How my very first iPhone app (version 1.0.0) got featured in the App Store

[preichen]

We submitted our very first iPhone app (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/localuncle/id473554413?mt=8) about 3 weeks ago to the App Store and about 2 days ago we were featured in the App Store. It's called "LocalUncle" and it gives you the ability to know what's happening anywhere in the world by sending questions to people who are checked-in on Foursqure. Think Quora meets Foursquare meets Magic.<p>Here's the proof: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=197084127038309&set=a.131140903632632.33967.124227507657305&type=1&theater<p>Or just go to the App Store to the "Featured" and "New" section and you'll find us.<p>How did we do that? Well, we just built a great app! Literally the only thing we did was build an app, submit it and we got featured! We haven't had ANY press whatsoever cause we wanted to softlaunch our app and prevent a #faillaunch like color.com. Little did we know that version 1.0.0 of our app would already be featured on the App Store!<p>We're seeing an amazing amount of downloads and couldn't be happier.<p>So our advice is: Focus on building a truly useful and nice-looking service. The rest will take care of itself! Good products always surface to the top and rise above the crowd.<p>If you have any further question, shoot me an email to [e-mail].

[ricardobeat]

Great idea! Do you need the app to answer questions, or are they sent via Foursquare's messaging system?

[preichen]

You do need the app. Do you think it would be possible to build it via 4sq messaging system? We were looking into different options, but came to the conclusion that this was the only way to build it.

[ricardobeat]

I thought it was possible, but just saw they don't allow comments on strangers' check-ins. Could use people's twitter/facebook profiles, get sign-ups as a bonus :)

[preichen]

true!

[coryl]

Congrats, how many downloads are you doing daily?

[preichen]

Thanks! Well, we've only been featured for about 72h now. We're seeing that download rates are doubling daily. And on the first day we got over 1k downloads. You can do the math. People I talked to say that we can expect anywhere from 50k-100k downloads. Let's hope for the best!

[taphangum]

I'd like to know this too. If you guys don't mind sharing of course. Also would you consider doing a report of your progress after the first month?

[preichen]

Thanks! Well, we've only been featured for about 72h now. We're seeing that download rates are doubling daily. And on the first day we got over 1k downloads. You can do the math. People I talked to say that we can expect anywhere from 50k-100k downloads. Let's hope for the best!

I'll definitely put up something on our blog blog.localuncle.com. Just follow us on twitter @localuncle to stay in the loop. Exciting times coming up!

[nhangen]

I hate to nitpick, but this should be labeled as a Show HN instead of a 'how we did it' type of post.

[preichen]

You're right. I guess that our excitement took over and I kinda forgot the HN etiquette for a moment.

[nhangen]

It's cool, I remember chatting with you during Startup Weekend on Justin.tv (I think). Good product - congrats on the success!

[preichen]

Thanks!!!

[revorad]

Congrats! Can you make it available on the UK store please? I hate the app store for this - half the apps I see are only in the US store.

[preichen]

We're working on it. Main reason to launch US only was not to pull off a color.com type of #faillaunch. But expect LocalUncle to be available worldwide sooner than you think! Follow us at @localuncle on T to stay in the loop.

[jvdmeij]

Congrats. Cool to read!

Could you explain the difference between this and LocalMind?

[preichen]

Yup. - We give you the ability to ask about areas. LocalMind doesn't - We route your questions with some heavy tech in the background to the most adequate users on the system, in real-time. LocalMind doesn't have this intelligence in the background which means that at the end of the day, the experience on our system is way more relevant and simply better than on LocalMind.

Here's more info on what we do exactly http://blog.localuncle.com/2011/11/04/know-the-world-in-real...