Download This!Tips for Successfully Promoting Your Android App

Phil Shadlyn@physphil

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

App Indexing

● Add your app to Google’s search index

● Apps can displayed directly in Google search results

App Indexing

● Your app can be grouped with

others in search results

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

App Indexing - More Info

● Firebase App Indexing

● App Indexing Codelab

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

Developer Page

● Promote your apps and your brand

● Landing page for your Android apps

● Manage in Developer Console

Developer Page Example(s)

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

Other Tips

● Secrets to App Success on Google Play

● Bring app to Chromebooks

● Android Instant Apps

● Translate app into other languages

● Nag to rate

Submit to App Discovery Services

● Promote apps or provide paid apps for free for 24 hours

○ AppGratis

○ Free App of the Day

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)

Self Promotion

● Email friends and family

● Facebook/Twitter/G+ posts

● Android blog submissions

○ Android Police, Droidlife, Android Central, Android in Canada, etc...

Questions?

Phil Shadlyn@physphil