How We Built iTeleport into a Profitable Business on the App Store

Re:How We Built iTeleport into a Profitable Business on the ... by hboon on Friday May 21, 2010 @01:38AM (#1366485)

But someone who made it in during the gold rush period should only have an advantage if they made it into the top 100 category or store-wide chart.

What kind of advantage would they have otherwise?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How We Built iTeleport into a Profitable Business on the ... by jerrell on Friday May 21, 2010 @05:20AM (#1366834)

There are some App Store sales advantages which stem from simply having sold a large number of copies. For example:

1. More ratings (shown as numbers next to 1-5 star ratings) - Help convince potential buyers that your app is significant

2. More reviews - advantage as with #1, but also higher chance of having at least 1 review in a larger number of countries.

3. Recommendations in iTunes - On the iTunes interface to the App Store, users are shown 'People who bought X also bought Y'-type recommendations. High sales increase the chance of your app featuring in these.

So by getting in early, you sell copies through being the main/only product choice in your area. Then, when competitor apps arrive there are some residual advantages like these which place you ahead of the pack.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How We Built iTeleport into a Profitable Business on the ... by chc on Friday May 21, 2010 @08:11PM (#1369384)

They credit their success to word-of-mouth. Getting in during the gold rush means they have users to spread that word of mouth. Getting in after the gold rush means your app is more likely to languish in obscurity.

[ Parent | on HN ]