If there’s one thing we’ve learned after years of publishing apps to the app store on how to launch an app, it’s this:

Open the App Store. Browse or search for the app that you want to download. Apps for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch don't always have a version for Mac. Click the price, then click Buy App. If you don't see a price, click Get, then click Install App. You might need to sign in with your Apple ID. If the app is already installed on a user's device, the banner intelligently changes its action, and tapping the banner will simply open the app. If the user doesn’t have your app on his device, tapping on the banner will take him to the app’s entry in the App Store. Connect your device to your computer. On a Mac with macOS Catalina 10.15, open Finder. On a Mac with macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier, or on a PC, open iTunes. If a message asks for your device passcode or to Trust This Computer, follow the onscreen steps. If you forgot your passcode, get help. Locate your device on your computer. The Mac App Store page on Apple's site simply says the e-market is 'coming soon.' Although the launch may be imminent, Apple has continued to post App Store information for developers. To get the Mac App Store, click the Apple icon at the top left of the screen, then choose 'software update.' After a dialog box appears, click the 'install' button. When the installation is complete, you will need to restart your Mac and launch the Mac App Store from the icon in your computer's dock.

Success isn’t guaranteed.

While some developers will suggest they have the secret formula on how to launch an app successfully, the reality is no one can guarantee success. The mobile app ecosystem is more competitive than ever and statistics show the majority of apps don’t generate much income.

So…

What CAN you do to increase the likelihood of your mobile app being a success?

Launch Mac App Store

Well, a few things.

In this blog post, I’m going to share 8 things we’ve learned after successfully launching and building apps that have been used by millions. It’s our hope you’ll be able to steal these insights to increase your likelihood of launching a popular app store achiever.

Free PDF Download: Get access to the free app-design checklistshowing you how to quickly move from idea to successful app. It includes a variety of steps not included in this post.

This is HUGE.

If I had a nickel for every time a potential client pitched us an idea that’s already been executed by thousands of people, I’d have… a lot of nickels.

Unlike most mobile app developers, researching your competition is key before making a commitment to launch your app. You want to do this because it’s important to understand what you’re up against as it relates to functionality, market size and the quality of the other apps your ideal customers are already using.

Here’s a formula to gauge app market potential:

Want the spreadsheet? [Click here]

Use this spreadsheet to weigh pricing, customer satisfaction and whether or not your competitors are keeping their app up to date.

These insights can help you decide whether an opportunity is worth pursuing or not. They can also help you determine how to monetize your app.

Which takes me to my next point…

Unlike traditional retail, monetization in the app store can follow different purchase formats.

You have the ability to make your mobile app free to download, use subscription pricing, offer an initial download price and/or a series of in-app purchases. Each of these pricing models comes with pros and cons.

At the time of this post, every app in the 25 Top Grossing apps uses the free or ‘freemium’ approach to build their audience before making the official first sale. Whether it’s Spotify offering a premium tier for more listens or Game of War offering users the ability to build gold for a better gaming experience – the freemium model rewards both value-driven apps and scalability.

If you’re trying to launch an app that will reach millions of people, freemium pricing increases the likelihood of adoption. If you’re trying to connect with a niche audience to solve a serious pain, the paid or subscription model might work best.

It all depends on your goal.

Freemium & free apps tend to make up the majority of apps:

Before you slap a $1.29 price tag on your app, consider the market. Ask the questions that can help guide you to a more strategic approach:

How much are competitive apps charging? How much value does my app offer in comparison?
How much money does it cost to keep the app running?
How many downloads at what price point would I need to cover those fees?
Should I offer features that could be leveraged as an up-sell or upgrade?

You’ll need to make sure you have beautiful screenshots and brand visuals to promote your mobile app.

Whether it’s in the emails you send to Press, content you share on social media or you upload to ProductHunt; visual assets help tell the story. It’s also a good idea to upload the visuals to a dropbox folder you can share with the press. Make it easy for people to write about you.

When it comes to ranking in the iOS App Store or Google Play Store, both have similar variables.

Across the industry, experts suggest that the four most important elements to ranking well in for both iOS apps and Android apps include:

Keyword usage in the name and/or description
Visuals & branding used for the app
The number of downloads the app generates
The number of positive reviews the app generates

According to MobileDevHQ, keywords in the app name have the biggest impact on app store search rankings. The study found that keywords being placed in the title offered a 10.3% increase in the likelihood to rank. That’s big.

The study above found that 63% of iOS users and 58% of Android users discovered their apps by browsing an app store.

Here’s why this is important:

During the browsing experience, a user is going to be met with a listing that showcases your app. For example, when I was looking for a meditation app, the following apps showed up:

The visuals associated with each immediately play an emotional role in the likelihood of me downloading them. The feeling I got looking at each of these is different.

Simply put: These images can draw a person into your app.

So, it’s important to create compelling visuals.

Another key differentiator between these apps and the rest is the approach they took to naming.

Calm: Meditate & relax with guided mindfulness meditation for stress reduction
Stop, Breathe & Think: Meditation tailored to your emotions
Headspace – Guided meditation and mindfulness techniques

Notice something similar?

They use a consistent format:

[Product Name]: [Description with keywords]

Keep in mind: App names being published to the App Store are now limited to no longer than 50 characters. While you don’t have the ability to use as many characters in the Google App store – the value in taking this approach is clear.

There’s no such thing as too much trust.

Take these quotes from the Headspace app description:

A testimonial from Emma Watson & the New York Times is gold.

You want people to trust that your app is going to deliver value. Reviews are one major part of the trust puzzle but testimonials can also pl