Make apps more awesome! - CocoaConf Atlanta '14

Make your apps awesome

Chris BeauchampEvangelist @CrittercismDeveloper @WhitewaterLabs@cjbeauchamp

Ways to improve your app and its performance in the App Store

bit.ly/CocoaCritterATL

About Me

• Started as a PHP/HTML/JS dev

• Moved to mobile with iPhone SDK

• 6+ years iOS

• ~10 apps published between iTunes/Gplay

• Continue to develop independently

• Dev evangelist at Crittercism

College Days

KeepSafe

Whitewater Labs

Reasons to build

1. I want to make the next Instagram

2. My company wants an app

3. Development Shop

Everyone wants the same thing…

Metrics of success

Money!

Metrics of success

Quality App

Money!

Metrics of success

Quality App

Money!

Downloads

Happy users

Retained users

Positive reviews

My idea is the best idea ever ideated!

THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT

Go hug your designerUsers should LOVE using your app

Design can be simpleFunction comes first, then make it pretty

Prioritize FunctionalityBring the important stuff to the front

Simplify FlowsWhen you can’t… fake it!

Anticipate User PainYou can’t make everyone happy…

Get feedbackProvide a place to vent

Direct MessageSet up a line of communication

ForumGive the users a voice!

Flurry actions/page views

Flurry retention

Flurry demographics / personas

Analytics

What else?

Performance Monitoring

• What happens if your deployed app…

– Breaks on a user?

– Runs slow?

– Drops a connection?

– Crashes?

• Left in the dark unless the user tells you

App Store Feedback & Analysis

bit.ly/CocoaCritterATL

Sort and filter crashes

Drill into crashes

Crash Diagnostics

What about when a crash isn’t the issue?

App Store Feedback & Analysis

HTTP Service Monitoring

Location-based Monitoring

How can we use this to make more money!!??

Transaction Monitoring

E-Commerce Checkout Travel Booking

Stock Trade Account Signup

Mobile Point of Sale In-App Purchase

Transaction Monitoring

Transaction Monitoring

No more bad reviews!

Tweak + SEOLeave no keyword unfilled

Ratings affect discoverability

Ask for RatingsAppirater, Crittercism, etc

Be ExplicitAsk for 5 stars! Make a connection

Guilt Trips WorkWe aren’t a faceless corp!

No, I hate your app

Double-CheckEnsure they’ll leave a good review

No, I hate your app

Review MonitoringSee reviews/rankings in aggregate

iTunes Connect+See sales/download info

Track RankingWhat causes spikes? Countries?

LocalizeExpand your reach!

Be careful…With great power comes great

responsibility

Finishing Up

Chris BeauchampEvangelist @CrittercismDeveloper @WhitewaterLabs@cjbeauchamp

bit.ly/CocoaCritterATL

What about you?