Ask HN: How to give your iOS app a fighting chance?

Hi guys,

I'm slowly working on my first iphone app in my spare time.

Watching how the app store works and watching lots of apps appear briefly in the new releases before plummeting into the abyss leads me to this question...

Are there certain things you MUST now do if your app is to stand any chance of gaining enough users to get into the rankings and keep on climbing?

On launch day do you NEED an email list of eager people ready to go and buy your app and write reviews?

Is there a secret giant conspiracy amongst cartels of app developers of I pat your back, you pat mine that you NEED to be participating in?

What things MUST you do to stand a chance?

And what things spell certain doom?

It seems pretty unforgiving out there.

Cheers!