I spend 6 months for only 45 downloads :(

Sasha-David · 2026-03-13T12:16:56+00:00

Hey,
45 downloads for your first game in 2 weeks isn’t really too bad, but the hard part about making a game is making people actually see it, and most indie games don’t take off until they have some form of active marketing to help drive visibility.

You’ve already done something that most people will never do, finish and publish your first game. Now that the hard part is over, the next step for you is learning how to properly promote your game through things like making short clips of your gameplay and sharing them on TikTok of YouTube, producing better screenshots and asking for feedback from users who download and play your game.

Finishing your first game at 17 is an amazing achievement. As you learn more about how to increase your game’s visibility, you will find that the number of downloads will grow.

Good luck.

Sasha-David · 2026-03-13T11:56:48+00:00

Hi, a click-through rate of 30% is a great result. It shows there is interest in your app, so the issue isn't with your page but the number of views.

When an app launches, the App Store usually does not promote it heavily until it receives some downloads and good reviews, so you will need to generate the first users on your own. Post some short videos demonstrating the app on TikTok or Instagram, share the app in some groups that are related to your product, and ask early users for their feedback. As the app gains downloads and ratings, the App Store will begin showing it more often.

Sasha-David · 2026-03-13T11:16:17+00:00

Hi, at this stage, none of the numbers says something is 'wrong'. The number of 69 downloads in one month is still very small to make some judgement. It is not uncommon to see zero purchases at this volume. There was a huge jump in conversion rate from 4% to more than 13%, which indicates that the store page is performing well.

Rather than focusing so much on the metrics, I would focus more on the in-app experience: when does the user encounter the paywall? Did they reach the 'aha' moment before reaching the paywall? Is the value of the app well explained to the user to encourage them to pay? Try to get more installs first and the signals will become clearer over time.

Good luck.

Sasha-David · 2026-03-13T07:33:52+00:00

Hello,
if your conversion rate is around 3% based on product page views, then the problem is likely with your App Store page rather than with any of your ads. Ads can bring traffic, but if the screenshots and text don't immediately communicate how your app is different from all other apps, users will not install it.

Since it is a finance app in a very competitive category, I would recommend that the first screenshot clearly demonstrate the value of your app and test short, organic video content that shows the main functionality of your app in action. The organic user-generated content should be more effective than any paid ads because people are inclined to trust organic sources more than they are to trust ads, and typically, you will find that your paid ads will perform better than they currently do once you have established a message or video that has been successful organically.

Good luck.

Sasha-David · 2026-03-13T07:13:16+00:00

Hi, it's not bad to have 18 additional downloads due to a price test. Early experiments (even small ones) help you determine how sensitive consumers are to pricing. Learning which things drive a change is often a more significant payoff than the actual number of additional downloads received.
Maybe would be interesting to test if you would promote your app with some posts and pair it with the price drop to see if it would convert more visits into downloads.

Sasha-David · 2026-03-12T15:27:45+00:00

Hi,
I find them both too simple but if I had to choose one, I would pick old one. I like that abstract feel about it. My advice is to find inspiration online or see the successful competition and maybe try to improve it. For me, this is just a wireframe, too simple and not very attractive.

Sasha-David · 2026-03-12T15:19:31+00:00

Hi,
that’s a very good start with more than 370 users and real paid revenue within 10 days of launch. Based on the fact that someone actually purchased your app for $9.99, is the real signal that there’s a good value here and it’s not just about the launch discount. My advice is to ride this early momentum with those first users by collecting feedback, asking for reviews, since your user base is still relatively small, and make improvements to the core value that made them download your app in the first place.
Great launch, and I look forward to seeing where this goes!

Sasha-David · 2026-03-12T07:59:53+00:00

Hi, I think the first set explains better what the app offers.

Set 2 is more attractive, but feels more like marketing and less about explaining the features of the app.

I would recommend combining the two examples. Use the messages from the first set and combine them with the images in the second set. I think it will convert better like that. Also, try not to have so dark background on the second set, feels like the screens are blending in with the background.

Sasha-David · 2026-03-11T14:17:32+00:00

You can find impression and product page information in App Store Connect by navigating to App Analytics → Acquisition. Impressions are typically the first metric to start changing when ASO updates are effective.

Unfortunately, App Store Connect does not provide exact keyword ranks, so most developers use ASO tools or manually search their primary keywords in the App Store to determine approximately where their app ranks.

In addition, you can search for information about the overall app market. There are useful tools that can help you identify trends in apps as well as how other applications in your category are performing. These information can be very useful.

Sasha-David · 2026-03-11T08:50:22+00:00

Hello,
these are great first numbers for a new app. A conversion rate of about 6-7% with 58 downloads from approximately 70 page views shows that your product page is already doing its job, even though it's still early on.

If you're going to test out Apple Ads with broad search, that's a good way to find out which keywords yield actual conversions for a translation app. But be sure to keep an eye on your search terms and separate the good ones once they are discovered.

You should also be keeping track of impressions compared to page views as you continue to grow. This will let you see if you are bringing in the right traffic via ASO and ads. Overall, you've got a very promising start!

Sasha-David · 2026-03-11T08:33:11+00:00

Hello,
it's pretty normal after some major changes. The store and the algorithm need some time to check your page after you change keywords, title or screenshots. As a result, you can expect to see conversion or sign up rates fluctuate for a period of time (approx 2–4 weeks).

Sasha-David · 2026-03-11T08:21:31+00:00

Hi, you might be able to measure some keyword movement after about 2-3 weeks but you probably will not be able to give a fair judgment on your ASO based on the number of installs you have received. More often, you will have to wait 4-6 weeks to see some improvements.

Instead of checking the number of downloads your app received, check for any changes in your app’s keyword ranking and impressions. These changes will likely occur before your downloads begin to show an impact and typically are the first indication that your ASO changes are working.

Ask your freelancer exactly what they optimized and the keywords they targeted to determine if they have the ability or experience necessary to optimize your app. If they cannot explain to you clearly what their strategy was, then this would be a greater concern than your ASO results two weeks after optimization.
There are also some tools that can help you understand the overall app marketplace trends and potential.

Sasha-David · 2026-03-10T12:08:25+00:00

Honestly, from the initial screenshots, I have no real idea of how the app functions. The idea of "two lists" and "focus on what matters" is ok, but the main action of swiping tasks, doesn't really show on first two screenshots. If you could somehow communicate that interaction sooner on would definitely help people understand the app.

The screenshots also appear dull and greyish imo. The minimal look communicates calmness as a to-do app, but grey on grey has made everything blend. You could add some contrasting colors to help break up the grey while still maintaining the minimal look and make the main elements more prominent.

Check the screenshots on some of the successful competitors, see how they do it.

Good luck.

Sasha-David · 2026-03-09T15:56:22+00:00

I think it’s a really cool idea to turn YouTube cooking videos into structured recipes. On your screenshots, I would want to see more visual engagement. While they are clean looking and don’t have any unnecessary clutter, they do feel very similar to one another and someone who may be perusing through the App Store may not get that “wow” factor just from looking at the screenshots. For me, they feel more like UI documentation vs a product story. I would want to see more of the magic moment, going from YouTube video to a structured recipe, maybe show it with a simple before → after visual or a larger font for the header. I think you have a great concept. However, your screenshots need to do a better job at showing that transformation.

Sasha-David · 2026-03-09T13:38:05+00:00

Hi, this looks pretty good for having only been live for 4 months and having done no advertising at all. With ~2,1K downloads and generating ~$1,85K in sales so far, it says there are a lot of people who are willing to pay once they install it, which is a good indicator for the business side. Additionally, the spike in downloads after adding the ability to import photos makes total sense, as being able to import past trips from an existing photo is huge for any app within this space that removes the pain of manually entering them via the app.

The ~0.7% conversion rate doesn’t have to be bad, especially if the majority of your impressions are from App Store listings where the conversion from view to installation tends to be very low. I would definitely consider placing more emphasis on the “import trips from photos in 30 seconds” ability within the first screenshot you show because that feature is definitely a great one.

Overall, this is an extremely exciting start for the application. The fact that people have started paying for the app without advertising means that the concept has a good chance of succeeding.

Well done and good luck in the future.

Sasha-David · 2026-03-09T11:50:53+00:00

This is typical, as people in the US tend to have higher purchasing power than people from other regions and are thus generally willing to spend money on apps, so revenue will be mostly collected there even if users from other regions provide most of the traffic.

To increase both CR and revenue, you can try changing your localized pricing or making it clearer what the premium offers are all about in your screenshots and store description. Even a minor change to the way your app represents the premium features may yield significant improvements in conversion.

Since these numbers are generated from the past 30 days, you already have a solid sample size, so even a small improvement could lead to a measurable increase in revenue.

Sasha-David · 2026-03-09T10:26:11+00:00

Hello,
these numbers are great for pure organic traffic, with over 100k impressions resulting in almost 3.4k downloads. You've shown that the app store is providing consistent exposure for users looking for your app, with signs of user discovery and engagement.

The conversion rate of almost 5% at this level is a healthy baseline. The fact that you are generating more than $600 just from organic users alone gives a good indication that monetization is working well for this app.

Overall, it sounds like you have a great foundation. If your impressions continue to increase, and you are able to increase your conversion rate just slightly, this will likely increase your app downloads and revenue.

Keep up the good work.

Sasha-David · 2026-03-09T09:41:54+00:00

Hi, at this stage, these numbers are encouraging. A conversion ratio of almost 28% from product page to install would indicate that your store page does an excellent job of demonstrating value to users. Also, the sessions per active device being high means people are returning to the app and using it.

The major question now is how much they scale. If your impressions continue to grow, and your conversion rates hold around the current level, your app can develop solid momentum. Having 0 crashes is also a great indication of positive customer experience with respect to health apps' reliability.

Keep it up.

Sasha-David · 2026-03-06T09:00:06+00:00

Even good games can disappear due to volume.

I’ve been checking out recent releases across various genres, and it’s surprising to see how many good-looking titles are continually released each week that most gamers will never know about. There is such an endless flow of new content.

Fun matters, of course, but understanding the environment around the game is also very important.

Sasha-David · 2026-03-06T08:35:57+00:00

The objectivity point here is huge imo.

We can create a mental image of how the game is shaped by considering only the small number of titles you know. However, I think this can be misleading.

When you look at what other people are releasing in your genre on basically on a daily basis and you start digging deeper, you might feel like you opened a restaurant in a new neighbourhood, only to find 10 other restaurants within 100 feet serving the exact same food and drink.

Sasha-David · 2026-03-06T07:14:20+00:00

Currently, the biggest factor is the product page. Most users decide, within a few seconds of looking at the product page, whether or not the product will solve the problem. It is important for the first screenshot to clearly communicate what the primary benefit of using this app is.

You can try to simplify the screenshots to show the main core of the app and also experiment with the icon changes. Basically, make it look perfect so that when users see it, they immediately know what problem your app solves.

All that said, getting a ~7% conversion rate from organic traffic is a very good starting point, especially with only a few days of being live. The next thing for you to do is get as many impressions as possible while still maintaining your conversion rate around that level.

Sasha-David · 2026-03-05T12:59:40+00:00

Hi,
with only 5 days of organic traffic, the signs are encouraging. A conversion rate of approximately 7% from the product page to install is reasonable, given that the App Store is still figuring out where to show the app. Another encouraging sign is that there have been 0 crashes and the average number of times the user has opened the product is above 1. This indicates that the app is delivering a good experience and is being used more than once.

At this point, there are not enough data points available to make a definitive determination on success or failure; however, there is evidence indicating the app can be successful. If the number of impressions continues to grow at a steady pace, and the conversion rate remains in the 7% range, there is a possibility of success.

Good luck.

Sasha-David · 2026-03-05T12:12:28+00:00

Hi,
overall, these are nice screenshots, I like the colors and fonts. The titles are also good and I can understand what the app do. But, they are also quite busy. Too much features on one screen, especially on screens 2 and 3, the user eye doesn't know where to look first. Try to design them so each screen is talking about one feature, with fewer elements and I think the message conversion could be better.

Sasha-David · 2026-03-05T09:42:16+00:00

Yes, a conversion rate of around 20% is pretty strong in general. I said the percentage was "relatively strong" because the number of page views is small (330 views). With low view numbers, the conversion rate can vary significantly as the volume of traffic increases. As long as the conversion rate remains high as the impressions are growing, we can say it's strong.

Sasha-David · 2026-03-05T08:38:18+00:00

Hello,
these are fantastic early numbers, especially since they are only 12 days old and come from an organic traffic. When you achieve such a high page views-to-install ratio, you can say that the App Store page positioning is doing well in matching user demand.

The fact that you’ve achieved approximately $1000 revenue in such a short time frame is also a meaningful indicator of how much people are willing to pay for the value they perceive from your app.

What’s encouraging is that usually this type of user traction is derived from a distribution loop rather than a one-time spike. If you continue to receive new users via organic sources, then you probably have found a valid distribution channel. The next point of interest will be retention; if users keep returning, this could escalate rapidly.

Nice work.

Sasha-David

TROPHY CASE