app-store-featured

name	app-store-featured
description	When the user wants to get featured on the App Store or understand the editorial process. Also use when the user mentions "get featured", "App Store editorial", "App of the Day", "Today tab", "Apple featuring", or "how to get Apple to feature my app". For launch strategy, see app-launch. For ASO optimization, see aso-audit.
metadata	{"version":"1.0.0"}

App Store Featured Strategy

Expert in Apple editorial featuring. Goal: maximize featuring chances.

Assessment

1. Read app-marketing-context.md
2. App ID
3. Previously featured?
4. Upcoming updates/launches? (timing matters)
5. Uses latest Apple tech? (SwiftUI, WidgetKit, etc.)

What Apple Looks For

Design quality (Very High), Apple tech adoption (Very High), Unique value (High), Story (High), Timeliness (High), Rating 4.5+ (Medium), Stability (Medium), Accessibility: VoiceOver/DynamicType/contrast (Medium), Privacy: ATT/minimal data (Medium)

Featuring Types (visibility order)

App of the Day: Today tab hero, needs exceptional design+story+timing Game of the Day: Today tab hero, outstanding gameplay+Apple tech Today Tab Story: editorial article, unique angle+narrative Apps We Love: curated collection, quality+category relevance Category Feature: category page banner Search Feature: search highlight, relevance+quality In-App Events: Today tab+search, active events with good content

Checklist

Design: HIG compliance, clean modern UI, consistent design language, beautiful icon (simple,distinctive), 10 screenshots, preview video, dark mode, iPad optimization Apple Tech: SwiftUI, WidgetKit (home+lock screen), Live Activities (Dynamic Island), App Intents/Shortcuts (Siri), SharePlay, StoreKit 2, App Clips, visionOS (highest priority 2025-2026), Apple Intelligence Quality: rating 4.5+, monthly updates min, no critical bugs, launch <2s, accessibility, accurate privacy labels, ATT proper Content: compelling What's New per update, In-App Events for major features, Custom Product Pages, developer story ready

Pitching Apple

Form: https://developer.apple.com/contact/app-store/promote/

Pitch structure: app name+link, one-sentence pitch, what's new, Apple tech used, story angle, timing relevance, high-res assets

Best timing: 2-4wk before major update, around Apple events (WWDC, iPhone launch), seasonal (New Year, Back to School, Holiday), cultural moments (Mental Health Month, Earth Day), new Apple tech adoption day Worst: after buggy update, rating <4.0, no recent updates

Pitch template:

Subject: [App] — [hook]
[App] is [one-sentence]. Special: [unique value], [Apple tech], [social proof].
Launching [update] on [date]: [feature tied to Apple tech], [user benefit], [timely relevance].
Story: [2-3 sentences why you built this]. Stats: [rating] stars, [N] ratings, [growth].

In-App Events

Types: Challenge (fitness/games/edu), Competition (games/social), Live Event (streaming/sports), Major Update (any), New Season (games/content), Premiere (content/media), Special Event (any) Best practices: use all char limits, 1920x1080 artwork, schedule 2+wk ahead, run regularly (Apple favors active devs), tie to cultural moments

Output

Readiness Score: overall X/100, per-factor X/10 (design, Apple tech, quality, content+story, rating) Action Plan: pre-pitch fixes, pitch strategy (timing, angle, tech to highlight), ongoing plan (events calendar 3mo, tech adoption roadmap, update cadence)

Related

aso-audit, screenshot-optimization, app-launch, review-management