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Gaming the App Store

Posted by kdawson on from the burning-your-knees-on-astroturf dept.

space_in_your_face writes "Want to boost the popularity of your latest iPhone app? Ask Reverb Communications! 'When it comes to winning in the App Store, this PR firm has discovered a dynamite strategy: throw ethics out the window. Reverb Communications, a PR firm that represents dozens of game publishers and developers, has managed to find astounding success on Apple's App Store for its clients. Among its various tactics? It hires a team of interns to trawl iTunes and other community forums posing as real users, and has them write positive reviews for their client's applications. ... Reverb claims that their clients have sold over $2 billion of product under their watch.'"

3 of 217 comments (clear)

  1. It could be illegal. by Albert+Schueller · · Score: 5, Interesting

    "Among its various tactics? It hires a team of interns to trawl iTunes and other community forums posing as real users, and has them write positive reviews for their client's applications."

    Just so we're all clear, this is already illegal. If they are engaging in this kind of activity, then it's just a law enforcement issue.

  2. Re:How about negative reviews? by iamflimflam1 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Yes they do. My own app Sudoku Grab got a review from someone saying that a competing app was much better. Out of interest I checked to see what other apps this reviewer had reviewed.

    He'd reviewed 6 other competing apps, all of the reviews suggested that customers should buy this other app instead.

    There's not much you can do about it, just have to hope that customers are savvy enough to see through these marketing tricks.

    --
    "Some days even my lucky rocketship underpants don't help."
  3. Re:Astroturf... by The+Qube · · Score: 5, Interesting

    You only have to do that if you have a low-quality product. My app, Virtual Cricket, competes in a reasonably crowded segment (cricket scores, push alerts etc) and competes against some pretty heavy competition (ESPN, BSkyB etc).

    However, I have a quality product and it was recognised as such by Apple who selected the app as the featured app in the App Store. This did more for my sales than spamming online forums etc.

    Lesson: quality wins in the end.

    --

    "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."