Kickstart

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Tips and tricks for indie app developers working on launches, App Store optimization, analytics, and the rest of the work around building an app.

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A geek haunted by his own shadow.

What kills apps, and why it isn’t being Sherlocked

Apple added Dark Noise’s core job to iOS, and the app still earns over $4,700 a month. Sherlocking is a real risk, but it isn’t an automatic death sentence.

Writer taking notes beside a laptop and phone

How to make an app press kit journalists actually open

The exact anatomy of a press kit that gets your app covered – the fact sheet, the images journalists use, and a complete template to copy.

A café latte with leaf-patterned foam served on a wooden table

How to price an app: the coffee test

Price your app against what people already buy – the coffee test, an annual-price hypothesis, and four questions that help find your price band.

Hands arranging five yellow rating stars on a wooden table.

When to call requestReview(): Apple’s rules and the timing that works

Apple limits how often review prompts appear and now gives clear guidance for using them – here’s how to ask respectfully after a meaningful success.

Someone examining a document through a magnifying glass.

10 App Store optimization mistakes you can fix in an afternoon

Find and fix ten common App Store listing mistakes: unclear metadata, duplicate keywords, benefit-free screenshots, weak release notes, and untested assumptions.

A checklist with tasks checked off.

The ultimate indie iOS app launch checklist

A complete app launch checklist for indie iOS developers – all the key tasks from 45 days before launch to 60 days after.

Kickstart launch artwork

Kickstart: launch retrospective

Two months after Kickstart launched, here’s what went well, what I’d change, and what’s coming next.