This document provides 99 tips for getting a mobile app noticed, as it has become very difficult in today's crowded app market. Some key tips include optimizing the app for discovery in app stores through things like name, description, screenshots and keywords. It also emphasizes the importance of the first two weeks after launch through marketing efforts like press releases, giveaways and social media. Overall the document stresses the need for ongoing marketing both before and after launch to drive downloads and engagement in the competitive mobile landscape.

1. COSMOBILETAN
99 Ways
to Get
Your App
Noticed
@parisafoster

2. Before...
2008:
IT WAS EASY WHEN THERE WERE ONLY 500 APPS IN THE APP STORE

3. Now
2012:
IT’S LIKE ONE GIANT FOREST. GOOD LUCK GETTING NOTICED.

4. Over 1.5 Million Active Apps
Apple 700,000
Android 675,000
BlackBerry 105,000
Windows 100,000
0 175,000 350,000 525,000 700,000
Source: http://148apps.biz/app-store-metrics/, http://www.theverge.com/2012/9/26/3409446/google-play-25-billion-downloads-sale, http://blog.laptopmag.com/rim-debuts-new-blackberry-app-world-105000-
apps-music-movies-and-tv-shows,, http://www.forbes.com/sites/ewanspence/2012/06/05/windows-phone-reaches-the-100000-application-milestone/

5. Over 1,700 New Apps Daily
900
832
675
665
450
225 300
N/A
0
Apple Android BlackBerry Windows
Source: http://148apps.biz/app-store-metrics/, http://m.mobilenapps.com/articles/3809/20120821/ios-app-store-hit-1-million-year.htm, http://www.forbes.com/sites/ewanspence/2012/06/05/windows-phone-
reaches-the-100000-application-milestone/

6. How Do Users Discover New Apps?
Image credit: Mads Boedker (Flickr)

7. How Users Discover New Apps
MAJORITY OF USERS DISCOVER Source: Nielsen, Q3 2011
Android iOS
63% 63%
61% APPS IN THE APP STORE OR
53% THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH
21%
17% 17% 17%
13% 13%
9% 9% 10%
8%
6% 6% 5% 5% 5%
3% 3% 3%
r
tore iend Site edia are V Ad p Ad age age ail Tip the
App
S r Fr
Par
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I n- Ap mep mep Em O
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Fa m
D evic C arri

8. THERE ARE THREE MAIN
WAYS TO FIND APPS IN 1- SEARCH
THE APP STORES:

9. 2- TOP CHARTS

10. 3- FEATURES

11. Ranking Algorithm =
+ TOTAL DOWNLOADS
+ TRENDING DOWNLOADS
+ UNINSTALLS
+ ACTIVE USAGE
+ RATINGS & REVIEWS
+ KEYWORDS* (*for search results only)

12. The Product Life Cycle
WHAT’S DIFFERENT ABOUT MOBILE?
2
NEW CHANNEL: THE
APP STORES
1 FIRST TWO WEEKS
ARE CRITICAL
THE PRODUCT CAN
MARKET ITSELF 3
PRE-LAUNCH LAUNCH POST-LAUNCH

13. BUILDING AN APP IS ONE THING,
BUT THE REAL CHALLENGE IS TO
Image credit: macsurak (Flickr)
NOT END UP LIKE THIS.

14. Let’s Go!

15. #1
Have a Plan!

16. Product

17. #2 Build a Great App (DUH.)
Image credit: Dunechaser (Flickr)

18. #3 Find a
Niche
SPECIALIZE IN A RARE
CATEGORY OR SERVE A
NEGLECTED MARKET
Image credit: bathintherain (Flickr)

19. #4 Pick a Platform
Centralize Users &
Focus Efforts

20. #5 Design to Cater
RE-WORK THE DESIGN FOR
EACH SPECIFIC PLATFORM
Image credit: Rhett Stuphin (Flickr)

21. Design to Cater Unless That’s The Intention...

22. ✓MAXIMIZE ACTIVE USAGE
#6 Keep
App Updated ✓MORE PR & FEATURE OPPS
✓ACTS AS A REMINDER

23. Write an Intriguing
#7 “What’s New”

24. #8 Build In
Hooks For
Repeat
Engagement
Image credit: L. Marie (Flickr)

25. #9 Push
Notifications
or Alerts

26. #10 Tell a Friend
Include a “Share
This” Feature
Inside the App
Share by Email, SMS,
Twitter, Facebook
Customizable Message
With Device Recognition

27. #11 Encourage Gifting
Image credit: asenat29 (Flickr)

28. #12 Build
in Social
Features
LET THE APP DISCOVER
ITSELF AND HELP SPREAD
WORD-OF-MOUTH

29. #13 Make It Available Worldwide
Image credit: Jaime Olmo (Flickr)

30. Featured
#14 Incorporate New
Technologies

33. #15 Prompt
Happy Users
For Reviews
BUT DO IT THE RIGHT WAY!

34. Pissed Off
Reviews
#16 Let Users Know
How To Get In Touch
With You Directly

35. Cross-Promote Your
#17 Own Apps

36. Cross-Promote Your
#17 Own Apps
Cross-Promote With
#18 Other Developers
Join a Free Cross-
#19 Promotion Network

37. App Store
Optimization

38. #20 It’s All Awesome
In The SWEET!
NAME Descriptive

39. App Name Short vs. Very (Very) Longggg Name

40. #21 Publisher’s Name

41. #22 Keyword Field
Image credit: Derbeth (Flickr)

42. ✓KEEP IT SIMPLE AND EXCITING
#23 Write a
Solid App ✓AWARDS & SOCIAL PROOF
Description ✓BULLET-POINT MAIN FEATURES

43. Description
Think Top To Bottom:
Pay Attention To The First Lines

44. #24 Get An Analytics Provider
Keywords, Rankings, Features, Reviews, Repeat
Usage, Downloads, In-App Purchases, etc.

45. #25 Don’t Cheat!

46. ASO
#26 Design
an Epic
App Icon
FIRST IMPRESSIONS MATTER

47. ASO
#27 Update The Icon
With Each Major New
App Release

48. #28 Crowdsource Design

49. ✓ BEST FOOT FORWARD
#29
Screenshots ✓ USE THEM ALL
✓ GET CREATIVE

54. #30 Promotional Artwork
TIO NA L”
N OT “ OP

55. Promo Graphics
Android: “Featured” vs.
“Promotional” Graphics
FEATURED GRAPHICS PROMOTIONAL GRAPHICS

56. #31 Nominate App for Feature
Image credit: bigpresh (Flickr)

57. ASO
#32 Carefully Select
The App’s Category
APPLE RECOMMENDS FIRST CATEGORY FOR LISTING AND SECOND FOR SEARCH

58. #33 App Size
Size Matters:
Network vs. Wi-Fi
Only Download Image credit: Brett Jordan (Flickr)

59. Product
Launch

60. #34 Market Quickly FIRST TWO WEEKS OF AN APP’S
LIFE ARE THE MOST CRITICAL
Image credit: tpower1978 (Flickr)

61. #35 Market App Before Launch
Image credit: miss pupik (Flickr)

62. #36 Pre-Launch Splash Page

63. #37 Rally Beta Testers
Image credit: Kennisland (Flickr)

64. #38
Send Complete Info

65. #39 App Discovery Platforms

66. #40 Launch Near the Weekend
Image credit: dafnecholet (Flickr)

67. New sjack!
Timing
#41 Coincide Launch
With a Major Event

68. Use What
You’ve Got

69. #42 Post-Launch Website

72. #43 App Merchandise

73. #44 App Video Trailer
It’s a convincing
way to bring the
app to life.
Keep it Short, Polished
and Visual
Distribute Smartly

74. Website
#45 Prompt Mobile
Users on Your Website

77. #46 Smart
App Banners

78. #47 Customer Touchpoints
Receipts, Envelopes, Menus, Place Mats,
Containers, Cereal Boxes, Packing Tape, ...

79. #48 Email
SEND TO EXISTING LISTS
AND WEBSITE SIGN-UPS
Tip OPTIMIZE FOR MOBILE &
TARGET BY PLATFORM

80. #49 Your Email
Signature
Image credit: FutUndBeidl (Flickr)

81. #50 Change Your Voice
Mail Message Recording
Image credit: salimfadhley (Flickr)

82. #51 Put Links EVERYWHERE
Homepage,
Header,
Footer,
Social Media,
Blog,...

83. #52 Submit
to Alternative
App Stores

84. Mobile App
#53 Directories
Social Bookmarking
#54 Sites
#55 Facebook Page

87. #56 Twitter
Niche Social
#57 Networking Sites
#58 Online Forums

88. SlideShare
#59 Presentation
#60 Write a Blog Post
#61 Write a Guest Post

89. Show Off Your
Reviews
#62 Submit
to App
Review Sites
EXTERNAL LINKS TO APP
PAGE IMPROVE RANKINGS
SOURCE: ORGANIZATION FOR APP TESTING STANDARDS

90. #63 YouTube App Reviewers

91. Reviews
#64 Always Encourage
App Reviews Wherever
You Can

93. #65
Influencer
Strategy
Image credit: Garry Knight (Flickr)

94. #66 Celebrity Endorsements

95. #67 Target App Store Employees
Image credit: deege@fermentarium.com

96. Partners

97. #68 Secure a Launch Sponsor
= WIN-WIN
Image credit: jurvestson (Flickr)

98. SOCIAL SDKs
#69
Integration
OPEN APIs
Matters AD PROVIDERS
S
GAME ENGINES
E T C .

99. Leverage Your
#70 Developers / Agency
Obtain Preferred
#71 Developer Status
Associate Your App
#72 With a Charity

100. #73 Carrier
Pre-Installs

101. Advertising

102. #74 Mobile
Ad Networks

103. #75 Social Ad Units
FACEBOOK MOBILE ADS PROMOTED TWEETS

104. #76 SEM Went Mobile
CLICK-TO-DOWNLOAD AD MOBILE APP AD EXTENSION
DOWNLOADS ENGAGEMENT

105. #77 Print
Advertising
NEWSPAPERS, FLYERS,
MAGAZINES, BROCHURES,
POSTCARDS, ETC.

106. #78 Outdoor Advertising

107. #79
QR
C DES
NOT JUST FOR DOWNLOADING: SHARING AND REVIEWING APP

108. QR Codes Be Creative. Think About Where
Your Customers Want Your App.
BEER
Image credit: rethinkcanada.com

109. #80 SMS Shortcode Campaign
TEXT
(KEYWORD)
TO
(SHORTCODE)

110. #81
** StarStar
** X F
Custom Mobile
Marketing Numbers
That Deliver Mobile
Direct Response
XFACTOR APP DOWNLOAD

111. #82 TV Commercial
Make a TV Show
#83

112. #82 TV Commercial
#83 Make a TV Show
#84 Product Placement

113. Pricing

114. #85 Offer a Test Drive
Image credit: chaparral (Flickr)

115. #86 Cut
The Price
THE MAJORITY OF TOP
APPS HAVE CUT PRICES
AT LEAST ONCE
Image credit: Craig Murphy (Flickr)

116. #87 Have a App Day
(OR A FEW)
Buzz = $

117. Public
Relations

118. #88 Press Release
#89 Media Outreach
#90 Blogger Outreach
Image credit: NS Newsflash (Flickr)

119. #91 Give Promo Codes
Image credit: Gerard Girbes (Flickr)

120. #92 Enter
Contests
Image credit: Short and Longs / The Both And (Flickr)

121. #93 Have a Contest / Giveaway
BEER
ING DIRECT VIRAL VIDEO CONTEST
ING DIRECT PHOTO CONTEST

122. #94 Live Demo
Image credit: christophercarfi (Flickr)

123. #95 Conference or Trade Show
Image credit: aforonda (Flickr)

124. #96 Hire a Street Team
Image credit: ShopWise (Facebook)

125. #97 Sponsor a Real World Event
Image credi: familym (Flickr)

126. #98 Host a
Mobile App
Launch Party

127. #99 Be Lucky
Image credit: cygnus921 (Flickr)

128. DON’T FREAK OUT!
IT’S JUST MARKETING.
Image credit: storyvillegirl (Flickr)

129. The Bottom Line
2
1
OPTIMIZE FOR THE
APP STORES
MAKE A GREAT APP CONCENTRATE
THAT MARKETS MARKETING AT THE
ITSELF VERY BEGINNING
3
PRE-LAUNCH LAUNCH POST-LAUNCH

130. It’s Over!
LEARN MORE.
FIND OUT ABOUT THE BOOK.
www.parisafoster.com/book
@parisafoster