3 things you don’t know about getting featured in the App Store

In some reports on overseas games, we often find an interesting piece of data. For example, a certain game has been recommended hundreds or thousands of times on the App Store, and has even been recommended by more than a hundred countries. Are App Store recommendations really worthless? How did they do it? We’re going to address both of these questions today.

1. Maybe you haven’t noticed that there are so many recommended slots in the App Store

For CP, App Store recommendations have the dual value of practical effects and brand significance. There have been a lot of articles in recent years about how to get featured in the App Store. There are experience sharing from successful recommendations, as well as advice from former Apple employees and executives. Good graphics, innovative gameplay, and good email communication are the three most frequently appearing elements. It's normal to get recommendations if the game is well made. But there are also some tips, such as App Store exclusive release, product branding, etc.

If you want to get a recommended spot on the App Store, you must not only be familiar with the rules but also know every recommended spot. If we observe ourselves, you will find that there are a lot of recommended positions in the App Store. In China, if you cannot compete with the big companies, you can consider grabbing recommendations from category lists, which can have a daily download volume of several thousand to 10,000, and these recommendations are easier to get.

Here, we can classify the App Store recommendations into three categories: first screen, segmentation, and classification.

● Home screen: Recommended header images (6 large images), excellent new games, 10 small image recommendations, best updated games, 12 small images, Happy 37th Birthday to Garfield (special), 10 small images, previous editors' recommendations;
● Segmentation: In the recommended categories on the homepage, there are many games after clicking in;
● Categories: new product recommendations, popular products, paid products, free products.

(Recommendation of excellent new games)

(App Store Games category, sports games recommendation page)

2. App Store recommendations are a passport to many countries

Previously, a Swedish independent game called "Leo's Fortune" was recommended 2,000 times by the App Store. Of course, the quality of the game itself is indeed good, but this is also related to the rotation of recommendations. For example, new game recommendations, category recommendations, segment recommendations, update recommendations, etc. There is also another one that has been recommended in multiple countries and cannot be ignored.

There is an underlying rule in the App Store that if an app is recommended in a large region, it is a sure win in other regions as well. Apple internally recognizes recommendations from other countries. For example, if a game is recommended by Malaysia, it will also be recommended if a screenshot is taken and emailed to the Japanese App Store. So here is a little trick. To get recommendations overseas, you need to find countries with relatively small game volumes to launch your game first. You also need to communicate with Apple to ensure that your game is launched in that country for the first time, and it is also a global launch. At this time, your chances of getting recommended are very high. (The quality of the game itself is also important)

If you want to get recommendations, you should also pay attention to some special periods. Apple will temporarily add recommended positions for special holidays or to promote certain types of content.

The App Store’s most valuable recommendations: large images, editors’ recommendations, featured recommendations, annual recommendations, and press conference demonstrations.

Although there are many recommended spots on the App Store, only a few of them are truly valuable, and the effects vary greatly. For example, the App Store's large picture recommendations can bring more than 200,000 downloads a day (free games), while some App Store category recommendations may only have 2,000 downloads a day.

3. App Store recommendations with high value and that should be paid special attention to

In terms of value, the quality of the recommendations on the homepage is relatively high, but two of them stand out the most: large pictures and editors' recommendations. These two recommendations represent product quality and Apple editors' recognition of the game.

A highly influential recommendation, undoubtedly the game demo of the year at Apple's conference. Apple has an annual game recommendation every year, including the Best Design Award, Outstanding Game Award, etc. The games that are selected are all excellent. At every Apple conference, some games will be selected for display, and the effect this brings cannot be ignored, and it is even a "honor".

Recently, Apple has launched some new recommendation positions that everyone needs to pay attention to, among which the most important ones are the essence recommendations. This recommendation has not been around for long. Game Gyro consulted some experienced CPs and learned that they needed to apply to Apple via email. The editor adds a note to every game recommended by Apple.

In addition, game package recommendation, a new feature brought by iOS8, is also slowly playing a role.

Easter egg at the end of the article: How to find the editor of the App Store China region. Search for App Store on LinkedIn and you'll find a lot of valuable information, including App Store editors.