App discovery can be a challenge in the App Store not only for developers but also for people that are looking for a great app to download. That’s why app discovery and promotion channels had popped into existence in the past several years. App review sites aren’t actually a new thing. The concept is quite the same with video game review sites. The main difference is that video game review sites focusing on console games can easily review a newly released game, app review sites can’t just keep up with the tens of thousands of apps released each week on different platforms. Some app review sites only review apps based on criteria like quality and ratings, but that is only after an app developer pitches his app for review. Some of these sites charge for app reviews and offer other promotional packages.
Aside from the obvious exposure, there are an array of benefits from availing of an app review site’s services.
Benefits of an App Review
- An app review, whether bad or good can give valuable feedback on what to improve on your app.
- App store reviews are often subjective and based on a user’s personal experience of your app. That’s why you need the positive input from a trusted source. App reviews sites usually highlight the app’s best features and correcting any wrong assumptions that bad app store reviews and low ratings create.
- App review sites can give your app a “stamp of approval” in the eyes of app downloaders. An endorsement from trusted authority figures would certainly give a boost to a product’s credibility.
- Promotional packages offered may include social media promotion (re-Tweets, posts to their Facebook page, etc.), video reviews, app demos and a feature on the site’s landing page. Some sites would even ask developers for previews and interviews.
- Review sites offer more technical, unbiased look into the apps compared to some blogs that may give a flavor of opinion.
Sadly, you can also face some setbacks when dealing with app review sites.
Disadvantages of App Review Sites
- The amount of exposure that you will get depends on the site’s popularity and following. A feature in a popular, high-traffic authority review site would certainly give a boost to an app’s download – a noticeable boost at that. You cannot expect the same result from sites with low ranking or are have inorganic traffic.
- A site’s selection process may become biased. There could be thousands of app pitches on an app review site’s inbox at one time. It is not uncommon for some sites to offer ‘expedited’ reviews for a pay.
- Some app users downplay the significance of app review sites. A majority of apps are free and are instantly deleted once deemed unsatisfactory.
- Some app review sites are overpriced and don’t (or can’t) deliver any desired results. Users tend to distrust these sites since they don’t act independently.
