1page.title=App Developer Best Practices
2page.image=/distribute/images/gp-app-practices.png
3page.metaDescription=Essential tips for launching successful apps in Google Play.
4@jd:body
5
6<div id="qv-wrapper"><div id="qv">
7<h2>Best Practices</h2>
8<ol>
9<li><a href="#essentials">Get the Essentials Right</a></li>
10<li><a href="#users">Get Users</a></li>
11<li><a href="#engage">Engage and Retain</a></li>
12<li><a href="#beyond">Beyond the Basics</a></li>
13<li><a href="#related-resources">Related Resources</a></li>
14</ol>
15</div></div>
16
17<p>The following best practices have enabled developers worldwide to build great, successful apps for Google Play.</p>
18
19<div class="headerLine">
20<h2 id="essentials">Get the Essentials Right</h2>
21</div>
22
23<h3>1. Make it Android</h3>
24
25<ul>
26  <li>
27  <p>
28    Build your apps to make best use of the unique Android features, such as
29    <a href="{@docRoot}distribute/engage/widgets.html">widgets</a>, <a href=
30    "{@docRoot}distribute/engage/notifications.html">rich notifications</a>,
31    <a href=
32    "http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2012/02/share-with-intents.html">sharing
33    through Intents</a>, and more.
34  </p>
35  </li>
36
37  <li>
38  <p>
39    Add the power of Google features your users already love, such as
40    <a href="https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/android/">Google
41    Maps</a>, <a href="https://developers.google.com/drive/">Google
42    Drive</a>, and more, all with <a href=
43    "https://developers.google.com/+/mobile/android/sign-in">single sign
44    on</a>.
45  </p>
46  </li>
47</ul>
48
49<h3>
50  2. Make it quality
51</h3>
52
53<ul>
54  <li>
55  <p>
56    Make sure your apps follow the <a href=
57    "{@docRoot}distribute/essentials/quality/core.html">Core App Quality</a>
58    guidelines.
59  </p>
60  </li>
61
62  <li>
63  <p>
64    Create apps that are available on all form factors and screen sizes, by
65    following the <a href=
66    "{@docRoot}distribute/essentials/quality/tablets.html">Tablet App
67    Quality</a> guidelines.
68  </p>
69  </li>
70
71  <li>
72  <p>
73    Test and <a href=
74    "{@docRoot}distribute/essentials/optimizing-your-app.html">optimize your
75    quality</a> at every step and make use of the Google Play <a href=
76    "{@docRoot}distribute/googleplay/developer-console.html#alpha-beta">beta-testing</a>
77    and <a href=
78    "{@docRoot}distribute/googleplay/developer-console.html#staged-rollouts">staged
79    rollouts</a> features to test with users before launch.
80  </p>
81  </li>
82</ul>
83
84<div class="headerLine">
85  <h2 id="users">
86  Get Users
87  </h2>
88
89
90</div>
91
92<h3>
93  1. Build buzz
94</h3>
95
96<ul>
97  <li>
98  <p>
99    Create a great <a href="{@docRoot}distribute/users/your-listing.html">app
100    listing page</a> to showcase your apps and grab users’ attention. Don’t
101    forget to include a <a href=
102    "{@docRoot}distribute/engage/video.html">YouTube video</a>.
103  </p>
104  </li>
105
106  <li>
107  <p>
108    <a href="{@docRoot}distribute/tools/launch-checklist.html">Launch</a> on
109    multiple platforms simultaneously to maximize your reach.
110  </p>
111  </li>
112
113  <li>
114  <p>
115    Promote your apps with the official <a href=
116    "{@docRoot}distribute/tools/promote/badges.html">Google Play badge</a>
117    and <a href="{@docRoot}distribute/tools/promote/linking.html">link to
118    your products</a> on Google Play.
119  </p>
120  </li>
121
122  <li>
123  <p>
124    Build a community with social media, <a href=
125    "http://groups.google.com/">forums</a>, and <a href=
126    "http://plus.google.com">communities</a> to get and keep users talking.
127  </p>
128  </li>
129</ul>
130
131<h3>
132  2. Optimize for great ratings
133</h3>
134
135<ul>
136  <li>
137  <p>
138    Get to <a href="{@docRoot}distribute/users/know-your-user.html">know your
139    users</a>, listen to and <a href=
140    "{@docRoot}distribute/engage/app-updates.html">update your apps</a> from
141    their feedback.
142  </p>
143  </li>
144
145  <li>
146  <p>
147    Focus on your strength markets first, get these right before expanding.
148  </p>
149  </li>
150</ul>
151
152<div class="headerLine">
153  <h2 id="engage">
154  Engage and Retain
155  </h2>
156
157
158</div>
159
160<h3>
161  1. Keep users coming back
162</h3>
163
164<ul>
165  <li>
166  <p>
167    Use <a href="{@docRoot}google/play/billing/index.html">Google Play In-app
168    Billing</a> to offer subscriptions to extended features.
169  </p>
170  </li>
171
172  <li>
173  <p>
174    Hold competitions and offer promotions, then announce them through
175    <a href="{@docRoot}design/patterns/notifications.html">notifications</a>.
176  </p>
177  </li>
178</ul>
179
180<h3>
181  2. Earn users’ love
182</h3>
183
184<ul>
185  <li>
186  <p>
187    <a href=
188    "http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2013/05/all-google-play-developers-can-now.html">
189    Respond to reviews</a> and get valuable feedback from the community
190    you've built.
191  </p>
192  </li>
193
194  <li>
195  <p>
196    <a href=
197    "http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2013/10/improved-app-insight-by-linking-google.html">
198    Measure</a> your campaigns to see what is driving users to install your
199    apps.
200  </p>
201  </li>
202
203  <li>
204  <p>
205    <a href=
206    "{@docRoot}distribute/essentials/optimizing-your-app.html#measuring-analyzing-responding">
207    Analyze in-app use</a> to steer content updates and prolong the life of
208    your apps.
209  </p>
210  </li>
211</ul>
212
213<div class="headerLine">
214  <h2 id="beyond">
215  Beyond the Basics
216  </h2>
217
218
219</div>
220
221<ul>
222  <li>
223  <p>
224    After you’ve launched in your market of strength, <a href=
225    "{@docRoot}distribute/users/expand-to-new-markets.html">expand into other
226    markets</a> strategically and <a href=
227    "{@docRoot}distribute/tools/localization-checklist.html">localize</a>
228    your apps as you go.
229  </p>
230  </li>
231
232  <li>
233  <p>
234    Keep users engaged, and stay ahead of the competition, by continually
235    <a href=
236    "{@docRoot}distribute/essentials/optimizing-your-app.html">optimizing
237    your apps</a> to offer new and better features, or retire those that
238    users aren’t using.
239  </p>
240  </li>
241
242  <li>
243  <p>
244    Build educational apps: learn <a href=
245    "{@docRoot}distribute/googleplay/edu/start.html">how to make apps for
246    Google Play for Education</a>.
247  </p>
248  </li>
249</ul>
250
251<div class="headerLine">
252<h2 id="related-resources">Related Resources</h2>
253</div>
254
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