# app-store-featured

A skill that walks through Apple's editorial process and helps you build a featuring pitch: what Apple looks for, when to send it, how to structure it.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 3300 installs · ★ 2222
- Author: appeeky
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/appeeky/aso-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/app-store-featured/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-06
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/app-store-featured

## What it does

The skill kicks in when the conversation turns to App Store featuring, the Today tab, App of the Day or Apple's editorial picks. It first checks for `app-marketing-context.md`, then asks for the App ID, any past featuring, upcoming updates and whether the app uses recent Apple tech such as SwiftUI or WidgetKit.

From there it scores the app against the factors Apple weighs: design quality and Human Interface Guidelines, Apple technology adoption, original value, the developer story, timing, rating, stability, accessibility and privacy. It also maps the placement types, from the Today tab hero down to a category banner, and covers In-App Events as a self-serve route onto the storefront.

You get a readiness score out of 100 broken down by design, Apple tech, quality signals, content and rating, plus an action plan. A pitch template is included, along with timing guidance: send it 2-4 weeks before a major update or around Apple events. Pitching right after a buggy release, or with a rating under 4.0, works against you. Fix the quality gaps first.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill app-store-featured -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/app-store-featured/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/app-store-featured/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill app-store-featured -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/app-store-featured/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill app-store-featured -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/app-store-featured/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install appeeky/aso-skills app-store-featured
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/app-store-featured/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill app-store-featured -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/appeeky/aso-skills --path skills/app-store-featured
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/app-store-featured/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill app-store-featured -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/appeeky/aso-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/app-store-featured/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- score an app's readiness for App Store featuring
- draft a pitch to the App Store editorial team
- pick the right moment to submit around updates and Apple events
- plan In-App Events as a route onto the Today tab
- spot design and quality gaps before pitching

## Example prompts
- check whether my app is ready to get featured on the App Store
- help me write a pitch to the App Store editorial team
- what In-App Events should I run to land on the Today tab

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 61fe94cb6589ab6b.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 61fe94cb6589ab6b
```text
---
name: app-store-featured
description: When the user wants to get featured on the App Store or understand the editorial process. Also use when the user mentions "get featured", "App Store editorial", "App of the Day", "Today tab", "Apple featuring", or "how to get Apple to feature my app". For launch strategy, see app-launch. For ASO optimization, see aso-audit.
metadata:
  version: 1.0.0
---

# 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)
```
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 61fe94cb6589ab6b

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the 61fe94cb6589ab6b tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

First 2656 of 7714 bytes. © appeeky · MIT · https://github.com/appeeky/aso-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/app-store-featured/SKILL.md

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---
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