App Discoverability and Store Friction: Can Posts Reveal What Helps an iOS App Get Found?

Productify – Habit Tracker has been on the App Store for 7 years, yet a search for 'Productify' lands it in 6th place in Apple Search—the top five are unrelated to the name. This glimpse into discovery on iOS sets the stage for a wider convo about relevance, pricing, and promos ^[1].

Apple Search friction — When branding ownership and search signals diverge, even long‑standing apps can slip. The thread lays out a simple truth: visibility isn’t just about being present, it’s about being discoverable in the right context ^[1].

Viral promos and ASO lift - AI Calorie Protein Tracker racked up 4,727 new users in 24 hours with over 100k post views and topped the weekly list as the #1 post on a key forum; authenticity mattered more than polish ^[2]. - The promo nudged AI Calorie Protein Tracker’s keyword ranking from ~1.4k to ~2.5k, a rapid ASO lift that stuck beyond the spike ^[2]. - A massive surge also triggered a review spike: Apple purged many reviews after the rapid install-to-review burst ^[2]. - The creator credits real, transparent sharing over glossy marketing for sustainable momentum, even if conversions post‑promo remain a challenge ^[2]. - Infrastructure costs followed virality: roughly $600 on OpenAI and $500 on AWS to handle demand ^[2].

Drooid’s pricing gamble - Drooid runs a limited‑time annual free offer using the code “DROOIDGONEFREE” to entice signups; the premium plan sits at $49.99/year ^[3]. - Community chatter highlights potential friction between free access, perceived value, and platform quirks (Android redemption caveats noted) ^[3].

Closing thought: discovery now rides a tightrope of authenticity, pricing bets, and the cost of velocity in the App Store. ^[2][3]

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