Deliver New Features
Winning apps require frequent feature updates. If you don’t keep the app updated, your audience will lose interest in your app and will quit using your app and coming to your product website. You must look at your app as a dynamic product. Your app should be architected in such a way that you can easily add enhancements and updates. Each time you make an update and the app goes through the App Store approval process, your app will see renewed sales momentum.
Some developers have adopted the idea that they will increase their sales by doing an upgrade as fast as they can push it through. The next image shows a snapshot of the first page of the Social Networking category of the App Store if you search by the default (most recent) apps. If you click on a number of these apps you’ll notice that some of them are updates to existing apps. Depending on the category, this percentage may be 30% or higher.
Each update also helps you address customer comments/suggestions/complaints and keeps your relationship with your customers intact. You can use each update to comment on how you are addressing customer recommendations and how you are listening to your customers. This helps you build a following of loyal users because they know they are being heard by you and you are addressing their concerns and suggestions.
Note
If you have bugs that need to be resolved these should be fixed right away. Do not wait or your customers may become discouraged, give you bad reviews, and comment on other blog posts that your app is not worth the money.
Tie Your App into Trends and News
Trends are always occurring around the world; look no further than the Internet or cable news stations for ideas. Here are some trend ideas to help you get your thought process moving:
Going green Look for opportunities in this space on how someone can use an iPhone/iPad app to make a difference in the world. How about an app that helps you drive more economically or an app designed to help you reduce your cost of heating or cooling. An example of such an app is shown in the next image and capitalizes on the very popular “green” trend.
Other green areas that you could consider include how to save water, make your own cleaning supplies, composting, recycling, walking and biking instead of driving, and so on.
Eating healthy A lot of money is spent each year by consumers who want to eat better, feel better, and live longer. This is a long term trend that has lots of growth opportunity. Apps to consider for this area might be meal planners, nutritional value of fruits, vegetables, and so on. Contact publishers of health books and ask if they would like to partner with you to write a healthy iPhone/iPad app to be included with every book sale for free. You could also contact health food product companies with the same idea. An example of these types of eating healthy apps is shown in the next image.
Fashion Fashion trends are always popular, and you can look to design all kinds of apps around this trend. Some ideas include apps that help someone dress with matching clothes (Dare I say that men need this type of app more than women? Children and teens could use it as well.), apps that allow someone to get the latest updates in fashion trends; hats (in this year or out?), boots (in this year or out?), and so on.
Home Décor and Design This is a huge trend because people want to make their homes comfortable through quick activities and full renovations. There are tons of ideas to develop apps that help someone get organized, landscape an old rundown backyard, create a new look with paint and other inexpensive supplies, and so on.