the itunes app store. 5 fails. 5 solutions. 5 minutes

The iTunes App Store 5 fails. 5 solutions. 5 minutes.

Matt Mayer, ReignDesign (@matthewmayer)

Mobile Mondays, 2009.06.29

The review process

A few adjectivesSlowInconsistentOpaqueSubjective

Seven hundred Quidditch fouls are listed in the Department of Magical Games and Sports records… The full list of these fouls, however, has never been made available to the wizarding public. It is the Department's view that witches and wizards who see the list ‘might get ideas’

J.K. Rowling, Quidditch Through the Ages

Reasons for rejection:“duplicates built-in functionality”“potentially offensive content”“use of Apple trademarks”“beta software”“logos don’t match”“undocumented API”….

What can you do about it?Read the rules (written and unwritten)Make a fussIterate

No sales metrics

Who is using my app?

How did they find my app?

Which countries?Which devices?Which versions?Which features?Which times of day?

Searching in iTunes?Related Apps?Advertising?Review sites?

What can you do about it?Use your own download pageRoll your own metricsUse third-party metricsSurvey your users

iTunes Connect

SORRY, YOU’RE NOT SADISTIC ENOUGH TO DESIGN THE ITUNES

CONNECT INTERFACE

iTunes Connect UX failsSlow response timesPoor usability for common tasksBreaks the Back button

What can you do about it?Heartbeat (heartbeatapp.com)Pre-register your apps

No protection for your IP

What can you do about it?Complain to AppleFight fire with fire

Payment structure

Month 1

Month 2

Month 3

Get paid here

Earn here

The territories scam You need to hit $250 in each territory

What can you do about it?Create an app pipelineIdentify your core markets

Thanks!