What are your favorite hardware review websites?

How does an indie app developer determine the right strategy to get their app reviewed on blogs and review websites?

• There are a huge number of app review sites out there, and usually far less than 1% respond to free review requests. Given that it takes time to send out these requests, what is the optimal strategy for sending out requests. Some specific subquestions: 1. Which app review sites to send to depending on match to the particular app - for instance, perhaps puzzle game review sites may work better for puzzle games than generic game websites. 2. How much should the content be tailored to each reviewer? Many review sites claim that they reject requests that use the same content used on the app store. Some go even further and say that they want a unique description that varies from any other posted site. 3. The largest review sites have the least chance of responding to free review requests, but if they do accept, there is a chance of higher traffic and conversion. How to decide which large review sites to submit to? 4. Many sites request a promo code upfront (for iOS apps), but that can quickly exhaust the promo codes. Also, given that some sites respond weeks or even months later, future updates will void older promo codes, and there is no easy channel to get back to the sites with the new promo codes. 5. Many review sites respond to the submission with a request for paid reviews, sponsorship, etc. - given a limited budget, how do you determine which ones are worth investing in? Further, if I choose not to opt for paid reviews, is it likely to have a bearing on the choice to do a free review? (Most people claim it doesn't, but how can I even check?) 6. I was of the opinion, after my previous set of games, that I should not even bother submitting to app review sites - but the hope that "if your app is good, they will come" has not worked, in spite of the app being fairly unique and novel - should one abandon submitting to app review sites as part of the app marketing strategy altogether?

• Answer:

  I am not very familiar with app review sites so I can't comment directly. However, I can answer a related question about the elements of successful app marketing campaigns. 1. Press - In general, having your apps or games covered by blogs and news outlets does not generate a large number of users. However, it can be a very effective way or recruiting beta users to test your application and make sure the user experience is working the way you expect. This is critical so that you make the most of the users you do acquire and get high ratings when you launch. 2. Advertising - Paid advertising is part of the marketing campaigns of all the top apps. This doesn't mean paying for fake installs, there are many outlets for quality promotion to acquire users who otherwise never heard of your app. Companies like Flurry, Chartboost and Playhaven provide specific ad products for games that produce high quality users. However, you need to make sure you understand your LTV so that you know how much you can afford to advertise. 3. Social - Social goes beyond posting to your own twitter account or enabling Facebook login. Giving your users a reason to post about your app will produce great results. Candy Crush is a great example with how they allow you to ask your friends for more lives. If all if this seems too intimidating, or if you've tried it all before, you consider working with a publisher. Publishers work with mobile game developers and take a percentage of revenue in exchange for handling marketing, promotions and branding. The first version of Angry Birds used a publisher and many top apps were recently published by Scopely. In the end, launching a new product is hard, be it a mobile game, app or new line of shoes. Persistence pays and when you feel out of your element, get help from the professionals. Companies like Flurry provide plenty of advice to their customers on successful strategies and techniques.