Ever wonder “how the heck is that app in the top XX?” Well it could be the use of download bots. We just read an article on 148Apps about how this is the industry’s dirty little secret.
The most effective way to financial success of an app is to be listed high in the app store ranking chart, especially the top 100 paid or top 100 free. The only way to get there is by download volume. Obviously, to Apple, if an app sells, and they make 30% on sales, they want to push successful apps in front of as many people as they can. So if your download volume increases, so too does your rank and it becomes a virtuous cycle.
Dishonest marketing firms either with or without their client’s knowledge, use farms of hundreds or thousands of PCs with fake Apple ID accounts to download an app and falsely increase its volume.
We at Mirthwerx would never resort to this tactic. But we must admit we do understand the temptation. Catch the Monkey was a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to produce. We are trying to think of any way possible to get up the App charts so more people can see it and enjoy it. The allure of bots is powerful. But like Luke in StarWars, we have to resist the power of the dark side and go forward on our own merit, whatever may result.
This just goes to show with the progression of technology it only increases man’s reach and means, it does nothing to improve his ends.
