Ask HN: How did you get your app featured by Apple?

18 points·thisjustinm··3 comments

Obviously a quality app is the bare minimum but what else?

I'm curious to hear the stories of what tends to get on Apple's radar.

I've heard of a number of people unexpectedly getting featured but I'm also curious to hear any specific actions people have done that they think lead to them being featured.

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The best way I have heard it described:

"If you make a splash in the pond, Apple will help make bigger waves for you"

You can't expect Apple to feature your app out of nowhere. Create your own word-of-mouth buzz, be featured somewhere and create your own community following.

Also, I've never been able to verify this and I believe there is an incentive system for Apple reviewers to submit 'Best app of the week' (e.g. editorial vetting)

Beautiful and intuitive apps always have a better chance. The Apple ADA winners set a very high bar.

https://developer.apple.com/design/awards/

In 2010, Faber Novel did a study on marketing your app to get into the app store. So much of it seemed to revolve around timing of launch:http://www.slideshare.net/misteroo/how-to-market-your-app.

I also summarized it in a quick article: http://readwrite.com/2010/02/17/iphone-appstore-ranking-algo...

Newer answers welcome. Sorry, I haven't kept up with this as much as I should.

At a previous company we got featured by Apple as one of the 'Made for iOS 7' apps. We had been in contact with them previously. I think we met a few people at WWDC or they reached out to us, I can't remember. But basically they asked us to submit some artwork, and then one day we appeared on the list.

Most of the time, to get featured, you need to be doing something a little unique. We were one of the only healthcare apps using the new features of iOS 7. After that they ask for artwork and then you wait and pray. :)

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