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The European Union passed a new set of regulations, targeting digital platforms. These new rules will have a significant impact on the digital market, including the App Store and Google Play Store. When the regulations are implemented, it will provide app developers with more leverage and insight into the workings of the stores, including ranking information that is essential for App Store Optimization.
Google frequently updates its Play Store with both user-facing and developer-facing changes. The latest round of updates is a Material Theme redesign, which can impact how apps appear on the Play Store, but Google has also announced updates to Android APIs and Play policies that developers should be aware of. These changes can have an impact on their App Store Optimization and Play Store listings.
While the Apple App Store and Google Play Store host apps from developers all over the world, the companies behind the stores may be giving their own apps extra attention. The stores are under investigation for allegedly favoring their own apps in their stores. Whether or not that is the case, app developers can utilize App Store Optimization to help even the playing field.
Google has been steadily working on Android Q, with the release of a new beta. Developers can utilize this to begin preparing their apps for the upcoming release, as well as determine how to utilize the new capabilities in their apps and plan their App Store Optimization strategy.
The release of Apple’s News+ subscription service, along with other upcoming services, has left many developers nervous about how they are going to compete. While App Store Optimization can help developers remain competitive even with Apple as a rival, the company appears to be taking a “do as I say, not as I do” stance for its own subscription guidelines.
Earlier this week, Apple announced several new upcoming services. Each one is an advancement for existing apps and services, providing new features and capabilities for tools and services users are already familiar with. The announcement left many developers of similar apps worrying about how they can stay relevant, but the answer lies in App Store Optimization.
Apple Search Ads announced the addition of new territories, enabling developers to launch campaigns in new regions. This latest update is a large-scale expansion, more than tripling the number of territories Search Ads are available in. A Search Ads campaign provides multiple benefits for an app’s App Store Optimization, so the expansion is important for developers launching apps in those regions.
Recently, a Facebook server configuration error caused a glitch that resulted in its longest-ever outage. The glitch left users unable to access not only the Facebook app and webpage, but other apps owned by Facebook, including Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp. What was a mild inconvenience for users was more problematic for developers who use Facebook ads as part of their marketing campaigns, and might even impact their App Store Optimization.
Google Play has updated with a new way to design app icons. These provide dynamically rounded corners and remove shadows, creating a more uniform shape throughout the Play Store. As developers create new icons for their apps, they should consider the App Store Optimization best practices for creative assets and the value that icons provide to an app.
Google announced a new feature for developers to use when creating apps for the Play Store. With the addition of custom store listings, developers can now target users with specific languages in specific countries. This opens new opportunities for App Store Optimization, particularly for localization for listings around the world.
Google is introducing new ways to let app developers monetize their apps while rewarding users. The new monetization option is called “Rewarded Products,” as it allows non-paying users to obtain in-app goods by spending their time, rather than money. There are many ways that utilizing this can be beneficial to an app’s App Store Optimization strategy as well as a source of income.
Apple has announced a major change coming to the iOS and macOS App Stores. This will enable a way to create apps for both iOS and macOS simultaneously, as well as an easier way to port iOS apps to macOS. The company will begin developing and rolling out a new UIKit, which will let developers create a single app for mobile devices and computers by 2021. This initiative, code-named “Marzipan,” promises to be a major innovation for app developers and will also have a major impact on App Store Optimization.