When your app first gets approved and is available to the world, you may find yourself struggling with a very common issue that most developers face: gaining traction and momentum with initial downloads.
You’ve just launched your app, and you’re hoping to see the install counter sky rocket. Instead, you see the downloads barely trickling in. You soon realize that because there are millions of apps available, you need to be very creative in your marketing strategy.
Family and friends is a great way to get initial shares and promotion; unfortunately, that will only get you so far.
So, where to start?
One very common marketing strategy you’ll hear is to reach out to online app reviewers, bloggers, etc. to write a review (the team at appTamin does a great job about going into detail on how to effectively reach out – I have used it personally and found success). However, I have also found if you are submitting an app for review that does not already have a foundation via ratings & comments, it makes it that much more difficult for them commit to a review.
Most review teams receive hundreds of review requests a week; unless you have an app that is absolutely irresistible, it might be hard to win a review.
This leads us to the next question…
How do I market my app so that I can have a bit of credibility via app store reviews and ratings to strengthen my pitch before reaching out to app reviewers?
This is where creativity comes into play. One approach that I used that I found to be effective is the use of mobile marketing. Sounds complicated (and has nothing to do with your smartphone), but it’s super easy…. car decals!
A simple car decal with your app icon and name is a cheap and easy way to market your app. You use your car every day; why not take advantage and let people know about your app? There are many different companies out there that you can use; after some research, I chose BestOfSigns as they offer quality product for a cheap price.
This is one strategy that offers 24/7 marketing with zero maintenance (other than the occasional car wash!)
Simply drive and advertise at the same time! Here are the car decals that I bought:
TL;DR
#1 – Obtain your customer base framework prior to reaching out for app reviews
The first impression that your app gives to the reviewer plays a huge role in determining if they write a review about your app. Before reaching out, be sure to strengthen your claim by showing evidence of public approval.
#2 – Be creative when it comes to marketing. Don’t be afraid to try something off the wall.
Taking advantage of your personal car is an easy way to market your app. Create a car decal of your app icon and name to put on your car window. It’s super cheap, many eyes will see it, and there is little to no maintenance once applied.
#3 – Key Resources to use for Assistance
appTamin – Blog that goes into detail about effective strategies to follow when reaching out to app reviewers.
BestOfSigns – Decal company that offers quality product for a very reasonable price.
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Patrick Horton
GetSumGaming