Download This!
Tips for Successfully Promoting Your Android App
Phil Shadlyn
@physphil
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Promotion is Hard/Annoying
● More installs + higher ratings = even more installs
● Can be hard to make your app stand out
● Lots of tools and tips to make it easier
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App Indexing
● Add your app to Google’s
search index
● Apps can displayed directly
in Google search results
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App Indexing
● Your app can be grouped with
others in search results
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App Indexing - How?
● Link website with app in Google Search Console
● Handle incoming links in manifest
● Possible to submit app-only content
● Google does index apps on their own, too
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App Indexing - More Info
● Firebase App Indexing
● App Indexing Codelab
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App Promo Codes
● Give users a paid app or in-app purchase for free
● Drive initial installs
● User enters code in ‘Redeem’ during Play Store purchase
● Manage promotions in Developer Console
○ Can create 500 promo codes per app per quarter
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Developer Page
● Promote your apps and your brand
● Landing page for your Android apps
● Manage in Developer Console
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Developer Page Example(s)
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Firebase App Invites
● Promote your app through word of mouth
● Allows users to send personalized invites to friends
● Generate with AppInviteInvitation Intent
● Receive with AppInviteApi.getInvitation() method
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Other Tips
● Secrets to App Success on Google Play
● Bring app to Chromebooks
● Android Instant Apps
● Translate app into other languages
● Nag to rate
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Submit to App Discovery Services
● Promote apps or provide paid apps for free for 24 hours
○ AppGratis
○ Free App of the Day
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Reddit
● Can either promote app, or ask for feedback
● Works nicely with Promotion Codes
● Subreddits:
○ r/Android
○ r/AndroidApps
○ r/androiddev (only if open source app)
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Self Promotion
● Email friends and family
● Facebook/Twitter/G+ posts
● Android blog submissions
○ Android Police, Droidlife, Android Central, Android in Canada, etc...