App Store Featured
Plan how to earn App Store editorial featuring—Today tab, App of the Day—and align design, Apple tech, and story before pitching Apple.
Overview
App Store Featured is an agent skill for the Launch phase that coaches solo builders on Apple’s editorial featuring process, prioritization factors, and timing to maximize App Store spotlight chances.
Install
npx skills add https://github.com/eronred/aso-skills --skill app-store-featuredWhat is this skill?
- Initial assessment checklist: app-marketing-context.md, App ID, prior featuring, upcoming launches, latest Apple technol
- Editorial priority table covering design quality, Apple tech adoption, unique value, story, and timeliness
- Explicit routing: app-launch for launch strategy, aso-audit for broader ASO optimization
- Frames Apple’s manual curation criteria (SwiftUI, WidgetKit, Live Activities, visionOS, etc.)
- Positions featuring as editorial storytelling—not a substitute for keyword or conversion ASO
- Editorial factor table with five weighted dimensions (design, Apple tech, unique value, story, timeliness)
- Skill metadata version 1.0.0
Adoption & trust: 1.7k installs on skills.sh; 1.5k GitHub stars; 3/3 security scanners passed (skills.sh audits).
What problem does it solve?
You built a strong iOS app but do not know what Apple’s editorial team values or how to prepare a credible featuring pitch around updates and platform tech.
Who is it for?
Independent iOS developers with a live or imminent App Store app who can adopt modern Apple APIs and invest in design and narrative for editorial consideration.
Skip if: Builders who only need keyword rankings, screenshot A/B tests, or Google Play placement—those are broader ASO or other store skills.
When should I use this skill?
User wants App Store featuring, editorial process, App of the Day, Today tab, Apple featuring, or how Apple chooses spotlight apps; mentions get featured or App Store editorial.
What do I get? / Deliverables
You complete a structured featuring assessment and a strategy aligned to Apple’s editorial factors, with clear handoffs to app-launch or aso-audit when launch timing or metadata needs separate work.
- Featuring readiness assessment against Apple editorial factors
- Timed strategy tied to updates, seasons, or narratives
- Pointers to app-launch or aso-audit when those workflows apply
Recommended Skills
Journey fit
Featuring is a Launch-phase distribution outcome on Apple’s storefront, distinct from day-to-day ASO keyword work. ASO subphase under Launch covers App Store optimization and editorial featuring strategy alongside metadata and visibility tactics.
How it compares
Editorial featuring playbook—not the same as running an aso-audit on metadata and conversion; pair both for Launch.
Common Questions / FAQ
Who is app-store-featured for?
Solo mobile founders and small teams targeting Apple App Store editorial placement who already have or are nearing an App Store presence.
When should I use app-store-featured?
During Launch ASO planning when you want App of the Day, Today tab, or editorial featuring—especially ahead of a major update or seasonal moment.
Is app-store-featured safe to install?
It is strategic marketing guidance only; review the Security Audits panel on this Prism page and treat Apple submission and analytics access as you would for any third-party skill.
Workflow Chain
Then invoke: app launch, aso audit
SKILL.md
READMESKILL.md - App Store Featured
# App Store Featured Strategy You are an expert in Apple's App Store editorial process and featuring strategy. Your goal is to help the user maximize their chances of getting featured on the App Store. ## Initial Assessment 1. Check for `app-marketing-context.md` — read it for context 2. Ask for the **App ID** (to assess current state) 3. Ask: **Has the app been featured before?** 4. Ask: **Any upcoming updates or launches?** (timing matters) 5. Ask: **Does the app use latest Apple technologies?** (SwiftUI, WidgetKit, etc.) ## Understanding Apple's Editorial Process ### What Apple Looks For Apple's editorial team manually curates featured content. They prioritize: | Factor | Weight | Details | |--------|--------|---------| | **Design quality** | Very High | Clean, intuitive, Apple-like design language | | **Apple tech adoption** | Very High | SwiftUI, WidgetKit, Live Activities, visionOS | | **Unique value** | High | Does something no other app does | | **Story** | High | Compelling founder/developer story | | **Timeliness** | High | Relevant to current events, seasons, Apple launches | | **Rating** | Medium | 4.5+ stars strongly preferred | | **Stability** | Medium | No crashes, good performance | | **Accessibility** | Medium | VoiceOver, Dynamic Type, color contrast | | **Privacy** | Medium | App Tracking Transparency, minimal data collection | ### Types of Featuring | Placement | Visibility | How to Get It | |-----------|-----------|---------------| | **App of the Day** | Highest — Today tab hero | Exceptional design + story + timing | | **Game of the Day** | Highest — Today tab hero | Outstanding gameplay + Apple tech | | **Today Tab Story** | Very High — Editorial article | Unique angle, compelling narrative | | **Apps We Love** | High — Curated collection | Quality + category relevance | | **Category Feature** | Medium — Category page banner | Strong in specific category | | **Search Feature** | Medium — Search result highlight | Relevance + quality | | **In-App Events** | Medium — Today tab + search | Active events with good content | ## Featuring Optimization Checklist ### Design Excellence - [ ] Follows Apple Human Interface Guidelines - [ ] Clean, modern UI (no cluttered screens) - [ ] Consistent design language throughout - [ ] Beautiful app icon (simple, distinctive) - [ ] High-quality screenshots (all 10 slots) - [ ] App preview video (if applicable) - [ ] Dark mode support - [ ] iPad optimization (if applicable) ### Apple Technology Adoption - [ ] **SwiftUI** — Apple strongly favors SwiftUI apps - [ ] **WidgetKit** — Home screen and Lock Screen widgets - [ ] **Live Activities** — Dynamic Island and Lock Screen - [ ] **App Intents / Shortcuts** — Siri integration - [ ] **SharePlay** — If social/collaborative features exist - [ ] **StoreKit 2** — Modern subscription management - [ ] **App Clips** — If applicable - [ ] **visionOS** — Apple Vision Pro support (highest priority in 2025-2026) - [ ] **Apple Intelligence** — AI features using Apple's frameworks ### Quality Signals - [ ] Rating 4.5+ stars - [ ] Regular updates (at least monthly) - [ ] No critical bugs or crashes - [ ] Fast launch time (< 2 seconds) - [ ] Accessibility support (VoiceOver, Dynamic Type) - [ ] Privacy nutrition labels accurate - [ ] App Tracking Transparency implemented properly ### Content & Story - [ ] Compelling "What's New" for each update - [ ] In-App Events created for major features/content - [ ] Custom Product Pages for different audiences - [ ] Developer story ready (why you built this, your journey) ## How to Pitch Apple