Over 1,000 new apps are added daily to App Store.
Each app has to go through a delicate process of app submission and review before it reaches its target audience.
In this article, we will review how to submit an app to App store, in a step-by-step process.
But first, there are eight mandatory steps you need to know about before submitting your app to the App Store.
Prior to uploading your app to the App Store, it’s advisable to go through a checklist of items that will ensure your app is successful.
This checklist should consist of these eight steps:
42% of mobile apps fail because research about market need was not conducted.
Focus on understanding the industry and identifying your competition to establish the market size and its needs. Collect customer insights and other data to make sure your app will reach its target audience.
90% of purchases are influenced by visual factors, particularly color, which can enhance brand recognition by 80%.
Think through your color themes, design and other visual materials. What will appeal most to your target audience?
This step plays a key role in the branding strategy because it helps shape your brand persona.
Test your app repeatedly on several Apple devices to make sure all issues are resolved before the launch.
For the long-term success of your app - known as app stickiness - it’s vital to make sure there are robust quality assurance and testing procedures in place before the launch.
Consider the pricing plan before publishing your app. Unlike most other products, apps can generate revenue in numerous ways.
This flexibility allows creators to publish an app as a free, freemium or paid app, with or without in-app ads or purchase options.
Explore your choices, weigh advantages against disadvantages for each option and opt for the model that works best for you.
Optimizing your app for the App Store means making sure it is listed near the top of its category, making it easily visible for potential users.
For this, you need to use:
A simple, one-page website for your app - or a dedicated page on your business’s existing website - is a potentially powerful advertising tool.
It should contain concise, to-the-point information about your app’s benefits, features and unique value differentiators that make it stand out on the market.
Don’t forget images and videos of the app in action, user testimonials and links to the App Store where it can be downloaded.
Make the app available to users even before the official launch.
This allows for a better promotion strategy and an opportunity to catch some last-minute bugs and other issues. A soft launch allows users to see what the app is all about without using its core features.
To make sure your app is being shared, place social share buttons on your app’s landing page and create a social media posting strategy that will advertise your app’s release and tease new features.
Submitting an app for iOS users to download is a different process compared to other ecosystems.
Here is a full seven-step outline on how to upload an app to the App Store:
To distribute your app to beta testers or users through the App Store, you need a distribution provisioning profile and distribution certificate.
You can get these through Xcode, which will create and manage certificates, sign identities and register devices if automatic signing is enabled.
To do this:
You can get your App Store Connect record in two ways:
If you are submitting a paid app to the App Store, you will need to sign a contract covering the terms of payment first. Here’s how:
After you’ve completed the above, the contract’s status will now say “Processing.” After Apple has verified the info you provided, the contract will now appear under “Contracts In Effect.”
To add a new app to App Store, select “My Apps” under “App Store Connect” dashboard.
Click on the plus sign in the upper left corner. After that, click “New App.”
You will be asked to enter these details to create a new App Store Connect record:
Make sure you are entering these correctly because you can’t change them later.
In the “Build” section of your app’s App Store Connect record, click “Select a build before you submit your app.”
Select the build you uploaded through Xcode and click “Done” in the bottom right-hand corner. Then click “Save” in the top-right corner, followed by “Submit for Review.” You will see that your app’s status is “Waiting for Review.”
You can check your app’s review status in App Store Connect by selecting “Activity” in the top menu and then “App Store Versions” in the left-hand panel.
It usually takes about one to three working days to get the App Store’s approval. It can take up to 24 hours for the app to appear in the App Store after approval. At each stage, you will receive email notifications.
On average, over 30,000 apps are released in the App Store every month, as reported by 42Matters.
Apple undertakes scrupulous examination of new apps and has published the 11 most common issues that lead to rejection.
Typically, 40% of submissions are rejected because of non-compliance with the guidelines concerning app completeness, meaning apps that don’t provide accurate metadata or haven’t been previously tested for bugs.
So, before you submit your app for review, make sure it’s up-to-date and complete, with all the information it requires (description, screenshots, previews).
To avoid getting turned down by Apple, follow the Apple’s Developer Guidelines and the above steps. Optimizing and ensuring your app is fully functional is the best way to avoid rejection.
If you still happen to be shunned by Apple, here are a few things you can do:
When you enroll in the Apple Developer Program in order to submit an app, you need to pay the annual membership fee of $99 that will give you access to:
To keep your iOS apps in the App Store, you’ll need to renew your membership every year.
Submitting your app to the App Store is not an easy endeavor.
Your app needs to adhere to specific iOS guidelines and go through a review process that will either approve or decline the app, which is why it’s important to adhere to the step-by-step process.
If your app gets rejected, you will need to make the necessary fixes before submitting it again for review.
You can communicate with Apple’s team through App Store Connect’s Resolution Center to escalate the issue or submit an appeal if you think your app was rejected without basis.
The one-time fee for uploading an app on the App Store is $99 per year and you need to renew your membership annually.