| page.title=App Developer Best Practices |
| page.image=/distribute/images/gp-app-practices.png |
| page.metaDescription=Essential tips for launching successful apps in Google Play. |
| @jd:body |
| |
| <div id="qv-wrapper"><div id="qv"> |
| <h2>Best Practices</h2> |
| <ol> |
| <li><a href="#essentials">Get the Essentials Right</a></li> |
| <li><a href="#users">Get Users</a></li> |
| <li><a href="#engage">Engage and Retain</a></li> |
| <li><a href="#beyond">Beyond the Basics</a></li> |
| <li><a href="#related-resources">Related Resources</a></li> |
| </ol> |
| </div></div> |
| |
| <p>The following best practices have enabled developers worldwide to build great, successful apps for Google Play.</p> |
| |
| <div class="headerLine"> |
| <h2 id="essentials">Get the Essentials Right</h2> |
| </div> |
| |
| <h3>1. Make it Android</h3> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Build your apps to make best use of the unique Android features, such as |
| <a href="{@docRoot}distribute/engage/widgets.html">widgets</a>, <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/engage/notifications.html">rich notifications</a>, |
| <a href= |
| "http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2012/02/share-with-intents.html">sharing |
| through Intents</a>, and more. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Add the power of Google features your users already love, such as |
| <a href="https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/android/">Google |
| Maps</a>, <a href="https://developers.google.com/drive/">Google |
| Drive</a>, and more, all with <a href= |
| "https://developers.google.com/+/mobile/android/sign-in">single sign |
| on</a>. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <h3> |
| 2. Make it quality |
| </h3> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Make sure your apps follow the <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/essentials/quality/core.html">Core App Quality</a> |
| guidelines. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Create apps that are available on all form factors and screen sizes, by |
| following the <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/essentials/quality/tablets.html">Tablet App |
| Quality</a> guidelines. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Test and <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/essentials/optimizing-your-app.html">optimize your |
| quality</a> at every step and make use of the Google Play <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/googleplay/developer-console.html#alpha-beta">beta-testing</a> |
| and <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/googleplay/developer-console.html#staged-rollouts">staged |
| rollouts</a> features to test with users before launch. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <div class="headerLine"> |
| <h2 id="users"> |
| Get Users |
| </h2> |
| |
| |
| </div> |
| |
| <h3> |
| 1. Build buzz |
| </h3> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Create a great <a href="{@docRoot}distribute/users/your-listing.html">app |
| listing page</a> to showcase your apps and grab users’ attention. Don’t |
| forget to include a <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/engage/video.html">YouTube video</a>. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| <a href="{@docRoot}distribute/tools/launch-checklist.html">Launch</a> on |
| multiple platforms simultaneously to maximize your reach. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Promote your apps with the official <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/tools/promote/badges.html">Google Play badge</a> |
| and <a href="{@docRoot}distribute/tools/promote/linking.html">link to |
| your products</a> on Google Play. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Build a community with social media, <a href= |
| "http://groups.google.com/">forums</a>, and <a href= |
| "http://plus.google.com">communities</a> to get and keep users talking. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <h3> |
| 2. Optimize for great ratings |
| </h3> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Get to <a href="{@docRoot}distribute/users/know-your-user.html">know your |
| users</a>, listen to and <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/engage/app-updates.html">update your apps</a> from |
| their feedback. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Focus on your strength markets first, get these right before expanding. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <div class="headerLine"> |
| <h2 id="engage"> |
| Engage and Retain |
| </h2> |
| |
| |
| </div> |
| |
| <h3> |
| 1. Keep users coming back |
| </h3> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Use <a href="{@docRoot}google/play/billing/index.html">Google Play In-app |
| Billing</a> to offer subscriptions to extended features. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Hold competitions and offer promotions, then announce them through |
| <a href="{@docRoot}design/patterns/notifications.html">notifications</a>. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <h3> |
| 2. Earn users’ love |
| </h3> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| <a href= |
| "http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2013/05/all-google-play-developers-can-now.html"> |
| Respond to reviews</a> and get valuable feedback from the community |
| you've built. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| <a href= |
| "http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2013/10/improved-app-insight-by-linking-google.html"> |
| Measure</a> your campaigns to see what is driving users to install your |
| apps. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/essentials/optimizing-your-app.html#measuring-analyzing-responding"> |
| Analyze in-app use</a> to steer content updates and prolong the life of |
| your apps. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <div class="headerLine"> |
| <h2 id="beyond"> |
| Beyond the Basics |
| </h2> |
| |
| |
| </div> |
| |
| <ul> |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| After you’ve launched in your market of strength, <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/users/expand-to-new-markets.html">expand into other |
| markets</a> strategically and <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/tools/localization-checklist.html">localize</a> |
| your apps as you go. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Keep users engaged, and stay ahead of the competition, by continually |
| <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/essentials/optimizing-your-app.html">optimizing |
| your apps</a> to offer new and better features, or retire those that |
| users aren’t using. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| |
| <li> |
| <p> |
| Build educational apps: learn <a href= |
| "{@docRoot}distribute/googleplay/edu/start.html">how to make apps for |
| Google Play for Education</a>. |
| </p> |
| </li> |
| </ul> |
| |
| <div class="headerLine"> |
| <h2 id="related-resources">Related Resources</h2> |
| </div> |
| |
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