CORONA indie developers UNITE! (join forces to review each other apps!)

General (non-technical) Marketing and Monetization
#61

The community really is amazing. I think about how willing people are to help and contribute. Also, everyone is so diverse in what they do in their extra time. I love being able to meet new people and help where I can because if we all helped each other this world would be a fantastic place to live.

Mo,
My philosophy is the only dumb/dense question is one not asked. Never feel dumb about asking :slight_smile: itā€™s something Iā€™ve learned in college. So many people are willing to help if you just ask. So click on the link and look for a button that says ā€œask to joinā€ and weā€™ll get you set up. Let who you are on Facebook when you join so I can make you an admin. Unless your name is Mo on Facebook, in that case iā€™ll know

Danny [import]uid: 59140 topic_id: 24220 reply_id: 99956[/import]

#62

Thanks Danny, I got it. I joined. My facebook is Mo Laird (LairdGames)Not sure id LairdGames shows in there.

Mo [import]uid: 49236 topic_id: 24220 reply_id: 99958[/import]

#63

Hey, I just asked to join the group, my name is Raul Beltran
Thanks!

[import]uid: 44101 topic_id: 24220 reply_id: 99959[/import]

#64

I put in my request. Jason Oakley. [import]uid: 10389 topic_id: 24220 reply_id: 99962[/import]

#65

Hello community!

A few thoughtsā€¦

  1. I totally agree that we need to use our numbers to benefit the community. I have got to say the highest number of reviews from forum posting and members has come from Corona so far. We all want to help each other out.

  2. My only fear is that if we get too organized, Apple could consider it ratings manipulation and pull apps. I would want to make sure we are not doing anything clearly violating Appleā€™s policies. 5 star reviews are what we are looking for and we dont want members leaving negative reviews. If we dont like an app then we shouldnā€™t leave the rating, but instead give some constructive criticism to the app maker. That way it is less like ratings manipulation.

  3. I as well have thought a lot about how to make a system work for review exchange. One of my favorite sites for a while was tradegamesnow. They have a great exchange and rating setup which would be awesome for someone to imitate (I would try, but I am no web developer). Basically when an exchange is completed, the users leave feedback. The user with the lower feedback is expected to mail a game first (or in our case rate an app first), then the person with the highest feedback does it.

  4. Aside from reviews there are some other major things we could do for one another which include: follow each other on twitter, like our facebook app pages, and vote for each others apps on sites like iheartthisapp. [import]uid: 79834 topic_id: 24220 reply_id: 99977[/import]

#66

Hey I just requested to join. My name is Aaron Y. [import]uid: 31262 topic_id: 24220 reply_id: 99981[/import]

#67

Just asked to join. Name is Scott Adelman. Thanks for doing this! [import]uid: 79834 topic_id: 24220 reply_id: 99987[/import]

#68

ā€œā€¦My only fear is that if we get too organized, Apple could consider it ratings manipulation and pull appsā€¦ā€

You have a great and valid point scottadelman. The last thing we want is for our fellow developers to have to their apps pulled out from the app store. That would definitely defeat the purpose of this project.

For instance I already see an app with only 5 stars. I understand that we want to be helpful and help a fellow developers but i think ā€œscottadelmanā€ is right, that could bring trouble to those apps. I am not saying they do not deserve 5 stars but we should be careful.

I think 3-5 stars will be a better way. 3 for a good apps but needs work, 4 for a great app and keep 5 stars for the most amazing apps. By the way, I think 3 stars is nothing to sneeze at given the tons of apps with 1 stars out there.

As ā€œscottadelmanā€ remind us, having all apps reviews/rated a 5 stars maybe an issue. The goal was to get at least 5 reviews/rating not to have 5 stars rating.

I am hoping people here can brainstorm about the best way to avoid issues.

Mo

[import]uid: 49236 topic_id: 24220 reply_id: 100003[/import]

#69

Great initiativ. Ive asked to join - name is BjĆørnar Borg.

I also agree with lemsim. One should not just give 5 stars. Give the game what you feel its worth and give a good constructive review, thats whats most important. Hope to try out alot of your games in the coming future! :slight_smile: [import]uid: 17969 topic_id: 24220 reply_id: 100008[/import]

#70

Ive just sent a request :slight_smile:

Jamie Trinder [import]uid: 69826 topic_id: 24220 reply_id: 100027[/import]

#71

I think if you like the app to give it 3-5 or 4-5 stars you should rate and review, else donā€™t rate it, contact the dev directly with comments. It would also help to not always write a review. Do it maybe 50-75% of the time, the rest rate it but no written review.

Just my 2 cents.

Have sent join request (the button felt hidden in the top right!) and if you want to add me as an admin Iā€™m happy to approve new requests, etc. (Though you may not need me at this stage.)

Peach :slight_smile: [import]uid: 52491 topic_id: 24220 reply_id: 100031[/import]

#72

Hello,
Thatā€™s why in the discription of the group I put fair and honest reviews. This group was started as a way to get reviews not 50 5 star review. As much as we all would love 5 star ratings we have to be honest and I hope that people who join this group will.

Danny [import]uid: 59140 topic_id: 24220 reply_id: 100074[/import]

#73

great idea!

I have requested to join, Dean Collins [import]uid: 132533 topic_id: 24220 reply_id: 100089[/import]

#74

Yes, this is simply an announcement of your product group. Ratings and Reviews are nice, but you have to be fair an honest with your rating and reviewsā€¦
[import]uid: 19626 topic_id: 24220 reply_id: 100097[/import]

#75

WOW! I went to sleep and now the group almost doubled! I think Peach is right, 3 stars should be the minimum. If they are big issues contact the developer or just skip the app. Nobody is forced you to reviews/rate every single app. If we do then I am affraid the group will burn out very quickly given the amounts of apps to deal with.

I am not sure about you but I strongly suggest to limit ( for the time being) access to the group to actual indie and pro subscriber. Which mean no test drivers nor people with apps on the store that used other SDK to get there. As much as I will prefer a lot of people, I think inviting everybody can invite troubles for our group. I know test drivers are hard at work on their apps ( like me!) but since anybody can join the forum, that could bring us unwanted attention. Many test drivers will subscribe at some point and can join then so I do not see much issue here.

My fear if everybody is able to join, we may attract many outside the Corona community and then all bait are off! Only allowing subscribers would be a fool proof gating system.

So far only indie and pro have joined which good. I will remove myself since I am still a test driver( trust not for long now:) But fair is fair.

It is just a suggestion but I think it may help us in the long run.

Thanks to all joined and reviewed apps.

Mo.

Ps: Please do not forget Danny request: no automatic 5 stars, just a fair review. [import]uid: 49236 topic_id: 24220 reply_id: 100107[/import]

#76

Lemsim, you started the thread, so I recommend you stayā€¦ even though your a test driver right nowā€¦ You have said you wont be for long.

[import]uid: 88147 topic_id: 24220 reply_id: 100112[/import]

#77

I agree team1, just stay Mo.

I would like to get the forums more orgainized so we have spcific days to show an app. Because if we make it just another place to post an app you made then it will be like the ā€œnew appā€ section of the Fourms (nothing against them).
Iā€™m thinking free app Fridays and Tuesdays. That way developers will get the attention they need for their app which is why we made this. Also, Iā€™d like people to contact me with the info they want to promote and I can make the event. I can line up a bunch of apps for the month and that way we have it scheduled better. Apps that are free all the time are allowed as well. Iā€™ll post my email to the group on Facebook.

As for keeping the group smaller and focused, I was thinking we should put a cap on it at 30 people. This way it will say manageable and yet still focused. I just thought of an idea. After we hit 30 and see if we are still getting along and playing by the rules, we could keep the group capped at 30 but accept review requests from people on the forums. So somebody would post here or something and weā€™d see if we could fit it into the schedule. Member apps would come first.

Let me know your thoughts guys [import]uid: 59140 topic_id: 24220 reply_id: 100116[/import]

#78

Wow, what a great idea. Just asked to join. My name is Jorge Sanchez.
[import]uid: 80305 topic_id: 24220 reply_id: 100128[/import]

#79

Great idea, I know first hand how bad reviews killed my App sales - I launched the Sunday after the iPad3 went on sale - I generated 400 sales in a few hours before ā€˜It doesnā€™t work on iPad3ā€™ no star reviews killed me deadā€¦

Some points

Donā€™t forget the territories outside the US - ideally the group needs at least 5 active members in every major territory

If we were really clever we could get our numbers to actually download free Apps to a point where they actually charted! I read the current number one App paid for marketing until they had reached 30,000 downloads, after that the viral effect took overā€¦ could be the new uSocial for Appsā€¦

[import]uid: 137150 topic_id: 24220 reply_id: 100130[/import]

#80

@Danny: ok I will stay but it is not fair to the other ā€œdriverā€. In term of capping to 30 until we get a feel I am all for it. Long term I do not think we need to cap to 30 since that put all the burden on those original 30 to reviews everybody else apps. I think we just should limit the entrance to all pro and indie subscribers so we can any issues. I also agree with that the Facebook page is quickly becoming to look like the forum for apps (hard to follow what is going on) so I like your idea of taking bunch of app per weeks and have every body in the group rates those. I think that way get a chance to get their apps evaluated. Great idea Danny!

@Dominic: good point About multiple markets. I hope we have enough dev spread around to make sure everybody gets a fair shake. In term of downloads, I suggest that we do not get too ā€œcleverā€ ha! ha! I am sure Apple for instance is looking for these type of things (massive download) and the last thing we want is getting people ban. Letā€™s keep it a place where can get a fair reviews/ratings and we should be ok.

Mo [import]uid: 49236 topic_id: 24220 reply_id: 100153[/import]