Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Today we’ve got part two of our conversation with Jim Dalrymple of The Loop Magazine. In today’s conversation, we talk about whether, given the chance to do it over again, Jim would make The Loop Magazine a Newsstand app or just a regular Springboard app. Jim also shares with us why he doesn’t want his subscribers’ personal information and his views on auto-renewing subscriptions. Then we talk about the recent redesign of The Loop Magazine, Chris Harris’ Glide architecture, and the story of how the the details of version two were hammered out over an epic seven hour pub meeting. We close with Jim’s take on the importance of working with good people and letting them do their work.
Continue reading →

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Today we’re joined by special guest Jim Dalrymple who shares with us his experience developing The Loop Magazine which appears in the iOS Newsstand. We talk about why he wanted to build an app, the difference between the content that appears in The Loop website and The Loop Magazine, and Jim’s love for Scottish accents. Then Jim gives us a look at the editorial process of creating an issue of The Loop Magazine – story selection, art, and animation – and shares his outlook on iOS Newsstand as a market for app developers. Finally, we talk a little about pricing Newsstand apps, and why he decided to support The Loop Magazine with subscriptions rather than advertisements.
Continue reading →

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Today we take a look at App Store Optimization or “ASO.” We consider the sorry state of App Store search that makes many developers feel that some sort of ASO is necessary, and discuss the fine line between effective and unethical uses of ASO. Then we dive deep into a great article on ASO from Dan Counsell, talk about adding descriptions to your app title, and give some hints on researching effective App Store keywords.
Continue reading →

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Today we explore the the phenomenon of holiday sales on the App Store. We start by looking at the lessons that can be learned from sales on physical goods in brick and mortar stores, and consider the value of sales in today’s Apps Store. We talk about ways of gaining attention for our apps through pricing strategies, with particular focus on the Cards Against Humanity anti-sale and the recent App Santa app sale. Finally we turn our attention to the difficulties of marketing apps in general, and our experience in advertising our apps.
Continue reading →

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Today we’re talking all about feature requests. We start by discussing how to handle feedback that we receive from customers and how that fits into the idea of building “opinionated software.” Next we turn to our methods of tracking and responding to feature requests, and consider what to do when there is overwhelming demand for a feature that we don’t want to add. We close out the show by touching the third rail of app development: charging for new features and updates. We consider if and when you should charge existing customers for new features and whether paid updates will ever gain broad acceptance among our customers.
Continue reading →