sicnarf613

I think this is relevant. So not every developer out there can manage even a $1000 app marketing budget - and I would know - so with that in mind, what are some tips and tricks you've used that didn't really cost anything (maybe except for time) to market an app?

To get things started, here are a few tips to market apps for next-to-nothing. But more importantly I'd also love to hear your tips and tricks that might have worked for you.

MobiDev

Interesting topic. But I guess that if you had some money to spend on the app development, you should have the budget to spend on the app promotion. Because app implementation is only a half way to the its success.
Here are 10 effective ways of app promotion, among them there are some free ways such as including include social network sharing into the application, encouraging users to write reviews and rate the app, using social network pages are also good at promoting the app (find relevant groups on Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+, use hashtags on Twitter, use cross-promotion (including internal cross-promotion from other apps you own), share the news through your friends).

Software development is a Passion!

neralu

Simplest way is to start promoting them in the social groups like facebook , twitter and youtube

stargazinc

Nothing can be done with 0 budget atleast you should have some costing for printing or something. You should have an application store account or even you should have something to post on the forums so that you can marekt it. But if you want to do it for low budget you can go for the forum on various mobile forums

"If you don't quit, you can't fail"

Success will follow.

natebunger

I really love social advertising. It lets you reach people by interests and demographics specifically. Guest blogging is also another great way to market your app. Guest postings should not be promotional but by posting related, informational, and helpful posts, your audience will be interested and ready to check out your mobile app.

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Johnmobile

I've worked with several start-ups and more than some app developers (some app are very known one, most of you are probably using...).

In my opinion, if you're serious about promoting your app, than you should invest at least a few hundreds of dollars (nothing that will make you broke, but it is enough to prompt engagement).
So I have a few suggestions:

1. While developing, invest time in thinking about user engagement, not only within the app, but also between users and platforms - for example, share every level you pass on FB. Being able to "send gifts" between users or ask others for gifts... Get special things (e.x life, guns, skip level, bonuses and so on) when someone you referred downloads the app and so on... Take a look on what "candy-crash" is doing in the gaming world, and what lets say "Drop Box" was doing in the app world (share with friends, get X gb free). - that is basically making your audience your best publishers

2. I'll add to what I've just written and say that basically - you have to think about the things that will make your audience share information about you with their friends.... Everybody talks "SOCIAL" and "VIRAL" marketing, but that is actually not that easy... You REALLY need to make you audience wanna tell others about your app. If they do so - that's a much better (and cheaper) advertising than any other option !

3. Have a one and one only killer feature ! Don't be wrong - having several great features is good, but you need to pass a message - what is your app BEST of? what is it that you're doing that nobody else is doing? What you'll get this - you'll be able to better address your audience.

4. The best way of doing 1-3 is tracking & optimizing that means always track your audience - what do they like? what do they care for the most? what feature they use the most? and so on... then, focus on those, show them everywhere, talk about them, and so on...

5. An extension to 4 will be that before launching the app - You must have a PERFECT understanding of the messages you wanna pass. and the feelings you want your audience to feel when they use your app ! - Those two must be consistent not only with each other but also with how your app is designed and perform. e.g You can not say "The App that will EASILY do ..... " when the app is actually very complicated... if it is complicated then your "killer feature" might be something else than easiness, something like best performance..

I can write many more examples, and many case-studies examples I've been doing during the past few years, but my biggest advice will be (as long as you don't have budget... but also when you will have...) ALWAYS FOCUS ON YOUR AUDIENCE ! they'll be your best advertisers...

Also - for every app developer working on a tight budget, I recommend watching some of the "The Growth Hacker" interviews... Those are really great experts !

John David,
CEO, moBeast
www.mobeast.com

solomos

Thats a great post.

From your experience how tough and how long would it take for a new app (eg a game or an ebook etc) to get into the top 25 or top 50? Is this possible from just one person or does it needs a team?

ok i m sure it definately depends on the app type, quality, uniqueness etc but i m just trying to get an idea here.

Johnmobile

Solomos,

It is depends on all those things you've mentioned (and many more...).
It is a little bit more complicated than a simple post here to explain,
but sometimes, my agenda is that getting to the "TOP APPS" is just a product of a great engaging app.... there are tons of different methods to get there, but none will overcome the fact that your app will be engage able....

I hope this answers you....

All the best,

John David
Mobile Marketing Academy

John David,
CEO, moBeast
www.mobeast.com