App Reviews

[Calvini]

Hello, I'm a new member to this community and I'm a developer myself. I apologize but I'm wondering how you developers would approach different app review sites for the game you've made. An example would be how would I be able to have Touch Arcade review my apps. Or how would I be able to promote my app.

I'm sure this topic has probably been brought up before, but I haven't been able to find any while searching. Therefore, I would just like to ask anyone who's willing to offer me their 2 cents of advice. Thank you.

[Synaptic Wave]

Hey Calvini,

Have you already developed anything? If you have, join the private developer forum. If you haven't, I'll share a few tidbits about review sites =D

[PodCubed]

Originally Posted by Synaptic Wave

Hey Calvini,

Have you already developed anything? If you have, join the private developer forum. If you haven't, I'll share a few tidbits about review sites =D

I personally would love to hear your tidbits =O Although we applied for the private developer forum, we haven't had any response ourselves for a few weeks, but they are pretty busy with so many things happening I imagine plus since it's out first game they probably won't consider us just yet.

@Calvini

I tried to take a look through the forums for you, I found this:

http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?t=92249

Which talks about when to submit and some developers mention about what to do prior to asking them. Good tips there too!

[Synaptic Wave]

First, you can find a ton of lists like 1500 sites to review your iPhone app. Just google it. Don't forget to check if the sites are still relevant.

Second, read Hodapp's post here. Then read (or listen to) this interview with Erica Sadun from TUAW. Don't miss the link there. This is a must if you want to write a letter someone will actually read.

Third, don't send unsolicited promocodes. You may want to use Yay!Codes! or something like that.

Fourth, you may want to set up a mail merge for smaller sites you'll get from the list. It's not a bad idea.

Finally, if the app review site wants you to send $25 first, run. TA, AppAdvice and Slide to Play don't take your money. If you send $25 to an unknown site, it'll buy thousands of fake Twitter followers and ask for $30 or $50 instead. And these followers won't pay any attention to your game because they're fake. So please, don't support these guys.

And the last one: if the reviewer didn't respond, you may try to pitch him on Twitter. For example, we've tried to contact 148apps three weeks before our app release. We've got an automated response like 'Everything's fine, someone will write you if he's interested' and that's all. We wrote another letter a week before the relese. Nothing. But then I tweeted our screenshot to one of 148apps authors, he liked it and we've got our coverage.

Phew. That's all, I suppose. Any questions?

[Blackharon]

Originally Posted by Synaptic Wave

Tonnes of good info here

If I could favorite a post, I'd favorite this one. Great stuff!

I'd also add, having a professional looking Press Kit makes a difference too. All the information in one link.

The best press kit how to I've ever seen lies here:
http://retrodreamer.com/blog/2011/08...dreamer-style/

[Synaptic Wave]

Originally Posted by Blackharon

having a professional looking Press Kit makes a difference too.

Oh, missed that point :P I thought that Erica told something about it in the interview. Great link you've shared

[Blackharon]

Originally Posted by Synaptic Wave

Oh, missed that point :P I thought that Erica told something about it in the interview. Great link you've shared

She may have, I'll admit, I'm only halfway through it!

[Synaptic Wave]

Originally Posted by Blackharon

She may have

She hasn't, but it's a good read anyway. Thanks for covering this point and appreciating my post

[PodCubed]

Originally Posted by Blackharon

If I could favorite a post, I'd favorite this one. Great stuff!

I'd also add, having a professional looking Press Kit makes a difference too. All the information in one link.

The best press kit how to I've ever seen lies here:
http://retrodreamer.com/blog/2011/08...dreamer-style/

Second that, great stuff Synaptic on the links.

[AgnesDev]

Originally Posted by Synaptic Wave

(...)
Then read (or listen to) this interview with Erica Sadun from TUAW. Don't miss the link there. This is a must if you want to write a letter someone will actually read.
(...)

BTW - Instead of reading the interview you can buy her book - like I did today - "Pitch Perfect": http://t.co/429zuORi or http://t.co/TrdMy6NR
(I'll have whole weekend to read it )

-=Agnes=-