Are you looking for the best way to sell your app in the App Store? Many developers jump in blindly and overlook the simple things they can do to increase their profits by selling more apps.
In this article, we’ll show you the three key steps to set yourself up for success when selling your iPhone or iPad app. These essential ingredients can help you get more exposure for your app and increase your sales from day one.
With more than 150,000 apps currently being sold in the App Store, you need every advantage you can get to stand out and be noticed. Read on to learn how to take the first crucial steps to turning your latest app into a bestseller.
1. Think like your customer
After all the hours you are spending coding and testing your iPhone app, you know it inside out. But your potential customers do not know a thing about it yet. How are you going to sell your app to your eager audience of App Store shoppers?
While there are many ways to get the word out about your app, the one thing you should remember when doing any marketing is that to be successful, you must think like your customers.
Take yourself out of your shoes and try on your customer’s. What will really make your app appeal to them? How you sell your app is all about how you communicate what it is to people.
When selling your iPhone app, aim to be clear and compelling every time you talk to shoppers. By putting their needs ahead of your own, you will win over more buyers and accelerate your sales.
2. Do a little every day
Successfully selling your app can seem like an overwhelming task. There are so many marketing activities to try, who has time for them all?
When you want to boost your sales, do not worry about trying to do everything at once. There is so much you could do to help you increase your profits that you might just burn out by trying to do too much.
Instead, commit yourself to do just a little something each day. Marketing your app works best when it is a sustained effort, not a sprint.
By doing one thing every day to promote your app – whether it is submitting to a review site, working on your search engine marketing, or improving your App Store description – you will be amazed at how much you accomplish in a week. You will feel great and that momentum will push you to go further.
3. Don’t ignore your competition
At the same time you are selling your app, thousands of other developers are doing the same. App Store shoppers have become more choosy about the apps they will download and buy – there are over 150,000 to choose from after all – meaning you will need to keep an eye out for what your competitors are doing.
Before you launch your app and also when it’s live in the App Store, carefully watch the other apps in your category or that appeal to the same audience as yours. Here are some important things to look for: Did they raise or lower their app prices? Are they adding new features that you do not have? Do they hold sales or special promotions? Do they offer a free or “lite” version?
What you do to respond to your competitors can make the difference between winning new customers or losing sales. By keeping a close eye on your competition, you will be ready to make the most of every advantage you have.
Selling your app is an ongoing journey. Put these three opportunities into action today and start earning all the sales you deserve every step of the way.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Just as normal you have provided several superb information and facts. Been a lurker on the website for some time and wanted to give thanks to you for finding the time to post it.
One Question. What if I am hiring developers for the app but I want to sell it and obviosly keep control on the cashing in the store?. Do I also need to become a “virtual” developer?
Great question, Frederick! Hiring a developer to create your iPhone app is a smart idea because it gives you more time to devote to marketing your app. Unless the developer offers it as a service, you will need to sign up with Apple’s developer program and submit your app to be listed in the App Store.
The first tip is the best on. “Think like your customer”. You should place yourself as a customer, so you can think like them, and offer what they want
This is probably the best tip 
Really nice blog. Thank you for the follow on Twitter. I like the idea behind what you’re doing here.
I like your 3 steps to marketing. Submitting your app to appropriate blogs to review is a really good idea and falls in line with good social media marketing strategy.
Hi,
Thanks for sharing the tips.
I really don’t know how to put this. I have very little in programming apps. But, I will be attending University next year, and studying the following subject:
Computer Science
http://www.cs.cf.ac.uk/degreeprogrammes/bsccompsci/
Would the degree provide me with enough skills to begin creating Apple Apps?