App Store launch plan
A 10-week runway from TestFlight beta to App Store launch day, Sep–Oct 2026 (flexible based on testing). Every milestone mapped, every asset accounted for.
Phase 1
Pre-launch — May through June
The quiet build period. Ship early, test often, refine the store presence before the public ever sees it.
TestFlight beta
Invite 50-100 testers across plant-care boomers and millennials. Collect crash logs, usability feedback, and feature requests. Two beta cycles minimum before submission.
Screenshot optimization
Design all five required 6.7" iPhone screenshots showing core flows: plant dashboard, watering schedule, reminder notification, plant detail, and seasonal guide. Localize captions for English first.
ASO keyword research
Validate target keywords against App Store search volume. Build the 100-character keyword field, subtitle, and description around validated terms before submission day.
Phase 2
Launch window — Sep–Oct 2026
Coordinated push across the App Store, press, and social channels. The goal is a concentrated burst of downloads in the first 72 hours to trigger App Store algorithmic visibility.
App Store submission
Submit when Tim gives final sign-off after beta testing. Set the release date to manual hold so launch timing stays in our control. Have a rejection contingency plan with a 48-hour fix window.
Press outreach
Seed review copies to plant-care bloggers, indie app reviewers, and Apple ecosystem press. Provide a press kit with screenshots, app icon, founder bios, and a one-page story pitch.
Social campaign
Launch-day posts across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. Countdown content the week prior. Behind-the-scenes dev story as the anchor narrative. See the community strategy for cadence.
Discovery
ASO strategy
App Store Optimization is the long game. These keywords represent the initial target set — refined monthly based on impression and conversion data from App Store Connect.
Target keywords
Primary keywords target high-intent searches from users already looking for a solution. Secondary long-tail terms ("indoor plant schedule", "succulent watering tracker") fill the remaining keyword field characters.
Assets
App Store assets checklist
6.7" iPhone screenshots (5 required)
1290 x 2796 px. Show the five core screens: dashboard, schedule, notification, plant detail, seasonal guide.
App preview video
15-30 second screen recording showing the watering flow end-to-end. Strongly recommended for conversion but not blocking launch.
Keyword field
100 characters max. Comma-separated, no spaces after commas. Built from validated ASO research above.
Description
4,000 characters max. First three lines visible without "more" tap — front-load the value prop and target keywords naturally.