iOS This is not fair...

[jsnuff1]

One of my new apps just got released on the app store today, but to my surprise it was not on page one of its category.

For some reason apple has now changed how the release date work...they set it to the day you set the availability date when you submit the app. So even though my app was released today, its on page 2 already because I set the availability date on the date i submitted the app, which was over a week ago...

This is not fair...how am i supposed to know when apple will approve my app? The app was released today and thats when the released date should be set at... I cant believe this I dont even get front page advertisement for my new app now and I was already pissed off about the no bump with updates....

 

[RedSky3256]

just out of curiosity what is your app?

 

[developer'swife]

ours wasn't either

"but to my surprise it was not on page one of its category"-jsnuff1

You've stated it perfectly. Our app wasn't on page one or in the "new" section for it's category either. Games that were released both before AND after are.
Extremely disappointed with sales They haven't even covered the 99$ cost of the developer's program, let alone the other development costs.

Has this happened to others? At this point we're not even hoping for being on the featured or Top 10 or any of the other high exposure places. Just if when something is new it goes to the new section...

We're seriously thinking about discontinuing on the development of the other apps we had in the pipeline. ROI may be too low or chancy.

 

[taylorwilsdon]

You can't possibly have a business plan that revolves around the short period of time where its at the top of the list? You have to market your app through other sources, for the love of gosh!

 

[jstanier]

"but to my surprise it was not on page one of its category"-jsnuff1

You've stated it perfectly. Our app wasn't on page one or in the "new" section for it's category either. Games that were released both before AND after are.
Extremely disappointed with sales They haven't even covered the 99$ cost of the developer's program, let alone the other development costs.

Has this happened to others? At this point we're not even hoping for being on the featured or Top 10 or any of the other high exposure places. Just if when something is new it goes to the new section...

We're seriously thinking about discontinuing on the development of the other apps we had in the pipeline. ROI may be too low or chancy.

I covered the $99 cost within about one week, and I was never featured in any of the front page sections.

The new section, and all of the others, are handpicked by staff - it has nothing to do with release date. The staff pick the most popular applications to draw in sales. I do agree with you on the "new" section though - it really should list everything chronologically.

 

[developer'swife]

Taylorwilsdon,
Yes, of course we are doing other marketing, press releases, advertising, etc but the inherent and FREE advantage of being on the front page of the new section for your category of app is obvious. It gives an initial boost that allows word-of-mouth to work because some people will always want to buy something just because it's new.

Can you tell me where in their documents, anywhere, and I've read everything for the iPhone/iTouch developers documentation twice, where Apple describes their criteria for being on their "new" page? Or for being on their "featured" section? It's obvious that the "what we're playing" is staff recommendations, but what about the other sections? Why are some featured and others not?

Maybe no one likes our app and all our glowing beta testers were just being polite, but it would level the playing field to know what Apple's criteria are. If there was a different store we could approach, that would be different, but there isn't. iTunes is a monopoly so they could at least make it a fair one.

 

[robbieduncan]

Can you tell me where in their documents, anywhere, and I've read everything for the iPhone/iTouch developers documentation twice, where Apple describes their criteria for being on their "new" page? Or for being on their "featured" section? It's obvious that the "what we're playing" is staff recommendations, but what about the other sections? Why are some featured and others not?

Apple choose them. There are no published criteria. It's luck of the draw to a certain extent.

 

[CarlosH]

As other stated, you should have your own sales channels. By the way, can you tell us about your application? You can get free publicity here too, and you are not using it.