Making and selling iPhone apps has truly arrived as a real business opportunity. The worldwide audience is there – over 50 million users. And, they are excited to buy iPhone and iPad apps of all kinds.

But, when you’re trying to make money with apps, there are some key challenges you’ll likely face. How you deal with these obstacles can make the difference in your success and profits.

I don’t want to discourage you – just the opposite, in fact. Some developers hit roadblocks and give up. Some never even start making an app because they think they won’t be able to do it, or won’t be able to make money from it. But, if you know some of the obstacles you might face upfront, it will make it easier for you to turn your app into a success.

One challenge is getting in the App Store. Before you start selling your app, Apple must first approve it. Because you are only allowed to sell your app through the App Store (not by yourself), submitting your app to Apple is an important step that cannot be avoided. Visit their website and carefully read the rules for submitting your app before you send it in.

When you submit your app to the App Store, you are taking the first step to selling and making money from your idea. If your app is approved, it will be put up for sale and made available to a large audience of iPhone and iPod touch users. After approval, you can begin selling your app and making money on the App Store.

Your job is not done once you appear in the App Store, however. To sell more apps, you must start marketing your app to potential customers. There are many ways to promote iPhone apps you create so you increase your sales and boost your profits.

Another one of your top challenges is how to stand out in the App Store. Once you’ve made an app, how do you let people know about it? There are hundreds of thousands of apps in the App Store – that’s a lot of competition. You might feel like your app gets lost in a sea of competitors.

The App Store is a very popular megastore, but just having your app in it is not enough to guarantee success. It can be hard to set yourself apart.

You really have two jobs here: getting people to find you or hear about you. Then, once they know about you, you have to convince them that your app is worth downloading or paying for. Those are two different challenges, and you’ll want to address each one differently.

Now that you know some of the key challenges you’ll run into while selling your iPhone app, you’ll be ready to face them head on. All developers looking to make money with apps have to submit them to the App Store, and everyone is trying to find ways to stand out in the App Store. Don’t let these obstacles stop you on your way to bigger profits.

When advertising your iPhone app, you want to be where your potential customers are – online. Internet marketing offers you many ways to spread the word and boost your sales, even on a small budget. The advantages of online marketing for iPhone developers include:

• It’s low cost: You don’t need a huge budget – there are many online marketing tactics that work well even on a modest budget. The point is to keep your eye on the prize: make sure your ad dollars are coming back to you in the form of increased app sales.
• It’s cost-effective: For some types of online marketing, you only pay when your customer takes the action you want. For example, when you place an advertisement on Google, you only pay when someone clicks on your ad and is sent to your website.
• It’s targeted: You can reach only the people you want to reach. Target your advertising toward the people most likely to buy your app. There is no need to waste time or money with ads for a general audience.
• It’s easy to get started: You can start your online marketing any time, and many tactics allow you to get up and running quickly. You might already visit web sites that could help your marketing efforts, such as discussion forums that you could participate in or app reviews sites that you could submit to.

A lot of the most effective advertising is done online, which is perfect for promoting your app. Paid search advertising (also called search engine marketing or SEM) is a good example of how internet marketing can help you make money from your apps.

Paid search ads are the sponsored links you see on Google or Yahoo, that are purchased by advertisers. On Google, they show up on the top and right-hand side of the page.

Here is how search engine advertising gives you all the advantages listed above:

• Paid search ads are low-cost: You set your own budget when you place ads on search engines. You can also set a daily maximum spend, so you know that you won’t pay more than a certain amount. You’re in control, and you can start with even a small budget.
• It’s cost-effective to use paid search ads: When you use search engine marketing, you only pay when someone actually clicks on your ad and is sent to your website. Unlike many other forms of advertising, like newspapers or magazines, where you pay a fixed amount but don’t know how many people actually see your ad (let alone do something such as visit your website), paid search advertising is highly cost effective.
• Paid search ads can be targeted: You make a specific type of app, and you want to show your ad only to a specific type of person (people who are most likely to want to buy your app). It’s possible with search engine advertising. You can show your ads only to people who have shown interest in what you’re selling. How do you know this? Because they typed something in the search engine, such as your type of app or a problem that your app solves. Targeting your paid search ads saves you money by not wasting money on ads that are shown to people unlikely to buy your app.
• It’s easy to get started with paid search ads: You don’t need an ad agency or a degree in marketing to get started advertising on Google. They’ve made it easy with a self-serve website that walks you through it, meaning you can be up and running quickly.

Spreading the word about your app online (in addition to your efforts inside the App Store) can be one of the best ways to raise awareness and increase your profits. There are many ways to market your app, including paid search advertising, that can help you turn your app into big profits.

Big profits start with a great iPhone or iPad app. You can create the app yourself or you can hire someone to design it for you. There are advantages to each, and what  you choose depends on how much  you want to learn about coding, your budget, and your goals for the app.

If you’re looking to create the app yourself, there are many ways to learn the best ways to get started with iOS development. (iOS is the operating system for the iPhone and iPad.) Writing software for iOS is something that you can easily learn if you’re willing to put some time into it and are technically inclined.

The advantages to developing your own app is that you can get your hands dirty and really understand how the code works. You can make the software work exactly how you like. Plus, you can save money by doing it yourself.

It can take longer to write the code yourself, however, if you have not done it before. There is a learning curve so, if you are going the do-it-yourself route, invest some time and money to learn the best ways to create your app.

But if you would rather not learn how to code, you can still make big profits from apps. There are many skilled app developers that have put their services up for hire. You can enlist them to create an app that meets your exact specifications, and deliver to you a finished product ready to be submitted to the App Store.

The advantage of hiring a programmer is that you can get an experienced professional to create your app. You do not need to spend the time to learn iOS development, and you may get a finished app faster than if you made it yourself. However, hiring a pro costs money and you will need to provide them with a clear idea of what your app should do.

The good news is that you have options. Whether you write the code yourself or find a programmer to do it for you, you can choose the best strategy to get your app.

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.

Want publicity for your iPhone or iPad app? Better yet, do you want free publicity? You cannot just sit back and wait for people to notice your app or for bloggers to write about it. To get maximum exposure for your application, you must get your name out there.

Press releases are a powerful way to spread the word about your app, especially if it is new. Sending a press release is an easy step you can do yourself – you do not need to hire a big public relations firm or advertising agency.

Best of all, there are free ways to distribute your press release once you are done with it to give it the best chance to be seen by the press, bloggers, and potential customers. I will give you some easy ways to turn your app press release into a reporter and blogger magnet and ideas for ways to distribute it (some of them free!).

Your Goal for Writing a Press Release

Writing a press release to announce your new or updated app can be a powerful way to get you noticed. Your goal in sending the press release is to let reporters, bloggers, and app reviewers know that you have done something exciting that their readers should know about. You then encourage them to contact you for more information, or they may link to your release online.

Sending one press release about your new app will probably not land you on the front page of a national newspaper. But it does get you additional exposure from people interested in technology and iPhone apps. The link you provide to your app website helps boost your rankings in Google, and can increase your sales when people find it online.

Plus, it gives you added credibility. Even a solo app developer can look like a professional software company by doing what the big guys do: issuing press releases whenever your new app or other important news.

How to Write a Press Release

When writing a press release about your app, you want to focus on what is most newsworthy. Instead of just listing off its features, grab the reader by telling them what makes it one of a kind.

What does your app do that no other can? How does it help people in an interesting way? What is surprising, or even controversial about your app?

Your app and your press release are fighting for attention with many competitors, so think carefully about how you will make your stand out from the crowd.

(Or, if you don’t want to do it yourself, we would be glad to write a press release for you.)

Get Your Press Release Out There

Once you write a press release, it is time to let the world know. Your announcement has a short shelf life, so send it to many places quickly rather than letting it drag out.

You can send it to app review sites that cover iPhone or iPad apps, but it usually best if you personalize the message rather than sending a mass mailing.

Use these websites to give your press release maximum exposure:

• PRMac (free or paid)
• Press Exposure (free)
• PRWeb (paid)
• PRLog (free)
• Free Press Release (free)
  
• Your website (free)

Writing a press release can give your app a boost in recognition and help increase sales when combined with other marketing. Use these tips to let everyone know about your new app.

Would you like getting publicity for your app? We can write and distribute a press release for you that helps get your app noticed.

We’re proud to share with you the affiliate links above because these are the resources and tools we use for our own business.

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.

Do you want to sell your iPhone app to more people? Some apps in the App Store pull in huge profits for the people who created them while others seem to struggle. Are your apps getting all the sales you deserve?

There are many marketing tips and tricks I could show you to encourage more people to download your iPhone or iPad app. In fact, there are easy and inexpensive ways to make your app the bestseller you always thought it could be.

The real key to sell more apps, though, is not the marketing tactics you use. The big secret is to learn that you need to think like your customer. What do they want out of your app? What problems are they trying to solve? Who will pay for my app, exactly? Instead of thinking about yourself, you should make the shift to thinking like a potential user of your app.

Change your thinking from “how do I sell my iPhone app?” to “why would someone want to buy my iPhone app?” While it may sound simple, this change in the way you think about marketing can have a huge impact on the way you sell your iPhone apps.

You are putting yourself in the shoes of the customer. After all, they are the ones in charge here. Selling iPhone apps is a matter of understanding their needs and helping them solve a problem using the app you made.

To sell iPhone apps to your customers more effectively, ask them what they want to see in your app while you are creating it. You can use surveys, send out emails, or ask your friends on Twitter or Facebook. Use this feedback to make the best software you can, which will make it much easier to sell your app and reap bigger profits down the road.

Now that you know that the best way to sell your iPhone app is to listen and respond to your customers’ needs, take action. Take a look at all the ways you are marketing your app – such as your App Store description – and make sure they speak directly to your customer by putting their needs first. You will quickly see that selling more apps comes naturally when you learn to think like your customer.

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.