Developers put their souls to their apps. So, for it to not sell after hundreds of hours being invested for its development would be a damn shame. As developers run around finalizing their apps before they go live in the Windows app store there are very simple, yet crucial commandments that they should never ever forget to check, again and again. At the end of the day, one has to remember that they created their app for the world, not just one city or a few friends.
Windows Store App For International Markets
Commandment #1 – Competition
Your app is going to be one of thousands if not millions by the end of the year on the Windows app store. Fact. Deal with it and make sure that,
- There’s a market for your app, otherwise all those sleepless nights were worth nothing. The stiff competition will kill you before you’ve even started.
- Make sure that your app stands out, from the interface, visuals, and all the elements that will make a user fall in love with it.
Commandment #2 – Windows Store Requirements
Windows has provided you with the platform to start making money and stop eating baked beans for dinner every night. Check.
Is your app inline with each and every one of their requirements? Do the homework and make sure the markets and language certifications have been met among many other requirements and avoid the last minute hassle.
Commandment #3 – Packaging
You at this point in time believe that your app is perfect. What next? Pricing. You have to be careful not to overprice your app, so that it at least achieves target sales but you also don’t want to sell it for next to nothing. What commission goes to Windows app store? How much does that leave you with? Have you checked for the simplicity of the app? Will the user have to crack their head for an hour to understand it, even after all your hundred revision and testing’s? Is it secure? Piracy is on the rise, so cover some security basics.
Commandment #4 – Cultural Differences
The use of a spear in a funny or mocking way, for example, would offend almost a third of South Africa as that’s a symbol that means a lot to the Zulus. But it’s not the only one, there are so many symbols and colour combinations that carry a lot of significance when it comes to the religions and cultures of the world. Do your homework and don’t get your app frowned upon by a religious group or country as a whole.
Commandment #5 – Flexible Layouts
Assuming that your app will display the same on every gadget is a big NO! Move away from static formats and ensure that your layout is flexible enough to be viewed under different orientations or layouts.
Commandment #6 – Translation
When translated into say French or Mandarin, do your text images and content carry the same meaning as what you intended them to? This is a no brainer. There are so many marketing case studies of companies that had to change their logos or names when they went global upon realizing that they meant completely opposite things to the consumers they were trying to reach.
There are a lot of other things to keep re-checking again and again but if you can master the above, you will have ease of mind when you hit the store.