Promoting Facebook Apps

Ok, I got my first App up and running Now I've got to get some people to try it out. Does anybody have any tips on how to get the ball rolling?

 

I am also interested in this... I am thinking of buying a facebook app. but am concerned with how to promote it, and how much revenue these actually make.

 

Anybody ?

 

Hi guys, it seems we are 3 interested in this idea. I don't know for sure but it's probably the same idea as it is for other social networks:
- have a lot of friends
- create a useful application, give something valuable
- get involve in groups, post valuable comments
- do this as often you can

Maybe someone on the forum has experience with facebook and can give us some hints.

 

With a background in Flash development, would like to create something to put up. But just not sure what to do yet.... and not sure how $$ is generated.

 

Well this sounds like good logical advice. It would be good if somebody with experience could confirm whether this is the route to take? Or is it better to spend money on advertising until there are enough people with it that it may spread organically?

Facebook allows you put your own ads within the app, some people have google adsense in it, others facebook specific networks like "appsaholic". Then ofcourse you can also use the app to promote your non-facebook sites (which is what I want to do )

Hope this helps!

 

Ok I just tried advertising my app using appsaholic.

Here's how it went:

Money spent = $10
Clicks = 100 ($0.10 CPC)
Adds = 24

That doesn't seem that great to me, someone has told me I would be better off advertising with facebook so I may see how that goes. Other networks I have found that may be worth a look are:

adblade.com
&
Appvert.com

I hope this post helps somebody

 

If it's fun - do a press release.

Get some friends to try it out.

Put viral aspects (and reward people for sharing it).

 

Yeah, it's just like a website really, but you need to get your friends to use it, so it spreads with a similar effect to sending a myspace bulletin. Unfortunately, as facebook users will know, the invite friends feature isn't effective due to apps automatically spamming, so the best way to get it to spread is to make users want to tell their friends specifically - get that viral aspect, and placing a box in a users profile is always effective.
If you have a website, complement the website and the app by cross linking the two, or integrate the app into the website (rss feed, for example)

 

Yeh good points. Getting the viral aspect in shape is important.

 

Unless it's something very big I'm not sure a press release will help (I've never gotten anything back from doing press releases tbh, unless I'm just using the wrong company). It seems that rewards for people sharing can be very powerful though, a lot of the top apps have it implemented nicely.

Yeah I can see what you mean about invite spam!! I'll be sure to spend some extra time making the profile box seem extra exciting Thx for your input!