In today’s world of digital commerce and shopping, reviews are everything. They are now synonymous with the online shopping experience and are integral to the modern buyer journey.
Every online business is affected by reviews, either positively or negatively. App developers are no exception, we’re seeing more and more developers buying app reviews to take advantage of the potential benefits. We’ve put together a list of five reasons why reviews are so essential for app developers. Read on to check it out.
Chart position
Digital marketplaces like the App Store and the Google Play Store are home to millions of apps. To help manage and organise these enormous numbers, these platforms sort apps into easily-browsable lists and charts. The position of your app on these charts is vital, the higher up it is, the more likely it is that users will notice and download it. On the other hand, if your app is far down on the list, users are far less likely to discover it.
App stores use sophisticated algorithms to rank apps on these charts, but one of the main things they look at is reviews. Apps with lots of positive reviews will be ranked higher, while apps with negative reviews will be placed in lower positions.
Quality perception
With so many apps out there, it’s only natural that some are going to be better than others. However, this distinction can often be difficult for customers to make. There’s no real way of knowing which apps are good and which are bad.
Or is there? This is why reviews are so important. After using an app, customers will leave a review detailing how well the app performed its intended function. These reviews will be displayed for other users to view and can give them an immediate sense of the quality of the app and whether or not it is worth their time.
Trustworthiness
Apps are purely digital products. What this means is that customers cannot touch or feel what it is they are buying before they make a purchase. This involves a level of trust, the customer is putting their faith in the fact that the product will be as described.
Reviews can help users ensure that they are getting their money’s worth when downloading an app. What’s more, reviews can be used to identify and flag any potential security issues. This is vital, given that apps often require users to disclose sensitive personal and financial information, which can often prove to be an attractive target for hackers in the event of a data breach.
Featuring on the homepage
Some apps are featured on the homepage of app stores. Here, they will receive far more exposure and generate further sales and downloads. Platforms will take a lot of things into account when choosing apps to feature on the home page, but they will pay particular attention to reviews, with only apps that have lots of positive reviews in with a chance of being featured.
Brand image
Reviews don’t just affect app sales; they can have a greater effect and influence how your overall brand is perceived by consumers. If your products generate positive reviews, this will assure customers that your business is trustworthy, legitimate, and reliable.