Last summer, Bria Sullivan was excited to launch her new app, Focus Friend. The app was designed to help users manage their screen time. She had a big dream: 100,000 downloads. Partnering with Hank Green, a creator with a large following, she thought it was possible to make Focus Friend a top contender in the productivity category. But competing with giants like Google and ChatGPT felt daunting.
Initially, she quietly released the app on the iOS App Store. However, in August, thanks to promotion from Green and media coverage, the app took off. It climbed to the top ten, then hit number four overall. Sullivan was stunned. “I never thought we would reach that high,” she said.
On August 18, Focus Friend reached number two on the charts. Sullivan couldn’t sleep that night, constantly refreshing her screen. The next morning, it hit number one, becoming the most popular free app in the U.S. for just one day. Although it quickly dropped back down, Sullivan proudly claims the title of “#1 in the App Store.” This achievement has become part of her identity as a developer.
Hitting number one, even for a day, is significant in the app world. According to Apple, over 850 million people use the App Store weekly. Getting to the top can change everything for developers. As Sullivan points out, “You get texts from friends, congratulations from developers, and interest from potential partners.”
In the same vein, the OpenAI Sora app made waves when it launched. It topped the charts for 20 days, showing how quickly an app can rise and fall in popularity. It’s crucial to note that only 568 apps have reached number one since 2012, which is a tiny fraction of all available apps.
Surprisingly, many apps only stay at the top for a day. Around 292 apps lasted three days or less at the top spot. These fleeting successes can provide a quick boost but often don’t translate to long-term user engagement. Ben Moore from BeReal likens it to going viral: “You can attract a lot of attention, but many come and go.”
Behind the scenes, developers have discovered tricks to gain the spotlight. For instance, Cesar Kuriyama’s app, 1 Second Everyday, gained traction unexpectedly when users began sharing their year-end video compilations, leading to viral growth.
Despite the rush of success, developers face significant pressures. A spike in downloads can overwhelm their systems, requiring extra resources. Additionally, achieving top status often attracts imitators hoping to ride the wave of success.
Ultimately, while reaching number one on the App Store can be exhilarating, it’s important for developers to focus on building lasting products, not just chasing trends. Sullivan’s brief moment of glory serves as a reminder: in the fast-paced app world, a single day at the top can change your journey, even if the climb always begins again.
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