The entire process of listing on the App Store

App Store listing refers to the entire process of iOS application from application submission to online launch. Its purpose is to display the application on the App Store to gain traffic and users.

1. The overall process of iOS listing

1. Apply for a developer account

Apple's developer accounts are mainly divided into three types: personal accounts, company accounts, and enterprise accounts. The fees and permissions of the three are different. The application process for a developer account generally takes about a week. Generally, developers apply for personal or company accounts, because applications with enterprise accounts cannot be published to the App Store and can only be used within the company. However, after the enterprise account is signed, the app can be directly published to the distribution platform or placed on its own server for users to download without Apple's review. Then, through the channel link, users are directed to the platform or server to download, and the statistics are recorded.

At present, due to policy reasons, it is not as easy to apply for personal developer accounts and company developer accounts as before. However, as long as the information is complete, you can apply for it. There are many accounts on the market, and basically every development company has one or more. However, enterprise developer accounts have always been difficult to apply for. Apple has raised the threshold for applying for enterprise developer accounts a lot. Even a group company with thousands of people or a listed company will have to apply for a minimum of three months before having a chance to get it approved.

The account application of companies and enterprises requires a Dun & Bradstreet code. If you have not applied for a Dun & Bradstreet code, please apply for a Dun & Bradstreet code first. This process takes one to two weeks. After the Dun & Bradstreet code is applied, an email will be sent to tell you that it is best to use it after 14 working days, because it takes time for Apple to synchronize data. If you want to use it in advance, the number of failures cannot exceed 3 times.

2. Create an App ID, apply for a certificate, and generate a description file

To create an App ID, you first need to log in to your developer account and configure the App bundle ID. The format of the xplicit App ID is: com.company.AppName (with two dots). Then log in to your iTunes connect and create an App using your BUNDLE ID.

To apply for a certificate, you need to use Mac's key tool to generate a certificate (including development certificate, download certificate, and push certificate). It should be noted that the downloaded certificate can only be used on the computer that requested the certificate. If you want to give it to other developers, you need to export the imported certificate to the format of personal information exchange (.p12) for others to use; and there is a limit on the number of certificates that can be applied for. If the number exceeds the limit, you cannot apply.

After that, you can create a description file, which is used to associate the certificate with the Bundle Identifier.

3. Configure App related information in iTunes Connect in the Developer Center

Main title: The main title is the localized name of the App displayed in the App Store, which generally includes the title theme part and the suffix part. It simply and fluently displays the functions and features of the App. The vocabulary of the main title has a high weight. You should try to choose high-profile words related to the App, but it is not advisable to use popular competitor brand words, otherwise the review will be easily rejected.

Subtitle: The subtitle is a brief introduction to the App, which is a supplement to the App name and has a certain weight added to the App phrase. Therefore, the content of the subtitle should try to cover some important keywords that are not in the main title. Similarly, popular competitor brand words should not appear in the subtitle. The copy should be concise and attractive, showing the unique side of the App, and the word count should be controlled within 30 characters.

Privacy Policy URL: Starting October 3, 2018, the privacy policy will be mandatory for all new apps or app updates. You can only update the link or text when submitting a new version. When filling in the privacy policy, you can observe the privacy policy templates of competitors as a reference.

Product Description: App description is limited to 4,000 characters and is a required field. You can fill in different languages ​​according to the language version. The app description is a detailed introduction to the features and functions of the app. Try to show the core features of the product in the first three lines of the description to attract users. Currently, the app description can only be modified when the app is updated. It should be noted that special characters are not allowed in the app description.

Keywords: Keywords can be filled with 100 characters. Make good use of the 100 characters and fill them up as much as possible. Although Apple's official recommendation is to separate each keyword with a comma, in order to make the App cover more keywords, developers can choose to use as few commas as possible in keywords. If there are keywords that need to be emphasized, they can be separated by commas separately. The setting of keywords affects which search results the App will be displayed in and the basic ranking in these search results.

App rating: App rating is a required attribute of the app in the Apple developer backend. The rating will change instantly based on the results of the 13 questions, including 4+, 9+, 12+, 17+, and no rating. Apps with no rating cannot be sold on the App Store. The questions should be consistent with the actual situation of the app, otherwise it is easy to be rejected by the review.

You need screenshots of each version, run the simulator, and a 1024*1024 icon. The icon cannot have rounded corners.

App pre-order: For those apps that support pre-order, users can view the product page on the App Store and pre-order the product before the App is launched. After the product is launched, users will receive a notification. This function can be used to preheat the product before it is officially launched. Developers can make appropriate adjustments to product-related content in advance based on market feedback.

4. Package and upload App

Correctly configure the certificate and description file applied in step 2 into Xcode, and set some properties of Xcode:

• Select iOS Device in Xcode (you cannot select the simulator here);
• If the app does not support landscape orientation, please uncheck Landscape Left and Landscape Right in the General options;
• Check the version number and build number;
• The configuration is published in the certificate. If there is no yellow exclamation mark here, it means that your configuration is fine. If there is, it means that the certificate and the description file do not match, or the Bundle just selected in the description file is inconsistent with the Bundle Identifier of the current project.
• Remove breakpoints, global breakpoints, zombie mode, etc.;
• Set to Release mode. Debug is for testing, Release is for publishing
• After that, you can select Xcode->Product->Archive to package the project. After packaging, select Upload to App Store. If you do not want to use Xcode to upload, you can also select Export to export the ipa file. It should be noted that when exporting, you must select Save for iOS App Store Deployment. Then upload the ipa file through the Application Loader tool.

5. Submit for review

After the app is packaged, you need to upload it to App Store Connect. Follow the steps below:

• Ensure that all App function development and testing are completed.
• Go to App Store Connect to create a new App and fill in the App information.
• Perform archive operations, package ipa or upload the build version directly (using Xcode or Application Loader).
• Create a new App version number, select the uploaded build version, and submit it for review.

Things to note for review:

• Carefully check whether all the information about the App is filled in correctly, and pay special attention to whether the information in different languages ​​is accurate.
• If the App requires logging in to an account to enter, then you need to fill in the test account in the background for Apple to review.
• You need to prepare the online privacy policy agreement, see the attachment, and replace "this application" with the App name.
• For builds awaiting review, you can still edit all information. To submit a new build, you must remove this build from review.

2. Some suggestions for iOS listing

1. The text description of an app cannot cross the line. Apple officials will first look at the text description of the app. If it does not pass the test, it will be rejected directly. Of course, being separated from Apple’s publicity is another matter.
2. Apple adopts the minimum strategy by default: hardware requirements are minimized; Apple will maximize the hardware parameters when reviewing, so be sure to include the hardware parameters in the parameter description.
3. The best way to avoid being rejected by Apple is to read Apple's regulations!
4. If your product has been applied for listing, but you find that the product has a bug or other problem, it is recommended that you file a rejection yourself, and do not wait for Apple to reject it.
5. Most apps take 7 days to be reviewed, but some are lucky enough to get approved within one day, which is rare. However, each account has two chances to apply for expedited processing.
6. Your Xcode must be the official version. The beta version of Xcode cannot upload projects.
7. Regarding the issue of iOS channel statistics, you can use the tool openinstall to count iOS channel data through channel links. You only need to upload a standard installation package to generate unlimited channel links or QR codes with different parameters. It is compatible with iOS/Android at the same time, and then distribute the channel links or QR codes to various channels according to needs to count the data in real time.