Have you found a unique way to solve a problem or offer a group a service they need?
Congratulations! You’ve already accomplished what may be the most challenging part of starting a business.
However, making that solution or service accessible and visible to those who need it may be the real challenge.
Not to worry, we’ve got you covered with ten tips for successfully submitting an app to the app store.
Why the iOS Store is Essential
Getting your app on the iOS store is a surefire way to increase the likelihood of better reaching your potential audience or niche and boosting your app downloads.
If you can create your app to incorporate some of Apple’s latest technologies and developments, the odds of getting your app picked up by the iOS store go up substantially.
Now, on to how it’s done:
1. Don’t Forget iPad
What do we mean by this?
Creating your app to be usable on iPhones and iPads, (or any other Apple device) is essential to getting your app boosted or featured on the iOS store.
This may seem a bit daunting at first, but putting in the added work to design your app to work well on iPad from the beginning, will save you money in the long run and give you more opportunities for download.
Your app can run device-specific views on iPad or iPhone at the same time; it has a universal code base for communicating with an API or for app logic.
If you have an especially proficient app designer, they can even design your app to have in-app views by using Auto Layout and size classes so your app will be aesthetically pleasing on any sized Apple product.
2. Create an Amazing User Experience
Apple is always on the hunt for apps that iOS users will get a great experience using.
Apps that are highly user-friendly and engaging are most likely to be on the Essentials or Editor’s Choice lists.
Even having a highly recognizable brand name won’t do as much for getting your app featured as simply having an app that offers an experience that users will love.
This is especially true now that many technically savvy start-ups are creating new ways to improve UX and overthrow well-established companies.
With continual advances in design capabilities, app users’ expectations for user-friendliness are high.
In layman’s terms, if the user experience of your app doesn’t easily and engagingly address the real-life needs of your customers, it’s not going to go far.
3. Don’t Forget Apple T.V. and tvOS
As we said, companies like Apple love themselves and their products.
The more you can do to make your app accessible and usable on all Apple products, the better your app’s chances.
Many designers forget to create in a way that will allow apps to be usable (and look good) on Apple T.V. or tvOS.
Simply put: don’t forget.
Just get it right from the beginning.
4. Use Native Code
Have you probably heard of the “write-once” method of app creation?
Resist.
It may seem appealing and even less costly to just create coding that can be shared across Android and Apple, but more often than not, it will completely thrash your user experience.
As we said, user experience is essentially king.
This means, to appease the Apple beast, we recommend writing in native code–Objective-C and Swift programming.
Doing this will give you full use of the iOS frameworks and APIs.
Writing native code in this way will improve user experience and make it much smoother for your app to transition into use in any future Apple products developed.
5. Review Before Submitting
As shocking as it might seem, most apps that are immediately rejected by Apple have been turned away because of some glitch or another.
So, if you’re going to invest in great development, make sure to review all aspects of your app before submitting it to the app store.
6. “Keep it Simple, Stupid.”
In the wise words of Michael Scott (there’s an oxymoron if ever there was one), “keep it simple, stupid.”
In your initial submission, it’s best to do away with any frills or excessive details. Remember that initial approval takes the longest.
Once your app is approved in the initial phase, creating updates is much easier afterward.
7. Honey vs. Vinegar
As the southerners say, “you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar.”
The app store receives huge numbers of submissions daily. Taking the time to draft a professional and polite cover letter can go a long way.
Responding with them in patience also gives off an air of professionalism that can sometimes jump your app’s approval priority up the list.
8. Be Unique
We understand how challenging and frustrating this piece of advice can be.
However, with over 300,000 apps on the Apple iOS store currently, you’ve GOT to find a unique way to present the services your app offers.
At least target your app to a unique niche that may be underserved. You may also find success in being unique by taking a new angle on an app service that may already exist in some form.
9. Leave Nothing Out
No, this is not the opposite of the “keep it simple” advice. What we mean by this is to include all necessary info when you submit your app to the app store. This includes:
- Your name, phone, email
- What APIs you used, and a thorough description
- What graphics/images are used, and where else may they appear outside of your app
- A list of any external links used
10. Know Your App History
This is easy. Just read up on case histories of app store rejections and make sure you aren’t committing one of those major app submission faux pas.
Submitting an App to the App Store
You can follow all the rules for submitting an app to the app store, but if you don’t have an excellent development team to design that app, you’re out of luck.
Contact us today.
