How to Record App Previews for Both Iphone and Ipad Uploading App Preview
App Previews (video on the iOS App Store): thoughts and tips
App promo video on the App Store.
It'southward hither.
It'south awesome for App Developers.
1 can't assistance but wonder why it's only coming now when the Google Play Store and the Amazon App Store have added it a long fourth dimension ago. But information technology doesn't really matter: it is now fixed and completes the App Shop Optimization puzzle.
After producing more than 1000 promo videos and game trailers since we started Apptamin, we do take some thoughts about the App Previews that were introduced. And a few tips too.
posteVideo on the App Store: a great tool for app developers
If a picture is worth a thousand words…Video is the best thing next to actually trying your app…Show what's magic and unique about your app in seconds… We've been talking for a while nigh the awesomeness of video, so I won't go too much into it here.
The basic idea is that video lets yous become across the screenshots to show what your app or game is all nigh: showing the UI, the gameplay. Then you tin can get your point beyond. With an App Preview on the App Store, potential customers volition now be able to quickly appraise an app earlier downloading information technology.
Right from the app details page. Which will atomic number 82 to more educated, engaged users and therefore a ameliorate retention.
The basics: what an App Preview looks like and Apple advices
App Previews are quite different from Promo videos for Android apps, which are YouTube videos.
I'1000 non going to echo everything that was said in the "Creating Great App Previews" session at WWDC14, so make sure you scout it. You might not have an hour to do it correct now, so here are the timings where you tin can watch the App Preview examples (that volition already teach you a lot):
- Around 3:15 – Monument Valley (iPhone)
- Around xiv:15 – Toca Boca (iPad)
- Around 18:50 – UpTo (iPhone)
- Effectually 26:05 – Leo'southward Fortune (iPhone – landscape)
- Effectually 49:10 – Sky Guide (iPhone – landscape)
Here is what you need to know about the App Preview format (again, spotter the video when you lot get a chance and here is a link to the current app preview documentation and the total technical specifications – search for App Previews on the page):
- Device specific (different app previews needed for iPhone and iPad apps)
- Upward to thirty seconds
- Composed primarily of device-captured footage
- Shouldn't look like an ad
- Ane localization (i.e only one linguistic communication for one iTunes entry)
- Resolutions:
Pretty specific. So much that information technology comes with several limitations (more on that below). Still, you can do some pretty cool stuff to show what's magic about your app and Apple gives you lot a few advices:
- Define the goal of your app preview beforehand
- Write an outline or a storyboard and think nearly the timing. The bullet points in your description can be a good starting betoken, as are the texts yous placed on your screenshots
- Populate your app with information: make sure your App Preview captures show interesting and relevant data (and authorized), so your app doesn't look empty. Cull the best levels for your game.
- Disclose all in-app purchases: add text to show what costs money if that's the case
How do you create your app preview?
Well, that seems to still be upwardly to you. Simply Apple decided to at least brand it easy for developers by adding a fashion, with iOS viii and Os X Yosemite, to capture real-fourth dimension footage direct off your device.
- You connect your device to your Mac using the Lightning connector and capture with QuickTime Player.
- You edit your screen captures with the tool of your selection (not surprisingly, they recommend iMovie or Terminal Cutting Pro X)
- Once you're washed, y'all submit via iTunes Connect like all the other elements of your app details page
Much much easier than it used to be!
Limitations of the App Previews
With new features unremarkably come critics.
Apple tree introduced a lot of things at WWDC14 and many of them look bully. Merely they often also come with limitations. And room for improvement.
Granted, we're biased.
Just here are our thoughts after more than than 2 years producing promo videos for apps.
A screen capture tin can be limiting
The app preview for UpTo shown at the WWDC14 session was a one-take screen capture. In my opinion information technology was actually hard to empathise what was going on.
It was interesting considering they populated their app with data, as they should, but when I wasn't sure what I was supposed to have away or even to await at.
There'due south no arrow/circle, so information technology's hard to follow what'southward going on in the screen when you don't know where the touches are made. 1 could easily argue that their official video (the one on their website) gives a better indication of the app benefits than the app preview.
For a utility app, showing the magic and unique part in an app preview might non be that like shooting fish in a barrel.
To stand out of the crowd and make certain app store users get what their app is all about, developers will want to become a footstep further than a one-take screen capture.
Luckily the guidelines don't say "composed only of device-captured footage", which means there are a couple of elements that could requite life and meaning to your App Preview:
- Texts
- Voice over
- Highlights, so the heart focuses on a specific function of the screen (we'll meet if this is allowed – update Dec14: this seems OK)
- Logo animation (the Monument Valley and Leo'south Fortune examples given seem to accept a logo animation at the end, although this could also exist a screen capture)
- Bear upon indicator, to know where and when the taps occur (generally for utility apps)
An App Preview is non enough to promote your app
Sometimes screen captures are not enough.
Videos using screen captures, even with motion pattern and animations, is non ever enough to bear witness conspicuously some interactions with the app.
It's hard for an App Preview to beat a beautiful promo video or an exciting game trailer.
For some apps it tin brand more sense to show an interaction betwixt 2 or more users and so potential customers can understand both sides: in a buyer/seller scenario for case.
Some apps require an interaction with the user'due south environment: taking a photo, interacting with a TV or some other device (a speaker, a thermostat, a printer, etc.).
Some apps require specific gestures: handwriting apps, gesture-based apps (like Clear), games using the accelerometer. Take Blek for example. Information technology's hard to show the magic of their game without showing real-life interactions. Information technology seems incommunicable for an app preview to compete with a trailer like the one they did (even though it'south fairly elementary):
Even in their app details page screenshots they felt similar they should picture a hand to explain the game.
Don't become me wrong: an App Preview, even with its limitation, is in most cases better than no App Preview (unless it sucks).
Developers need to get creative so that their App Preview converts every bit much as possible, and in virtually cases should strongly consider producing a promo video for their app also.
App Previews are for iOS only, your app might not exist
With this limited format, Apple pushes developers to create a brusk video but for the App Store.
It's no surprise that they've defined their own rules. They're right to do information technology, actually, if they don't desire the video thing to go out of control and pain developers' sales (and Apple tree'southward bottom line).
But your app is also probably available (or will be) on Android. Maybe information technology'south on a bunch of different platforms/stores: Google Play, Amazon, Windows Phone, etc. If that's the case, you tin't use but the limited App Preview video for your app promotion.
- You tin't use your App Preview on the Google Play Store (or other stores): it's way besides iOS-specific. Also, if your App Preview is made in portrait manner that means that on YouTube you lot'll have two big blackness borders on each side of it (YouTube videos are in landscape 16:9 fashion).
- If you want to promote your app on YouTube, or using Facebook video ads, you lot should do it with a video that really shows your app in its best calorie-free and with a articulate phone call to action at the terminate (you're not supposed to put badges or website addresses at the terminate of your App Preview).
- If you take a website or landing page for your app (and you should), you lot should have a more general video that shows what'southward unique virtually it, on which devices it works and on which stores potential customers can download information technology.
An App Preview is device specific
App Previews are also device specific.
And so you lot tin can't really prove in one video that your app is available for iPhone and iPad, and cool stuff like synchronisation between the 2 devices.
One of the neat things near iOS 8 and Bone X Yosemite seems to be the concept of continuity. Information technology therefore seems limiting to create one video for each device, when the trend seems to be that an app can be used across multiple devices (including a Mac sometimes).
Let say y'all reach out to bloggers and journalists, how many videos can yous really expect them to watch? An app preview for your iPhone app, one for your iPad app, and a promo video for Android? And then yous tell them "oh and there'southward also a Mac app".
Information technology appears more than efficient to me to also have a more general promotional video that helps understand the large picture.
"Technical" limitations
You take to pick either portrait or mural for your app preview
That can make it hard to showcase your app: your app can be used mainly in portrait mode, yet some features might wait better in mural mode (let's say a finance app that shows a graph when in landscape style similar Investing).
Not anybody has a Mac. Or one of the latest iOS devices for that matter.
Aye, if you're the 1 developing the app you must have 1 but in a team (or in a company) that's not always the case. Often, the person in accuse of marketing and promoting the app is non the ane who codes. Sometimes information technology's not fifty-fifty the same company!
Our tips on App Previews
For updated the latest best practices on videos for the App Store, check out this post.
Plenty about our thoughts on the limitations of the App Preview format. Developers have a new absurd way of showing what's unique about their app and they should make the nearly out of it.
Just like submitting the best screenshots to Apple for your app details page, having a killer icon, y'all want your App Preview to be the best possible.
App Previews are now part of App Shop Optimization
You upload them with your binary, they are reviewed past Apple'southward staff, and they terminate upwardly on your app details page.
If we consider App Store Optimization in its broader sense (including description, icon, ratings, and of form screenshots), then we can at present include App Previews in the ASO elements that affect downloads of your app on the App Store.
Also, what practice you think curious iOS 8 users volition start doing? Press that play button!
Follow Apple's guidelines (and advices)
You want to brand sure that you lot follow Apple tree'due south guidelines and recommandations.
If they say your app preview should be composed primarily of device-captured footage, yous have to respect that.
When they say that it shouldn't await like an ad, you have to exist conscientious about that likewise. That one is a chip more than tricky, every bit your goal is to convert viewers to customers yous need to become your point across and convince them.
Equally Apple approves or rejects app previews, everyone will get a better sense of the boundaries and best practices will emerge. The practiced news is you lot get feedback from Apple's staff so you can try and experiment (Update Dec 14: it does have 24h each time though!).
Detect and experiment
Don't just accept a one-accept screen capture for your app preview, even though Apple tree says it's OK to do it.
Have a await at as many app previews as you can (starting past the ones presented at the WWDC14 session – update Dec14: and some of the app store promo videos we've produced) and call up well-nigh creative means to present your app within the guidelines.
You don't have to finish at but one version neither, particularly since it's still difficult to know what will be approved and more than of import what volition work best for your app or game.
The aforementioned mode you tin can test different screenshots over time, yous can test different app previews (i after the other). Hither are a few unlike things you can experiment on (heads up: you'll only be able to change your App Preview when doing an app update, so you're express there):
- Features/Benefits: some features and benefits might be amend shown with video, and then focus on those. Like Apple tree said, focus on the "magic moment" of your app. Don't attempt to show everything (you tin't in 30s) and consider creating culling versions displaying different important aspects of your app.
- Length: hard to know correct now if a 15s app preview volition work better than a 30s app preview, even though Apple advices to make the most out of those 30s. Try and figure out what works all-time to showcase your app or game.
- Voice over: depending on the vocalism over script you cull, the app preview might sound too salesy and the video non approved past Apple tree. But maybe it volition besides have the right tone to convince the people you target, so requite it a effort.
- Text: you tin add text to your app previews, which tin can be really helpful to help viewers understand what's going on on the screen. Just like you practise with your screenshots, you can try and change the text to encounter what works all-time. Text can either be displayed equally an "interstitial text" (on its ain screen) or over the UI (makes information technology harder). Either mode, make sure it is Brusque.
- Music: music plays an important part in a video, as it definitely affects the tone. You need to find the right 1 for your app preview.
- Poster frames: this is how Apple calls the video thumbnail. Merely like on YouTube of Facebook, you desire to pick the best i possible: the one that will take more company playing the video. So far this poster frame needs to be a frame of the video, so that might affect the app preview production itself: you desire to programme beforehand for which image y'all'll utilise.
We reached out to 2 of our contempo clients and played a chip with the new format.
Here are ii versions we created for the Draft Kings app preview (one with voice over, 1 without) besides equally two versions for the RetailMeNot app preview (same thing: i with voice over, one without). Please keep in mind that those app previews haven't been submitted to Apple yet (-> we got some feedback since though, run across update beneath). The format is new, and we're experimenting.
A few thoughts on these videos:
- It'southward possible that the offset i sounds too much like an advertisement because of the phonation over.
- We've added a nub/circle and so that viewers know where the taps are. Update Dec 14: this is what Apple calls "affect hotspots", and it is OK to use them when needed.
- The texts appear from the bottom or pinnacle, in a fashion that should go far clear it's non role of the app.
- We're not sure how much Apple tree will corroborate of the call to action on the last frame. Specially on the vox over version, where nosotros kept the "free" part (in the WWDC14 session, they advised non to give toll indications).
A few thoughts on these videos:
- Once more, it's possible that the outset 1 sounds as well much similar an advertisement because of the vocalization over.
- We oasis't added a nub/circle so that viewers know where the taps are. It makes it more than disruptive.
- The texts appear in-between captured footage, so information technology's clear it's not part of the app. This should be allowed.
- Knowing that users may not get the same deal than the one showed at 0:11, we added a "deals offered may vary" text to let viewers know. Question is: is that likewise subtle? Does the text display long plenty?
- The app icon and name of the app displayed at the beginning and cease of the video might not be that useful: viewers are seeing this from the App Shop, and so they should know which app they're looking at. In the examples Apple showed though, the logo was shown at to the lowest degree intro or outro.
UPDATE July 3rd: We received some feedback from Apple on the App Previews produced, and the central points were:
- Information technology'south great to see App Previews come to life
- It is OK to have text interstitials, but there shouldn't exist too many and only when necessary. The ones before the notifications in the RetailMeNot example were judged not necessary. It is better to use that time in the video to evidence off more of the app'south content/UI.
- Information technology is useless to show the app icon/logo at the beginning and the end: viewers will be on the app details page already and will see the icon and app name there. Logo tin can be useful if the visitor backside the name has a different name (that said, most of the examples given at WWDC at a logo/icon at the stop so it is OK at that place).
- Text over the captured footage like in Draft Kings is OK (and required if content simply available through in-app purchases) but information technology should exist clear that the text is not part of the UI. Our contact thinks (and we see her point) that on the DraftKings instance it is not articulate enough (probably isn't in the new version neither).
- It's not sure yet if showing a nub/circumvolve to testify the taps to reduce confusion for the viewer will exist immune. Information technology is suggested to file a asking through Bug Reporter explaining why this is used.
- The phonation over as well on the verge of feeling sales-y should exist OK because the quality of the audio is skillful. But they similar it better when the VO is used for character narration and tells a story like it does on the Leo'south Fortune example
Nosotros took the feedback and edited the 2 App Previews:
See how the video thumbnails ("poster frames" on iTunes connect) on those examples are unlike? That's something you'll have to call up about.
We'll permit yous know when we have more information on what is allowed and what isn't every bit we become feedback from clients and Apple.
Update Dec 14: if y'all desire to check out RetailMeNot's latest App Preview, head over to the App Store or sentry the one below.
Desire united states to accept a await at your app and put together a proposal (including a complimentary script) for your App Preview? Contact us here.
To sum upwards:
- App previews are pretty absurd and you lot should take reward of this new format to get more downloads
- The format introduced past Apple has some limitations, and an app preview is non the video you should use for all your app promotion needs (website, YouTube, ads, etc.)
- We nevertheless don't know exactly what is OK and what is not. Fourth dimension volition tell, and we hope that there will be some flexibility so developers tin become the about out of it (and users don't lookout boring screen captures).
Check out examples of App Shop videos we produced.
Thoughts anyone? Feel free to too link to your app previews and permit usa know the reasons behind the choices y'all've made.
- About
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Marine Nozerand
How-do-you-do at that place, I'm Marine (she/her), I'thousand a Content Managing director at Apptamin. Apptamin is a artistic agency specialized in app videos (video ads, app store videos, etc.).
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Source: https://www.apptamin.com/blog/app-previews/
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