an existing reputation. Given the volume of apps this makes sense, and helps ensure that users are shown quality apps, however it also places a barrier to entry to newcomers until they can build a reputation that allows this virtuous cycle to take hold. I would be interested in hearing from any app developers who have managed to break through this cycle recently and the marketing techniques they used.

barumrho 12y ago
I just wanted to share my experience that this isn't always the case. I launched a transit app in Toronto* about 3 years ago. (There were already plenty of them back then.) Over the years, daily downloads steadily grew without me doing any marketing. These days I get a few hundred downloads per day which, to me, is mind-boggling. I realize this is a bit of a special case since people now look for transit apps when they get a new phone. * https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/ttc-watch-for-toronto/id505286932?mt=8 https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/ttc-watch-for-toronto/id5052...
- LiweiZ 12y ago
  Your app is very simple and nice to use, though I do not take TTC. Nice to see its creator here.
- jonawesomegreen 12y ago
  That is very interesting. I always like to hear counter examples. Have you had any success in turning downloads into revenue? Does the ad model work for your app, or is most of the revenue from in app purchases as in the article?
  - barumrho 12y ago
    The revenue from my apps have grown to be significant. Not enough for me to work on it full-time though. Off the top of my head, I think 95% of my revenue is from ads. I have plans to work on improving IAP conversion since I don't like the fact that I show ads. This article got me thinking about what I can offer more than just "remove ads".

barumrho 12y ago

I just wanted to share my experience that this isn't always the case. I launched a transit app in Toronto* about 3 years ago. (There were already plenty of them back then.) Over the years, daily downloads steadily grew without me doing any marketing. These days I get a few hundred downloads per day which, to me, is mind-boggling. I realize this is a bit of a special case since people now look for transit apps when they get a new phone. * https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/ttc-watch-for-toronto/id505286932?mt=8 https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/ttc-watch-for-toronto/id5052...

LiweiZ 12y ago
Your app is very simple and nice to use, though I do not take TTC. Nice to see its creator here.
jonawesomegreen 12y ago
That is very interesting. I always like to hear counter examples. Have you had any success in turning downloads into revenue? Does the ad model work for your app, or is most of the revenue from in app purchases as in the article?
- barumrho 12y ago
  The revenue from my apps have grown to be significant. Not enough for me to work on it full-time though. Off the top of my head, I think 95% of my revenue is from ads. I have plans to work on improving IAP conversion since I don't like the fact that I show ads. This article got me thinking about what I can offer more than just "remove ads".