Months ago during the summer, I decided to code an iPhone app myself. Because I wanted to learn, and because I couldn’t find an app that do the simple thing I wanted my app to. So I decided to do it myself.
At first the app would be free so anyone could use it, thanx would be more than enough. So when the app passed from free to $1.99?
Starting by the fact that the app shows your mapped position in your wall at Facebook, I need a hosting for the the Facebook app. I thought that if the app was adopted by too many people, the hosting costs could rise dangerously.
There’s a crisis out there but being honest, the gold rush of the app store somehow tempted me.
When you jump in this world of iphone apps, all you get is dozens of success stories of silly apps earning millions. Let me tell you I’m not that naive to think my humble app would be even near a hit like ibear. Just a little math is enough to understand that maybe 95% of the apps uploaded may not pay the effort or costs of develop. But even there… it is as tempting as casino.
So there I go. Payed my $100 for the Apple “toll”, and hands to work. If you are one of the few not jumped in the pool yet, let me tell you that it is really fun once you understand the way obj-c and XCode, and even more if it’s related to Facebook.
Finally, my friend (Marta two) helped me a lot with the dark sides of obj-c.
It took me about a month having it working and another month (summer) to be happy enough with the graphic design and the interface. Design was not easy for me as I know nothing about graphic design but since I have no money to hire one, I had to work it out myself (the blue button is downloaded as royalty free).
So, there I am, happy & ready to upload the app and there comes the first problem: Besides the app was initially rejected because of a little difference between the app icon and the large iTunes icon, it took about 14 days to have it accepted by Apple.
Once I had the email from Apple saying the app is ready, I run to iTunes to proudly see my app under the Social Networking category… but surprise… it wasn’t there!!
Being my first time I was pretty confused. I googled but I couldn’t find an explanation, there was something definitively wrong or I wasn’t understanding the way to upload an app.
Days passed and not one single app sold. How could it be?
Checking in the Social Network category, there were apps older than mine, even apps with the same date as mine but I wasn’t there!
I had no idea on what to do. One day, checking on iTunes, I found mine but the release date was one month ago than the real date!
It was obviously a mistake but what could I do? Days passed and I had 0 downloads. What else if I was 10 or more pages down.
You don’t have an idea on how disappointing this could be. It is like one day you find that all you have been doing is wasting your time.
At this point, as pissed off as disappointed, I found that developers change the release date when they update the app. Some keep changing the date every day until the update is released, so that seems to be the way to have your app on top, or at least thats what I’m guessing. Personally I haven’t tested this trick and I wont.
I still don’t have it clear what happened and why exactly were 10 or more pages of apps before mine if I made it every step as indicated by Apple.
I really hate this situations, I really follow the rules, I don’t break the law in any way or at least that’s what I try to do in life. I hate being the idiot following rules to end up the last.
Anyway, I’m not the kind to lay there feeling down, so if I won’t have my chance at the store, I decided to market the app myself.
First off, I made a list with the sites that review apps. There were a few I used to read, plus the first two pages coming from googling “iphone app review”.
Then I sent a couple dozens of emails or filled forms in webs.
From the few dozens of email/forms, mostly they just ignored me. I get that the top reviewers must have a ton of apps daily to review, but even there, an automatic email saying thank you for the app, promo codes, bla bla bla, could help avoid the feeling that you are pushing in the crowd to get the picture with the elusive movie star.
Some of them kindly respond with an auto email saying of the high volume of requests, they have no time, but you can buy some ad space in the site. Fair enough for me.
From the few that did not ignore me, I had one real review (yes only one, 148apps.com). In fact a real good review, getting 4 to 4.5 points in 5 in all categories. Actually, I got a second great review, when the Apple guys put my app as “staff favorite“.
Which is great, not for the money, which is not a lot, but it means that you did not been wasting your time and that many people finds it useful. And that makes me happy, really.
But by far the most annoying, the ones who did not ignore me, but asked for money to review. This is the most annoying part of this process of market an iphone app.
It is just not ethic, you can’t charge for give an opinion for others without state it clearly in the review.
They all say that despite the payment, the review will be honest and merit based. But I wonder if that is true, why it is not clearly stated in the review itself? I think it is because it would loose credibility, indeed.
I checked the webs, and nowhere is disclosed the fact that they are getting payed for these reviews and that is at least dishonest.
I’ve been reading reviews myself, a lot of them, just like many others, maybe thousands a day, which come to these sites daily to read honest and realistic reviews, and nowhere says they have been payed for review.
How can you trust this is a serious review if don’t disclose they are being payed by the incumbent. This is just not serious and not right.
Of course I payed them nothing, actually I even don’t read these sites anymore. How could I if I don’t trust.
This is getting to look like Wall Street, where the rating companies are getting payed by the companies actually being rated, Enron AAA rings the bells for you?
Anyway, despite the odds, If you are a passionate coder, if you believe in your idea, if you trust yourself, just like any in other aspect of life, it is worth the effort.
You just don’t believe the tale of the gold rush, really.
Finally, I’ve read today that Apple wont put you on top when uploading an update anymore.
Despite the fact that developers mostly look angry about that, and that I’m new here and I am maybe missing something, I think it is a good desition from Apple.
I get their point but still think it is good for new apps to be known, all in the same condiitons, so apps can compete in a more fair way.
This way every app has the same chance, there is no trick. So if your app is good, then you will succeed, if not, you will have to work your way to market your app and learn.. just like me.
When you keep posting unprovable updates or changing dates to get free exposure, what you are really doing is pushing back new apps and that is not fair. If you trust yourself, that should be enough for success without shortcuts.
That said, I run to work in my second app, I’m sure you will love it 
Keep smiling
