How do people shop for apps?

itwebsolution

They say that word of mouth is the best marketing... I have seen people post about marketing books, but what about us and our own experiences? Maybe we can learn a thing or two from each other. How do you shop for iOS apps?

1) Browse the "Featured" section?
2) Browse the "Top 25 Free" by category? Do you ever expand beyond the top lists?
3) Browse the "Top 25 Paid" by category? Do you ever look below the top 25?
4) Shop iTunes from a laptop - or from the device where you will actually use the app?
5) Shop on Facebook or a "Free App of the Day" website?
6) Use an App to shop for more apps? If you do, do you look for paid or free?

Generally, what is your criteria for making a purchase? What percentage of your apps are free / paid? How long have you been an app store shopper?

itwebsolution

I personally have been shopping the app store only for about 2 years. I first entered the market when I bought an iPad, and have since bought an iPad 2 and two iPhone 4s for my family. I think my ratio of free to paid apps is 80/20.

I almost only shop the "Featured" lists and sometimes dive into the categories when I am bored. Most of the games and things that I have downloaded have come from those lists and the listings for "other games by the developer" or "others who have downloaded" this list. I tried using AppMiner, but I thought that it is too much information and not targeted to me. I do not use Apple's Genius feature. Most of my new apps come from word of mouth these days. I didn't even notice Temple Run in the store until people started talking about it. I wouldn't really consider myself an "app guy" because I only have about 4 pages of apps on my iPhone.

The_Gamesalad_Guru

Apple just acquired the app search company chomp so hopefully they are revamping how people search for apps.

MoonMouse

Hahahah oh dear. I've been too lazy to group my apps, I've got most of them squished onto 11 pages.
As for purchasing apps, I generally start at the featured section, and then drift down to the top paid/free 25 apps. Usually I go a few pages down, only because I get bored of the constant Angry Birds/Temple Run/Fruit Ninja domination. I also love searching by release date, even if its just to see what the "non-big-company-people" are doing. Its kinda fun to look at all the new apps and think about what they did well, or what they could have done better. I guess my apps are a mixture between free and paid.

I don't tend to use outside websites too much to do app searches, but I can't speak for the majority. There's gotta be some reason those Free App A Day sites are so popular

Hope this helps somewhat

calvin9403

I normally just browse the top 25

old_kipper

@fryingbaconstudios I agree with you that Apple should get their search sorted. I do find the search on ipad for better than on itunes on mac or iphone/touch, with the filtering system, but its still not great. There might be a downside if a new search does come in as indie apps may find themselves further sidelined unless the criteria are set up in a sympathetic way.

Generally I look for apps that might interest me on certain sites, blogs, by word of mouth, or by googling types of apps with certain keywords. This is not apps that are just sellers, but for those with more interesting use of design, programming concepts, and ideas. I also look specifically at apps that I might be competing with (Ipad is the best way to search these).

quantumsheep

Agree with the Kipper with regards to how I search for stuff, with the added 'via twitter' factor. If I see people I like on Twitter tweeting about a game, I'll give it a go if I'm interested in it.

Also, I check 148apps, Touch Arcade and pocketgamer fairly regularly as I follow them on Twitter.

As to free/paid ratio, I think the ratio is about 5 to 95.

I cannot abide ads in games, and if I see a 'free' game available I always check to see if it has IAP. If it does, I honestly don't bother downloading it unless it's for research (apps I'm competing with).

I've been using the app store since the iPod touch (1st gen!) came out - which was years ago now!

QS :D

beefy_clyro

Featured.
Games > Top paid > View more >View More ... until end.
Occasionally do this in other categories.
Sometimes do this in top 25 overall.

My ratio of free to paid is around 3/97.

I had the iPhone 2g imported over from the US when it 1st came out and this is how i've always shopped the store and only ever from my device.

Clouds

1) keyword search
2) shiny icon
3) beer

KelvinZ

New & Noteworthy.
Top 25.

The_Gamesalad_Guru

@Oldklipper I think by Apple buying chomp they were acknowledging their current search system isn't compitent for the number of apps they manage.

jnica23

A lot of my downloads have been word of mouth, but I do search the featured section, top 25 free and paid, trying to see what's trending. My favorite game right now and has been for a while is RobotUnicorn from AdultSwim. There's something about that game this so simple and so addictive. Randomly ran across it while searching top 25.

itwebsolution

Thank you all for your input. This discussion has been most insightful. I was thinking that the ratio of free to paid apps was 90/10, but it turns out that most people have a 20/80 ratio. This will change my marketing approach!

EatingMyHat

Top 25 Free most of the time, unless I am looking for something specific.

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