Finding a new app in Apple’s App Store is becoming less about browsing the top charts or browsing curated collections from App Store editors. This week, Apple announced a series of discovery features that will customize app recommendations based on users’ interests and behavior, giving developers a new way to get their app discovered.
At Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), the iPhone maker introduced Personalized Collections in the App Store, which will showcase recommendations tailored to the individual. These will also include new “App Notes” that explain why the specific apps were recommended to you. Starting this week, you’ll find these new personalized suggestions in various places in the App Store, including the Apps or Games tab or the Search tab.
The suggestions will also evolve over time based on a user’s app usage and downloads.
The feature will initially be available in English in the US and will expand to other regions and languages ​​over time, Apple says. It complements a number of other new tools designed to help developers better promote their apps to potential customers and encourage users to return to their apps and games.
The update reflects the maturity of the App Store ecosystem, where being featured by Apple’s App Store editors or being made “App of the Week” is no longer enough to drive guaranteed growth. As competition for users’ attention increases, a range of new tools can help re-engage existing customers, promote special offers and bundle services in new ways.
For example, developers will now be able to use rich images and videos in their product header and search results that can highlight their new content or seasonal offers, which can encourage existing users to return to the app to see what’s new. They can also organize all of their various marketing materials into a new Asset Library, where they can save regularly used assets for things like in-app events and special sales or promotions. Developers can also showcase special offers and engage players on the Apple Games app.
Apple will also allow App Bundles for developers who run subscription businesses, allowing them to partner with other developers to offer groups of subscription apps at a lower price than if they were purchased as separate subscriptions.
Under the new system, developers will also be able to sell subscriptions to larger groups and organizations using new capabilities to build multi-user in-app purchasing experiences.
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