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      1 page.title=App Developer Best Practices
      2 page.image=/distribute/images/gp-app-practices.png
      3 page.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. Dont
    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 youve 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 arent 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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