12 steps to make your app easy to recognize and get
I put it on Google Play and the Apple Store and promote it, right? Yes, but there's more to do. As an outcome of the 'Clones' project, we've learned that there are a vast set of use cases for downloading apps. In India, for example, Google Play is available. But many people share Android apps with each other using Xender instead. On another hand, you have places like Iran and China who block Google Play. Alternative app stores are people's primary source. Sharing apps through Telegram and WeChat is also common.
As an open source team, it's important to consider how people will get your app. If not, you leave a door of opportunity open. A hacker can add tracking mechanisms or malware, then publish a clone of your app. Confused or oblivious, individuals often don't know if they have the authentic app.
We hope you find these helpful. Learn about actions for the community in the post, “Don’t Eat Free Cheese”.
Community Outreach
1. Claim your presence.
Availability is very context specific, so invest time and energy into making your app available where people commonly get apps. Some of these places include third-party app stores, WhatsApp groups, and Telegram channels.
2. Encourage official ways to get your app.
When working with specific communities, be sure that trainers are equipped with the official websites for downloading the app. Communicate if you offer a service where people can email or send a WhatsApp message to get the app.
3. Provide guidelines for sharing apps with friends.
Instead of sharing an app over Xender or Bluetooth, give users a way to verify the developer and version number of the app by sharing a direct download link from GitHub or GitLab.
4. Encourage updates.
Many people don’t update their apps because they don’t have room, are concerned about data use, or don’t understand its importance. As the author of an app, you play a role in ensuring people stay up to date. Make it easy to update by keeping the app size similar. If you have in-app updates, consider when and how you ask permission to update.
Informational
5. Standardize APK links.
Make it easy for people to identify the developer name and version number in a direct download link. For example: https://github.com/MyFavoriteDeveloper/AppName/Release/AppName-version124.apk.
6. Integrate in-app updates.
If your code has been injected with tracking, an update to the app will wipe it out. In-app updates make updating easier and more seamless for your users.
7. build confidence and credibility.
Provide information on the app’s website to make it easy for people to visually verify and trust the app. Some information to include—
Your app store description
Screenshots
Number of downloads
Current release date
Size of the app
Direct download link and APK file name
Current app logo, colors and fonts
Info about the development team
Developer key
Most helpful reviews from Google Play
Audits, awards or publications related to the project
Note: We understand that there are ways to publish and verify signatures for apps. These processes ensure that you have the authentic app. But they aren't practical. Few people do it. Most don’t know how.
8. Provide a guide for ethical use of your code and brand.
Most current open source code licenses don’t explicitly address use of the app name and graphical assets. To protect the integrity and reputation of your brand, write guidelines that restrict unwanted use of your name, logo and brand-specific graphics.
9. Guide for getting your app in a third-party app store.
Make it easy for someone to request that you make your app available in a store. If you’re not there, a clone likely will be.
10. Get your trademark.
Trademarks give weight with Apple and Google when you try to get cloned apps removed from the stores.
For Your Team
11. Create a distribution guide.
Create consistency and recognizability within your presence. These guidelines should address where to distribute the app, how to promote it, and steps to take when there’s an app update. This will help ensure your brand principles are upheld.
12. Make your style guide and brand assets easily accessible for your team.
Make sure team members know where they can locate the most up to date assets. Ensure they are not only easy to locate, but that members understand which assets are meant to be used where. This not only empowers team members, but helps maintain brand consistency.