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Final Capstone Project: Deploying Your Final Class Assignment: Getting your Android App to the Google Play Store

Congratulations, Students! 🎉 You’ve reached the final milestone of this course→

You are ready to deploy your app to the Google Play Store. In a way that maximizes the odds of success of your app.

Note : DO NOT REALLY PUBLISH YOUR APP - Just research and talk about the steps of how you would do.

Apps get successful IF:

ASO App Store optimization is HIGH.

Aso search optimization:

High virality:

people are posting favorable reviews.

keep it current; frequent updates

respond to reviews: reply to user reviews.

Low virality:

People download and delete soon or never us it.

Pricing your App: The price is part of the marketing story.

If you app is FREE: many people will download out of curiosity. There is App Instrumention built in which reports back to the server: people’s usage patterns.

You can read more about it here:

Churned Users, Cohort Analysis, and Boost User Engagement

https://coda.io/@peter-sigurdson/churned-users-cohort-analysis-and-user-engagement⁠

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This is where your hard work pays off, and you can showcase your app to the world. The goal of this capstone project is not just to publish your app but to understand the business and marketing strategies required for success in the app marketplace.

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Assignment Overview

Your task is to narrative/describe/research how you would deploy the Android app you’ve built to the Google Play Store.

This includes:

Preparing the app for release,

optimizing its visibility (App Store Optimization),

planning strategies for user engagement and retention.

You’ll submit the following:

A description of how you would Publish your App:

ASO (App Store Optimization) Strategy Document.

Marketing and Engagement Plan.

Final Presentation: You have already described your app’s purpose, concept, MVP, ideal users, and other factors.

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The Importance of App Store Optimization (ASO)

App Store Optimization determines how well your app ranks in search results. A higher rank means more visibility and downloads.

Key ASO Factors

App Name/Title:

Include relevant keywords that describe your app.

Keep it clear, concise, and memorable.

App Description:

Use the first three lines to hook users (only this part is visible without expanding).

Highlight your app’s unique value proposition and key features.

Include relevant keywords naturally.

Screenshots and Videos:

High-quality images and videos showcasing your app’s features and interface.

Add captions explaining what’s happening in each screenshot.

App Icon:

Design a visually appealing and recognizable icon.

Avoid text in the icon; focus on clean, simple imagery.

User Reviews and Ratings:

Respond to user feedback promptly.

Encourage happy users to leave positive reviews.

Negative reviews can hurt your ranking—be polite and constructive when addressing them.

Keywords:

Research keywords your target users are likely to search for.

Avoid keyword stuffing; use them naturally.

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App Retention and User Engagement

Why Engagement Matters

Google’s algorithm rewards apps that:

Are actively used by users (high retention).

Have good engagement metrics (time spent in the app, daily usage).

Receive positive reviews and low uninstall rates.

If users download your app but don’t use it, your app’s visibility and ranking will suffer.

Reducing User Churn

Onboarding Experience:

Make the first-time experience seamless and engaging.

Provide a quick tutorial or walkthrough if necessary.

Push Notifications:

Send reminders and updates sparingly to keep users engaged without being annoying.

Updates:

Regularly update your app with new features, bug fixes, and enhancements.

Highlight these updates in the “What’s New” section of the Play Store.

Responsive Support:

Address user complaints and technical issues quickly.

Create a feedback loop to improve the app based on user input.

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Step-by-Step Procedure for Deploying to the Google Play Store

1. Prepare Your App for Release

Set Up a Release Build:

In Android Studio, switch to the release build type.

Create a signed APK or App Bundle (preferred for Play Store):

Go to Build > Generate Signed Bundle / APK.

Choose Android App Bundle.

Follow the steps to create a signing key if you don’t already have one.

Optimize Your App:

Minify your app using ProGuard for smaller APK size.

Remove debug logging and unused resources.

Test Your App:

Test thoroughly on various devices and screen sizes.

Use the Play Store’s pre-launch report to catch potential issues.

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2. Create a Google Play Console Account [This is how you WOULD do it]

Go to the

Google Play Console⁠

and sign in with your Google account.

Pay the one-time $25 developer registration fee.

Set up your developer profile with accurate information.

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3. Upload Your App

In the Play Console, create a new app:

Select Create App.

Provide basic details such as app name, language, and category.

Fill in the Store Listing:

Title: Include your main keyword (e.g., "Weather Tracker – Live Weather Updates").

Short Description: A brief, engaging summary of your app (80 characters max).

Full Description: A detailed description with keywords naturally integrated.

Upload Visual Assets:

App Icon: 512x512 PNG, less than 1024 KB.

Screenshots: At least 2 for each device type (phone, tablet, etc.).

Feature Graphic: 1024x500 JPG/PNG.

Add an App Bundle:

Upload the signed app bundle generated earlier.

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4. Set Up Pricing and Distribution

Select whether your app is Free or Paid.

Choose the countries where your app will be available.

Opt into distribution on Wear OS, tablets, or Android Auto if applicable.

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5. Run a Pre-Launch Test

Use the Pre-Launch Report in the Play Console.

Google will test your app on various devices for performance and stability.

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6. Publish Your App

Once everything is ready, click Review and Publish.

Your app will undergo Google’s review process, which can take a few hours to a few days.

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Grading Rubric

Table 1

Table 1

Criteria

Points

Description

App Functionality

App is bug-free, functional, and meets the initial project requirements.

App Store Optimization (ASO)

Effective use of title, description, keywords, and visual assets to optimize visibility.

Marketing and Engagement Plan

Includes strategies for user retention, reducing churn, and addressing reviews.

Presentation Quality

Professional, engaging presentation with clear communication of app features and strategies.

Completion of Deployment

Successfully published app on the Google Play Store with a working download link.

There are no rows in this table

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Total: 100 Points

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Final Advice

Track Your Metrics: Use the Play Console to monitor installs, uninstalls, crash reports, and user feedback.

Iterate and Improve: Success on the Play Store is an ongoing process. Listen to your users and improve accordingly.

Have Fun!: This is your app’s big debut—enjoy the moment and take pride in your work.

Good luck, and I can’t wait to see your apps live on the Play Store! 😊

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