Getting featured in the Play Store is a great achievement for all app developers to strive towards. It’s a big win for an app developer. An App Store feature isn’t only worth a lifetime of bragging rights but also a way to access crazy fast app growth. Getting featured in the app store is not something that can be granted but we will share with you the top 7 tips to help you do that.
1. Analyze Other Featured Apps
The first step toward being featured on a Google Play Store is exploring apps that have already been featured. Do some research on the Play Store, pick some apps with labels like Editors’ Pick and Top Developer, and install them on your Android phone. Then, analyze the apps, giving attention to what characteristics they have in common. In particular, check thoroughly the apps’ design, functionality, and everything that makes them stand out from similar apps in the category. You will discover similarities and better understand why they’re featured on the Play Store.
2. Localize Your App
Speak your user’s language, in your app, and on the play store. Make sure your users understand your content by localizing your app. First, time and date should be internationalized and displayed according to the user phone settings. For many markets, numeracy is higher than literacy. Provide graphical cues and use fewer words with audio and video support.
3. Deliver the Right Content and Features
Research new markets thoroughly and build features on local trends and preferences. For instance, think mobile-first. Don’t rely on familiarity with email and web passwords. Offer phone number-based registration. Multi-sim phones are also popular, which you can detect since Android 5.1. Adapt your apps data usage by SIM.
4. Accommodate Low-end Devices and Smaller Screens
In emerging markets, many devices tend to have small screens, so make sure you optimize your UI by testing on multiple screen sizes. You should also adapt your app to low-end devices, which may have low memory, low processing power, and low resolution. Also, consider backward compatibility to jelly bean, and where practical, back to ice cream sandwich.
5. Pay Attention to App Store Optimization
Most people are familiar with SEO (search engine optimization), which involves optimizing a website for search engine results. Similarly, ASO (app store optimization) refers to the method of optimizing a mobile app to rank higher in app stores like Google Play Store and Apple App Store. To improve the visibility of your mobile app within the Play Store, give attention to the subsequent factors:
- Icon: Design your app icon in such a way that it’s going to be eye-catching enough to grab users’ attention at a glance.
- Title: Give a proper app title with relevant keyword phrases.
- Description: Make your app’s description short and simple. Make sure that it clearly tells users what your app is about and why they should try your app.
- Keywords: Target keywords with high search volumes and low competition.
- Screenshots: Upload some high-quality screenshots of your app. And create and upload a 15-30 second video to make users more familiar with the functionality of your app.
6. Consume Only the Data You Need
In most emerging markets, the user will pay for data as they use it. Your app’s initial download, each update, and foreground and background data all add cost. Balance the benefits of an update with the cost to your user of installing it. Consider less frequent releases and balance the cost of installing an update with the benefits to your user. Avoid background services where possible.
7. Grow Your Audience with App Promotion
When you are ready to lunch, app installs ads can help you grow an audience, and universal app campaigns that you set up straight from the developer console make it easy. Your campaign is automatically optimized to meet your CPA targets by finding the right balance on google search, google play, google display network, and also on youtube.
8. Update Your App
The most important thing about an app is to maintain the app regularly. I mean keep your app up-to-date. This doesn’t mean you need to add a completely new feature to your app every day. Instead, track the problems users are facing with your app and provide them solutions regarding the issues through regular updates. Don’t forget to update your application on special occasions like Christmas, New Year, etc.. This is the perfect time for your app to get noticed since the Play Store editors are likely to curate a list of seasonal apps on special occasions.
