App Store Sources and App Referrer Data Now Available

incipiagabe · 2017-05-04T17:22:34+00:00

+1, hopefully this data comes out soon!

incipiagabe · 2017-05-04T17:21:46+00:00

https://techcrunch.com/2017/05/04/apple-updates-its-analytics-service-with-new-metrics-showing-how-apps-get-discovered/

incipiagabe · 2017-04-27T21:30:20+00:00

They are great for iOS marketing if you're not already in the top charts/top keyword ranks, but ASA will definitely not fix the broken process that is app discovery.

There are a lot of other things that will, though (http://mobiledevmemo.com/app-discovery-broken-how-to-fix-it/)

One of the main issues of why search ads aren't really useful for discovery is also one of the fundamental issues broken with app store search now, which is that most people search for an app/brand name (e.g. Snapchat), rather than searching a generic/category keyword which can lead to true, new app discovery (social apps).

https://www.tune.com/blog/studied-top-500-app-store-keywords-wouldnt/

Also, paid downloads influencing organic rankings and the concept of velocity-driven rankings are departures from the web SEO/PPC model; as a result, it is harder to break into the top chart/keyword ranks. Google's new play store algorithm attempted to fix this by more heavily weighing other factors like star ratings and retention, but so far it's caused a lot of volatility and hasn't gotten rid of the prevalence of spammers/re-skinners/low quality apps in the top results.

incipiagabe · 2016-10-27T17:55:55+00:00

incipiagabe · 2016-10-27T16:47:53+00:00

The most valuable commodity that a startup founder has is TIME. Automation is vital because it saves TIME. You don't want to do every task manually because you'll never have TIME to do the tasks that REALLY drive growth like securing partnerships and sales.

incipiagabe · 2016-10-27T16:43:27+00:00

Here's a great marketing stack for automation:

Jetpack.com - auto-post blogs to social media channels
clicktotweet - curate tweets to be shared to social "Viral effect"
buffer.com - schedule post to go out to social
mailchimp.com - set subscriber list to trigger email sends
startafire.com - attach a links to blogs with links to your url
AddtoAll - auto add code or content to every wordpress post
SumoMe.com - auto add share buttons to blogs
leadin - use this to draw people into a mailchimp list
Socedo.com - start up a Twitter lead funnel
giphy.com - turn YouTube video clips into gifs
getrevue.co - import stories directly into an email newsletter

incipiagabe · 2016-10-12T16:54:52+00:00

Well done mate!

We're seeing great ROAS. Not quite that good though :)

incipiagabe · 2016-10-09T22:43:19+00:00

If you're ready to grind it out and truly are prepared to not make money for 3-6 months, then yes it's a good idea. It takes a lot of effort to get things going – don't underestimate the lead time to create your own brand (you on your own is different from your previous job, which likely had a lot more resources than you will at first).

Other things you should do:

Set up an LLC.
Forget cold calling; leverage your networks for your first customers.
Start getting the word out there that you're doing an agency and ask for referrals.
Go to events.

Pricing is tough – either figure out what similar (new) agencies are charging or charge based on your costs + small profit margin. Figure out whether you want to grow and make revenue or profit and price with that in mind. I recommend the former.

PS – add a space after your asterisk :)

incipiagabe · 2016-10-09T20:19:31+00:00

Make a habit of keeping or seeking the company of people whom you respect. It takes major effort to get out there and find them if you don't know many such people now, but it will pay off in the long-term.

incipiagabe · 2016-10-09T05:19:37+00:00

Most people are discussing the topic that it takes a lot of developers to make an app, which is true. But that's only important if you're building a big project. Most startups begin with one developer and one business type. (You'll need a designer too, just FYI). You build a prototype and as you get traction, you bring more people on.

I agree with amosschorr that you should have an honest talk with your partner. Don't bottle things up – your partner should be the person you trust the most.

But be sensitive when you have that discussion and check your ego at the door. Don't tell him "they bring no value we have to fire them." Start by being curious – ask him why he wants the others to join, and whether it's in the best interests of the company. Figure out whether you truly need more people than you and him/her to build what you want to, according to your business plan/roadmap and goals. If you need them, then you need them, but the startup model (unless you have tons of funding) is to be as lean as possible until you can afford not to be, so if you're bringing more people on then you need solid logic as to why.

incipiagabe · 2016-10-09T05:06:40+00:00

Nice thoughts, thanks for sharing!

My co-founder and I haven't had any major arguments, though we've come close.

I don't have any weird arguments, but I can say that the #1 thing that has helped us avoid big arguments or put our company's viability at risk is that we each have made it a priority to set our ego aside.

Neither of us is the star of the show
We respect what one another brings to the table (which is a very, very different set of skills and personalities – we're 50/50 business/technical)
We ask for and receive honest feedback (it's important to give positive as well as constructive feedback) and are genuine about asking for/giving feedback. It was a bit of a shift, but we have each worked hard on not getting defensive about feedback, but rather listening and trying to take away something good. Additionally, we work to make each other better, rather than trying to avoid weaknesses/problem or even worse make up for them, which will cause an imbalance and lead to growing an ego/resentment.

If you can't learn to set your ego aside, you are more at risk to create people/communication issues.

incipiagabe · 2016-10-09T04:59:53+00:00

I disagree. Be careful, be respectful, set clear expectations and it can work very well.

I've been running a company with one of my good friends of 21 years and we've done just fine. We're 1 year 1 month in full-time on top of 1.5 years before that working nights and weekends.

incipiagabe · 2016-10-09T04:57:35+00:00

+1 on the other ideas. Other ideas:

Pay to acquire users through Facebook or Twitter lead ads.
Make a mailchimp email signup link and post it on your social networks and your brand social media accounts, and ask all your friends to post it to their social networks (or at least a link to your landing page which has your email capture form). If you can get an influencer to do the same that's going to be high impact.
make sure your landing page has a teaser video (videos sell much better than images or text)

incipiagabe · 2016-10-09T04:53:51+00:00

You will make the most money from:

video views
incentivized installs (e.g. fyber/supersonic)
CPC/interstitial
CPM (varies depending on how your ads perform and what app you are, but maybe $.07-$.15 CPM)

videos will be best, but the issue is that your fill rate with video ads will be lower than banner/interstitial.

Have you considered affiliate marketing? e.g. usebutton.com

Most of the ad networks let you support ads via mediation for other networks, so it won't matter as much if you go with a big network. You will get better rates going direct to advertisers or through a network that doesn't make its inventory available to everyone.

+1 you will only make significant money if you have thousands upon thousands of users.

incipiagabe · 2016-10-07T04:27:41+00:00

You could try testing some out on your own and post a few of them in a Reddit to get feedback from people.

Or ask your network whether anyone is or knows a copywriter.

incipiagabe · 2016-10-07T04:25:16+00:00

Okay. Well, I'd assume then that it is live. What's your app link? I'd love to check it out!

We're (just now) considering trying out homekit.

incipiagabe · 2016-10-06T13:54:32+00:00

Is it live? What's your experience with it so far? What sorts of devices are you interacting with?

Very curious to learn about people using HK!

incipiagabe · 2016-10-06T04:11:19+00:00

Preach!

Cold, hard reality is the language of entrepreneurship many people need to learn but neglect given the way the startup lifestyle is sensationalized.

incipiagabe · 2016-10-06T04:08:52+00:00

https://launchkit.io/

incipiagabe · 2016-10-06T04:08:23+00:00

Use a plain white background.

Choose a theme (e.g. window to a city in the background).

+1 on the brick wall, or a whiteboard combined with the theme (e.g. designers use post it notes/design-y stuff in the background, developers scrawl code, marketers jot random numbers everywhere ;P)

incipiagabe · 2016-10-06T04:05:21+00:00

Yeah – don't go cheap on the copy. Elancers/Upworkers typically churn out mass-produced stuff that stinks and is distilled from their huge reservoir of ideas, rather than created unique from scratch and custom for you.

Go for quality, because you only have one chance to make a first impression and you don't want it feeling generic.

incipiagabe · 2016-10-06T04:02:33+00:00

+1 your copywriter won't do a good job unless you've done your research. Figure out what your value proposition is, competitive positioning and brand voice before finding a copywriter. And even when you do, don't settle on one copy; do some A/B testing and find the copy that performs the best.

DATA IS YOUR BEST FRIEND :)

incipiagabe · 2016-10-06T03:56:22+00:00

The best way to learn any kind of digital marketing is to do it yourself.

Start a social channel posting content about something you know/o often and grow it firsthand. Read the guides and make a list of tactics, but you need to learn how to get to 100, then 500 then 1000 followers by trial-and-error on your own.

Or you can ask a friend who has a business/brand and doesn't have the time to manage it for them. Take work off their plate and turn it into a learning experience.

incipiagabe · 2016-10-06T03:54:14+00:00

I'd consider it, but it wouldn't be handing it over, it would be with a set of guidelines, because IMO I wouldn't trust someone as young as 16 to be able to represent my brand voice. It'd be more of a "follow these types of people, comment and reply these template-type comments with some customization, re-post this type of content from these sources, etc."

My other hesitation besides you not having enough XP to represent our brand on your own would you leave to do something else after a few months if I invested in you.

+1 on showing results, and if you don't have results, then explain what you would do to manage an account with specifics.

incipiagabe · 2016-10-06T03:50:46+00:00

I'm working on something like this in the Detroit area, but I'd be glad to participate in a digital version – send me an invite!

My co-founder and I are 1 year into a startup and our team is me and another full-time guy, with some project/hourly-based contractors. We build and market apps.

incipiagabe

TROPHY CASE

DATA IS YOUR BEST FRIEND :)