In brief
Build an excellent app, then connect with relevant people, align updates with Apple’s plans, and create a distinctive icon to improve its chances of being featured and standing out.
In this article, Jama explains how to get into the App Store featured listings. Naturally, all of this assumes that you have already built an excellent app.
1. Connect with the right people
Clearly, everyone wants their app to catch an editor’s eye. That is why every article on this subject repeatedly stresses that “you need to build an excellent app.” Beyond that, if you want to take some initiative, you can try connecting with the relevant people at Apple.
For example, you can look at which apps appear in the App Store’s Featured section, then research the teams and people behind those apps. They may well know App Store managers or members of the editorial team. If your app catches their attention, they may introduce you to the relevant staff at Apple.
2. Understand which areas Apple wants to improve
If your goals align with Apple’s, your app should find it easier to secure a place in the App Store’s featured listings. Once your app fits Apple’s future plans, you need not worry about traffic to your app.
You should pay attention to the Worldwide Developers Conference held every June, Apple’s update schedule, its special hardware update timing each September, and its general hardware update schedule.
At the same time, remember that apps for Apple TV may not yet offer substantial opportunities for your company at the time of writing. However, compatibility with Apple TV should attract more attention from Apple. Product updates therefore involve more than simply improving features: used effectively, they can become a powerful marketing tool.
3. Put care into creating an excellent app icon
I have heard directly from Apple employees that they also place considerable importance on app icon design. Although an icon is only a detail, its impact can be far greater than people imagine. Your icon design can reflect the quality of your app. A beautifully designed icon gives people greater confidence in the app’s quality, or at least makes them more willing to try it. So, when assessing an app’s quality, start with its icon!
Your icon has to compete with millions of other apps. Even if you are fortunate enough to make the featured listings, do not celebrate too soon: standing out within those listings is no easy task either. Many people favour cool colours when designing icons, so try going in the opposite direction and experimenting with something different. Snapchat’s icon, for example, uses yellow.
http://www.hksilicon.com/articles/970879