app-store-opportunity-research

## Prerequisites

- **Browser tools** for App Store browsing and research
- **Web search** for Reddit, Google Trends, and indie revenue research
- No API keys required — all research is done through browser and web search

## Pipeline Overview

```
1. Define Category & Goals
2. App Store Charts Research
3. Community & Demand Research
4. Competitor Deep-Dive
5. Revenue Deep-Dive
6. Gap Analysis
7. Score & Rank
8. Top 3 Report
9. Quick Validation (optional)
10. MVP PRD
```

---

## Step 1: Define the Category & Goals

Ask the user what space they want to explore. Help them narrow down:

- **Too broad:** "Health apps" (thousands of competitors)
- **Good:** "Sleep + anxiety apps for consumers" (specific intersection)
- **Good:** "Habit tracking for fitness beginners" (audience + niche)
- **Good:** "AI-powered journaling apps" (tech angle + category)

**Key questions to ask:**

1. What category or problem space interests you?
2. Consumer or B2B? (Consumer is easier to validate quickly)
3. Any budget constraints? (No-AI = cheaper to build, AI = higher ceiling)
4. Target revenue? ($1K/mo side project vs $10K/mo business vs $50K+/mo full-time replacement)
5. What's your timeline? (2-4 week MVP vs 2-3 month polished launch)
6. Do you have domain expertise or personal pain in this area? (Strongest apps come from scratching your own itch)

---

## Step 2: App Store Charts Research

Browse the iOS App Store charts to map the competitive landscape.

### Chart URLs

Navigate to: `https://apps.apple.com/us/charts/iphone/{category-slug}/{category-id}`

**Apps:**

| Category           | Path                             |
| ------------------ | -------------------------------- |
| Books              | `/books-apps/6018`               |
| Business           | `/business-apps/6000`            |
| Education          | `/education-apps/6017`           |
| Entertainment      | `/entertainment-apps/6016`       |
| Finance            | `/finance-apps/6015`             |
| Food & Drink       | `/food-drink-apps/6023`          |
| Graphics & Design  | `/graphics-design-apps/6027`     |
| Health & Fitness   | `/health-fitness-apps/6013`      |
| Lifestyle          | `/lifestyle-apps/6012`           |
| Medical            | `/medical-apps/6020`             |
| Music              | `/music-apps/6011`               |
| Navigation         | `/navigation-apps/6010`          |
| News               | `/news-apps/6009`                |
| Photo & Video      | `/photo-video-apps/6008`         |
| Productivity       | `/productivity-apps/6007`        |
| Reference          | `/reference-apps/6006`           |
| Shopping           | `/shopping-apps/6024`            |
| Social Networking  | `/social-networking-apps/6005`   |
| Sports             | `/sports-apps/6004`              |
| Travel             | `/travel-apps/6003`              |
| Utilities          | `/utilities-apps/6002`           |
| Weather            | `/weather-apps/6001`             |

**Games:**

| Category     | Path                        |
| ------------ | --------------------------- |
| Action       | `/action-games/7001`        |
| Adventure    | `/adventure-games/7002`     |
| Board        | `/board-games/7004`         |
| Card         | `/card-games/7005`          |
| Casino       | `/casino-games/7006`        |
| Puzzle       | `/puzzle-games/7012`        |
| Racing       | `/racing-games/7013`        |
| Role-Playing | `/role-playing-games/7014`  |
| Simulation   | `/simulation-games/7016`    |
| Sports       | `/sports-games/7017`        |
| Strategy     | `/strategy-games/7018`      |
| Trivia       | `/trivia-games/7019`        |
| Word         | `/word-games/7020`          |

### International Charts

Check other countries for apps not yet available or localized for the US:

- UK: `apps.apple.com/gb/charts/iphone/...`
- Germany: `apps.apple.com/de/charts/iphone/...`
- Japan: `apps.apple.com/jp/charts/iphone/...`
- Australia: `apps.apple.com/au/charts/iphone/...`
- Canada: `apps.apple.com/ca/charts/iphone/...`
- South Korea: `apps.apple.com/kr/charts/iphone/...`
- Brazil: `apps.apple.com/br/charts/iphone/...`

### What to Document

Record the **top 25-50 apps**, noting:

- App name and chart position
- Rating count (proxy for install base — see [references/revenue-estimation.md](references/revenue-estimation.md))
- Star rating
- Price/monetization model (free, paid, subscription, freemium)
- Brief description
- Last updated date (visible on the app's detail page)

### Pattern Recognition

| Rating Count | Signal                                              |
| ------------ | --------------------------------------------------- |
| >100K        | Saturated — dominated by big players                |
| 10K-100K     | Established demand, strong competition              |
| 1K-10K       | **Sweet spot** — proven demand, beatable            |
| 500-1K       | Emerging niche — validate demand carefully          |
| <500         | Possible new/underserved niche OR no real demand    |

---

## Step 3: Community & Demand Research

Validate that real demand exists outside the App Store. See
[references/research-sources.md](references/research-sources.md) for detailed
search patterns and sources.

### Reddit & Forum Research

Search Reddit for unmet demand signals in the category. Look for:

- "Is there an app that..." posts with no good answer
- Complaints about existing apps (pain points users will pay to escape)
- Feature requests with high upvotes
- "I switched from X to Y because..." (switching triggers)
- "I'd pay $X for..." (willingness-to-pay signals)

### Google Trends Validation

Check Google Trends for the core problem keywords:

- **Rising trend** = growing demand, may not be saturated
- **Declining trend** = caution, avoid unless you have a unique angle
- Note seasonal patterns to time your launch (fitness peaks January, etc.)

### Web → Mobile Gap Detection

Search for opportunities where demand exists but no quality iOS app serves it:

- **Pro