Don't Submit Your App To The App Store Without Reading These Six Tips

When I tell people my app got rejected on launch day, people tell me I should’ve been better prepared.

Well, I thought I was. My app had been "Pending Developer Release" for a whole week. All I had to do was click a button, and my app would've been launched to almost every country in the world via the App Store.

However, my preparedness made no difference. I didn't know how prepared I actually needed to be until it all went wrong. Read ahead to see the tips I have to get you best prepared for your app's submission to the app store.

1 . Expect the unexpected, and know that you're not in control of your app's distribution.

I've been releasing apps for nearly three years on the iOS App Store, and not once had I experienced a rejection till now.

Here's the hard truth. Apple, or Google Play, have your app under their control. It’s their law. Your app can be put in a red-light "Rejection" prison for as long as necessary. They will be able to control your business, so long as it's being hosted on their domains.

I'm getting tired of seeing this.

How? Here's what App Stores control:

• Their search algorithms (65% of App Store downloads come from App Store search).
• Your App Store Product ratings.
• Which reviews show up on your app's App Store page.
• Your App Store's Age Rating.
• Whether your App even shows up on their App Store!

App Stores can make or break your business. My tip: try to do everything you can to sway yourself in its favour, before and after your release.

2 . Check your app's submission before submitting!

It usually takes a while for your app to get reviewed, and a lot of effort for human reviewers to complete their review. If app stores find errors consistently in your submissions, they'll find that you're wasting their reviewers' time, and suspend your account.

Point in fact: check your submission thoroughly.

Here's a few elements of a submission people usually miss out on in their iOS App Store submission:

• Category: Choosing your app's category is found in a different part of the App Store Connect's usual submission portal. You can find it at a tab called "App Information", found under "App Store Information" in your app's App Store Connect page.
• Age rating: You can change your app's age rating by clicking "edit" under your app's App Store Icon (see below).

This is where you can find the age rating on App Store Connect.

Forgetting about these bits is common. Chube (above) is a kids app, and it was rated 17+ by default!

3 . Submit the app for review way before your release date.

The App Store review team might find a lot of issues that you didn’t expect to see. 

I didn't expect having the word "YouTube" in my app name would cause an App Store rejection. I was wary about it a year ago when the first version of my Chube app launched, but I tried it (because of its SEO benefits), and it was accepted. For a whole year it ran with a name that had "Better than YouTube" in it. It wasn't professional, but it made the app grow faster than other apps. Similarly, there are many apps on the App Store with YouTube in its name - but they may have asked for permission.

Here is something important to know: the App Store Review team is run by a team of people. People have varying levels of effort at any workplace, and this includes Apple. Though it means there's a varied range of laxity in App Store submissions, it means you get a personalised feedback after each submission's rejection, with a "Next steps" section telling you exactly how to fix your app's problems.

4 . Don’t announce your release date before your app has completed review (unless you have a launch event).

It's widely-known that Apple can expedite the process of your App Store review if you have evidence for a launch event. This involves telling Apple the date of your event, the time and the address of the venue.

For Chube's launch, there wasn't any launch event. However, I had released a video (see below) that said “Chube will come out on the 24th August”. The video had a thousand + views across platforms.

My teaser for the "Chube" app, with a now obselete release date.

I have since deleted that video on my LinkedIn and social channels, because it's the 25th and the app has still not been released! (I will update this article when it has.)

5 . Have a fallback product

As I said in my Number 1 tip, the App Stores have the ultimate power to make or break your app business.

It's wise to make a a more stream-lined 'less controversial' version of your app just in case your better feature-packed app gets rejected.

For example, in case Chube wouldn't pass an App Store review, I had prepared a secondary app called "Sofia Channel" that would keep the product's API running:

"Sofia Channel" - a 24/7 live kids channel for iOS and Android, powered by Chube's API for safe-only content and educational programs. Sofia Channel will launch soon - I'm following the tips in this article strictly - so you won't know when it releases unless you click here to sign up!

If Chube doesn't pass review in the next few weeks, Sofia Channel will be Chube Media's 'sorry' to the over 30,000 fans we've amassed around the world. Business-wise, Sofia Channel will buy our company time while our flagship app is reworked to fit within Apple's guidelines.

6. (bonus!) Work with a great development team.

When I notified Chube's developer Chris from Stick Media that the app had been rejected, he responded with optimism and practicality:

"Hi mate. I should be able to get those sorted for you tomorrow. I'll try my very hardest to get you a new Chube up and running to be able to submit tomorrow." - Chris, Stick Media

This was on the weekend.

By plotting out the 5 necessary tasks to ensure the app passes the next App Store submission, a professionalism and tenacity was introduced to, what had been for me, a very nerve-racking time for us all.

And that's it!

There have been many up downs since Chube's development began, but I'm confident the app will release soon and become a well-respected product in the worldwide parent community.

Here's a quote to leave all you budding developers and business people feeling inspired:

“Have a winner’s mindset from the start. A winner leaves no room for error.”

Thanks for reading and go get it!

See another article of mine: How to grow Social Media on a budget (600+ views)

Also, to all those who want to join our 30,000-strong fan base, here's what Chube actually is:

Chube is a kids video app that gives parents get a nag-free and guilt-free way of entertaining and educating their children on digital mobile platforms.

It's the most secure kids app in the world, with child security that make sure children don’t accidentally pause, rewind, change or turn off their favourite videos.

My app is also the safest kids video app in the world, as all the videos on there are informed by the Chube API, a regulatory database of kids videos informed and curated by parents. Every video on Chube is completely safe, appearing in an ad-free interface made just for parents.

You can follow us on Instagram @chubelife and sign up to be notified of our app's next launch day here.

Thanks for checking us out!