So you built a book app. Congratulations–now the hard part begins.
Thousands of book apps have flooded app stores around the world. Even after a writer or publisher pays thousands of dollars to build an app, it can disappear in that sea of content.
At the Publishing App Expo today, a number of app publishers shared tips for how to take care of your book app and create a profitable business plan for the app’s future. We’ve collected their thoughts below–a handbook for book app maintenance.
1. Digital publishing consultant Peter Costanzo urged app creators to plan for delays: “It always takes more time than you expect to release an app.”
2. To keep costs under control, Budge Studios founder Noemie Dupuy urged publishers and authors to make a business plan for every app.
3. Millions of new smartphone and tablet users are added every month. Your old content won’t be old to these new readers. (Costanzo)
4. Zuuka founder Graham Farrar urged publishers to focus on top grossing rankings rather than top downloads in app stores. You can use eBookNewser’s Top Grossing Apps charts to follow these developments.
5. Don’t set your price so high that you can’t put the app on sale at some point. (Dupuy)
6. Use AdMob to promote for your app. (Dupuy)
7. Inside your app, ask readers to contribute reviews. (Dupuy)
8. If there is a problem with your app and you are fixing it, add that information to the product description so people need. Anytime you update your app, add that information to the app store page. (Farrar)
9. Include a customer service email link and website links in your app description so people can contact you with problems. (Farrar)