How to Pitch Your App
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Is your app idea going to be a business? Even if you’re planning a not-for-profit figuring out how to get buy-in will be critical for success.
Use this pitch sheet to get started.
To use the sheet, print out a dozen copies, arm yourself with a nice ink pen and some light coloured markers then begin sketching out your ideas.
The goal is to quickly build several pitches. A pitch is an idea that you explain to others. The job of an app pitch is to show what your app idea will do once it’s in the App Store or Google Play store to appeal to folks and get downloads.
Using the sheet you can build up different takes on the same App idea, and see which ones your peers and target customers react best to.
#1 Tip to Get the Best Value from your Pitch
Don’t worry about hi-res artwork!
In the early ideation stages avoid locking yourself into designs by investing in artwork.
Practising this type of sketching is critical even if you’re not artistic.
You’re communicating ideas, not coming up with an artwork — pretend its Pictionary! Keep it loose to start off with.
What goes into an App Design?
Here’s an infographic for each section of the pitch sheet.
Your Icon
Remember your icon is used in the App Store or Google Play store listing, in a large format, typically 512x512 which on retina screens is 1024x1024.
On the home screen its much smaller (depending on the phone).
In the pitch you’ll need to decide how the icon will work to convert folks deciding to download.
Hash out a couple of ideas on post-its or just scribble something in the icon box on the pitch sheet. This is a great way to start focussing your value proposition.
Your App’s Name
Use the boxes at the top to define your app name. Fewer letters is better as long names are often clipped on the home screen of phones.
Will you have a space in the name? That makes the app name behave differently — check your phone for examples.
Above the fold App Store Description
You can use longer titles and sub-titles in your App Store listing.
In the stores your description can run to around 2000 words but only a few hundred words appear “above the fold” so try to absolutely nail those so your customers will download it.
At the bottom sketch out the main screens of your app, just giving an idea of how folks will use it and also how they’ll see it when its listed in the App Store or Google Play store.
Show Me An Example!
Here’s one I prepared earlier. Remember you’ll want to create several takes on the same app. This work is important to do up-front: its not marketing that you want to leave until the end.
There’s lots of information out there for App Store optimisation but for now the pitch sheet will help you hone your ideas into a quick single-page offering that you can share with potential collaborators, family or folks you’d like to work with.
Let me know what you come up with!
