[pavlov]

My experience with an app in the Productivity category is similar to yours.

The Mac App Store is definitely not a miracle channel on its own, it needs to be complemented by other marketing. What that is depends greatly on the app and the team, I guess (which is another way of saying that I suck at marketing). Some apps like Sparrow seem to be doing consistently well on the MAS thanks to a successful launch hype on tech blogs and social networks, but not everyone can do that.

Btw, your app looks really great at least on the typeli.com site. I think the price is a bit steep, though. For me, 15 USD is too much for an impulse purchase when I have no idea whether I'm actually going to use the app.

If you don't want to lower the price, maybe you could do a half-price launch promo? That seems to be a popular thing (but I have no idea how well it actually works).

[luke5dm]

Thanks! From your experience what's the ceiling for impulse purchases? I'm thinking $8.99?

[Terretta]

As owner of > 500 purchased apps on Mac App Store and iOS App Store, and careful observation of buying trends at various price points, I'd say $4.99 is the impulse ceiling.

For iOS apps I am familiar with and use regularly, I have paid as much as $49.99; Mac apps, as much as $299.

This app, to me, in its current incarnation and marketing, looks like $4.99 "launch price" and $9.99 tops once it's finished (it doesn't look finished). There are notably (sorry) better editors for less money.

    Writeroom $9.99
    iA Writer $8.99 (iOS $0.99)
    Byword $9.99 (iOS $2.99)
    OmmWriter Dāna II $4.99

Perspective:

    Pages $19.99

Given the competition and its marketing, I'd recommend undercutting the other guys by as much as 1/2, and discounting your launch pricing further.

// Disclaimer: utterly speculative opinion, YM will V

EDIT: While researching these, I discovered "Marked", and saw it offers GitHub technical markdown preview. I purchased it for $3.99, because I hadn't spent money on coffee today.

[gregd]

I would have to agree with @Terretta. A launch price is probably your best bet while your user base grows, praises and criticisms flow in (along with reviews), a few updates to the program happen and you finally settle on a price that can sustain further development and feed your family.

All of this is moot if $14.99 is indeed your launch price.

[gregd]

I see that you've already lowered the price to $8.99 without enough time to get some second opinions here:

>> Special Launch Week Pricing!!! << Grab it now while it lasts.

So now I have to ask, what of the 10 or so people that purchased the app just yesterday for $14.99?? Are you refunding their money?

[luke5dm]

I think I don't have a way of automatically refunding my customers. The folks who got it have to ask Apple for a refund if they wanna re-purchase at the new lower price.

[gregd]

IMHO $3.99 is the ceiling for an impulse purchase. I would consider going higher if it fulfilled certain criteria for me but by then, it's no longer an "impulse" buy.