How Do I Get My App Approved by Apple?

Creative people write innovative iPhone applications every day. The first attempt to approach Apple for entry into the App Store can be daunting.

With careful attention to the requirements, anyone can create an app that will be accepted in the Apple App Store. Preparation is the most important factor in navigating the approval process. Prior to contacting Apple, review the App Store Review Guidelines thoroughly. Make the necessary changes to prevent rejection of the app.

Just as authors dream of having a book published by a famous publishing house, app developers dream of the day their first app is accepted by Apple into the most famous app store in existence. The effort to modify the app to comply with the guidelines rests on the developer. Even if the new app is an improvement on an existing app, the developer should expend the effort to apply for publication in the Apple App Store. A bunch of apps sitting around for occasional personal use is a waste of time and energy.

1. Prepare the App - Savvy developers know that the app requires more attention if it will be released on the App Store. One abnormal end to the program will cause rejection of the app. Be objective about the app’s capability and spend some time proving it is solid.

2. Try to break the app - Effective developers are relentless testers who produce rock-solid programs regardless of the platform. Users fall into trapdoors if the developer does not anticipate unorthodox usage methods.

3. Ask others to test – Select three to five people with different levels of technical expertise to test the app. A youngster can be helpful in the quest to create an innovative app. Teens have the remarkable technical aptitude and know what people in their age category want in apps. Ask an older person to try the app.

4. Make recommended changes – Improve the app based on the information gathered from the testing phase. The same people should be asked to review the changes and provide feedback.

5. Provide Requested Information – Initial contact with Apple should contain all of the details that are requested. Effective applications will be complete the first time. Remember these important pieces of information. Incomplete applications will be rejected.

• Name, telephone number, and email address
• List the APIs used and a description of each. Avoid the use of unpublished APIs.
• Images and icons used in the apps, including the fact they are used in other apps
• Links to other websites, if applicable, and the description of each

6. Count the cost – The thought of earning money by selling an innovative app in the Apple App store is exciting. Developers must realize there are some steps that must be taken prior to contacting Apple.

• Become a registered developer – Visit https://developer.apple.com/programs/ios.
• Pay the $99 annual fee – All developers must pay the annual fee to retain the status of registered developer with Apple.
• Set sales price – Apple will keep 30 percent of the sales price of the app to cover expenses associated with the App Store, including credit card fees.
• Set a goal – Determine how much money is sufficient and set the price accordingly. A 99-cent app will sell more often than a $4.99 app.
• Time is money – Developers must consider the amount of time required to create, test and improve the app.

7. Submit a simple version – Without presenting a “beta” version, the first version of the app submitted to Apple for approval will be complete and simple. A clean, first version of the app will move through the initial approval process more easily than a complex version with unnecessary frills.

8. Follow the game rules – Apple has published stringent rules that must be followed for every app submission. Developers might disagree with some of the listed directives, but denial is highly probable for apps that do not comply.

• Do not misspell technical words, terms or jargon.
• Avoid all unpublished APIs.
• Any app that eludes to violent behavior or speech will be rejected.
• App names should be meaningful and descriptive.

9. Learn from others – Developers will save time and effort by reading case histories written by others. Discussions with other developers teach the new developer some of the nuances of the approval process. The first submission will take more time than subsequent attempts.

10. Be innovative – Apps are no different than any other product. New features and revolutionary approaches to age-old problems make up 90% of all “inventions.” A creative developer will notice the limitations of an existing app in the Apple store and strive to develop a unique app that is helpful to users. With 500,000 apps in the Apple store, a new app submitted for review must stand out from the existing crowd. Consider some important features that will make the app usable.

• Colors and contrast – Visibility in every imaginable light situation is important for the app developer. Users expect apps to be easy to read and read. High-contrast color schemes are paramount.
• Font size – Larger letters will make the app easier to see from many angles and various light levels.
• Button function – Phone buttons should be used whenever possible to avoid redundancy. App buttons must be intuitive for the user. Use meaningful labels on all app buttons.
• Keyboards – Few apps have a need for use of the full keyboard. Avoid use of keyed input in the app. Users struggle to type words correctly and will cease to use the app.
• Cursors – Leave out cursors in the app.
• Screen resolution – Appearance is important for app users. All screens should appear crisp, clean and understandable.

11. Be a professional – Apple is a premium business with a superior market position. Anyone wishing to be successful in the app approval process will use business etiquette and polite manners. Thousands of apps are submitted each week. All written communication must stand alone and convey the strengths of the app. The developer may not have another attempt to make a first impression. The Golden Rule applies in this situation.

12. Patience is a virtue – Approval in the Apple App Store can require up to four weeks. The patient developer will await the response and follow the instructions provided. An initial rejection is not the end of the road. Developers should make the changes and resubmit the app.

13. Keep the goal in mind – Persistence will result in a better app and publication in the Apple App Store. Work and creativity have been invested in the app. The successful developer will stay in the game until the app is approved. From the outset, the developer must determine how desperately he wants the app approved. The Tepid desire for app approval will not be sufficiently motivating for the process.

Final Word

Any attempt to have an app accepted by the Apple App Store is a real achievement for the developer. Each step of the way will present challenges that can be overcome. Determination will keep the developer focused on the objective. Willingness to comply with the guidelines will save time and effort throughout the process.

Apple deals with thousands of people each day, so they must adhere to standard processes. Careful planning and preparation will present an app in a professional manner. Answers to all questions can be acquired through careful research and requests for assistance from Apple at the appropriate times. Successful quests for app approval are completed through persistence and compliance with the published process.

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