To make money selling your iPhone app, you don’t need a huge budget or a big time ad agency. Yes, both of those tools are very helpful, but the great thing about apps is that there is so much you can do yourself.

Online marketing and the internet have put you in the driver’s seat when it comes to making money, and the app revolution has pressed the pedal all the way to the floor.

You can see this in the way you made your app. Apple has put the power of app development in your hands. You don’t need to be a huge software company to make an app. You just need a Mac, an iPhone, and some ingenuity.

Or, you might not have written the code yourself, but you can still find an app developer by yourself easily. Sites like Elance bring together many experienced developers you can hire by the project. No long term commitment required.

Now, this doesn’t mean that you have to do it all yourself. There are many smart tools out there to help you. There are tools to help you spread the word about your app. You can advertise your app on search engines like Google, or popular app websites.

There are ways to learn the ins and outs of app marketing, too (just like our free App Profits Roadmap eBook) so you don’t have figure it all out yourself. There’s so much you can do by yourself, but when it comes to app marketing, you’re not alone.

There’s another great source of help, too: your fellow app developers. You’re all going through the same experience, and if you have a question, many people probably have it too. There are developers who have tackled the same challenges you have – how do I create an app that people will want? How do I promote it? What can I do to increase my profits?

While the App Store can be a competitive place, there are many developers who would be glad to share their advice on marketing your app. If you’re worried about a competitor stealing your ideas, seek out someone who makes a different type of app than you. Their puzzle app isn’t really competing with your financial services app. The two types of apps are going after different audiences, so you can both increase your profits without harming the other.

When you do market your app, the key to marketing your app is to do it early and often. If you are working on an app, now’s the perfect time to lay the groundwork to make it a success. Or, if your app is new to the App Store, there is a lot you can do to boost your sales.

You want to build up momentum and excitement about your app, start your marketing efforts even before it appears in the App Store if possible. Get people talking about your new app and make them eager to buy it as soon as it’s available. Have it appear on popular blogs, have it be featured in the App Store, get people sharing it with their friends.

But no matter how long your app has been in the App Store, you want to get buzz around it to get more people knowing about your app and buying it.

Don’t stop your marketing – keep it up, keep building momentum. Reach out and connect with people who might buy your app in every way you can. It’s especially easy online because many online strategies are free or low-cost.

In fact, I recommend you strive to something everyday, even if it’s something small. Making progress each day will make you feel great – there’s something you can point to every day to say you’re making progress to spreading the word.  That momentum will build and build, so even modest marketing efforts can grow into something much larger.

This is the one day of the year you don’t want to miss if you’re selling an iPhone app, and it will likely be larger than ever this year. Retailers have ‘black Friday’, the day after thanksgiving in the US, as their day to rack up sales when customers mob their stores. Not many iPhone app developers know it, but they have a special day all their own – December 25, Christmas Day, as well as the days following it. Find out why and learn what you can do to maximize your sales on this mega-shopping day.

According to 148Apps, Christmas Day has historically been a global day for huge app sales, with some apps seeing 2x to 4x spikes in sales. What makes this the perfect time to have your app in the App Store? Gadgets like the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad are popular gifts (especially the iPad this year!). Once people unwrap their new devices, one of the first things they want to do is download new apps for it. That’s a big part of the fun of a new iPhone or iPad – getting the latest apps to see what this new toy can do.

Plus, gift cards for iTunes are super-popular presents for the holidays. With free money in their hands, shoppers love to browse the App Store and will buy apps they might have been considering before or try new apps all together.

It’s clear that the holiday season this month will be a big money-maker for the App Store, and can be for you too. How can you make the most of this golden opportunity?

First, make sure your app is in the App Store in time to cash in. Submit it as soon as you can to allow Apple time to review and approve it. Take extra care to review your app to make sure it’s free of any bugs and follows Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines. And, double check that your submission meets all of Apple’s rules, including the icon, description, and keywords. You want to give your app the best chance to sail through the review process. Having your app rejected would cost you in lost time and sales at this critical time of year.

If your app is already in the App Store, do all you can to help it stand out.  This might be the time for a new and improved description. Or, launching even a small website for your app can help you promote it in new ways this holiday season, such as with social media. If there is something new about your app (new features, reduced price, etc.), you can send a press release for free.

Perhaps the holidays would be a good time to try a sale on your app. Offering a limited-time discount, like  retailers do this time of year, can boost sales even more from the larger number of shoppers looking around the App Store.

This holiday season is expected to be huge for sales of apps, especially because of the launch of the iPad. Don’t let this money-making opportunity pass you by. Get your app in the App Store and check that you’re set to cash in.

Even though the success of your app depends a lot on you and what you do, it also depends on your competitors. So, your two step plan of attack is to keep an eye on your competitors and then respond to what they do.

Watching your competitors can start before you ever enter the App Store, in fact. You should look at the competitive landscape before you dive in with your app because it will help you do something different. It would be tough if you worked hard to build an app (or spend money to ask someone else to build it), then when you launched it in the App Store, you discover there’s another app exactly like it. The only thing worse would be if the other app is cheaper too!

Now, you can definitely have an app very similar to others. Or one that solves the same problem as others but does it better, has more features, or is easier to use, or costs less.

That’s what some competitive research can tell you – what you need to do to make your app different and better than the others. Because your app will be side-by-side with your competitors. If you make a racing game and someone searches for ‘racing game’ in the App Store, your app will literally appear right next to all the others. In a split second, your customer will need to decide to click on you or them. And, when they read your description and check out your screenshots in the App Store, they’ll need to make choice of your app or theirs.

The competition in the App Store can be fierce. It’s easy for you to make an app and sell it, which means it’s also easy for  your competitors to do the same. New apps are added every day. If there’s one thing for certain, it’s that the App Store won’t change. That makes it really exciting, but also tricky.

Now, some people will tell you that doing competitive research is hard and time-consuming. And if you think about all you want to learn about your competition, you might get overwhelmed. But there are shortcuts you can take if you know what you’re looking for. There are really only a few key things to keep an eye on.

And, when you’re first entering the App Store, there are some particular things you want to look for. When you know what they are, you’ll begin spotting opportunities everywhere in the App Store. Wherever there is a spot for a new app, you’ll see it once you train yourself to have a critical eye. The next great app idea is out there waiting for you. You might even have it now.

“Can I really make money with iPhone apps?” is a common question developers ask. You might think that there isn’t much to be made from cute games and fun apps, but don’t be fooled: the app revolution has made it very possible for an individual developer to make an app that reaches huge audiences and makes real money.

Take a look at the numbers to see how possible making money with iPhone apps is. When you create an app, you’re tapping into a huge – and quickly growing – audience of users. There are over 50 million iPhone and iPad touch users out there, plus a growing number of iPad users. These people are your potential market.

And what a market it is! By 2013, people in the U.S. will buy $4.2 billion in mobile applications according to the Yankee Group. While the App Store isn’t the only place to buy mobile apps, it is the largest and most popular.

Plus, people are eager to buy apps. It’s become one of the main reasons people buy an iPhone or iPad, in fact. Users want to tap into hundreds of thousands of helpful, easy-to-use, or just plain fun apps. These clever software programs created especially for the iPhone turn the device into something new.

People have quickly grown to love apps. The average iPhone user has 65 apps and spent $80 to get them, according to AppFire. And, they don’t just download the free apps. The vast majority of iPhone users they surveyed (93%) have bought at least one paid app. According to AdMob, half of iPhone users buy at least one paid app every month.

This means there is a real opportunity to make money with your app because it’s clear people are  excited to buy them. There is a demonstrated need out there for what you’ll sell, which is the best position to be in when you’re looking to make money from your idea.

So, we have a built-in audience of users and a clear desire for them to buy. But, is it easy for you to reach them? That is the final step when it comes to making money from apps. Even if there is a market of potential customers, you still need to be able to sell them your app.

The answer is yes, you can easily sell your app to customers. You don’t need to set up an online store, or figure out how to accept credit cards. You don’t even need to create a website to make money with apps.

Apple has done much of the heavy lifting for you by creating the App Store, its hugely popular mega-mall where people shop for and buy apps. It’s easily accessible from iTunes, as well any any iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. And while you are probably familiar with what the App Store is, you might not have thought about how much it does to help you make money by selling apps.

The App Store has a built-in audience – millions of people who visit it to browse the latest apps. Getting to the App Store is just one click away to anyone with an iPhone. Users know the apps they buy will be easily installed on their device, and have been tested by Apple to work. It’s easy for people to browse and safe for them to buy.

As a developer, you have to submit your app to Apple for review. But this step is far outweighed by the prize you receive when you’re approved: access to millions of potential customers.

Audience, willingness to buy, and easy access – these are the three key ingredients that can help you make money with iPhone apps. You can take advantage of this opportunity by creating the next great iPhone app.

What has your experience been making money with iPhone apps? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

Congratulations! Your iPhone app was approved by Apple and is now for sale in the App Store. Your hard work to code and test your app is about to be rewarded.

But wait, how will people know your app is there? When they find it, how will you convince shoppers your app is worth their money? In other words, how do you market your iPhone app?

Having a bestselling app is about more than just creating the best software (although, that certainly helps!).  How you market your iPhone app will make the difference between having sluggish sales and raking in huge profits.

One of the most effective ways to market iPhone apps is by making the most of your spot in the App Store. Your app should do more than just sit on the shelf. Use the App Store as your launch pad to successfully selling your software.  Learn as much as you can about the ins and outs of this superstore so you can maximize your chances your app is seen and downloaded.

While at first it might seem like you don’t have much control over how your app will appear in the App Store – after all, Apple controls all aspects of their shop – you have more ways to market your app than you might think.

You should use every part of your App Store page to its fullest to convince shoppers your program is worth buying. That means taking some extra time when you submit your app to write a compelling description and create an eye-popping icon.

If your app is already for sale, make your next update a money-making makeover: update your description, upload a tweaked icon, and use screenshots that really show off the best of what your app can do.

Also, take a look around at your competition and find ways to set yourself apart. You can make your customers’ decision to buy much easier if you price your app lower than your competitor’s. Or if you make it crystal clear in your app description why yours is better (and worth a higher price).

When you market your app in the App Store, you’ll set yourself apart from all the competition. Many iPhone developers just let their products sit on the shelves. But now you can supercharge your marketing to start selling more today.

Now’s the time to learn everything you need to know to sell more in the App Store. Our new online course is now available (but only for a limited time) that walks you through 6 easy and powerful steps that can double your app sales (or more!): click this link to sign up for the course.

(If you’ve visited the order page before,  you may need to hit “refresh” or “reload” in your web browser so you can sign up or the course.)

Over 6 weeks, you’ll receive 25 audio recordings (plus full transcripts) that you won’t find anywhere else. It’s marketing made easy, without jargon or fluff.

You’ll learn how to:

*  Get pages full of 5 star reviews — the easy way

*  Avoid rejection and get into the App Store the first time

*  Convince App Store shoppers to buy your app

*  Get huge publicity from your app’s website (5 free tools)

*  Choose the perfect price for your app

*  Advertise on Google for bigger profits

The best thing is you don’t have to be a marketing pro to make these tips work for you. It’s designed just for app developers like you.

Sign up now – there’s no risk because you’re covered by our 60 day money back guarantee.

Do you want your name in lights? To be at the top of the pack? In the App Store, every developer strives to be in the Top 100 because it brings a huge visibility and loads of sales.

Many developers who write into this site say that getting their app in the Top 100 is one of their primary goals. But competition is tough. There are over 200,000 apps in the App Store and only a small fraction are people enough to market to the top. Does your app have what it takes to rise above?

Having your app in the Top 100 is like having Apple advertise your app for you every day. They give you a prominent link right to your app from the Top 100 page or even on the App Store homepage, which are seen by huge audiences. There may be no more effective way to market your app or turn App Store shoppers into customers than appearing on this coveted list.

More than the money from all the sales a Top 100 link can provide, it is a sign that you have arrived as an iPhone app developer. While many people learned to make iPhone apps, only an elite group have had their be successful enough to appear on the list.

One of the keys to having your app rocket to the top is to build momentum from their very beginning – even before you launch your app. Before your app shows up in the App Store, start building the buzz around it. Let bloggers and app sites know what is coming and build anticipation with the people who may become your customers. Build the anticipation into a fever pitch, so people will want to buy it the instant it is available.

Use the time you are waiting for your app to be approved wisely. Promote your app through your website and keep your customers updated. Make sure to tell them as soon as your app is approved and ready to buy.

Why do all this work? How will this help your increase the chances your app will break into the Top 100? You are turning your app into an event, and generating excitement so people do not need to think about buying it – they just snatch it up as soon as it is available.

You will usually see some of your highest sales as soon as your app is launched, so this strategy multiplies the number of sales you receive from day one.

The momentum you get from a huge launch can help propel you into getting more sales moving forward. For example, you can get many positive reviews earlier so people will quickly see your app is worth buying. More attention, more sales, more chances to get into the Top 100.

The Top 100 list is reserved for the best apps – and yours deserves to be among them. It may be difficult to break into this elite group, and it does not happen by accident. Start marketing your iPhone app even before it launched and continue to build the momentum and increase your sales to get the best chance to rise to the top of the rankings.

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.