I'm not making any money... :(

ForteForte Member, PRO Posts: 297
edited November -1 in Business and Marketing Theory
Hello,

The title basically says everything, I'm hardly making any sales. Here is a timeline of my sales:

1,1,0,0,2,0,0,0,1,0

It's terrible, I need to find a way to boost it, I posted it on the forums, I sent my app into review sites, but still. Nothing.

Does anyone have ANY ideas?

Cheers, Dragokillz.

Comments

  • SlickZeroSlickZero Houston, TexasMember, Sous Chef Posts: 2,870
    What is the game like?
    Warning There was an error rendering this rich post.
  • ForteForte Member, PRO Posts: 297
    I'll give you the link.

    http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sentry-defence/id450691580?mt=8
  • SlickZeroSlickZero Houston, TexasMember, Sous Chef Posts: 2,870
    Graphics and everything look good, I love the retro. But the screen shots don't show much of the gameplay. It's been out 10 days I'm assuming?, and unfortunately, it may have run it's course. You may have to give it another push with a lite version, or free for a weekend or something. I would consider adding more gameplay screenshots, though.

    Just my opinion.
    Warning There was an error rendering this rich post.
  • tenrdrmertenrdrmer Member, Sous Chef, Senior Sous-Chef Posts: 9,934
    Hey Drago,

    The App Store is a tough place to make money and theres no perfect recipe for success but In My experience there is a formula of things you can do to have the best shot

    Great Game + Lots Of Luck + Great Icon + Great Screenshots + Marketing = Best Chance

    A failer ant anyone of those can greatly reduce your chances at landing the desired sales.

    As a developer you have to be prepared to accept that your have failed at one of those and you cannot be closed minded about it either. You will only hurt your self in the future if you just write it off as you have no luck. Look at every aspect of successful games and compare your to it. Your idea of a Great Game may be others idea of a Junk Game. You may think you have the best icon but in reality people don't notice it at all.

    Keep in mind this is advice and not my opinion of your game. I don't know what game it is and have likely never even see it before.

    The best thing in my opinion is find what you think the problem is and if you can fix it fast do so but if not move on to your next project and do your best to make it better the next time around.
    Apps get buried way to fast on the App Store to spend loads of time trying to revive one in my opinion.
    Warning There was an error rendering this rich post.
  • ForteForte Member, PRO Posts: 297
    Righto, I'll get onto that then, I also am releasing an update changing the icon and fixing a few bugs.

    Maybe I should just stop being cheap and just pay for a good review. That might help perhaps.

    I'll add some more screenshots, thanks for the feedback. :D

    Cheers, Dragokillz
  • ForteForte Member, PRO Posts: 297
    tenrdrmer said:
    Hey Drago,

    The App Store is a tough place to make money and theres no perfect recipe for success but In My experience there is a formula of things you can do to have the best shot

    Great Game + Lots Of Luck + Great Icon + Great Screenshots + Marketing = Best Chance

    A failer ant anyone of those can greatly reduce your chances at landing the desired sales.

    As a developer you have to be prepared to accept that your have failed at one of those and you cannot be closed minded about it either. You will only hurt your self in the future if you just write it off as you have no luck. Look at every aspect of successful games and compare your to it. Your idea of a Great Game may be others idea of a Junk Game. You may think you have the best icon but in reality people don't notice it at all.

    Keep in mind this is advice and not my opinion of your game. I don't know what game it is and have likely never even see it before.

    The best thing in my opinion is find what you think the problem is and if you can fix it fast do so but if not move on to your next project and do your best to make it better the next time around.
    Apps get buried way to fast on the App Store to spend loads of time trying to revive one in my opinion.

    Ok thanks.
  • tenrdrmertenrdrmer Member, Sous Chef, Senior Sous-Chef Posts: 9,934
    Hey their I just looked at your listing and I have a theory on part of your problem. You Advertise bad performance right n the description. Its unfortunate that is prob to late for a rival but Next time around if you are not gonna recommend it for 1st and 2nd gen devices then publish it as ARMv7

    You never want something negative in your description. The users saw bad performance and moved on. Sorry mate Live and learn.
    Warning There was an error rendering this rich post.
  • tenrdrmertenrdrmer Member, Sous Chef, Senior Sous-Chef Posts: 9,934
    Dragokillz said:
    Righto, I'll get onto that then, I also am releasing an update changing the icon and fixing a few bugs.

    Maybe I should just stop being cheap and just pay for a good review. That might help perhaps.

    I'll add some more screenshots, thanks for the feedback. :D

    Cheers, Dragokillz

    Theres no benefit for a paid review. They have to disclaim it was paid. which means it really hold no weight.
    Warning There was an error rendering this rich post.
  • ForteForte Member, PRO Posts: 297
    I guess I'll change that too...
  • calvin9403calvin9403 Member Posts: 3,186
    you should try to make your app free for a limit time or make lite version

    and also change the screen shots and the disc will be good

    _____________________________
    http://www.thatgameforum.com/
    http://gshelper.com/
    http://www.youtube.com/user/GameSaladCookbook#p/
    http://gamesalad.com/wiki/
    http://www.deepblueapps.com/Deep_Blue_Ideas_Ltd./Home.html
    http://www.gamesalad.es/
    http://thatgameforum.com/threads/gs-videos.360/
    my email: calvin9403@hotmail.com
    my skype: calvin9403
  • LykkeLykke Member Posts: 174
    I'll put your game into our game wiki for free :)

    Only need a short intro/description - links to whatever pages you have it on and 2-3 pictures.

    See the small wiki here: www.thatgameforum.com/wiki/index

    I am working on a larger Wiki, with much more space to show and explain games etc.

    If you're interested, send me a mail on annlykke@thatgameforum.com

    :) Good luck
    Lykke
    www.thatgameforum.com
  • MlabAppsMlabApps Member, PRO Posts: 79
    try an adword
    Warning There was an error rendering this rich post.
  • guillefaceguilleface Member Posts: 1,014
    I change the 3 pictures with words because that only picture that shows something i cant really tell whats the game about, try adding some catching pictures and good luck
  • App SurgeApp Surge Member Posts: 651
    The game looks great! What you need is some marketing. Email me at redsky@programmer.net. We have many different marketing services to offer.

    Good luck!
  • GaranasGaranas Member Posts: 86
    i would also remove all the "thanks to x y z" part. as much as this is a nice move it makes it sound like a testgame made by a student. only put relevant information in the description like what the customer can expect, a bit about the story, how much fun it is and why. The Appstore is a pro market, so you have to sound like a pro ;)
  • ForteForte Member, PRO Posts: 297
    Garanas said:
    i would also remove all the "thanks to x y z" part. as much as this is a nice move it makes it sound like a testgame made by a student. only put relevant information in the description like what the customer can expect, a bit about the story, how much fun it is and why. The Appstore is a pro market, so you have to sound like a pro ;)

    The funny thing is, it WAS by a student, but it was for a project.

    I'm considering getting one of those special website reviews, it will put my app on the front page of their website, so hopefully I'll make some sales... :/ I guess that's the last resort. Unless I make a new application and IMMEDIATELY get a review so it plops itself on N&N which from what I have heard gives you quite a hefty sales boost.

    Eh, whatever, take risks in life*, or you won't learn eh?

    *Except drugs and underage drinking, that !@#$% is bad.
  • JamesLewisJamesLewis Member, PRO Posts: 109
    Great looking game. Suggestions/requirements....

    Great icon - get rid of the glossy effect - need your icon to stand out - make it bold and bright - eye catching.

    Better screen shots - show game play and not menu screens - the icon and screen shots are your shop window - have a look at successful apps for ideas...

    Key words - add words of successful games of similar genre - when someone searches for one, they'll also come across your game.

    Lite version - essential - always double or treble my downloads. If you've pro membership add a link to the paid app.... make the lite version SUPER slick....

    Good luck....

    J
  • StusAppsStusApps Member, PRO Posts: 1,352
    Dragokillz said:
    The funny thing is, it WAS by a student, but it was for a project.

    I'm considering getting one of those special website reviews, it will put my app on the front page of their website, so hopefully I'll make some sales... :/ I guess that's the last resort. Unless I make a new application and IMMEDIATELY get a review so it plops itself on N&N which from what I have heard gives you quite a hefty sales boost.

    Eh, whatever, take risks in life*, or you won't learn eh?

    *Except drugs and underage drinking, that !@#$% is bad.

    I've three times now paid for 'front page' advertising or reviews. I seriously wouldn't bother. Every time there was absolutely no difference in the number of sales, not even a minor little rise, nothing. I always used the sites that had the highest alexa traffic ranking.

    Let's say optimistically that 1 in 200 visitors click through the link. Then you might be looking at a conversation rate of clicks to sales of maybe another 1 in 100. So by then you might be looking at 20000 impressions to 1 sale. I paid for 90000 impressions as advertising on one site, it lasted about 8 hours and the app got no sales that day. Same for the site with the paid review.

    I'd just make the game free with iAds (it'll make a little bit). And spend the money on getting on with the next game.

    Sorry to be all doom and gloom.
  • ForteForte Member, PRO Posts: 297
    :< I'm not going to give up now, I worked so f*cking hard on the App, I don't give up that easily, I plan to keep working on the App until I decide to move on to a new project.

    *Insert Motivational Poster Here*

    I used up so much damn time from my holidays and my weekends, and if I don't make any money, then imma make the App make money, I'll introduce a lite version (Or maybe make it free), throw some iAd in there, complete that project, drop the project, get a group of friends, make a bigger project together, drink some tea, work hard on the project, make a timetable, finish the App, work out a payment method everyone is happy with, and last but not least.

    DOMINATE THE APP STORE... And make cash and get some womens.*

    *Hopefully, probably not going to happen, but it's a good goal. :D

    *End world's most motivational speech*

    Thank you all for your feedback, but I don't plan to give up until I get better sales. :D
  • GaranasGaranas Member Posts: 86
    @Dragokillz
    it´s nice that it is from a student, but i wouldn´t pay money for a "school project" ;) - better make it sound valid to the customers imho

    I put together a list of marketing tips that you might find useful:
    http://www.evernote.com/shard/s44/sh/f7f371b6-6d0d-41da-a67e-7e6425c1bbe7/6313a34d52da1e27c4e2dd4a80c67feb
  • TheGamerTheGamer Member Posts: 94
    Not to be rude, but based upon those screenshots, it's not even worth a free download. While people have given you really good advice, my advice is to move on and make a new, better project. You have learned quite a bit with this one so you can apply all that knowledge to your next game.
  • jnica23jnica23 Member Posts: 47
    I would make the game free for a while, get people's feedback and release an updated version. Also agree that the screen shots should be of scenes that grab attention; something exploding, laser shooting from a ship, etc...

    I also kind of agree with TheGamer's last comment, in that you should take what you've learned from this project and start working on a new one. Something someone once told me a long time ago, "don't put all your eggs in one basket." My personal goal is to make as many games as I can and improve with each one.

    Good luck.
  • EatingMyHatEatingMyHat Member Posts: 1,246
    It has been said... fix the screenshots, all they show is screens with text. Show more game play, maybe add banners to explain what is going on and highlight key elements.

    The icon is not great, you need to keep in mind that all people see is the icon and name.

    Try to avoid the Action and Arcade categories, these are the busiest ones.

    Just my 2 cents... hope you'll see better sales.
Sign In or Register to comment.

© Vanilla Keystone Theme 2024