From Android App to Killer AppHow to Reach the Million-Downloads Milestone

Mario VivianiAndroid GDE

Mario VivianiFounder & CEO Mariux AppsAndroid GDE

What is a “Killer App”?

…an App that proves thecore value of some larger technology

and allows the developer to be the most successful in a particular area.

A“Killer App” is…

Famous Killer Apps

InstagramAngry Birds Whatsapp

2 Versions: Free & Pro8.000.000+ Total Downloads

In Top 100 on Google Play in various categories for 3 years:

Top 100 Free, Top 100 Paid and Top Grossing

My Killer App: Super Clock Wallpaper

Knowledge of the System

Know your Development Skills!

• Be fluent with Android Development• Practice with code samples• Study the official documentation• Learn from other devs• Experiment

Multi-Tasking is the key

It’s not all about Development

Android App Killer AppDevelopment Skills

It’s not all about Development

Android App Killer AppDevelopment Skills

Multi-Tasking!

Android App Killer AppDevelopment Skills

Design/UX Skills

Marketing Skills

One Skill To Rule Them All? Nope.

Android App Killer AppDevelopment Skills

Design/UX Skills

Marketing Skills

See what’s trending

•What is trending?•Are there apps similar to mine?•How are users reacting to these apps?

Scratch the Surface of Google Play

Analyze Google Play Rankings

Third party analytics tools: Web

AppBrain

Third party analytics tools: Android App

App Stats (beta)

Android Developer Console

•App Stats•Android versions•Comments•Ratings

Design of your app: Clear & Clean

•Users don’t want to feel dumb•If users request a feature, provide it•If users report a feature as useless, or difficult, change it or delete it

•Spend time improving your app Design and UX

Clean & Clear

•Users will already know how to use your app - yay! -•Will match Google Play design requirements to be featured - double yay! -

Happy customers + Happy Google Play team = getting closer to Killer App!!!

Follow Development & Design guidelines!!!

developer.android.com

Your Main, First and Last Source of Truth:

Design of your app:Focus on Graphical Assets

Apps evolve with Android

2010 2014

The most important asset: App Icon

•Lures users to your app•It’s the first graphical asset users will see of your app•If your icon looks bad, or not interesting, or unprofessional, users will not click on it: they just won’t.

SPEND TIME CREATING YOUR ICON!!!

Provide screenshots from 3’’ to 10’’ displays (focus on tablets)

Screenshots: multiple displays & versions

•Video shows in detail the features of your app•Android 4.4 KitKat has a specific tool for screen recording

Provide a video on Google Play

App Testing & Compatibility

4000+ differentAndroid Devices

Devices evolve… and multiply!

Test on real devices (or good Emulators)

Do not underestimate the Power of 2.3!

Do not underestimate the Power of 2.3!

2.320%

4.0<78%

Self Marketing:Customer Care

Ratings on Google Play: Why should I care?

•It’s the best way to measure customer appreciation of your app•Good ratings induce other customers to download the app•It helps creating a DIRECT RELATIONSHIP with your customers

The Great Macro-Categories of Ratings

Who are they: users that are really happy with your app and give it an amazingly high rating.

What to do with them: answer with gratitude to their good comments and ratings, and ask how can you furtherly improve your app.

ENTHUSIASTS (5-stars ratings)

The Great Macro-Categories of Ratings

Who are they: users that appreciate your app, but not enough to give it a top-notch rating

What to do with them: carefully consider their advices/requests, because they are usually ready to change their minds and abandone your app if you don’t improve it

HAPPY USERS (4-stars ratings)

The Great Macro-Categories of Ratings

Who are they: people who have found serious issues in your app.

What to do with them: A good approach is to get in touch with them in order to understand better their rating. (Someone gives 3 star ratings because they think it’s a good vote!)

“MEH” USERS (2/3-stars ratings)

The Great Macro-Categories of Ratings

Who are they: they have found major issues in your app. This is the category you have to watch more carefully

What to do with them: interaction is a panacea: get in touch with these users, and try to understand the issues they’re experiencing.

Be careful to separate unhappy users from…

UNHAPPY USERS (1-star ratings)

The Great Macro-Categories of Ratings

Who are they: nonsensical comments, users shouting against your app claiming it has broken their devices, people saying they can’t download your app (if so, how can you rate it?!?) and so on.

What to do with them: Haters gonna hate. Deal with it. ;-)

HATERS (1-star ratings with really bad comments)

The Great Macro-Categories of Ratings

HAPPY USERS (4-stars ratings)

ENTHUSIASTS (5-stars ratings)

“MEH” USERS (2/3-stars ratings)

UNHAPPY USERS (1-star ratings)

HATERS (1-star ratings with really bad comments)

+

•Keep listening to your users•Don’t be oversensistive about your app•Do your best to improve your app according to your customers suggestions•Keep up the good work!!!!

Keep Listening, Improving and Updating!

Self Marketing:Promote your App!

•Use Google+•Create Alpha and Beta communities•Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest…•Send material to Android-related Press (blogs, forums, newspapers…)

Use Social skills to promote your App!

Wrap-up:The Road to Killer App

•Knowledge of the System•Good and consistent Graphical Assets•Follow the Guidelines (but be creative!)•App Testing & Compatibility•Customer Care•Social Promotion

The Killer App Checklist!

Board: The App Clinic – Italia on trello.com

tiny.cc/appclinicitalia

The App Clinic: Suggest your apps!

Q&A #droidconit

Mario VivianiAndroid GDE

email:Google+:GDE Profile:

mariux01@gmail.complus.google.com/+MarioVivianidevelopers.google.com/experts/+MarioViviani