How to Get Your App Featured on the Apple App Store?

Among the biggest names in mobile is Apple. On that, we can all agree. With 15% of the worldwide smartphone market, Apple ranked as the second-largest smartphone seller in 2017.
Every month, Apple receives submissions of over 20,000 apps and 2,000 games, adding to the 1.96 million apps that are currently on the store for people to download. 15% of smartphone users might be reached by releasing an app on the App Store and localizing it for every country that is supported. It follows that being featured is a big deal.
The greatest and most effective strategy to raise awareness of your app or business is to get it featured in the applications category. The app store selects and highlights featured apps that offer premium goods, services, and user experiences. This gives your digital product a competitive edge in shops where the number of apps is growing daily.

To increase your chances of being featured, we suggest using this guide as a checklist of things to do.
Let’s get started,

How to Get Featured on the App Store?

It’s not easy to get featured. It is, however, productive of your time and energy. Initially, it is important to keep in mind that Apple is a design firm in addition to a computer corporation. Getting listed on the app store is important since it allows your app and business to be a part of that growth. They keep material with the same love that they have for being elegant.
In conclusion, getting your app recognized on the Apple app store depends mostly on how well you understand your target audience, your exceptional UI/UX design, and how talented your engineers are. Your app needs the following criteria in order to be featured in Apple’s App Store.

Create an easy-to-use user experience (UX) and a stylish user interface (UI)

This is not surprising. It takes a beautiful user interface (UI) to get Apple to spotlight your program. App design prizes are not given out carelessly. Apple is aware of how important a strong user experience and user interface are in the mobile space.
Every element of your app’s design needs to be thoughtfully and skillfully built, while also being user-friendly. Your app should not be confusing to users when they open it. Operations must seem natural and operate without interruption.
Asking your consumers is the greatest approach to find out if your software is easy for them to use. Organize a group of testers that are representative of your target market and assign them tasks within your app. Additionally, you can encourage people to express their thoughts—both positive and negative. After that, you’ll be able to pinpoint precisely which parts of the flow of your app are clear or unclear.

Build a Native App

Your best option is to create a native app. Without a doubt, Apple prefers to highlight apps that are created especially for iOS over cross-platform ones. Make a native iOS app and concentrate your efforts on iOS app development if you want to get your app highlighted in the App Store. Furthermore, because native iOS apps typically offer a better user experience and are of higher quality, Apple prefers to see them. In order to make hybrid apps work on several platforms, the user experience is usually compromised.
In summary, native app development will give you a significantly better chance of getting recognized in the App Store because native apps often offer a better user experience than hybrid apps.

Focus on Determined Innovation

An enhanced user base can be ensured by adding sophisticated apps to the app store that offer a straightforward and imaginative user interface, a convenient user experience, and high-quality goods and services. On the other hand, maintaining those components exactly as they were when your program was submitted would result in uninstallations. To make the user experience better, you have to constantly be introducing fresh, interesting, and engaging features to your app.
For instance, if you have a video streaming app, update it with features like Auto Pause and Play that employ eye sensors, or create a new UI/UX design based on a holiday, like Halloween or Christmas. Your app is more likely to get featured if it offers users a better value and user experience.

Add and Optimize App Localizations

In how many nations is your app accessible? The more, the better. If your program is only available for download in a few countries, Apple will not feature it. When you consider that their audience is global, that’s not doing anything for them.
However, don’t just start adding localizations at random. Every localization must be filtered. Translations of all keywords and descriptions into the localization’s native tongue are required. Do not assume that you can copy and paste just because two nations speak the same language.
Numerous localization optimizations take a very long time. Over ten hours may be needed to handle ten localizations. Use an ASO tool like App Radar to save time and focus your attention on other app growth techniques.
You can add, manage, and optimize app localizations using a single interface with the App Radar (ASO Tool). Additionally, App Radar provides you with AI-powered and data-driven suggestions on how to enhance ASO for every localization.

Update your program frequently and Use Apple APIs

Apple is happy when its products are used. They also take great pleasure in showcasing excellent products created with their technology. When creating iOS apps, you should always use the most recent version of Swift and, if possible, integrate Apple APIs.
Additionally, you should update your app frequently. Regularly pushing updates demonstrates your concern to Apple and your users. Continue adding features and resolving bugs. Keep in mind that the App Store is hand-picked by Apple editors to provide users with only the greatest content. They won’t distribute malfunctioning apps that haven’t received updates in months.

Keep it Secure and Bug-free

When it comes to user privacy and data security, iOS is the most reliable and safe operating system. Editors of the app store will take notice of any iOS-compatible program that possesses the same attributes. As a result, you have to make sure that your app is free of bugs, coding mistakes, UI problems, and vulnerabilities that could expose it to cybersecurity risks.
By having your app secured by a professional mobile app development company, you can further streamline this procedure. An app is more likely to be featured if it can maintain user and organizational data/privacy security while offering an unforgettable user experience.

Examining User Ratings and Reviews

User evaluations are a great way to learn what aspects of an app are successful and what still needs work. It’s critical to consider both the positive reviews left by pleased clients and the negative reviews highlighting possible problems.
Low ratings often draw attention to user-experienced problems, which is something you should try to keep in mind while creating your application. Positive comments, on the other hand, highlight features that users find appealing; adding these qualities could make your app more likely to be chosen by the App Store editorial staff.

Optimize your App Store Product Page

The product page in the App Store – one of App Radar’s favorite subjects. This is where the actual value of Apple App Store Optimization (ASO) lies. One of the biggest determinants of app growth is the product page of your app. This is the point at which users are convinced to download and learn more about your app. To showcase your app’s USPs, include a creative preview video on the Apple App Store website. Make sure the images and description highlight each USP of your product in a way that is unavoidable.
On the app page, keywords are another important area to concentrate on because, when used appropriately, they may greatly boost traffic. Hire an SEO specialist to assist you with this and make sure that the keywords you use on all product pages and in the app title can generate traffic. The app store editors will take a closer look at your page if you optimize it to just include informative content and eye-catching photos or videos regarding the app.

Keep Your App in Sync with Apple

To keep people interested, Apple often releases new software updates and technological advancements. To get featured, your app needs to consistently follow such trends in order to be available in the app store. You can make your app VR-compatible and work with Apple to promote virtual reality technology, for instance, if the app store supports the technology across all digital platforms. The editors of the app store will value your passion and assistance and take your app into consideration for the highlighted list.

Upgrade your App Name

Choose a name for your app that accurately conveys its purpose. When it comes to keywords, the app name is quite important. As a result, you must include the search term “daily planner” in the name of your app if you wish to rank for it. Because there is a 30-character limit, keep it brief.

Design A Creative Icon

Your icon needs to be eye-catching, memorable, and unique. When someone searches for your app on the App Store, they see it first. An icon serves as an example of what your application can achieve. You need to create an icon that sticks out from the crowd of competitors if you want to boost the click-through rate to your App Store page. Think about using contrasting colors and making your icon bright.

Approach Editors of the App Store

Expert App Store Editors evaluate both premium and free apps and games each day. Thousands of proposals are sent to Apple to feature mobile apps. Applying this strategy effectively can make it useful. Create a compelling pitch that highlights the features and special features of your app. Editors search for excellent apps across all categories, with a focus on newly released and recently updated apps.
A few things to consider in the pitch are:

• User Interface
• Ease of Use/User Experience (UX)
• App Functionality
• Unique Features
• Satisfied App Users (Feedback/Testimonials)
• App Preview Video (Highlight the USPs)

Make every effort to keep app store editors interested in your pitch so they will consider adding your software to the Top Charts. Pitch emails are accepted by Apple and are sent to AppStore.com/Promote, a dedicated message system that may be accessed with your Apple ID.

Benefits of getting your App Featured in the App Store

As soon as users enter the Apple App Store, they are sent to the Today tab. Apple’s Today tab is not so much a storefront as it is a well-chosen storage. Apple has hand-picked the apps in this area based on their excellent storytelling, gorgeous designs, and high app quality. Apple offers apps under the Apps category in addition to the Today tab. Below are some of the other benefits –

A Higher Number of Users

When your app is listed in the Apple app stores, it becomes quite easy to reach your target user base. Millions more people than just your target audience will easily discover and utilize your software without having to look for it. Consequently, the intended user base for the highlighted app will increase.

Lower Acquisition Expenses

Millions of mobile apps are available in the Apple App stores, with more added daily. It makes it more difficult to gain the app visibility you need to reach the intended people, and in certain cases it is practically impossible because there is virtually always a better app that you can offer. Due to this competition, you must always think outside the box when it comes to promoting your app in order to stand out in the app stores. This can be very expensive for your company and may not always yield the desired results.
Since the featured section handles all of the app’s promotion, getting your app highlighted can help your business avoid these expenses. App stores’ Top Charts and Editor’s Choice sections provide your app a reputable and noticeable appearance. For this reason, as soon as you submit your mobile app to the Apple App Store, your first task should be to work towards getting it highlighted.

Increased Business Revenue

The ride-hailing sector is already dominated by Uber and Lyft, so if you develop a ride-hailing app, you will face tough competition. It won’t be simple or likely to happen for a while to generate a respectable income in this corrupt market unless you can win over the target user base’s confidence and deliver a helpful experience.
Every program that appears in the Apple Store has to offer a distinctive user interface, superior goods and services, and an easy-to-use interface. These mobile apps are hand-selected by the app store editors to go on the highlighted list. Placing your app on the list will make you more noticeable to the intended audience and provide them with an improved or comparable alternative.

Enhanced User Retention

As previously said, apps with excellent UI/UX design, high-quality goods and services, respectable customer support, and easily navigable features are selected by the editors of the Apple App Store for the highlighted section. As the main factor that can boost user retention and lower app uninstallations, making sure your app has all of those will get it highlighted and greatly improve the user experience.

What Happens Next?

If your app is chosen to be featured in the App Store, complete the form as quickly as you can, and make sure the feature banner has eye-catching images. Provide Apple with an easy way to highlight your app on the feature page. It is advisable to maintain a record of the quantity of downloads you have obtained both before and after the feature. Make every effort to ensure that your primary goal is keeping the users you gained with the feature.

Closing Thoughts

When it comes to developing an iOS app to be recognized in the App Store, there is no right or wrong answer, but you may undoubtedly improve your chances by utilizing the strategies listed above. Meeting all user demands and expectations through an intuitive and aesthetically pleasing application is all that is truly required to get your application listed.
A high-caliber app that is both distinctive and helpful in the app store will ultimately gain attention. Although having your app published in the App Store is a fantastic way to raise the exposure of your business, in order to build a long-lasting app that attracts and retains users, you must provide a lot of value to them. It is up to your development team to continuously improve the product with updates. Pay attention to your users’ needs and desires so you can better develop your app. Higher retention rates and a devoted user base will result from this.

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Brijesh Kumar

Brijesh is a Marketing Strategist specializing in future-ready growth frameworks, product positioning, and data-driven acquisition strategies for startups and fast-growing tech brands.