Publishing your first app in the Play Store: what you need to know
Looking forward to develop an Android app and market it for fame and name? Well the task to develop an Android app is only a single side of the whole success story. The other equally crucial part commences once you are completely done with the development and ready to market the idea. The first and foremost step towards marketing your app is to successfully upload the app on Google PlayStore. Google Play store is the market place which is most widely prefered for downloading Android apps published by worldwide developers. Lets plunge across various aspects that needs to be clear before you step ahead to upload your Android app on Google PlayStore :
Google Play Developer Account
As soon as you goto https://play.google.com/apps/publish/signup/, the console offers you to Signup witha new account which is mostly preffered from worldwide developers whereas other option is to simple getin through existing user ID.
Befor you continue to the payment option, read all the guidelines mentioned in Google Play Developers Distribution Agreement.
Below screen appears as soon as you click Make Payment option to pay one time $25 registration fee for using the services. Likewise Apple and Microsoft, Google insists that they also encourages higher quality products, i.e. less SPAM with guidlines to prohibit any scope for lack in quality of the product. Below is the Developer console window where Andoid developers can eaisly manage their apps and related parameters like number od downloads, number of uninstalls, money earned through in-app purchases etc.
With all the above details, it seems that understanding of the console to perfectly manage the uploaded app on the PlatStore is utmost important.
So, now as you have the account to publish your Android App, all you need is understand all the setting that will help the app appear in the closest approximation to the set filters. Lets understand all the important parts of uploading an Android app on Google PlayStore:
Localisation
Sometimes, we underestimate potential in a part of continent or country which becomes prominent later across performance statistics. But with the help of Google analytics, you could easy keep track of number and location of visits and accordingly. How to do it? If your app is already live, use this Report in the Play Console that helps identify countries and user visits on the Play store. These visits could indicate interest in your app in that country and an opportunity to increase installs by localizing.
Alpha & Beta Testing
Before uploading your Android app its extremly important to make sure that every function is properly working. For this you have Alpha and Beta testing approach which Google Play itself takes care of. In the “APK” section of the Developer Console, you will find the options related to “Beta Testing” and “Alpha Testing”. Once you have uploaded the app’s “.apk” file(s), you can easily generate a URL that can be shared with the testers. Using this link, your testers can check all the functionalities ingrainged in your app’s alpha or beta version. Just remember, “Beta Testing” and “Alpha Testing” is to optimise your Android app and make relevant changes in it before publishing it in the store.
Store Listing
Now comes the most important part of uploading the app, as this is the place that will determine how it would be seen in Google Play. After uploading the “.apk” file of your app, go to the “Store Listing” tab. Over there, you need to add the details of the app, like a “Short description” (of 12 to 80 characters) and a “Full description” (of up to 100 characters) of the app. Along with this, add screenshots, a link of the promo video (if you have one), contact details (website name, email id, phone number, etc.), categorisation (application type category and content rating), and other such important details related to the app. After completing the relevant fields, press the “Save” button. You can add these details anytime while uploading or after the the app is uploaded on the PlayStore.
Add Pricing and Distribution Details
This section allows you to set a price for your app and list it as “Free” or “Paid”under relevant category. For instance, If you app is related to e-learning, you can add limelight using “Google Play for Education” option or if it is compatible with an Android TV, then you can add a Leanback launch. Isn’t it simple till now? Well, there are only a few sections left after which you can view your app in the Google PlayStore.
Publish the App
As there is green check mark next to all the three tabs — “APK”, “Store Listing” and “Pricing & Distribution”, you are all ready to publish the app in Google Play. Just click the “Publish this app” button under the “Ready to Publish” drop-down menu at the top right corner of the Developer Console. A confirmation bar that appears stating that your app would appear shortly in the Google Play Store, assures that it is submitted for review from Google. Any king of required change can be done later.
There are many other aspects of uploading an app on the playstore like fitering it for particular devices and distribution of your app according to the device features that are compatible with it, but they can prevent your app from getting negative feedbacks. Allow only compatible devices to find your Android app in the Play Store.
Publishing an app on Google PlayStore is as easy as filling up a college form with all the details accurately which helps user to get a clear idea about your product and can be done in next to no time. All you would need is to create an app with neccessary ingredients for success. At BrainMobi, our development team leverage services which helps you rise above thousands of apps that are launched every day.
