So - "app showcase" web site - how to?

[mike470]

I am far enough along in developing the app that I have to think about making a web site for it.

Now, the last time I dealt with web site creation/design, the state of the art was hand-made html created in notepad. Today there is wordpress etc.

So - what would you guys recommend? I would prefer creating a page on my own web site (I have reserved the domain name and chose the hosting company that is pretty versatile) instead of “renting” app showcase pages for $X/month. The host I have does support Wordpress and something called “Weebly Sitebuilder”.

The app in question is a landscape-only educational game that will run on every Apple or Android platform. I intend to put it on Apple’s Appstore as well as Amazon, Nook, Google Play and probably a few others. [import]uid: 160496 topic_id: 30130 reply_id: 330130[/import]

[dogfish_apps]

I just released my first game, “Hero the Hamster”, about 2 weeks ago, so I recently went through what you’re asking.

I have no experience in SEO, social networking, and html, but this is what I did to take care of the html/social networking:

I have the domains www.dogfishapps.com and www.herothehamster.com, registered through namecheap.com which works great. I installed Wordpress and used a $50 template called Appifywp (appify wordpress) for dogfishapps.com (herothehamster.com redirects). Take a look at my page and see if you like it. Appifywp basically shows your app clearly and effectively, with links to your Facebook page and twitter (try clicking on those links to see mine).

I also changed a few fonts and basic stuff with a few html tags. If you have any basic knowledge of how html works you can probably do more changes than I did. I know appifywp is $50 but it easily saved me at least that much in work.

Before trying wordpress I actually tried weebly, and found it to be tough to work with plus there were some other reason I didn’t like it, I think due to some google comments. I think everyone using Corona should at least know about appifywp, there doesn’t seem to be anything else like it that’s so quick to put up.

Anyway, this IS my first rodeo so maybe some other veterans can add their two cents. [import]uid: 117490 topic_id: 30130 reply_id: 120670[/import]

[ec2]

I created a free website with free hosting on Weebly and linked it to my own URL. I personally didn’t want to spend much time learning how to create websites (as I’d rather spend it on developing apps). Weebly is very easy to use, has a decent set of templates, only adds a small text “ad” at the bottom of the webpage, and importantly for an app developer, automatically reformats to a mobile-friendly webpage when viewed on a smartphone. [import]uid: 29384 topic_id: 30130 reply_id: 121141[/import]

[mike470]

Thank you dogfish.

I got appify - it is simple and effective (if somewhat limiting - color scheme on the left can be any color as long as it is black, all pages show up together and are scrolled to when the link is pressed on the left).

The app is not out yet (probably another couple of weeks) - but the web site partially is Brand new spanking: http://www.mathtotherescue.com

[import]uid: 160496 topic_id: 30130 reply_id: 121160[/import]

[dogfish_apps]

You’re welcome. The game looks great. I agree it’s kind of strange that appifywp makes a perfect layout then limits some display options–although I’m certain you can customize everything by editing the html, and I (and it looks like you) modified some text styles and simple stuff. [import]uid: 117490 topic_id: 30130 reply_id: 121162[/import]

[dogfish_apps]

I just released my first game, “Hero the Hamster”, about 2 weeks ago, so I recently went through what you’re asking.

I have no experience in SEO, social networking, and html, but this is what I did to take care of the html/social networking:

I have the domains www.dogfishapps.com and www.herothehamster.com, registered through namecheap.com which works great. I installed Wordpress and used a $50 template called Appifywp (appify wordpress) for dogfishapps.com (herothehamster.com redirects). Take a look at my page and see if you like it. Appifywp basically shows your app clearly and effectively, with links to your Facebook page and twitter (try clicking on those links to see mine).

I also changed a few fonts and basic stuff with a few html tags. If you have any basic knowledge of how html works you can probably do more changes than I did. I know appifywp is $50 but it easily saved me at least that much in work.

Before trying wordpress I actually tried weebly, and found it to be tough to work with plus there were some other reason I didn’t like it, I think due to some google comments. I think everyone using Corona should at least know about appifywp, there doesn’t seem to be anything else like it that’s so quick to put up.

Anyway, this IS my first rodeo so maybe some other veterans can add their two cents. [import]uid: 117490 topic_id: 30130 reply_id: 120670[/import]

[ec2]

I created a free website with free hosting on Weebly and linked it to my own URL. I personally didn’t want to spend much time learning how to create websites (as I’d rather spend it on developing apps). Weebly is very easy to use, has a decent set of templates, only adds a small text “ad” at the bottom of the webpage, and importantly for an app developer, automatically reformats to a mobile-friendly webpage when viewed on a smartphone. [import]uid: 29384 topic_id: 30130 reply_id: 121141[/import]

[mike470]

Thank you dogfish.

I got appify - it is simple and effective (if somewhat limiting - color scheme on the left can be any color as long as it is black, all pages show up together and are scrolled to when the link is pressed on the left).

The app is not out yet (probably another couple of weeks) - but the web site partially is Brand new spanking: http://www.mathtotherescue.com

[import]uid: 160496 topic_id: 30130 reply_id: 121160[/import]

[dogfish_apps]

You’re welcome. The game looks great. I agree it’s kind of strange that appifywp makes a perfect layout then limits some display options–although I’m certain you can customize everything by editing the html, and I (and it looks like you) modified some text styles and simple stuff. [import]uid: 117490 topic_id: 30130 reply_id: 121162[/import]

[ericsolan]

Marketing apps is always one of the hardest things to do. Hero the Hamster is awesome, you should consider submitting it for an award on The Best Mobile App Awards website. Seems to be a good mix of smaller developers and bigger companies. In the least, you’ll get listed as an award nominee… anyway good job and good luck [import]uid: 202699 topic_id: 30130 reply_id: 134302[/import]

[ericsolan]

Marketing apps is always one of the hardest things to do. Hero the Hamster is awesome, you should consider submitting it for an award on The Best Mobile App Awards website. Seems to be a good mix of smaller developers and bigger companies. In the least, you’ll get listed as an award nominee… anyway good job and good luck [import]uid: 202699 topic_id: 30130 reply_id: 134302[/import]