In recent times and for a while, Google Play Store has been the most used app store by most app developers. This is based on the fact that over 3.5 billion smartphone users in the world, Android has over 74% of the operating system (OS) in the world, according to Statista. Recently, Google Play Store has over 3.3 billion mobile apps. However, there are lots of rules and reasons why many apps will not thrive on Google Play Store.
Using an alternative app store will be beneficial for you as an Android app developer because there are over 400 alternative app stores, which means that there is a staggering number of users outside of the Play Store environment. Here are some reasons why you may want to consider before settling for them.
Extra source of downloads
As an app developer, a perspective that must be looked at how well and quickly your app can have a global reach. Using alternative app stores will serve as an additional source for your apps to be downloaded. It is vital to know that in some regions of the world, third-party app stores have a strong presence among Android users, such as the situation of China, where Play Store is banned.
Free Marketing / SEO
As an app developer, one of the things you also need to put into consideration is the popularity of your web, not just your app. Unlike Play Store, using alternative apps provide app developers an opportunity for free online presence. So, the more alternative app stores you have your app featured on, the more apparent your app becomes on search engines.
Hence, by increasing the digital impression of your apps, you’re growing both your reputability and search presence for your works.
Specific Focus
For smaller alternative app stores, it is easier to get categorized in a particular genre or familiarize its activity towards a defined group of users, that is, separating paid apps from free ones. Also, some separate only paid apps from apps with paid content.
This means that users going to alternative stores can have their search processed and get recommendations in several spheres from culled lists. However, for app developers, it means they can diversify their distribution channels and grow their app’s user base in a more efficient manner.
More Favorable Revenue Share Model
Both Apple and Google Play Store have a standard fee to get an app published, and the split offered is 70/30. However, most alternative app stores can provide more interesting financial conditions. For example, some alternative app stores offer an 80/20 split and allow developers to get their apps published for free. In the case of Catappult, developers receive 75% of all in-app purchases.
Additional Promotion Facilities
Most alternative app stores create a platform that allows apps to be featured as the app of the day, app of the week, or similar. This is a strategy to draw traffic to a particular app, boost its downloads to keep the developers relevant.
Several cost-effective promotional offers help in attracting the attention of users to the app, which would be almost impossible on Google Play Store due to strict editorial control and a wide range of app selection.
A More Global Reach
China, today, has the highest number of smartphone users. They constitute about 20% of smartphone users in the world. However, Google Play Store doesn’t have penetration into its app market. Hence, having your apps published on alternative app stores, especially those with penetration in the China app market, will make your app have a more global reach.
There is a vast choice of alternative app stores for Android developers. As an app developer, you can decide to settle for these distribution channels or stick to a particular independent store to quickly reach its target audience. While it is true that it will take a while for the Play Store to be sidelined, having your apps on alternative app stores will imply that your app can reach others without access to the Play Store.
Also, as most of them do not require additional investments, there is virtually no single need to abstain from the alternatives they stand to offer your app influence.
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