October 25, 2009
By aaronwatkins

We've had a lot of people lately coming to us and asking how to get their iPhone app reviewed by the various iPhone blog sites around the net. While there is no guaranteed method, ( 148apps told us they get over 400 requests to review per week – there is simply no way they can get to all of them) we sat down with SlapApp.com's Co-Founder  Ryan Johnson this weekend and he gave us a few pointers. 


1. Read and understand the blogs preferred method of communication. Each blog has a different process, some bloggers have an email address to send submissions to, while others use a web form on their site. Just because you were able to track down the email address of every writer that contributes to their site, doesn't mean they would all welcome an out-of-the-blue email that goes outside their normal submission process and clogs up their professional email boxes. Ryan Johnson, SlapApp Co-Founder

2. Don't force them to do time wasting research. Simply submitting and saying "hey, can you review app X" is a sure fire way to not get reviewed. At the very least you need to provide:

  • App Name
  • Company Name
  • App Category
  • A brief overview of your app including highlights (what makes it special?)
  • Direct link to app

3. Spice it up with some media. You will hardly ever see an app reviewed without an image, video, etc. to catch the readers eye. Pulling those images and making those videos for those that do it themselves is a time consuming process. Make it easy for them! Include your screen shots, videos, promo art, icons, etc with your submission. Do NOT however send them as attached files unless specifically requested. Host your images on photobucket or one of the various other image hosting sites (Photoshop has an interesting new one) and send the link to the image. This goes for videos as well.  

4. This one may be obvious – but if its a paid app, provide a promotional code. On the same note – if you are a blogger yourself and are reading this – when a developer provides you with a promotional code, if you do not think you are going to review the app, be so kind as to send the code back to the developer unused.

5. Stick to the theme of the site. Some sites like Touch Arcade have very specific focuses (Touch Arcade is specifically for games). It is a waste of your time as well as the bloggers time to et submissions that do not fit with the site in question.


6. Additional information that may help getting your app reviewed:

  • Current Rank / Highest Rank Achieved (Most bloggers generate revenue as a iTunes affiliate, they want to promote apps that sell)
  • Date of Release
  • Notable mentions in other media (and links to them – bloggers love to cross link, it helps their SEO)

7. Getting close to launching a brand new app that has never been seen before? Offer a blogger an exclusive "first look" at the application. Bloggers are like other news reporters in that they like to be the first to a story. Dangling the "exclusive" carrot can catch a writers eye like nothing else can.

SO YOU GOT REVIEWED: NOW WHAT?

Congratulations! You got your app reviewed! What to do now? A couple basic things:

1. Mention the review in your app description. It's good for you (assuming it was a positive review), and its good for the review site.

2. Share the review link as much as possible. If your apps direct a lot of traffic to a blogger, the blogger may remember this in the future and be more inclined to blog about your next release.

3. Thank the reviewer. Common courtesy goes a long way these days. A good review can take 30 minutes to an hour of the writers time, if not more. Time spent on your application. Show them you appreciate it.

SO YOU DIDN'T GET REVIEWED: NOW WHAT?

Not every app will get reviewed by every site. Often times the blog wont even contact you to let you know, they simply wont do anything with it. Don't get disheartened, but ask yourself why. Is your app a purple cow? That is – is your app remarkable in any way, shape or form, or is it one of a dozen apps just like it that are already littering up the app store. As I mentioned before – blog reviews are a type of news… so make apps that are newsworthy.

A Special Thanks:

SlapAppLogo

A special thanks to Ryan and the rest of the SlapApp.com team for providing this interview. For help getting your app reviewed by bloggers, mentioned in the press, or just talked about in general… drop us an email, we would be glad to help!



  1. […] How to get your iPhone App Reviewed by Bloggers – Another great article with simple steps to improve your chances of getting reviewed, and build a relationship with reviewers. […]

    Pingback by We Heart Games » Blog Archive » 18 Marketing Resources for Indie iPhone Developers — October 26, 2009 @ 7:56 am

  2. Thanks for the info! We are coming out with a slew of new apps in the next few months and this is a great piece on how to approach the blog review market!

    Comment by Michael — October 26, 2009 @ 8:21 am

  3. This is a great article, at http://www.iPhoneAppQuotes.com we routinely get asked this question of how to promote, market and advertise your app once available in the app store. No doubt that unbiased reviews are a big part of promotion. I’ve add a link to this article on our news page.

    Comment by iphone app developer — October 29, 2009 @ 5:28 am

  4. […] How to get your iPhone App Reviewed by Bloggers […]

    Pingback by Mobila noteringar 29/10 | Missade samtal — October 29, 2009 @ 2:24 pm

  5. […] to maximize my app’s chances for success?”  Well, for starters we recommend you check out a recent interview that SlapApp.com Cofounder Ryan Johnson had with leading edge app marketing agency The Appency […]

    Pingback by What will the iPhone on Verizon mean for AT&T and iPhone App Developers? | — October 29, 2009 @ 6:54 pm

  6. Thanks, great tips. Marketing is essential but tough for small companies like ours, MagicSolver.com. Our first app Sudoku Magic, although one of the best Sudoku game available at the moment on the App Store with very good consumers feedback and a unique photo technology to capture Sudoku in any newspapers, has difficulties to really take off in the market.
    I really hope that our second app release today, FaceShift, a photo app which detect faces and can automatically swap your face with your friends’ faces, will find the success it deserves :-). We released a Lite version to allow everyone to try it for free.
    If you have any innovative ideas for our small company to promote our apps Sudoku Magic & FaceShift, just drop me an email, I would be delighted to have your feedback

    Comment by Emmanuel Carraud — November 4, 2009 @ 4:37 pm

  7. If you don’t get your app reviewed try looking for sites that will do review. Like me. Here is my websites and my reviews:
    http://sites.google.com/site/ipodtouchappandcasereviews/ I know I’m not like CNET and others but it’s a start. Would you rather have a review for your app or nothing at all.

    Contact me on my website if your looking to get your app reviewed.

    Comment by Affan — November 28, 2009 @ 11:47 am

  8. We released a new app call Inner Circle this month that allows you to keep tabs on the whereabouts of your friends and family. We had a huge spike in downloads by just linking our website http://www.512apps.com and our iTunes Store link http://itunes.apple.com/app/inner-circle/id336572662?mt=8 in several iPhone app forums.

    Comment by Birddog — December 3, 2009 @ 8:06 pm

  9. […] How to get your iPhone App Reviewed by Bloggers – Another great article with simple steps to improve your chances of getting reviewed, and build a relationship with reviewers. […]

    Pingback by How To reach Top 100 apps list on appstore « Reviews of appstore apps — December 23, 2009 @ 9:40 am

  10. Thanks, any advice is appreciated. Trying to get your app to stand out from the rest seems to be getting increasingly difficult.

    Comment by iPhone Apps — May 17, 2010 @ 1:21 pm

  11. I run http://www.itouchapps.biz – we have started accepting app review requests, you can email us through our website with the details :o)

    Comment by Rory — July 1, 2010 @ 8:21 am

  12. In case you’re looking for another site to submit to, NeatoStuff regularly does app features and takes submissions on our site.

    Comment by Rob — February 27, 2011 @ 9:49 pm

  13. Thanks for the advice i’m trying to get my apps out there. I think this will help

    Comment by Onbeat Apps — May 9, 2011 @ 6:23 am

  14. If anyone wants their app promoted, http://www.newtome.co.uk does free promos… they especially like apps that are on offer (free for a week, etc). Add you app description free, and you can pay just a few pence/cents to make it stand out above the rest!

    Comment by Scott — August 1, 2011 @ 1:05 am

  15. Very useful tips!
    We just released our latest app that talks and walks you through all the different types of magic called TetraMagika.Its FREE for a limited time. Thanks in advance for your reviews!

    Comment by RDInnovations — January 17, 2012 @ 10:23 pm

  16. If you’d like your app reviewed please visit gearsoftech.com Contact us through our Facebook or Google Plus fan pages or send me an email at edward.marquez@gearsoftech.com

    Comment by Edward — January 18, 2012 @ 9:50 pm

  17. We released a new app called Boxckey that is a box hockey game from when I was a kid turned into an iPad game. We had also had a spike in downloads by linking our website and our iTunes Store link in several iPhone app forums.

    Comment by Adam — January 2, 2013 @ 7:18 am

  18. Thus site will review your app hitsurl.com

    Comment by parker — January 11, 2013 @ 1:30 pm

  19. I admire all the valuable tips and would take care to utilize them aptly in the promotion of my iPhone game, tap a fish. However, it is not that I have not tried these tips, in fact I have sent my app to many sites for review and they even accept it, free of cost. But after few days I get the message from them regarding payment, without which they would invest zero time on my app. This has become almost the order of the day. I mean if you are offering paid review service, why not tell right at the beginning, this kind of thing is very misleading and disgusting. I keep on looking for genuine free review websites that could get my game reviewed but am still running out of luck. If anyone could help me out, I shall be highly obliged. Thanks! Here is the link to my iPhone Tap Fish Game: https://itunes.apple.com/app/tap-a-fish-for-iphone/id594769455?mt=8

    Comment by hitechmcs — February 27, 2013 @ 2:30 am

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