20K downloads is great. I've got a few iOS apps probably 1k downloads in total, though they are paid apps. After apple takes its cut I've made ~$1200 over a year.
I agree with you on the marketing part! Dev seems easy compared to marketing!
Wow, sounds like you have a lot on your plate. Do you have a regular day job too or do you work for actual startups? I'm in Melbourne, Australia and also have a regular day job. So all this is on the side for me. Sounds like you are in Silicon Valley and right in the thick of it!
In regards to data. I'm not really looking for anything in particular. More wondering how many HN people have finished products. And then hear their stories.
You are correct, it is the 2nd one. It emails reviews that other people have written about your app.
It is targeted at iOS app developers who want to know what their users are saying their app (or even their competitors app). It removes the need for the developer to manually check the App Stores each day to see if customers have left feedback (as a bonus it also translates reviews into English).
Thanks for the tip about the sign up button above the fold.
I though I would answer your 1,2,3 points as it might generate some more ideas about how to go about achieving conversions.
1) I thought it was simple (but I may be too close to the project). We scrape the apple website in all countries for reviews to apps that you have entered in the site(they don't have to be your own). Then we translate the non english ones and email them to you if you have any new ones that day.
It's really great to help you track what your users are saying about your app. Or what users are saying about your competitions apps.
Hehe, I'll not be offended by the clipart comment as I made the image myself and I am an engineer! Could you give me a hint about how to make it look less spammy? The app relies on your email address to send you reviews.
This was a "scratch your own itch" project. I find it really useful as a developer to know what my users are saying. But each to their own.
Yeah I like storing my ideas on my phone too. I'm hardly ever near a computer when a lightbulb turns on! I use noted! http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/noted!/id504164257?ls=1&m...
Follows the same keep it simple stuff but with better tracking than the iphone notes app.