Lord works in a mysterious way for sure.

It so happened that I met a purely nice person in the wide expanse of LinkedIn. He seemed to be the founder of a new app review site and he was very kind in answering my questions about his site’s goals, activities and future plans. Chris L’Anson provided invaluable advice to developers on how to improve the visibility of their apps and finally revealed the magical essence of a 5-star iPhone app.

Curious? Keep reading!

Chris l’Anson, Web Developer, Founder of iPhoneapp-reviews.com
Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

CompositeConcept: Hi Chris! Tell us about you?

Chris: I am a full time web developer based in Newcastle and currently have my hands full running iPhoneApp-Reviews

CompoundConcept: What motivated you to establish an app review site?

Chris: I had a web client approach me with an app idea they had to complement the website I had created for them. We had a chat about what he wanted, and since I was into programming and Apple Macs, I thought I’d give it a try, so I developed an app for it.
Once released to the app store, the app had a brief buzz before quickly falling into the abyss. It’s an interesting and unique app, but because it’s not in the top 25 to 50 apps in the app store, unless you’re looking for it, you won’t know it’s there. This is the same problem for most apps, the review site was created to help promote the little ones and make sure they get more exposure which will ultimately get people to download them.

CompoundConcept: How long did it take you to start the site?

Chris: The site took about a month to set up the framework. Being a full time web developer helped with things, now I need to hook up with my fellow designers, see if they’ll give it a ‘re-aligned’ design.

CompoundConcept: What is your vision and expectations for the future of the site?

Chris: I hope to get more reviewers on board so we can get apps on the site faster. I also have a few other ideas in the bag, but can’t say much at the moment, let’s just say this question will continue…

CompoundConcept: How do you plan to promote it?

Chris: The usual SEO tricks, back links, good content, article submissions, and blog comments. The great thing about a review site is that if you’re excited about an app that developers are usually willing to link to your site, both are helpful.

CompoundConcept: What do developers need to get their apps listed on iphoneapp-reviews.com?

Chris: First, the app must be listed in the app store. If it’s listed, all developers need to do is upload it using our Review My App form. You can find all the details on the iPhone App Reviews page.

CompoundConcept: What is the ideal application that you would undoubtedly present as one of the best?

Chris: Varies, but could be an app that, while not perfect (see bullet points below), does something useful that no other app can.

CompoundConcept: What are, in your opinion, the characteristics of a 5-star application and which are the most important?

Chris: First of all, it has to be easy to use. Usability is one of the things developers get wrong so often, it frustrates me. They may have a brilliant and unique idea, but they fail to implement it and you’re left with an app that doesn’t live up to its promise, which is a shame.
Second, it has to look good. This doesn’t mean a design masterpiece, but rather keep things aligned, use clean fonts and complementary colors, stick to the basics, keep things simple.
Last but not least, the app should be unique, something new that hasn’t been covered before. If another developer has released a similar app before, the reviewed version must be better than its competitors to have a chance of receiving a higher rating.

CompoundConcept: Do you write reviews on the apps you feature? How are apps chosen for review?

Chris: Yes, I love writing reviews and giving feedback, be it good, bad, or indifferent. Regarding app selection, we don’t actually choose the apps, they are chosen by people who contact us and ask for a review of their app.
Perhaps in the future, as the site gets busier, we’ll have to be more selective about which apps we review, but we still believe that everyone deserves to have their apps reviewed and published on the site.

ConceptComposite: Any advice you would give to developers who want widespread recognition and publicity?

Chris: I think it’s important to have a website that markets the app and develops and promotes this in parallel with the app. It just needs to be a one page site, with some SEO optimization, but it could certainly help drive more downloads.
Oh, and most important of all, make sure you’re listed in the iPhone Developer Directory!

Now I want to thank Chris again for our substantial discussion and encourage those who read this interview to visit iPhoneApp-Reviews.comSubmit your developer details and be sure to spread the word.

Do you have any questions for Chris? Feel free to contact me or contact him directly at http://www.iphoneapp-reviews.com/contact/