AndroidMan1

I recently released a new android app on the play market called GuessTheYear and the only downloads i have received from the play store are from people i have told about the app. My other apps are usually top of the list or top 5 after searching a keyword related to the app. But even searching 'guesstheyear' in the play store things like "Top SuperBowl Ads" are above the app! In fact it comes 12th on the list. Is the anyway to get apps higher up the "search rankings"? and i dont wont to pay for adverts , Im guessing there is no answer to this? I wish google would introduce tags to the play store :/


Link to the app i am referring to

Last edited by AndroidMan1; August 10th, 2012 at 06:14 PM.

sohguanh

I believe this has to do with paid adverts? It seems those that pay for adverts get their apps to be listed on top despite some of them not having anything to do with your search keyword. I guess it is only logical and fair since they paid for it.

Scur

This is the reason I made a list of home launchers and only update once a month or so. Searching for "home launcher" will bring up only a couple, if any, on every page. The rest are themes and app launchers. I hate the search feature of the market. And it uses tags, btw. Do some searches on really popular apps, and look at some of the obscure ones that pop up. The devs will either reference your search words or have a list of tags. It's especially irritating to see a giant list of completely unrelated tags.


I completely disagree, in the way the system is now anyway. If they paid to have their apps at the top of the list, it's a bit underhanded to not have a label on their app that admits that that particular app is sponsored, just like any other search that you do anywhere. If something is at the top of a list, I think I should have the right to know that it was paid for, not because everyone else thinks it's a better product.
Now, that's not to say I think it's underhanded to sponsor your product. I think that it's perfectly fine to advertise and push for your product. But I think I have the right to see the difference between an advertised product and a popular one.

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Last edited by Scur; August 11th, 2012 at 08:34 AM.

AndroidMan1

I also don't think it had anything to do with paying for ads, my guess is that it searches the apps description for tags, but also the app moves up the rankings if people search a keyword and click on the app. I'm unsure about this though.

Scur

I have a feeling the order shown is based on an algorithm with ratings, downloads, trends, etc. all factored in. It's almost disturbing the number of times I've typed the exact name of an app and had to scroll down or even go to the next page to find it. Even a couple of search options would improve it. Like the ability to search titles only or exclude certain terms.

350X

They just need to have the link to new apps or unrated apps up higher for people to look at.

If you watch only the staff picks and highest rated or most sold, the apps n games on it changes very little.

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Scur

Even that would help. The search just sucks. I mean, it's Google for crying out loud, you'd think they could have put some type of search parameters beyond the near-useless ones they have.

sohguanh

Google started off with search engine. So I guess the current Google Play search could do some refining based on feedback. However if a developer intend to put in un-related keyword of their app in the tags, the search engine would unwittingly pick it up and list them isn't it? Hmmm...if only Google can release their search algorithm underlying :P

AndroidMan1

I definitely agree they need to improve it so new unrated apps can have a chance, because at the moment it seems the ones that reach the top 100 stay there for months and are usually made by big companies or by someone who copies a title of the apple app store and so people search for it on the android store.

Scur

I have an entire page in Pulse dedicated to Android, and am always paying attention to new apps. (btw, is there a feed dedicated to apps?)
But one of the best ways I have to find new apps is Droid of the Day. They do an excellent job of bringing good, new apps to my attention.

sohguanh

In the music scene, we have indie music. Likewise it would be nice to have a platform or place to showcase apps that is from them instead. Isn't it boring to see the big players apps day after day? Furthermore, it would be unfair to compare big players apps vs indie apps as the resources and cost invested by them are of many magnitudes more than indie developers. Just my humble opinion.

chanchan05

AppAware does new apps.

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AndroidMan1

I think then the main way to get an app popular is by one of the following:
-copy a popular apple app
-create an app that hads very little competition for keywords and yet is wanted
-Advertise alot
-Get lucky with one of the 'App of the day' sites
-Spam the internet
-own a popular blog site

Scur

I figured there had to be some way to see a list of new apps that is based solely on release date, and came across the BRAND-NEW APPS app and web site. You can't search by keyword, but you can search by category, which is what I was looking for.

AndroidMan1

Well i emailed Droid App of the Day - a new Android app recommendation every day! with my GuessTheYear app and they replied saying they like what they see and it may be featured within the next few days

Scur

I like the app. A couple things, though.
There is a typo in the year about the release of Pitfall. It doesn't save my name in the high score if I exit the app. And the questions can repeat pretty quick. But like I said, I like it.