Ranking your app high on the Play Store is crucial for its success, as higher visibility can significantly increase downloads and user engagement. To achieve this, you need a strategic and well-studied approach that combines optimizing your app’s metadata, enhancing its quality, and leveraging various marketing strategies. You can start with this guide. One that will help you delve into the deep folds of knowing the answer to your asked question, “How to rank my app in Play Store.”

You can start by focusing on delivering a top-notch user experience. That is, by ensuring your app is visually appealing, performs well, and is regularly updated. Encourage positive reviews and handle feedback professionally to boost your app’s credibility. Additionally, implement effective App Store Optimization (ASO) practices. They will help you promote your app through external channels in an efficient way. Regularly analyze performance metrics to fine-tune your strategies and stay ahead in the competitive landscape of app ranking.

Title and Subtitle Optimization: The Whole Process

Optimizing app metadata is a critical step in improving your app’s visibility and ranking in the Play Store. There are two main things that you should consider starting with. These two are your title and subtitle optimization. I consider these the very first elements users see. They play a crucial role in attracting your users’ attention. Ensure your title is clear, concise, and includes relevant keywords. Ones that reflect your app’s core functionality. The subtitle should also be clear and provide additional context. Furthermore, it should include secondary keywords to broaden your app’s reach. Moving on to app description best practices, craft a compelling and informative description that highlights your app’s unique features and benefits. Use clear, engaging language and structure your content with bullet points or short paragraphs to enhance readability.

Incorporate primary keywords naturally to improve searchability without keyword stuffing. Final step: conduct thorough keyword research to identify terms that potential users are searching for and integrate them strategically into your metadata. Additionally, localize your app’s metadata for different regions and languages to cater to a global audience, making your app more accessible and appealing to users around the world.

How to Rank My App in Play Store? Focus on App Quality: User Interface and Experience (UI/UX)

When it comes to app quality, why are user interface and experience (UI/UX) so crucial? A seamless and intuitive UI/UX not only attracts users but also keeps them engaged. An app that’s easy to navigate, visually appealing, and responsive tends to have higher user satisfaction and retention rates. But how do you ensure your app performs reliably? Performance and stability are key factors. That is because your app is expected to work without lagging or glitching.

Regular performance testing and optimization are essential to meet these expectations. What about updates and bug fixes? Regular updates are more than just about adding new features; they show users how you are committed to improving their experience by any means. Fixing bugs promptly prevents minor issues from becoming major problems. You know that little tiny hole in your leggings that if you just didn’t ignore or weave, it will get bigger and bigger and it will simply ruin the whole pair for you? That is why we always tend to identify and fix bugs before they lead us to have poor reviews or the misfortune of uninstalls.

So, how can you balance these elements effectively? By prioritizing UI/UX design, continuously monitoring and enhancing performance, and staying proactive with updates and bug fixes, you create a polished and dependable app that stands out in the crowded marketplace.

Encourage Positive Reviews: Strategies to Increase User Ratings

Encouraging positive reviews is a crucial component of boosting your app’s visibility and credibility. But how can you increase user ratings effectively? Start by making it easy for users to leave feedback; incorporate in-app prompts that ask for reviews at optimal times, like after a positive interaction. Also, consider offering incentives, such as discounts or extra features, to motivate users to rate your app favorably.

Once reviews start rolling in, how should you handle them? Responding to both positive and negative feedback shows that you value user opinions and are committed to improving your app. For positive reviews, a simple thank you can go a long way in building a loyal user base. When it comes to negative reviews, take a constructive approach: acknowledge the issue, apologize if necessary, and outline the steps you’re taking to address it. This not only helps in managing user dissatisfaction but also demonstrates your dedication to continuous improvement. How can you manage negative reviews without letting them impact your app’s reputation? Address them promptly and professionally, using them as opportunities to showcase your commitment to user satisfaction and app enhancement.

How to Rank My App in Play Store? Leveraging The Power of App Store Optimization For Your Advantage

App Store Optimization (ASO) is essential for improving your app’s visibility and ranking on the Play Store. By fine-tuning various elements of your app’s listing, ASO helps you attract more users and enhance your app’s performance. The importance of ASO lies in its ability to boost your app’s discoverability through optimized metadata, such as the app title, description, and keywords. This ensures that your app appears in relevant search results, making it easier for potential users to find and download it.

To effectively leverage ASO, use a variety of tools and techniques:

• Keyword Research Tools: Identify high-traffic keywords that align with your app’s functionality.
• Competitor Analysis: Study successful competitors to understand their strategies and find opportunities.
• A/B Testing: Experiment with different versions of your app’s listing to determine what resonates best with users.

Tracking and analyzing ASO performance is crucial to ongoing success:

• Monitor Key Metrics: Keep an eye on app downloads, rankings, and user reviews.
• Analyze Trends: Use analytics tools to track changes in keyword effectiveness and user engagement.
• Adjust Strategies: Refine your ASO tactics based on performance data to continually improve your app’s visibility and appeal.

Work on Promoting Your App Externally

Promoting your app externally is vital for gaining traction and boosting downloads. But where do you start? Social media and content marketing are powerful tools. By creating engaging posts and sharing valuable content related to your app, you can attract potential users and keep your current audience excited. Have you considered partnering with influencers? They can give your app a significant boost by showcasing it to their followers, who trust their recommendations. Influencer partnerships can be highly effective if chosen wisely.

Press coverage is another avenue—reaching out to tech journalists and bloggers can generate buzz and provide credibility. What about paid advertising? While it involves an investment, targeted ads on platforms like Google and social media can drive substantial traffic to your app’s page. The key is to tailor your ads to your target audience for the best results. Balance these strategies, leverage organic and paid promotions and you’ll see how they can help you achieve a broader reach and increase your app’s visibility. This is something that will ultimately lead to more downloads and a stronger presence in the Play Store.

In Conclusion

Successfully ranking your app on the Play Store involves a multi-faceted approach that blends effective strategies and ongoing optimization. Begin by fine-tuning your app’s metadata with well-chosen keywords and compelling descriptions to boost its visibility. Focus on delivering an exceptional user experience through a polished interface, reliable performance, and frequent updates. Encourage positive reviews and handle feedback constructively to build credibility and improve your app’s rating.

Implement robust App Store Optimization (ASO) practices and use external promotion and advertising to drive more attention to your app. Finally, regularly measure and analyze your app’s performance to adapt strategies based on real data and trends.

To streamline the app creation and uploading process, consider using nandbox’s native no-code app builder. It empowers citizen developers to create high-quality, customized apps with ease and efficiency, ensuring that you can launch and maintain an impressive presence on the Play Store. Start building your app today with nandbox and watch it rise through the ranks effortlessly!

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An Icon vs a Logo: Know the Difference

Before getting down to the converting mobile app icon design, there is one important thing that requires clarification: the difference between the icon and the logo.

Many people tend to confuse these two or think that they mean the same thing. However, this is not true. An icon is a piece of branding and a logo is a visual representation of a brand. The converting mobile app icon and the logo serve different goals and thus have different requirements for their design.

Let’s have a look at the example. If there is a company that creates games, it will have a company logo. The logo will be used on all the company’s products, including the marketing materials. But if the company decides to create a mobile game, this game will have its own icon in the market and this icon will represent the game’s idea without necessarily featuring the logo. Even though some companies use their logo as an icon for mobile applications (LinkedIn or Twitter), this is not always the case.

Here are the basic requirements for a good and user-friendly app icon:

Scalability:

The icon should look equally good on all the necessary devices and screen sizes. As well, watch for the image quality so the icon and its details do not seem blurry.

Recognizable:

The user should instantly understand the image and the main idea of an icon. A pitfall to avoid here: do not go for an easy design in an attempt to make the icon more recognizable. Instead, add all the necessary details and design the icon with your brand in mind.

Uniqueness:

With thousands of different applications in the App Store and Google Play Market, you would want to create something that stands out and translates the message of your brand.

Consistency:

The icon should correspond to the brand in terms of design and style, as it is part of the brand identity.

Now that the difference is clear, we can move on to the actual design practices and icon ideas.

Follow the Official Guidelines

Google and Apple care deeply about the quality of their products. This is why both companies have established comprehensive guidelines for application and their design. These guidelines help ensure that apps perform well and look consistent on their respective platforms. For Android applications, specifically, adhering to these design standards is crucial for achieving a polished and user-friendly experience. If you’re working on developing an Android app, consider partnering with professionals like this who specialize in Android app development. For example, a company specializing in Android development can offer crucial expertise to ensure your app adheres to all guidelines and performs at its best.

Note: it is especially important to consider these guidelines if you are building a cross-platform application, as the icons and overall design may vary between platforms. Ensuring compliance with both sets of guidelines can enhance the user experience and maintain consistency across devices.

Apple Requirements

For the full information on the requirements for iOS app icons, check out the official guidelines here.

Apple provides a comprehensive and detailed guide on the creation of mobile application icons. Here are the main takeaways:

• Avoid background transparency
• Do not use photos or screenshots
• Keep the corners squareas the system will automatically round them
• Make sure to create the icon in the needed format (PNG) and size

Google Requirements

Same as Apple, Google cares about the quality and visual appeal of its products. You can read the official guidelines here. As for the key things to remember, they are the same as with iOS requirements. This includes the usage of a square shape, PNG format, use of relevant colors and attention to detail in the icon design.

Watch for the Icon’s Performance

You never know what kind of device the user has but you want to make sure the icon looks equally good on all screens and on any device. Thus, you need to build a responsive icon so that it performs well on a variety of devices with different screen sizes.

As well, consider all the places where the icon may appear and how it will look. The icon should be recognizable and visually appealing both in large and small sizes. One more important thing to consider is how well the icon looks on different backgrounds: for example, on the dark and light ones. It may happen that an icon looks great on the white background but becomes completely unrecognizable on the dark one.

Make Good Use of Light, Shadow, and Perspective

You want your icon to stand out from the competition and get noticed. For that, do not hesitate to play with the light, shadow, and perspective.

Sometimes 3D dimension looks more appealing than 2D – and vice versa. Make a few versions of an icon and see which one causes a better response. As well, try using borders: for some icons, they work just great and make the image look better and more comprehensive.

Use Colors Wisely

The choice of colors in the app’s icon is one of the core aspects of its development.

First, it is recommended to use colors that correspond to the brand’s logo and identity. In this way, you enhance the connection of the app with the brand and make the application more recognizable.

Second, do not ignore color psychology. Color has an enormous impact on the way people perceive the product. So, your application icon will create a certain impression the moment a user looks at it. This is without even interacting with the app.

To make sure you use the right colors, outline the main app’s idea and mission beforehand and see which color best represents them.

Always Do A/B Testing

Despite all the official guidelines, recommendations, and best practices, you can never be 100% sure the user will like the end product. To adjust the app icon to the users’ interests and needs, conduct A/B testing to identify the most converting option.

A/B testing presents two options of one product to the users and they choose the one they like the most. Though seemingly simple, this kind of testing works wonders. It often provides unexpected results and helps identify the tendencies in the users’ behavior and preferences. Thus, when creating an icon for your application, make several mockups and do testing to see which one causes the most response from your target audience.

Conclusion

When designing a converting mobile app icon, it is important to always keep your target audience in mind. So before starting any work on the design, first, identify the target audience and analyze the competition to see what attracts people and what kind of images get ignored.

Only after you have a detailed portrait of your potential user and a clear understanding of his needs and interests, you can begin working on the converting mobile app icon. Otherwise, you might get a mismatch between your own preferences and the actual users’ likings.

The post How to Create a Converting Mobile App Icon: Professional Tips appeared first on nandbox Native App Builder.

How to Publish your App on Google Play and the App Store: Understanding Google Play and the App Store

Before diving into the publication process, it’s important to understand the differences between Google Play and the App Store. Google Play caters primarily to Android users, while the App Store is for iOS users. Both platforms have unique requirements, guidelines, and user demographics that can influence your app’s success. Google Play has a larger user base due to the widespread use of Android devices, while the App Store tends to generate more revenue per user, appealing to a different demographic. Knowing these distinctions helps tailor your approach to each platform.

How to Publish your App on Google Play and the App Store: Preparing Your App for Publication

Preparation is key to a successful app launch. Ensure your app is thoroughly tested and free of major bugs. Engage in beta testing to gather user feedback and make necessary adjustments. Additionally, comply with all legal requirements, such as copyright and trademark regulations, and ensure your app adheres to the respective platform’s guidelines. Quality assurance processes should be rigorous, simulating various scenarios to detect any potential issues. A well-prepared app not only meets platform standards but also provides a seamless user experience, increasing the likelihood of positive reviews and high ratings.

Setting Up Developer Accounts

To publish an app, you need a developer account on both platforms. For Google Play, you need to register at the Google Play Console and pay a one-time registration fee of $25. For the App Store, you need to register at App Store Connect and pay an annual fee of $99. Both accounts provide access to essential tools for app management, analytics, and marketing. Setting up these accounts involves filling out necessary personal and payment information, agreeing to the terms and conditions, and verifying your email address. Once set up, these accounts will be the primary interface for managing your app’s lifecycle.

How to Publish your App on Google Play and the App Store: App Content and Metadata

High-quality content and metadata are crucial for attracting users. Write clear and compelling app descriptions that highlight your app’s features and benefits. Create engaging visuals, including screenshots and videos, that showcase your app’s interface and functionality. Use relevant keywords to improve your app’s discoverability. Descriptions should be concise yet informative, explaining what makes your app unique and why users should download it. Keywords should be strategically chosen based on search trends and relevance to your app’s functions. Effective metadata not only helps in higher search rankings but also entices potential users to download your app.

Designing App Icons and Screenshots

Your app icon and screenshots are the first things users see, so they need to be visually appealing and informative. Best practices for designing app icons include using vibrant colors, simple designs, and ensuring your icon represents your app’s purpose. Tools like Adobe Illustrator or Sketch can help create professional graphics. Screenshots should highlight the key features and unique aspects of your app, guiding users through what to expect. A well-designed icon and set of screenshots can significantly impact the click-through rate and overall download numbers, making them essential components of your app’s marketing strategy.

How to Publish your App on Google Play and the App Store: Understanding App Store Guidelines

Adhering to the guidelines of each platform is crucial for a successful app launch. For Google Play, focus on functionality, privacy, and content policies. The App Store emphasizes user experience, performance, and legal requirements. Avoid common pitfalls such as inappropriate content, privacy violations, or poor user experience. Both platforms have comprehensive guidelines available on their respective websites, detailing the dos and don’ts of app development and submission. Thoroughly understanding and adhering to these guidelines helps in smooth app approval processes and prevents potential rejections or removals from the store.

Creating a Privacy Policy

A privacy policy is essential for gaining user trust and complying with legal requirements. It should clearly outline what data is collected, how it’s used, and the rights of the users. Transparency about data usage is crucial for compliance with regulations like GDPR and CCPA. Examples from successful apps can provide guidance on how to structure your policy. A clear and concise privacy policy not only protects your app legally but also builds trust with your users, encouraging more downloads and positive engagement. Ensure your privacy policy is easily accessible within your app and on your app store listing.

Monetization Strategies

Choosing a monetization strategy that aligns with your goals is crucial for your app’s success. Decide whether your app will be free, freemium, or paid. Free apps can generate revenue through ads, while freemium models offer in-app purchases for additional content or features. Subscriptions provide ongoing services or content for a recurring fee. Analyze your target audience and competitors to choose the best strategy. A well-thought-out monetization plan can maximize revenue while providing value to your users. Consider offering multiple monetization options to cater to different user preferences and increase overall earnings.

Setting Up Google Play Store Listing

Setting up your listing on Google Play involves several steps. Fill out all necessary information about your app, including the app name, description, and category. Upload your app’s APK file and specify the permissions your app requires and why. Make sure to include high-quality screenshots and a compelling video if possible. Providing complete and accurate information helps in the smooth approval of your app and improves its discoverability. The listing process also involves setting pricing and distribution options, determining which countries and devices your app will be available for, and deciding on content ratings.

Setting Up App Store Listing

For the App Store, you need to create an App Store record by filling in the necessary details about your app. Use Xcode to upload your app build, and then submit your app for review. Ensure all information is accurate and comprehensive to facilitate the review process. The App Store listing should include engaging descriptions, keywords, and attractive screenshots. The submission process includes selecting the appropriate app category, setting the price, and choosing the distribution options. Detailed and precise listings increase the likelihood of your app getting approved and found by users.

App Review Processes

Both platforms have review processes to ensure app quality and security. Google Play reviews typically take a few hours to a few days, while App Store reviews can take several days with more stringent checks. Be prepared for potential feedback and revisions. The review processes evaluate various aspects of your app, including functionality, user interface, compliance with guidelines, and overall quality. Promptly addressing any feedback from the review teams can expedite the approval process. Understanding these processes helps set realistic timelines for your app launch and manage expectations accordingly.

Handling App Rejections

Rejections can be frustrating, but they provide valuable feedback. Common reasons for rejection include guideline violations, crashes, incomplete information, and privacy issues. Address the issues promptly, make necessary corrections, and resubmit your app. Thoroughly review the feedback provided to avoid repeat rejections. Being proactive and responsive to rejections shows a commitment to quality and user experience, which is crucial for long-term success. Keeping a checklist of common rejection reasons and ensuring your app meets all requirements before submission can minimize the chances of rejection.

Post-Publication Maintenance

Maintaining your app post-launch is critical for its long-term success. Regularly update your app to fix bugs, add new features, and improve user experience. Monitor user feedback and reviews to identify areas for improvement. Engage with your users by responding to reviews and addressing their concerns. Continuous improvement and active engagement can lead to higher user retention and positive word-of-mouth. Implementing a robust post-publication strategy ensures your app remains relevant, functional, and competitive in the market. Regular updates also help in staying compliant with new platform guidelines and technological advancements.

Promoting Your App

Effective promotion strategies can drive downloads and engagement. Utilize social media, email marketing, and influencer partnerships to reach your target audience. Optimize your app’s title, description, and keywords using App Store Optimization (ASO) techniques. Leverage platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to create buzz and attract users. Promoting your app through multiple channels increases visibility and user acquisition. Additionally, consider running paid ad campaigns and collaborating with tech bloggers to review your app. A well-rounded promotion strategy enhances your app’s presence and attracts a wider audience.

Using Analytics to Track Performance

Analytics tools help you understand your app’s performance and user behavior. Integrate tools like Google Analytics or Firebase to track downloads, user engagement, and retention rates. Key metrics to monitor include active users, session length, and in-app purchases. Use additional tools like App Annie for deeper insights into market trends and competitor analysis. Analyzing performance data helps identify strengths and weaknesses, guiding future updates and marketing strategies. Regularly reviewing analytics ensures your app meets user needs and adapts to changing market conditions, driving sustained growth and success.

User Feedback and Engagement

Engaging with users is crucial for retention and app improvement. Collect feedback through surveys, reviews, and app feedback forms. Respond to reviews, provide updates based on feedback, and create a community around your app. User feedback offers valuable insights into what works and what doesn’t, allowing you to make informed decisions. Actively engaging with users shows that you value their input, fostering loyalty and long-term engagement. Building a strong user community through forums, social media, and regular updates can significantly enhance user satisfaction and app performance.

App Builders with AI

Utilizing app builders with AI can streamline development and reduce costs. AI-driven platforms offer templates, design tools, and coding assistance, enabling faster and more efficient app creation. These tools can help automate repetitive tasks, provide design suggestions, and even optimize app performance. One such platform is Appbuilder, which leverages AI to simplify the app development process. AI-driven app builders are particularly beneficial for small businesses and individual developers, allowing them to compete with larger enterprises by providing advanced features and functionalities with minimal effort and investment.

Security Best Practices

Protecting user data is paramount in app development. Implement encryption and secure data storage practices to safeguard sensitive information. Follow best practices for secure coding, including regular code reviews and vulnerability assessments. Conduct regular security audits to identify and fix potential vulnerabilities. Ensuring your app’s security not only protects users but also enhances your app’s credibility and trustworthiness. Keeping up-to-date with the latest security trends and regulatory requirements is crucial for maintaining a secure app environment. Regularly updating your security measures helps prevent breaches and maintains user trust.

Conclusion

How to publish your app on Google Play Store and the App Store involves meticulous preparation, understanding platform-specific requirements, and ongoing maintenance. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can navigate the complexities of app publication and set your app up for success. Engage with your users, stay updated with platform changes, and continuously improve your app to achieve long-term success. Remember, a successful app is not just about a flawless launch but also about consistent updates and user engagement.

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How to Upload App on Play Store: The Full Guide

People usually think that the app development process ends with developing features and functionality. Many also think that the main steps of development are design and development alone,  disregarding other steps, which is wrong. One step that people tend to highly overlook is publishing or uploading an app to all app stores. Little did they know that it is equally important to development, design, and planning. As it says a lot about the efficiency and effectiveness of the development process and the app as a whole. So, it is time to change this misconception and paint the full picture of app publishing. In this article, we will explore app publishing and show how to upload an app on the Play Store specifically.

What Should You Make Sure of Before Publishing an App?

Publishing or uploading an application is usually the sixth step of the development process. Sometimes it is known as or associated with mobile app deployment, which is the last pre-release step. However, since there are several enormous processes before publishing, a developer must make sure of some aspects or factors to ensure an effective and seamless publishing of the application. So, why don’t we explore a few?

Testing

The first thing that the developer should make sure of before uploading the application is testing. Testing typically gives a developer the green light to begin publishing. However, if testing is not done right or efficiently, it could compromise the whole process. The application won’t see a single ray of light. Testing doesn’t only include functions and features; it also includes design to make sure that all visuals, navigation, and layout are working just fine and wouldn’t cause any problems. Also, performance testing is included to validate the apps’ efficiency and optimize performance.

Security

Another thing that is always on developers’ minds before publishing is security measures. As we all know, many app stores always place a huge weight on security measures. So, before even thinking about publishing an app, a developer has to make sure that the app is 100% safe. This can be accomplished by incorporating the latest security measures and protocols, like authentication, that would align with the app’s functionality and keep users’ data safe and secure.

Monetization

Monetization is always something that developers should think about beforehand. Even if a developer decides to offer the app for free, at some point he will aim to generate some revenue. Hence, choosing a monetization plan would be necessary before publishing. To find the best monetization approach that fits their company objectives and meets user expectations, developers need to take a close look at their audience, user preferences, and app value. Freemium, paid plans, subscriptions, in-app purchases, and sponsorship are some examples of possible monetization methods a developer could integrate. Developers need to implement a solid monetization plan to be able to maintain and improve their apps effectively.

Marketing

Lastly, to ensure a smooth and fruitful publishing process, a sound marketing plan should be found. Publishing an app is always associated with having a promotion plan that would be able to highlight the app’s benefits and values and attract a large audience. So, what a developer needs to do at this point is carefully plan and establish a marketing strategy based on his target audience, preferences, goals, and so on, to be able to upload the app to app stores while ensuring effective outcomes.

Uploading an App on Google Play Store vs Uploading an App on Apple App Store

Although this article aims to talk about how one can upload an app on the Google Play Store, a little comparison won’t hurt anybody. As we all know, Apple and Google are polar opposites in terms of technologies, systems, devices, and so on. Included in what makes them polar opposites is the process of uploading an app, whether on the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Without further ado, let us establish our comparison!

The Comparison:

When delving into the comparison between uploading an app on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, it’s important to consider the intricacies of each platform’s submission process and the implications for developers. The Google Play Store is a great place to start. The submission process on this platform is well-known for being simple. Developers are expected to follow precise rules when it comes to content, functionality, and security. Because of its flexible policies, the Play Store hosts a vast array of applications, from games to lifestyle applications and beyond. Additionally, developers have access to a huge and varied user base globally through Google’s ecosystem, which includes a multitude of Android devices. The Google Play Store is a great option for app developers who want as many people to see their product as possible because of its large user base.

When it comes to the Apple App Store, nevertheless, developers face a whole new approach. The Apple App Store is well-known for its rigorous review procedures, which ensure that apps meet all necessary requirements before they are approved for publication. Maintaining quality and security standards is the goal of this comprehensive screening process, which is implemented to guarantee users a safe and smooth experience. This does help create a more vetted and reliable app ecosystem, but it can cause delays in app approval at times. Specific audiences and high in-app purchase rates are two other reasons the Apple App Store is attractive to developers who want to make money from their apps.

Guidelines That You Should Take Into Consideration to Avoid Hindering Your Publishing Process

We know that we said that uploading on the Google Play Store is more open and flexible. However, this doesn’t deny the idea that there are certain guidelines that a developer should abide by to seamlessly publish the application.

1. Content

The first guideline that we will talk about is the content. Although the uploading process is faster on the Google Play Store, they place great emphasis on content. The Google Play Store heavily restricts content that can be harmful or threatening to many segments. This can include content that promotes violence, is sexually explicit, encourages illegal action, and so on. Apps that contain this type of content or even refer to it would be immediately rejected and banned.

2. Duplication and Resemblance

The second guideline is one that many fall for. Several developers can take inspiration from existing applications, which is totally valid. However, some people can’t tell the difference between taking inspiration and copying another application. This is why the Google Play Store keeps an eye on submissions and completely prohibits applications that copy others. This could be misleading and deceitful for users.

3. Minimum Functionality

Minimum functionality is usually a universal guideline for all app stores. A minimum level of functionality is required by the Google Play Store for apps to be considered valuable to users. Developers need to validate that apps satisfy these minimal functional requirements and elements before publishing them. Common examples of such elements are easy-to-use and navigate interfaces, core functionalities, as well as valuable content or services that support the app’s intended objectives. If an app doesn’t have enough features or delivers users a bad experience, Google could remove it from the Play Store or reject the submission beforehand.

4. App Information

To be transparent and earn users’ trust, a developer must provide accurate and comprehensive information about his app. It is important to give the Google Play Store listing for your app all the information it needs to thrive, including the features, functionality, and target audience. One part of this is crafting an app description that does a good job of describing the application and drawing attention to its best features. Also, make sure the promotional photos, screenshots, and videos you submit are true representations of your app’s UI and features.

How to Upload an App on the Play Store

Now for the most exciting part, which is how you can upload an app on the Play Store. The process of uploading an app on the Play Store can be straightforward; however, it involves many steps that have to be completed to ensure efficient submission.

Creating a Google Developer Account

The first step would be creating a Google Developer account. creating this account is not a complex process and is pretty much like creating any Gmail or Google account. However, a developer has to pay a one-time fee of $25 to be able to publish apps. After creating the account, you will need to set up the account as an individual or organization, and you can view the full steps for setting up the account here.

Create the Application on the Account

The next step you would take is to create an application. After finalizing your Google developer and console accounts, you will start to set up the application from scratch. From the side menu, you will find the “all apps” tab. Upon clicking on it, you will find the “Create an App” button on the top right side. This button will take you to the first requirement, which is filling out all the necessary information about the app, such as the app name, language, type (app or game), whether it is free or paid, and so on. Then you will process by filling out the listing information, like the app description, icons, and category, which are necessary for the submission, as we previously mentioned.

Rate Your App

The next step would be taking out the content rating questionnaire. This questionnaire is necessary to analyze the content and involvement of the application on the Google App Store to be able to mark it for a suitable age range.

Upload Your APK

The last step of this process is the final uploading of the app’s APK. In this step, the developer would be able to release the app. He would do this by selecting “Create New Release,” where he would proceed to upload the app’s bundle and release name. The developer would have one of three release options. The first is an internal test, where he can share the app with over 100 testers of his choice. The second one is the closed test, where he can share the app with a much smaller number of people. And the last option is the production release, where he can submit the app to the public and let them enjoy his latest creation.

The post How to Upload an App on Play Store: The Play Store Playbook appeared first on nandbox Native App Builder.

Did you create an application and ready to show it to the world? There are a number of ways you can get your app out there, and Google Play is one of the prime choices. In 2023, there were 1.03 billion active Samsung smartphone users—each of them could see your app. If you properly format its description, of course. So, as soon as you upload your app or game to the Google Play Console, it’s time to write a store listing. Let’s figure out what to do when you have decided to release your app on Google Play and how to write a captivating app description for Google Play.

Description Structure

Play Console Help extensively writes about designing your app page in Google Play. Let’s go over the most essential tips and tricks you should remember when writing text for the short description (up to 80 characters allowed) and full description fields (up to 4,000 characters).

App title

Your name should clearly indicate the functionality and content of your application. There’s no need to come up with witty, catchy names. Don’t forget that the name should be 30 characters or less.

The Play Store policy also prohibits adding words such as “Free” and “No Ads” in the application or developer names. Generally, you cannot include any promotional phrases or calls to download the app because it is free.

It is also better not to use CAPS (unless it is the idea of your brand name) and to use emojis, emoticons, and special character sequences.

Proper SEO

Even before you start to write the app description for Google Play, gather the keys, key phrases, or queries that suit your application.

Keywords need to be inserted in articles on websites as well. Your application should appear in relevant searches, so be sure to include in your description medium-frequency and long-tail keywords (high-frequency keywords are usually in the title or short description) that users will use when looking for an app like yours.

Catchy beginning

Who is the target audience for your app? What problems does your app solve? Why does your app stand out among other apps?

Don’t start with the first sentence praising your app. Show the user that you are fulfilling their needs and solving a particular problem with this app. This is how you should present what users will see on your app’s listing page before they click “read more.” This way, you will create a short description that will intrigue the user and remember that less than 2% of users click the “read more” button in the app description.

The Play Store has a rule not to include in the description of your app—and in the pictures that you publish together with the text — phrases like “App of the Year,” “#1,” “Best of Play 20XX,” “Popular,” and promotional information like “10% off,” “$50 cash back,” “free for a limited time only,” etc.

Key features

Once you’ve engaged your users, you can discuss your app and ultimately convince them why they should choose it. You should simply, clearly, and understandably write your app description on Google Play. However, remember—there’s no need to repeat ideas you’ve already mentioned in your short description in your long one.

Add a bullet list with the key features of your app. Why is your app unique? What functions does it have? When you list the features, don’t forget to show the benefit that clearly articulates its value to the user.

Social proof

If you have feedback, testimonials, awards, or positive press reviews, it’s a good time to share them. Be sure to mention, show, and tell what other people, users, and the press think about your app.

Phrases like “people love this app” or “people say this app is indispensable” don’t work. Clearly specify who exactly considers this app indispensable. If there is no precision, users may think that you praise yourself. Be sure to review the Deceptive Behavior and User Ratings, Reviews, and Installs policies before publishing anything.

Call to action

Round off your app description with a call to users to download your app and perhaps give it a try. There’s no need to be overly witty here — a simple phrase like “Download the app for free and try it out” will suffice.

Feature graphics, icons, and video

There are many limits in the Play Store when it comes to images, videos, and even the icon of your app. You cannot have graphic violence prominently depicted in app icons, promotional images, or videos — your content will be seen by people regardless of age.

You also can’t put sexually suggestive content, regardless of the problem your app solves for the user.

It is especially important to ensure that your app’s icon doesn’t resemble the icon of your competitors. Don’t use a business entity’s logo to suggest that it’s an official app of the business. Avoid icons falsely implying a relationship with another company, developer, entity, or organization. If you use them, you run a high risk of ending up in unpleasant lawsuits.

If we move away from don’ts and concentrate on dos, then we will get such a list:

• Minimize the use of text on images; their purpose is to give the user an understanding of what your app looks like
• Design for scale and keep essential elements toward the center of graphics – your images should look nice both on the tablet and on the phone
• You can include a YouTube video—your app trailer—to show the app in action or tell the user more about your app.
• Before publishing any video materials, consult the Intellectual Property and Impersonation policies. Always consult with lawyers if it is difficult to understand whether your textual or visual material meets legal requirements. If you do not have your own lawyer, be sure to find one. There are many legal issues related to the application that a good lawyer can help solve.
• Add screenshots from your app. Screenshots must be from different devices and in multiple orientations.

Legal considerations

In general, the app description is not just beautiful text that sells your app to users. It must also be in accordance with the law. Is your app going to collect user data? You can’t keep quiet about it. You must mention this in your description and include a link to your privacy policy. Also, you should always ensure that your promotional content doesn’t infringe on intellectual property rights.

Your description or visual materials should not include false or misleading information; this can even lead to legal problems. What should you pay attention to?

• Misrepresentations or unclear descriptions of functionality.
• Misrepresentations of current status or performance on Google Play.
• Misleading or potentially harmful health-related functionality.
• Functionality that’s impossible to implement.

It wouldn’t hurt to have a good lawyer read your description to get an independent opinion on the adequacy of your text. If you don’t have a lawyer yet, it would be a good idea to find one in your state—or in the state where your company that created the app is registered. That is, if you live in New York, but the app developer is officially registered in Indiana, start searching for Indiana lawyers  right now.

Update regularly

Remember to regularly update the text description of your app. Even if the app itself doesn’t change, you should update the text. Perhaps new keywords have emerged that need to be added to the text. Or maybe there’s a new problem your app solves. Have you noticed that certain advertising and positioning resonate more with people? Make sure to make your app’s description reflect all the insights you receive.

Conclusion

The application description on Google Play differs in requirements, structure, and size from descriptions on other platforms. Also, the target audience on Google Play may behave differently and search for your application than in the App Store.

Prepare a quality description for your application so that as many people as possible notice it and download it.

The post How to Write an App Description for Google Play: The Full Guide appeared first on nandbox Native App Builder.

Getting your app featured on Google Play can be a game-changer for your business. It can increase your visibility, downloads, and revenue. But how do you catch the attention of Google’s editorial staff? Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you increase your chances of getting featured on Google Play. Over 190 countries and millions of Android users can access Google Play. App store exposure and installs for featured apps are increasing. It should therefore come as no surprise that many app developers strive to be highlighted on the Google Play Store. What measures can you take to include your app on Google Play? Let’s dive in.

From knowing how to navigate your development team to a step-by-step guide to help you add the right features that will make your app stand out from the app-making crowd and get noticed by millions of Android system users, this guide will include the tiniest details that you might need to get featured on the Google Play Store. Dive in with us and read below for more information!

Create a High-Quality App with a Unique Value Proposition

The first step to getting your app featured on Google Play is to create a high-quality app with a unique value proposition. Your app should solve a problem or provide a service that is not already available on the market. It should also have a user-friendly interface, be visually appealing, and have a smooth user experience. Make sure to test your app thoroughly before submitting it to Google Play to ensure that it is bug-free and works seamlessly on different devices. Remember, Google Play only features apps that are of high quality and provide value to its users.

We have to emphasize this very important point: your app must be exceptional, of high quality, and adhere to all Google guidelines in order to be displayed on Google Play. Use these metrics for evaluation: Ranking and feedback are subjective; effectiveness and operational stability are objective. Although Google Play hasn’t divulged all the details of the featured apps, it has provided several guidelines and tips for developers. It is a trade secret how the best-featured app is chosen. All of the listed apps, however, have a characteristic. Based on this, we identified 13 tips that will help your app be added to one of the highlighted Google Play Market app groups.

Maintain Your App’s High Performance

All applications up for consideration are first given a performance evaluation. Google services use three evaluation standards:

Rendering speed (picture downloading), the absence of frozen interface displays, how often an emergency program needs to be shut down, and battery discharge rate. The first two are the most important, while all of the aforementioned factors are important in terms of how apps are featured. While frozen screen response cannot take more than 700 ms, image downloading cannot take more than 16 ms. Fallback frequency must be kept to a minimum. Although the app could significantly drain the battery, it cannot be the cause of the device overheating.

Examine the app’s performance with various devices. Analyze the speed of downloads, the frequency of mistakes, and compatibility with other programs running concurrently. For both consumers and Google, each of those elements is essential. When connecting to several networks, verify server’s response and proper operation.

Optimize Your App’s Metadata: Through Three Main Factors

Once you have created a high-quality app, the next step is to optimize its metadata. This includes the app’s title, description, and keywords. Your app title should be catchy, memorable, and relevant to the app’s purpose. The description should be clear, concise, and highlight the unique value proposition of your app. Use keywords that are relevant to your app and its purpose, but avoid keyword stuffing. Google Play’s algorithm will use this metadata to determine if your app is relevant to a user’s search query, so it’s important to get it right. This step brings us to your localization process and how you should implement it.

Make Cultural Adaptation a Key Part of Your Localization Process

Games should pay extra attention to this issue. Google claims that the best apps should be simple to comprehend. So, your objective is to localize the service to a wide range of nations. You can modify the title and description, as well as add more keywords for each nation. You can enhance conversion in this manner. Additionally, the categorization of apps varies from nation to nation.

Localization includes both cultural adaptation and translation. Pay attention to the customs and distinctive features of each nation. A typical illustration is that it makes no sense to plan Christmas sales in Muslim nations or New Year upgrades for Chinese clients who celebrate the New Year two months later. Google Play’s metadata is editable at any time. After optimization, you can begin tracking changes a few hours later.

Encourage Positive User Reviews and Ratings to Improve Your App’s Ranking

Positive user reviews and ratings are an essential thing to focus on when it comes to knowing your users’ feedback. They can greatly increase your app’s visibility and chances of being on Google Play. Encourage users to leave reviews and ratings by prompting them within the app or through push notifications. This could help you know when your app has a bug or glitch. Additionally, it could allow you to fix these bugs and glitches so your users will give you positive ratings and reviews based on their level of satisfaction. Simply put, you should respond to any negative reviews in a professional and helpful manner, addressing any issues or concerns raised by the user. This shows potential users that you are committed to providing a high-quality app, which can improve your overall rating.

How To Get Featured On Google Play: Incorporate Google Technologies

What do we mean by Google technologies? These are tools that you can implement in your app through integrations that could help enhance it and allow your users to have a better user experience. You can use Flutter, for example, to build an app screen for any of these systems. You can build it for Android, iOS, Mac, Linux, and Windows. Another Google tool that could help you with your data is Firebase. This is a cloud service that could help you enhance your app’s data collection process to help your users experience better storage, recovery operations, and other data-related processes.

Keep New Seasons and Holidays in Mind When Optimizing Your App

Is it Christmas? Optimize your app based on this popular holiday. Add new features, release a new interface with your UI, and optimize it to have a Christmas theme.

Release additional releases during holidays like Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, or the New Year. Google Play editors compile further lists of the seasonally featured apps on the eve of certain holidays.

Provide updates in advance. Google suggests submitting the feature request at least three weeks before your app is available. Therefore, if you want your app to be on the store during a specific season, you should deploy the update about a month before that holiday. Replace the app’s icon with a holiday-themed one, such as one with Christmas elements, to draw in new users and those who haven’t updated the app in a while.

How to Get Your App Featured on Google Play: A Checklist

Follow the following steps to guarantee constant app optimization:

• Analyze the initial data, including performance metrics, ranking, feedback, and promotion.
• Compared to other apps in the same category, evaluate your app. Analyze your service’s shortcomings.
• Enhance the interface, features, and performance continuously.
• Streamline the app’s store page.
• Not only localize, but also customize the user interface to each nation’s unique cultural norms.
• Support active promotion, and advertise and publicize your app.
• Utilize the most recent Google technology integration.
• Release updates on a regular basis, and plan to release seasonal updates in advance.
• Clearly describe even modest innovations.

Continually keep track of downloads and participation. At each level, consider user feedback to continue enhancing the app. As we mentioned above, You can utilize Google services or specialized tools to accomplish this and facilitate the whole process for yourself.

Final Thoughts on How to Get Featured on Google Play: A Full Guide

If you want your app to reach millions of users, uploading it to the Google Play Store will be something of great importance for you to achieve. Google’s Play Store will guarantee you millions of downloads and users if you only walk by their guide and start implementing them in your developmental stages. That is why we are writing this article for you—to guide you through certain steps that will help you develop an app that will get you to the Google Play Store in no time.

The whole process of developing an app could actually be a little complicated or intimidating. That is because you keep thinking of the number of app developers that you should hire to develop your app with tons of coding and programming languages that you might not be very familiar with.

This is where we come to you with our seamless product that will allow you to actually sleep without worrying about your app’s development method or development. nandbox, which is a native no-code app builder, can help you with pre-made templates build an app in literally minutes.

You have the freedom to lead the way through this process and can customize these templates to your preferences. Additionally, you can add all of our features and modules using our simple drag-and-drop addition feature. Sign up now and build with us an app that you could feature on Google’s Play Store.

The post How To Get Featured On Google Play: A Step-by-Step Guide appeared first on nandbox Native App Builder.

Since you are here, that means that you have finally made up your mind and want to develop an app. This is the first step towards a journey filled with decision-making and choices that you will have to make. Intimidated? Don’t be. Because in this guide, we will help you make the right decision. This decision will depend on whether you choose which platform to develop your app on first. You have to choose between Android and iOS development. Trust the process and read below to know the benefits, costs, and developmental details of each platform. When it comes to mobile app development, choosing the right platform can make all the difference. With the continued growth of the industry, it’s important to prioritize your app’s platform. The one that will give you the best chance of success. As we mentioned above, this guide compares the pros and cons of developing for Android vs. iOS in 2023. That is to help you make an informed decision about which app to develop first. There are several elements to consider, and this is exactly what we will be discussing and comparing.

Market Share and User Demographics

When deciding between Android and iOS development, it’s important to consider market share and user demographics. Android has a larger market share globally, with over 72% of the market compared to iOS’s 27%. However, iOS users tend to have higher incomes and spend more money on apps. Which makes it a more lucrative platform for developers. Additionally, iOS users are more likely to be located in developed countries. On the other hand, Android users are more prevalent in developing countries. Consider your target audience and their spending habits when deciding which platform to prioritize. The Android platform may seem like the logical choice. That is when considering only demographics, but this may not always be the case. Simplicity and ease are good for everything. However, you have to put all aspects of your research into consideration to make the right decision.

Android vs. iOS Development: The Time and Cost Spent

Another important factor to consider when deciding between Android and iOS development is the time and cost involved. Developing for iOS can be more expensive and time-consuming. Due to the need for specialized hardware and software, as well as the strict app review process. For example, submitting an iOS app can actually take up to one month to be approved. Additionally, at the slightest error, your app may get rejected due to their strict review.

On the other hand, Android development can be more flexible and cost-effective. As it supports a wider range of devices and development tools available. The app submission process takes around three to four days, specifically. Furthermore, you have a better chance of publishing your app on the Google Play Store than on Apple’s App Store. Consider your budget and timeline when deciding which platform to prioritize.

Another major point of comparison is the number of times you can update your app on both stores. While an app on the Android platform can theoretically be updated at any time and with an endless number of times. App upgrades on the iOS app store are only permitted three to four times per month. Which takes us to the next point.

App Store Approval Process

One major difference between Android and iOS development is the app store approval process. Apple has a strict review process that can take several days or even weeks to complete, while Google’s process is generally faster and more lenient. This means that, like we mentioned above, iOS apps may take longer to get to market, but they are often more polished and reliable. For example, you will find that on the App Store, there are much fewer apps with glitches or bugs. Android apps, on the other hand, may be released more quickly but may have more bugs or compatibility issues. It’s important to factor in the app store approval process when deciding which platform to prioritize for your app development.

Android vs. iOS Development: Monetization Options

Another important factor to consider when deciding between Android and iOS development is the monetization options available on each platform. Both platforms offer in-app purchases and advertising as ways to generate revenue, but there are some differences. For example, iOS users tend to spend more money on in-app purchases than Android users, but Android has a larger market share overall. Additionally, Apple takes a 30% cut of all in-app purchases, while Google takes a 15% cut for the first $1 million in revenue and 30% after that. It’s important to weigh these factors when deciding which platform will be more profitable for your app.

Android vs. iOS Development: UI Development and Design

iOS is often far more UI/UX-friendly than Android because of features like Interface Builder that are built into Xcode. Because iOS frameworks are so simple to use, developers can devote more time to creating wonderful experiences for their users.

Android is the best option if you value having access to a greater range of customization options for building and design. However, you should remember that all of this independence requires a lot more time. Additionally, the end-user usually doesn’t care how fancy the back end is; they only care that it functions positively in a clear and understandable way.

However, it should be noted that Google’s design principles for producing easier-to-use, better-designed apps for Android platforms, Material Design, were unveiled at the 2014 Google I/O Developer Conference. Therefore, although not quite there yet, Android is on track to develop a more user-friendly development platform.

Future Trends and Predictions

As mobile app development continues to evolve, it’s important to stay up-to-date on future trends and predictions. One trend that is expected to continue is the rise of mobile commerce, with more and more consumers using their smartphones to make purchases. Another trend is the increasing use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in mobile apps, allowing for more personalized and efficient experiences. It’s also predicted that the demand for augmented reality and virtual reality apps will continue to grow. There is a theory that is trending nowadays that, at some point in the near future, the Metaverse that Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg created will have actual people depending on their lives to be lived inside the Metaverse. Unbelievable, I know! Keeping these trends in mind can help you prioritize which platform to develop for and what features to include in your app.

When Should You Develop Android First?

If you wish to reach a larger audience globally. Additionally, if you wish to receive more app downloads, you can choose to design for Android first. You can take advantage of the best return on investment in these countries as more people utilize Android apps, especially if your target market resides in India, China, or the United Arab Emirates.

Developing the app for Android may be a better investment due to the increased number of Android users and downloads, if you are interested in advertising your app with in-app advertisements. Think about the features your target audience prefers as well as whether Android gives you more flexibility to integrate those features.

When Should You Develop iOS First?

When you want to create a minimum-viable product, iOS should be your first option. Additionally, as iOS is more popular in the USA and UK, it would be more suitable if the audience you are targeting resides in these countries.

Because iOS users are more likely to make in-app purchases, iOS is a better option if you want to monetize your apps without in-app ads and if you want to offer users free and premium versions of your app. The platform you select will therefore depend on the kind of app you want to make and the intended user base.

When Should You Develop an App for Both Platforms?

Both of these platforms are the best options if you want to enter the market head-on. You’re going in with both barrels, sure that your app will succeed. Usually, established businesses are the ones to make this leap. Since they have the resources to do so, it makes sense for them if we’re talking about not lacking any resources like money, time, or effort. Additionally, an app could create a stir on one platform but go unnoticed on another. Therefore, if you have the money, go for it. Your chances of success rise as your product becomes more widely available. The number of downloads for the app will increase as more people gain access to it.

To Conclude This Android vs. iOS Development Topic

In conclusion, we would like to state that both platforms are of great importance. They both have their pros and cons. Furthermore, each platform could actually benefit your business in a certain aspect, depending on your features, budget, project management, and other app development factors to consider and research.

If your business is a startup and you aim to empower it with an app, we have a solution to offer you. Most developers or IT teams require too much planning, money, and effort. That is why we advise you to opt for a no-code app builder solution. Our app builder, nandbox, is a no-code native app builder that could help you develop apps supported by both the Android and iOS systems in a matter of minutes. You won’t need any prior knowledge of any programming or coding languages.

Wrapping up!

Our app builder guides you through a detailed documentation section that will help you understand the app builder’s features and modules. It will also show you how to configure some of the features and modules of your app, with screenshots and detailed explanations.

Upon signing up, a free trial will be activated for you in order to have a good time span to familiarize yourself with the app builder’s navigation process. Bring your idea to life with nandbox’s native no-code app builder and publish your app easily, either for Android or iOS!

The post Choosing Your First App Development Platform in 2023: Android or iOS? appeared first on nandbox Native App Builder.

Imagine yourself as an app developer going through the development journey. You’ve completed all the essential steps that are necessary to make an app functional. Starting from conducting research, learning your app’s purpose, settling on your app’s branding, and choosing the features. All of this may seem like more than enough; however, you still have one essential step left to take. That is publishing. It is becoming increasingly important for businesses to have an online presence. In order to take advantage of the many tools available to them. All app developers have the option of choosing between two platforms. To publish on the Google Play Store, businesses need to have a Google Developer Account. This article will discuss what a Google Developer Account is, its price, and how it can be used to benefit a business.

What is a Google Developer Account?

A Google Developer Account is an account that enables app developers to publish their apps on the Google Play Store. It provides access to the Google Play Store, as well as other features and integrations that enhance the app even more. With a Google Developer Account, developers are able to make their apps available to millions of users and monetize them. It is an essential tool for app developers to ensure their success in the app market and increase business exposure.

Benefits of Having a Google Developer Account

Get Discovered

Having a Google Developer Account gives you access to the Google Play Store, which is one of the largest app stores in the world. Among the 2.5 billion active users on the Google Play store and over 111 billion downloads. This gives your app the opportunity to be seen by millions of potential users, increasing your chances of success. With Google Play Store’s advanced targeting features, such as keywords, you can also make sure that your app is reaching the right people.

Monitor App Performance

Google Developer Account provides all the metrics and analytics that you need to track your app’s performance. You can use these insights to identify potential areas for improvement as well as to stay up to date with the latest trends in the app market. Additionally, the data provided by the Google Developer Account can be used to modify and update existing features so that you can provide users with the best possible experience. This can help you to ensure that your app is always running optimally and is as up-to-date as possible so that you can stay ahead of the competition and remain competitive in the market.

Generate Revenue

With a Google Developer Account, you can also monetize your app by enabling in-app purchases and running ads. This can help you generate additional revenue for your business and make your app more profitable. You can also use the Google Play Store’s promotional tools to increase downloads and get more users to try out your app. If you are also willing to develop a luxurious paid app or even convert your free app into a paid one, a Google Developers account is your companion. You will be able to set your pricing and closely monitor your profit.

Cost of a Google Developer Account

The cost of a Google Developer Account is a one-time fee of $25. This fee is non-refundable and must be paid in order to access the Google Play Store. Once you have paid the fee, you will be able to publish your app and make it available to millions of users. You have no limit to the number of apps you may publish to your Google Developer Account. Once the fee is paid, the sky is the limit. With the Google Developer Account, you can also take advantage of all the features that the Google Play Store has to offer, such as analytics, promotional tools, and in-app purchases.

How to Create a Google Developer Account

First, you are going to access the Google Play Console page, through which you will open your Google Developer account.

Keep in mind that in order to open the developer’s account, you need to have a Google account. So, make sure to create one if you don’t have any.

After signing in to your Google account, you need to choose your account type. You will have two options. The first is to choose ‘Yourself.’ This option is optimal if you are developing your app for fun or as a pursuit. The second is to choose ‘Organization.’ This option is ideal if you are developing your app for your business, whatever its type. We’ll walk through both options

For Yourself

Following your selection of an option, you will be redirected to an ‘About you’ section. If you have any previous experience with the PlayStation or Android, you will need to write them down. Then you’ll be asked if you’ve accessed or used any other Google accounts with Play Console in the previous six months. Finally, you can provide a URL for your website if you have any or a social media profile to verify your identity. You can choose ‘I don’t have a website or social media profile’ if you’d like to provide either.

Proceeding from there, you will set up your account by choosing your developer’s account name, contact name, contact email address, preferred language for further e-mail communications, your contact address, and your phone number. Keep in mind that you will need to verify both the email address and phone number. After entering each, you will click on ‘verify my email address/phone number’. Once you get both codes, you are good to go.

Getting to the pre-final step, which is the ‘apps’ section. In this section, you would provide general information about the app you created and wish to publish. Such as the number of apps you would like to publish if you are planning on monetizing in the future and your app’s categories.

Lastly, you would get to ‘Terms.’ To be able to finalize your account and pay the one-time fee, you need to read and agree to both the Google Play Developer Distribution Agreement and the Google Play Console Terms of Service. Once you have read them carefully and thoroughly and agreed to them. It will instantly redirect you to the payment page. Now, you are ready to take off and publish as many apps as you want. Just make sure to stick to the Google Play Store guidelines to avoid reactions and ensure a seamless publishing process each time.

For An Organization

The steps for creating a Google Developer Account for an organization would be the exact same except for one additional step. In this step, you must provide Google with all of your organization’s information.  As an organization’s name, company or business name type, size, detailed address, phone number, and website. You also need to provide a reason as to why your organization doesn’t have a website to be able to proceed with the steps.

Next, In the “About you” section, you will only need to provide any previous experience with android or Google Play Console

You will get to continue with the steps as they are, with no alterations. And there you have it: a Google Developer account for your organization where you can easily develop an app for your business and help it grow and flourish.

There you have it: everything you need to know about a Google Developer Account. From the price to the detailed and in-depth guide to developing one. Now that you have the easy and simplified key to publishing your app on one of the most powerful platforms available on the market. It is also important to stick to some high standards while developing your app. You can easily do so with nandbox. Nandbox is a no-code app builder that lets you develop a native app of any type and category. You can choose from a variety of templates, including many from popular apps like Facebook and Instagram. You will also get to integrate up to 200 features that will enrich the user experience. Swing into action and try the nandbox app builder now!

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Android is currently the most popular OS in the world of smartphones. Because it’s an open-source operating system, third-party smartphone manufacturers use it globally to power their phones. Smartphones can now do anything with the help of mobile apps. Fortunately, Google, which owns the Android OS, launched an official store to provide a distribution platform for publishing these apps. And in this article, we are going to discuss Google Play Store statistics and what the top apps on the store are.

Users can feel safe and more secure when downloading apps because the Google Play Store offers them extra protection. This blog post provides fascinating Google Play Store statistics, along with the top apps in the store by category.

How It Started

Before 2012, the store for downloading Android apps wasn’t as we know it now. People downloaded their apps from the Android Market. It had a different UI and UX. Here’s an old screenshot to refresh your memory:

The Android Market was launched in 2008 for users to download Android apps. That was back when Android was a newcomer. Apps were free before Android started supporting paid apps in 2009, and in the same year, they released Google eBookstores. In 2011, one year before merging, they released Google Music.

Then, in 2012, Google decided to merge all apps into one to avoid confusion. They also announced that users would find their downloaded and purchased apps on all devices because the new Google Play store is cloud-based. The Google Play Store launched in August 2012 with around 450 thousand apps and will see that number multiply in the next five years.

The current Google Play Store interface:

General Google Play Store Statistics 2022

This section briefly overviews the general statistics as of December 2022. The store currently has 3.759 million apps published by 1.12 million different vendors. On average, around sixteen thousand apps are released weekly, so that figure isn’t decreasing soon. Most published apps (96%) are free, while some may include optional in-app purchases. Apps on the Google Play Store fall into 49 categories. The top categories with the most apps are education, business, tools, entertainment, music and audio, and shopping.

Regarding ratings, only 52% of the apps, or 1.9 million, got rated by users. 29% of the apps are rated between 4-4.5 stars, 23% are 4.5–5 stars, and only 15% got a 5-star rating. It’s worth mentioning that the relationship between the star rating and the number of apps is directly proportional.

Most Popular Apps in Each Top Category in the US

Education

Education has escaped the confines of the classroom. Below are the top educational apps on the Google Play Store. An extended list would include Google Classroom, ABCmouse.com, and Kahoot!

1. Duolingo

Known for its haunting owl mascot, Duolingo is the most popular language-learning application. The free version of the app is fully functional, but it offers a premium subscription plan for additional features and ad removal. The app’s learning style focuses on exercises and quizzes to make the experience fun for the learner. The app has 41 languages, only 38 of which are available for English speakers. While the app gives language learners a fun way to start learning a new language, some may argue that it’s unlikely to make a beginner fluent. In 2022 alone, the app was downloaded 5 million times from the Google Play Store and currently has a 4.5-star rating.

2. Photomath

A revolutionary approach to learning mathematics, Photomath scans a mathematical equation and solves it on the spot. Free and premium users get an explanation of how the problem is solved, although the paid subscription offers a more detailed one. Students and parents love the app, as evidenced by its 4.6-star rating. However, some teachers worry that some students may use it to cheat on their homework. The app ranks second among the top apps in the Education category in the US and has over 100 million downloads.

Business

The business apps category caters to different types of apps. It includes Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Authenticator, Google Chat, and Indeed for job searching.

1. Zoom

In 2020, with the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, everything went online, and Zoom became the go-to platform for video conferencing. Today, it is still a popular choice for many businesses to use for online meetings, online classes, and more. The platform has great capabilities, offering users high-quality audio and video meetings. The free version of the app is limited, with a maximum of 40 minutes per meeting and three whiteboards, though. But users can choose one of three paid tiers to be able to host extended sessions. Zoom has more than 500 million downloads globally and a 4.2-star rating.

2. Microsoft Teams

Another popular app of the same type is Microsoft Teams. It has similar features and capabilities to Zoom, but some of its pricing plans are less costly. Teams give users a 30-day free trial before subscribing. But nothing is perfect; one of Microsoft Teams’ drawbacks is that the premium service requires an annual subscription. The app currently has a rating of 4.7, which is higher than Zoom but not by much, technically, since it only has over 100 million downloads.

Tools

The tools category contains Google-published apps that do basic functions, like the Clock or Phone tools. So, we decided to skip to the next one.

Entertainment

The entertainment category is the 4th top category on the Google Play Store, which is not surprising. People are now abandoning cable TV for on-demand online streaming services.

1. Netflix

Believe it or not, Netflix has been around since the 1990s. Then, users would rent a limited number of movies or TV shows in DVD format for a flat monthly fee. In 2007, the company started its online streaming services, and in 2013, it released the widely acclaimed television show House of Cards as its first piece of self-produced content. Now, the company has more than 2400 original titles and $29.7 billion in revenue. The Android app currently has more than 1 billion downloads and a 4.4-star rating.

2. Hulu

NBC Universal launched Hulu in 2007; it became public in 2008. Their online subscription service started in 2010, giving users full access to full seasons of TV shows. Now, the company is owned by The Walt Disney Company and Comcast, with a share of 67% and 33%, respectively. However, Disney intends to buy the rest of the company’s interest after 2024 and become the only owner of Hulu. The Hulu app has more than 50 million downloads, which is little compared to Netflix but still remarkable given that it’s only available in the US, Puerto Rico, and Japan. With over 700k reviews, the app is rated 4.5 stars.

Music and Audio

1. Spotify

Spotify started as a Swedish project in 2006 and is now one of the top audio streaming services in the world, with more than 433 million users. The freemium service allows users to listen for free but with limited controls over what they’re listening to; they can’t skip ads and get six skips only per hour. Moreover, only desktop and web player users can playback songs on demand. Paid subscribers get full access to all the app features, including downloading songs to listen to offline. Spotify has over 1 billion downloads and a rating of 4.3 stars.

2. YouTube Music

YouTube Music is another now-popular streaming service released by Google. While the service has the same prices as Spotify, it offers more functionalities for free users. Some users choose it over Spotify because they believe it has more intelligent AI. YouTube Music’s one disadvantage is that the quality of the music is lower than Spotify’s. YouTube Music also has more than one billion downloads. Its star rating is currently at 4.6 stars.

Shopping

1. Amazon Shopping

Jeff Bezos, one of the wealthiest men alive, founded Amazon.com and still owns it. He initially created the venture to sell books, but the company was met with justified skepticism and didn’t make much profit until 2001. Now, Amazon sells products of all types and operates in more than 15 countries, delivering products globally. The company has a 4.4-star rating based on 3.26 million reviews and over half a billion downloads.

2. Walmart

While Jeff Bezos created Amazon, believing in the power of the internet, the founders of Walmart created the stores in the 1960s, before the internet was invented. This year, it celebrated its 60th anniversary with more than 10,000 stores in 24 countries, besides e-commerce websites. Their annual revenue is around $500 billion. The Walmart mobile app has a rating of 4.7 stars and over 50 million downloads.

Speaking of shopping apps, you can create a fully-operational e-commerce app with the nandbox native no-code app builder. All you have to do is sign up for the free trial, choose a template, and then add all the features you want with a few mouse clicks.

The post Google Play Statistics and the Top App Categories on the Store appeared first on nandbox Native App Builder.

The final step of developing an app is bringing it to light. There’s no better way to incite downloads than publishing it on an official store, like the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. They both add layers of protection that provide users with security. Users don’t think twice before downloading an app from both official stores. That’s why we created this guide to show you how to publish an app on the Google Play Store and the App Store if you’re using the nandbox app builder for your app demo account setup.

The Demo Account

If your application has an authentication system for logging in via email or phone number, you should provide both Google and Apple with a demo account that includes a login and password. nandbox represents the Demo Account feature, which helps you create your demo account to accomplish the mission.

Important consideration must be given to the demo account before publishing your app, as Google and Apple Store might reject your submission for skipping this step. Both Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store might reject your submission for skipping this step, so they require a demo account for any app that has login functionality to review them for several reasons:

• Content Checking: They must ensure the app’s content meets store guidelines. This includes checking for inappropriate or harmful content, age-appropriateness, and deception.
• Security: The app must be secure. It must be malware-free and secure user data.
• Advertisements and Purchases: They must be able to verify that in-app purchases and ads comply with store policies.
• App Functionality Verification: All app features must be tested, not just the login screen. They must interact with as many as possible to prevent fraudulent or harmful apps from being published and maintain app store quality.

How It Works!

In the App Settings page, scroll down till you find the Signup & Registration section. Click the arrow to configure a login method in your app.

The builder supports two methods: either via Email or Mobile. Choose the right one for your app and complete your configurations.

Here comes the role of the app demo account setup. After filling in your login registration method settings, the builder will generate the demo account used in your app review.

Copy your instructions and insert them in your Google Console account.

Google Play Console Account

At the App Content section, click App Access, mark “All or some functionality in my app is restricted,” then click Add instructions

1. Add instruction name.

2. Add the email or the phone number used in your demo account.

3. Then add the instructions in the empty box.

4. Don’t forget to mark ‘No other information is required to access my app.’

5. Then click ‘Add.’

Apple Developer Account

From the side menu, click “Prepare for submission, scroll down till you reach App Review Information, and add the instruction in the empty box.

It can be a hassle to learn how to publish an app on the Google Play Store or the App Store. You have many steps to take, all while worrying if your application is approved for publication or not. The app demo account setup that you create with nandbox facilitates part of the process. You can use it to upload and enlist your app for review with ease. Additionally, it doesn’t cost extra to upload both the Android and iOS versions of the first app you create. Sign up now to try out this feature and more on nandbox.

The post Get Your App Published with Demo Account Setup appeared first on nandbox Native App Builder.

The platform is the first thing any app owner should think about when conducting and developing an app. The platform on which you intend to publish your application is a major consideration and something that many factors depend on. The guidelines for platforms differ from one to another. So it’s not a standard that the guidelines you stick to for publishing your app meet. Following Google’s guidelines won’t certainly get it published on Apple’s App Store. It’s a very important step to understand these guidelines and work accordingly. To make it easy for you, we’re going to list for you the top pitfalls that are common and usually get apps rejected on the Google Play Store.

You first need to sign in to your Google Play Console and access your app.

Issue 1: Payment Information & ID Verification Error

Google can stop your publishing process if there are issues with your payment information or unverified ID. Thus, it is crucial to confirm your identification and make sure your payment details are up to date and accurately set up in your Google Play Console account. This rejection happens as a result of Google’s requirement that developers supply precise payment information in order to guarantee safe transactions and adherence to financial regulations. Furthermore, an unverified ID causes doubt on the developer’s credibility and may give rise to suspicions of fraud.

To ensure a seamless app publication process, make sure to review your developer account settings and adhere to Google’s verification criteria.

Issue 2: Missing Privacy Policy URL

One of the most common reasons Google might reject your app is a missing privacy policy. We will go through the two sections where you should have a link to your privacy policy page.

1. From the left menu, click ‘App content,’ then start your Privacy Policy declaration.

2. Enter your link for your privacy policy page and click ‘Save.’

3. From your app builder, go to the ‘Branding’ page at the onboarding themes section and add your Privacy Policy URL.

Issue 3: Need Login Credentials For App Review

Which is displayed in the form of the following message from Google:

Follow these steps provided by Google

When you click ‘+ Add new instructions’ field

You have to provide access to Google for the demo account that you created. Make sure to match the same email address or mobile number with the one generated from your demo account. Then, include your app login instructions:

1. Open App
2. Tap “ACCEPT AND CONTINUE”
3. Tap “Allow” to allow notifications permission
4. Under the country code select: “The country”
5. Enter the following phone number: “xxxxxxx”
6. Tap “Next”
7. App will open and you will have full access
8. The app will open granting you all permissions.
9. To delete your account go to settings -> Account -> Delete my account.

Issue 4: Account Deletion Right

When releasing your app on Google Play Console, it is essential to create a delete account page URL because it protects user rights and improves the user experience. Google prioritizes user privacy and data security; therefore, if your app doesn’t offer a clear way for users to remove their accounts and related content, it may be rejected. By providing a specific delete account page, you enable users to take charge of their personal data and make sure they can quickly delete any information that is associated with them if they so desire.

1. From the left menu, click ‘App content,’ then start your Data Safety declaration

2. Mark ‘Username and other authentication’ and add your delete account URL.

Issue 5: Missing Store Listing Information

App Description

It’s important to include both short and long descriptions of your app in the store listings area of Google Play Console so that potential users can understand how valuable it is.

The short description is shown widely in search results and acts as an interesting, short summary that grabs users’ attention quickly (ideally in less than 80 characters), highlighting the app’s main functions and unique features; therefore, you need a short, clear, specific, and interesting one because if it’s not, you could be rejected for giving false information.

While the full description attracts users who want more information and explanation before downloading. You have up to 4,000 characters to describe the app’s features, benefits, and any unique selling points.

From the left menu, click ‘Store Listings,’ and add your short and full description.

App Graphics

Adding graphics to your app, like an app icon, a feature graphic, and device screenshots, is important for making it stand out visually on the Google Play Store. These graphics also help communicate your brand’s personality and how the app works.

Using blurry or badly designed pictures can get your app turned down because Google prefers high-quality images that show what the app is really like. Make sure that your screenshots are taken from the actual app.

On the same page of Store Listing, scroll down to reach the Graphics section.

Issue 6: Copyright Issues

One of the most common reasons that leads to rejection by the Google Play Store is copyrighting. The Google Play Store has extremely stern guidelines against the infringement of copyright. Many cases of poorly copied, successful apps were the reason behind these strict guidelines. Ranging from copying titles, visual design, or even the whole app.

To avoid this mistake, you should study your competitors’ apps thoroughly to steer clear of any similarities that may be present between the apps. And then go through your app and review your app’s icons, descriptions, titles, or in-app elements to ensure it’s not conflicting with any other app as a final assurance.

Issue 7: App’s Bugs & Errors

Bugs and crashes are other common reasons why the Google Play Store might reject your app. Poor app functionality is a big factor for a lot of rejections that you seriously need to take into consideration

Google doesn’t permit applications that freeze, force-close, crash, or behave in any other abnormal way. You need to test your application numerous times and on a variety of different devices first. Testing your app first before submitting allows you to see it from a user’s perspective and fix any errors or bugs. Making sure that your app is stable and provides an excellent user experience eliminates any chance of Google rejecting it.

Issue 8: Inaccurate Content Rating

Google Play offers content ratings, which are meant to help app developers share the right content ratings with users. This information was provided in advance to help users understand if this app is suitable for a specific targeted age group of audience. It informs users, mainly parents, of potentially sensitive content that may be contained within an application.

To ensure that your app is safe for everyone, Google’s guidelines strictly prohibit a specified type of content. Breaching these guidelines will get your app instantly rejected.

The type of content that Google restricts is:

• Sexual Content and Profanity
• Hate Speech
• Promoting violence
• Sensitive Events
• Bullying and Harassment
• Promoting gambling

Upon submitting your application, you will need to fill out a questionnaire providing information about the nature of your content and the specified audience that can use it. The Google Play Store doesn’t consider any app without a content rating. You should fill out the questionnaire with accurate and true information, as any misleading details or information that leads to the wrong app content rating will put your app at risk. Google gives you another chance to refill the questionnaire properly with the right information and submit your app once again. 

Be aware that if your app includes user-generated content, it may increase your risk. You should always revise, review, and monitor all the content on your app, remove any content that may pose a risk of restricting your app once and for all, and make all the necessary adjustments. You should also mention that in your policies to make it clear for all users. Repeated violations of the restricted content guidelines can result in the permanent termination of your account, so take good care of it.

Issue 9: Presence Of Malware

Malware is simply any code present within the app that puts a user at risk and may lead to his data, device, or security being violated. Google’s guidelines about malware are straightforward and stern. As soon as you submit the app, we immediately reject it if it contains malware or includes a link to malware in any part or description.

So, to avoid the hassle of submitting and resubmitting, you have to go through your app and your app’s code to make sure all the links are clean, with not even a 1% chance of the presence of malware. This can guarantee that you publish the app seamlessly.

After following this article and the Google Play Store guidelines thoroughly, you can now enjoy a prompt and easy submission process and enjoy your app without worrying about the Google Play Store rejecting it.

The post Top Reasons Why Your App Might Be Rejected on Google Play Store & Solutions: 2024 Guide appeared first on nandbox Native App Builder.

How To Test Your App Before Publishing

Releasing an untested mobile app is as bad as releasing an unfinished app. Few apps are complete—or even perfect—when first released, but many are at least a minimum viable product (MVP). And even then, they would have gone through at least one round of testing before being published.

There are a few platforms available for testing native and hybrid mobile apps. Some support only testing for a single operating system, either iOS or Android. But others allow you to test both versions of your app, assuming you are releasing it for both OS. However, most of these are services you pay to use. Both Apple and Google offer ways for developers to test their native or hybrid mobile apps at no cost. You should also test any web-based apps you develop. However since you do not publish these on the App Store or Google Play, the method for testing differs.

nandbox is the only no-code mobile app builder platform that makes it easy and affordable for anyone to develop a native mobile app. Other platforms deliver either a hybrid or web-based app. Below, we will explain how to use Apple’s and Google’s free mobile app testing services. You can use these to test your native or hybrid mobile app, regardless of how you developed your app.

Why Test Your App Before Releasing It?

You test your app before releasing it to ensure that all features work as you intended. This includes evaluating usability and assessing the app’s stability. These are all things you can test yourself. But getting other people to test it can help identify issues you did not experience, overlooked, or did not anticipate.

Not everyone is using the very latest software release or the latest phone model. This applies whether you developed your app for iOS, Android, or built web applications i.e. EMR systems. And unlike iPhones, with Android, you have dozens of phones released by different manufacturers. Large-scale testing will allow you to pick up on issues only experienced on certain phone models or specific versions of the operating systems.

It isn’t unusual for app developers to stipulate that they optimized their app for recent phone and operating system releases. But this usually includes phones and operating systems released in the last 3-4 years.

Testing an iOS App Using TestFlight

• If you have collected the email addresses of people interested in being notified when the app launches, reach out to them to see if they would like to test your app.
• If your app is meant to support your existing business, speak to your current customers to enquire if any would like to be testers.
• Use social media (including Reddit) to ask for testers. You can use a public link, allowing anyone to opt-in without the need to manually manage a list.

TestFlight allows up to 10,000 external users to test your app, and you can even have different users testing different builds of your app. Each build remains available for testing for 90 days after it was first uploaded. The App Store will review the first build you add for external testers. This is to ensure it adheres to the App Store Review Guidelines. Testing can only begin once they approve the app.

Testers can submit feedback directly to you via the TestFlight app and can also include screenshots to highlight issues they encounter. If you enable crash reporting, the system will prompt testers to send details of any app crashes to you.

Testing an Android App Using Google Play Console

Like TestFlight, Google’s Play Console allows users to test your app before you publish it. Using Play Console for testing is free and allows for open, closed, and internal testing. As the name suggests, internal testing is meant for having a small group of trusted users test your app before allowing a larger group of volunteers to test it. Open and closed testing have important distinctions you need to be aware of:

• Closed Testing: internal testing allows you to have up to 100 trusted users test your app before you release it. Closed testing allows you to have a much larger group of users test your app without publishing it on Google Play first. As with TestFlight, you will need to find users for closed testing. You will need to create an email list and manually add testers for a closed test.
• Open Testing: With open testing, you publish the test version of your app on Google Play and anyone can discover and install it. This saves you from having to manage an email list and users can still submit private feedback on the app. But your app and store listing must be ready to be shown on Google Play.

You can run multiple closed tests and one internal test at the same time. This can be useful for having different groups of testers focus on specific features or tests.

Things To Remember When Testing Your App

With TestFlight you won’t always know who your testers are. When testers submit feedback via the app, they can opt out of including their email address. However, you will be able to see what device and iOS version the tester was using, along with other critical—but non-identifying—information.

Give testers information on what the purpose of the app is, even if you feel it is obvious. Ask them to perform specific tasks too, such as:

• Creating an account and updating their profile.
• Using Facebook, Apple, or Google to sign in (if offered in your app).
• For e-commerce apps, ask them to find specific items in your store, add them to their cart, and then complete the check-out steps.
• Have them test all features of your app, with a special focus on any features that use a phone and operating system features, such as the calendar, camera roll, and others.

Keep in mind that there are two types of Android releases: an APK version, which is used to test your application before publishing,  and a bundle version, which is the version used for publishing on the Google Play Store.

If you’re able to communicate directly with your app testers, ask them questions as part of their feedback, such as:

• What features were most and least useful?
• How fast was the installation in comparison to other apps they’ve installed?
• How easy was it to navigate to specific screens and find the information they needed?
• Why would or wouldn’t they use the app again?
• What functions did not work or did not work as expected?
• How likely are they to recommend the app to friends?
• What features or functions did they feel were missing?

nandbox makes it easy and affordable for anyone to develop a native app for iOS, Android, or both operating systems. And with dozens of features that you can add to your app, your app can be simple or complex. But despite nandbox making mobile app development simpler for anyone, you still need to have your app tested. And every time you make significant changes to your app, you should have the app tested again. Whether you’ve added or removed features or just tweaked the flow,.

Rather than being a tiresome process, app testing is vital to ensuring your app works as intended and is enjoyed and valued by users.

The post How To Test Your App Before Publishing appeared first on nandbox Native App Builder.