This article was originally published at: https://www.blog.duomly.com/how-to-submit-app-to-app-store/
If you're a business owner, you know that having an app can be a huge advantage.
Not only does it make your business more accessible to customers, but it also allows you to communicate with them directly and keep them updated on the latest news and specials. But how do you get your app on the App Store?
In this article, we'll walk you through the process of submitting your app for approval.
1. How to submit your app to the App Store
You have one option available for submitting your app: you can use App Store Connect.
App Store Connect is a website where developers manage their apps, upload new versions and respond to customer reviews. This service allows businesses with more than one person working on their app project to have all tasks in one place. However, since this requires some technical knowledge, if you're just looking to quickly submit one or two apps for approval, it would be better to find somebody who will do it for you.
To start the manual release process, go to the App Store Connect homepage and click "New App."
2. Fill out all the required fields in the app submission form
Once you've arrived at this page, you'll see a table including all of the information needed to submit your app, such as your name and identifier (Bundle ID), contact details, and pricing information.
If anything is missing or incorrect here, don't worry - you can still edit them before submitting your app for approval. You'll also be able to upload your screenshots directly from this page (and add additional ones if necessary).
3. What are the requirements of submitting an app to the App Store
You need three different screenshot sizes for each device type: iPhone / iPod Touch, iPad, and Apple Watch. For iPhones, you'll need screenshots at the following resolutions: 640x1136 (portrait), 1242x2208 (portrait & landscape), and 2208x1242 (landscape).
For iPads, you'll need screenshots for portrait and landscape modes in 2048x1536 resolution. You also have to provide two Apple Watch screenshots in both 300x300 and 450x450 resolutions. Once your screenshots are ready to go, next is metadata.
This section includes all of the information that will be visible when users look at your app's details on the App Store. These items include your app's name, category, keywords, description, and support URL. Here's a list of every required and optional item in the metadata section, along with tips on how to fill them out:
- App name (required): Put your app's name here.
- App rating (optional): If you want your app to be rated based on its content, check the appropriate box.
- Keywords (optional): Enter a list of keywords related to your app's category. Keep this list between 5 and 10 keywords for best results.
- SKU (required): It's like the ID of your application.
- Default Language (required)
- BundleID (required): Similar to SKU.
- Platform (required)
- Summary (required): Here, you should briefly explain what your app does & why users would want it - up to 160 characters will be allowed for this section.
- Description (required): Next is the description, which should include all the necessary information about the features of your app and how it works. The maximum character limit, which will depend on your chosen category, can be found in iTunes Connect's submission guidelines.
- Support URL (optional): If you have a website related to your app, include the URL here, so users know where to find additional information.
- App preview video (optional): Apple recommends having a 30-second preview video for your app available at this time.
4. Submit & Approve Your App
Once you've completed all of these steps and are ready to submit your app, click "Submit for Review" at the bottom of the page.
When doing so, it'll ask you if you want to continue using "TestFlight" - since this is an external beta testing tool that allows you to invite up to 1,000 testers to try your app before it's officially released.
If you don't need this option and just want to finalize your submission, uncheck the box and proceed.
5 . Wait for Apple's Feedback
After clicking "Submit" in step 4, you'll start receiving notifications when your app is reviewed by Apple.
The review process will depend on several factors, such as how many apps are currently in a queue or any updates made to your app since its last submission. Once approved, you'll receive an "App Store Review" email with further instructions on what needs to be fixed before it can be published (if anything). Once everything's in place and you've addressed all issues, simply click "Release."
TIP: You can monitor the status of your submitted app anytime by logging into iTunes Connect and checking its current status under the active apps section.
6. HOW TO WRITE GREAT TITLES FOR YOUR APP
When it comes to marketing, there's no escaping the fact that titles are one of the most important parts of promoting an app. After all, they provide users with a quick snapshot of what you're trying to promote, which is why they should always be presented effectively - here are some tips on how to do just that (and avoid common pitfalls along the way):
1. Keep It Short & Simple
While it may seem like a good idea at first glance, long-winded titles are likely to turn away potential customers instead of attracting them. You should also steer clear of using symbols or emoticons that don't add anything to your title's message while keeping them short is essential for displaying the app on Apple Watch, where only 6-12 characters are shown.
2 . Make It Descriptive & Informative
As mentioned above, users need to see what your app does at a glance - this means you should include all of the most important aspects in its descriptive section. However, avoid being too specific with extra details. This lowers the overall effect and can appear vague if it doesn't grab user attention fast enough.
3 . Keep Titles Up-to-Date
Another common but unnecessary mistake many developers make is keeping their titles static for new versions, updates, or bug fixes. As a result, this leads to users overlooking the app in favor of others since they don't see any changes when browsing through different pages (e.g., App Store's "What's New" section).
4 . Avoid Keyword Stuffing
Keywords are important for getting your app noticed by search engines. Still, you should always avoid using them too much - just like with images and other forms of marketing materials. While there may be times where you'll need to use several keywords that relate to your app, including ones that aren't relevant to its primary purpose will simply lower its overall rating since it looks spammy and unappealing.
7. Cost of submitting your app to the App Store
Apple charges an annual fee of $99 to maintain a developer's account. This gives you the ability to submit up to 10 apps for review at any given time.
8. Steps to get approved for the App Store
Ensure your app conforms to Apple's guidelines and doesn't fall under any categories they don't accept (e.g., pornographic, offensive, or copyright-infringing apps).
After making changes if necessary, upload an icon, screenshots, and a preview video for your app.
Submit your app for review in iTunes Connect by clicking the "Prepare for Submission" button on the iTunes Connect dashboard.
Fill in all the required information about your app to get through the approval process (including choosing up to 5 keywords that best describe it).
Wait until you receive an email from Apple when everything checks out - this is usually when you can start promoting it on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, among others.
9. How long does it take for an app to get approved?
Although it'll depend on several factors, including app store category and overall quality, you can expect to wait anywhere from 1-7 days until your app gets officially approved.
If you need help with submitting your app to the App Store, our team of experts is here to assist you. Get in touch today for a consultation!
Thank you for reading, \ Radek from Duomly