Back around May 2010 sometime, I thought of making a version of Facemakr that could be used for halloween, I registered the domain and drew an icon for this project at that time. The actual app production sat as a note on my calendar, glaring at me as October drew nearer. Consumed by Facemakr updates and a client project for 3 solid months, Monstermakr didn’t get a look-in until the end of September.
During the time between May and September, Facemakr did very well. This was in part to having Apples support behind us, with promotion on the app store. I really couldn’t have made this kind of impact if they didn’t like the app. This also has enabled to help me re-coup the thousands of dollars I sunk into development (Facemakr was a bitch to build, it’s a custom engine). I imagined that if Monstermakr was approved in time and picked up by Apple in their seasonal Halloween section, Monstermakr could at least cover the cost of production. It’s using features exclusive to iPhone and has a unique look to it.
Monstermakr was also pretty complex to build, and we faced some real “make or break” problems. We got there in the end, Submitted, Approved. Ready some 2 weeks before halloween. Promo video (above) shot, you-tubed, emailed to everyone I know. Blogs written to. Facebook page up. Mailing-list christened. Everything was set in place to have a successful launch.
It got better.
Apple wrote to me asking for promotional artwork! That was the green light I’d been waiting for, there was no way the project could fail!
Halloween Friday arrives (this is when Apple typically feature apps on the store). Monstermakr is nowhere to be seen. Saturday comes, still nothing. Sales sit in at about $20. (about 1% of what I need to cover the project internally) – This year, Apple didn’t go all out and promote Halloween apps it turns out. Nothing wrong with that, just the way the cards fell on the day.
So, my main chance is gone. What now?
There was a simple choice: Either make whatever comes in over the next two days (probably around 20 sales) or offer it up for free. It’s not a question to take lightly, making apps for iPhone is a high risk / high return business. How could I make the app store work for me?
I again wrote to pretty much everyone, pimped myself for 3 days solid over Facebook, Twitter, youTube, Flickr, mailing lists. I blagged re-tweets left right and centre. And I’m glad I did, because Monstermakr rocketed up the free app chart and peaked at 4000 downloads for halloween! Not bad for an app that is free for what was essentially 1 day.
You may be thinking; “so how does that work for you, exactly?” – Good question.
Awareness.
Thats an extra 4000 or so pockets Monstermakr is in, instead of 20. (of course, $4000 would have been better, but 4000 x $0 = $0 so…)
There’s a link to Facemakr in the app, and Dadako Studios is linked there too. I saw an increase in Facemakr sales after a few days, when people started exploring the app.
I should have made Monstermakr free from the start.
Then there would be a lot more pocket monsters out there.
@hawkenking