How to Publish An App to Google Play Store?

How To Upload An App On Google Play Store (9 Easy Steps)

Let's move forward with the simple steps regarding how to publish an app on Google Play. But it is important for you to follow every step carefully and in the same way to avoid any mistakes in app publishing.

Step 1: Create A Google Play Developer Console Account

The Google Play Console is a backend control dashboard where developers upload applications to the Google Play Store for Android. It requires a one-time fee of approximately $25 from the developer to open an account that must be a comprehensive collection of functionalities and control features. Once the one-time fee is submitted, developers can upload their application for free.

To create your account in the Google Play Store Console, you have to fill up a form with vital information such as name, country, and more. Your account will take 48 hours to be approved by the admins of the Play Store, so you can be an official uploader for the next time.

Step 2: Link The Developer's Account With Google Wallet Merchant Account.

If the uploaded app supports in-app purchases, then you will need to create a merchant account. What will you need to do to create a merchant account? To create an account, you need to sign in to your Google Play console account and select the “Reports” option, followed by the “Financial reports” option. After that, you will be shown an option “set up a merchant account now,” and simply fill out the form by adding your details. The merchant account will automatically be linked to your Google account console and provide access to analytics to track app sales.

Step 3: Set Up Your App

To set up your application, you have to go through the step-by-step menu listed in order:

• By adding a clear privacy policy that simplifies and explains how their sensitive data is kept confidential, gain users' trust. Plus, it is important that the user is of 13+ age.
• Ensure Google has access to every part of your application, so the Google Play team does not have to go through trouble to review your application. For some reason, if the access is restricted to any part of the published Android app, provide instructions on how Google can gain access.
• Next, click “Yes” if your app consists of advertisements and select “No” if there isn’t.
• Indication of the user’s age is necessary; you can generally select “18 or older” while publishing an app. If you are targeting an audience of the age of 13, you will need to add additional policies that involve families.
• Indicate if your app is a news app or not.
• Add details about the security and privacy that your app contains, along with data handling practices. And if your app includes the process of account creation, indicate that as well.
• Tell whether your app is developed for Governmental operations that include a national health app, a city parking app, and more.
• Tell if your app provides features that contain financial balancing; if so, then provide information regarding it.
• Save your settings.

Step 4: Create The Application

After you set up your developers account, here are few further steps you need to follow to publish app on google play store:

• Go to the “All applications” tab
• Select the option called “create application”
• Choose the default language of the application from the drop-down menu
• Enter the app title, and note that this name can be changed if required.
• Now click on the “create” option

Step 5: Google Play Store Listing

In this step, you will get the list of information to add your published android app to Google Play Store. The collection of information that is required to be filled in the app listing includes language translation, title, and a short description of the app.

While adding a short description of the app, you must ensure that you use appropriate keywords so it can maximize the chances of your app showing in searches.

Step 6: Upload APK To Google Play

Now, when you have entered information related to your application, upload the APK file of your application and select the type of release you want your app to be uploaded in from four different types, which are: internal test, closed test, production test, and last but not least, an open test.

After making a decision, select the option “create release”

At this point, you will be redirected to the production page, where you will be asked to make a decision again to opt for Google Play Store signing in to the app or otherwise. Simply click on the “OPT-OUT” if you have chosen the latter.

Now, look into how to upload an apk file to the Google Play Store by selecting “browse file” while describing your selection of the release through on-screen instructions.

Step 7: Time for Content Rating

Now is the time for content rating, which is important because initially your published android app is listed as “unrated.” If the application is not rated in a due course, then it might get removed from the store.

To set the rating of your application, you must navigate to the menu on the left corner of the screen and choose the content rating option from the list. After that, click on the “continue” so you can move forward to typing your email address in the given fields, then “confirm” it.

Followed by this, you will be required to fill out the questionnaire for your app rating, and save it by clicking on the “Save Questionnaire” button. You can also review the app rating of your application on the Google Play Store by selecting the option named “Calculate Rating”. Click on the “Apply” button so you can finalize the app rating, which is the very last step from the app publishing settings.

Step 8: Fix App Pricing

You have to be clear about the country that will hold your application, because the point that should be noted here is that the Google Play Store does not support publishing an app in every region. Therefore, assigning prices to the application is important. Or if your application is free, ensure that the decision is permanent because Google does not allow you to convert a free app into a paid app. But the prices can be altered later at some point.

To make the right decision, follow the Price and Distribution plan from the menu, and choose whether your app is free or paid. You may also select the countries you want your app to be released in. Moreover, you can add a condition according to your application if it is suitable for children under the age of 13, if permission then select “Yes”. If otherwise, then select the option “No”. Also, you can select the options for allowing the app to attach ads or not.

Step 9: Publish the Application

Once you are assured that everything that you have entered while uploading the application is correct. Take the last step to publish your android app on Google Play and get the app live on the platform.

For publishing the app; all you have to do is go back to the release app tab, then click on the “manage production” that is followed by “Edit release‘. Then click on the “review” option and choose “start rollout to production” option. End this process by selecting the option “confirm”.

By following these steps, you have uploaded the file to your Google Play Store account for free. It will generally take almost two hours for the app to get reviewed and then it will be live!

Things To Do After Publishing Your App on Google Play Store

Just like the question that came into your mind “how to publish an app on Google Play”, the very next question that comes to mind is what should we do after publishing an app to the Google Play Store. Here are some of the practices that you must follow to ensure your app enjoys global pleasure.

1. Engage Your Audience Through Social Media

The fact is, according to the statistics, 42% of the population uses social media, and some of the popular social media platforms are Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and whatnot. So promoting your application on these platforms can be helpful in increasing downloads as well as gathering feedback from the users.

You can share blogs, user stories, videos, or other graphic content on a social platform to build a community online. Also, you can take advantage of the operations like forming newsletters and timely updates through email or push notifications that enhance engagement as well.

2. Create a Landing Page Or A Website

Once the procedure of publishing an app is completed, create a website or a landing page for precise details about your application on a single page. What information should this contain? It should flash unique features and benefits that your app offers and make it a reason to excite your customers or users.

Moreover, for future updates and recommendations, the website/landing page is the go-to newsletter for you. All you have to do is update the latest news about your app so your audience stays updated. This way, you can stay connected with your customers or users.

3. Monitor And Analyze App Performance

Staying updated on the app performance is essential, which can easily be handled by an analytics tool such as Google Analytics. What functionalities does this platform offer? Tracking number of downloads, session length, retention rates, and more. Checking on the working of your app has become easier with the analytic tools, and it can help transform strategies to enhance user experiences.

4. Focus On App Maintenance And Updates

You cannot just develop and publish your application to be just the way it is in the store. But to keep the consumers or users coming, you efficiently need to maintain, frequently update, and address the bugs and issues in the app as early as possible before any user gets to face them. For this, you can also check out our app maintenance services.

5. Boost Visibility with ASO

App Store optimization is a practice among the most popular mobile app development companies. Why so? Because it focuses on several vital activities, which increases the attention of the targeted audience and increases the visibility of the app and conversion rate as well.

By using high-resolution screenshots and icons in the application, you can capture your users' attention. Moreover, take care of the localization by enabling your app in multiple languages so you can reach the audience on a broader level.

6. Cross-App Marketing

To give your app a powerful launch, ensure you lay your hands on the cross-app marketing. All you have to do is tap into your existing user base with eye-catching banners and grasping push notifications. This is another smart move to encourage downloads, grow retention, and increase user engagement.

How To Get Your App Featured On Google Play Store

What a privilege for your application it is when the downloads don’t end, and all it gets is popularity. After getting all the information regarding app publishing, either free or paid. It's time to get your app featured on the Google Play Store.

Multiple practices help you get featured, which include user interaction, utilization of the latest technologies, localization, visual designs, layout services, and whatnot. You must be wondering why getting your app featured on the Google Play Store is as important for your app as icing on the cake. By doing so, you will be able to attract a larger audience by multiple folds.

There are more operations that you should take care of before getting your published Android app featured on the Google Play Store.

1. Optimize Your App for Peak Performance

The very thing you should take care of is the efficient working of your app, because Google won’t feature slow or buggy apps. Now, when you have your own Google Play Console as a developer, check the timely performance of your app. What must you keep an eye on? Look at things like crash rates as well as app responsiveness. Also, to remove any bugs or errors in the app to improve performance.

2. Engage Through User Joy

Keeping users or customers happy is the actual goal that helps an app gain real profits. Therefore, you must design your app in a user-friendly manner. Not just simple and easy to understand, but attractive and easy to use. While developing an application, you should think about the user's interest and what would enhance their experience. You must also pay attention to reviews and feedback from customers or users and improve the app according to what they need in your app.

3. Turn Reviews Into App Success

Since Google won’t support apps with bad ratings, it is important to encourage users to leave a rating and feedback, especially when they had a positive experience.

Show that you care about the feedback and reviews of customers or users and keep them engaged by replying to their reviews.

Therefore, keep your app updated according to the customers feedback; this not only satisfies users but also enhances app ratings.

How Appingine Can Help Market Your App?

To market your app on Google Play, we serve the best of the best services that ensure your app stands out in the market. From setting up your developer account to managing app updates along with maintenance and support, providing end-to-end support. The expert team at Appingine takes full advantage of the social media platform marketing strategy, ASO and strategic content enhancements to take the visibility of your app to the next level and improve user engagement. Additionally, they implement best practices in design and performance to increase your chances of getting featured on the Google Play Store by providing the best app marketing services.

If you are willing to publish an app on the Google Play Store, then you must keep the following point at the top of your mind.

Publishing Timeframe Overview

The process of publishing an app on the play store through the Google Play console is simple and easy. There is no fixed time limit to publish apps because the app getting reviewed and selected can vary between hours, days, or even weeks.

How Much Does It Cost To Launch Your App?

You will be paying a one-time fee of $25 when you are publishing an app. By paying this one-time fee, you will be able to publish the rest of the application on the Google Play Store for free. You can also read our blog to know the costs of developing an app.

Final Thoughts

One of the most effective ways to introduce your app to the digital world is by publishing it to the biggest app stores in the world, that is Google Play Store. While publishing an app, there are several milestones, and the plus point is that each one of the app publishing phases is essential for a successful and seamless launch. But the adventure doesn't stop here because everything requires care, especially when released. Therefore, there are several post-launch initiatives like frequent updates, social media promotion, App Store Optimization, user involvement and much more crucial things if you want to really make your app stand out among the millions in the app market.

You'll be ready to publish your app and set it up for long-term success if you follow the instructions in this guide provided by the excellent developers of our leading app development company.