When you release an iOS application, there are a number of things you need to check to make sure the application is functioning as it should.
In this article, we will outline the top six things you should check before releasing your app. By ensuring that these items are all in order, you can help avoid any potential headaches or negative publicity for your app.
1. The App’s Functionality and Design
Just as a baker shouldn’t sell a half-baked cake, you shouldn’t release an app that isn’t fully functional and designed. Make sure your app is complete before sending it off into the world. The best way to know that it is ready is to perform an iOS apps testing.
You have two options:
- Alpha testing: You can give early versions of the platform to a few trusted individuals in the organization to use and gather feedback. In particular, let other software developers or designers take a look to ensure that the app integrates well into the rest of the system and meets all necessary standards.
- Beta testing: Once you’ve ironed out most of the kinks in-house, you can give access to a larger group of users, such as your target audience, to test the app in the wild. Use this time to monitor how people interact with your app and to identify any final issues that you must address.
Test the app across numerous iOS versions to ensure compatibility. The latest iPhones and iPad models are not the only ones people use. You should also support older versions of these devices and, ideally, iPods too.
2. Compliance with Apple’s App Store Review Guidelines
You can have the best-designed app, but it will never see the light of day if it doesn’t pass Apple’s criteria. These guidelines exist to ensure a high-quality user experience and to protect users’ privacy.
You can check these requirements before you start developing your app by reading the App Store review guidelines. Some of the key areas to keep in mind include:
- User interface design: Make sure your app is easy to use and understand. Apple pays special attention to how well an app uses the standard iOS controls and views.
- Privacy: Be transparent about what data you collect from users and get their permission before doing so. Remember to include a privacy policy in your app.
- Content: Don’t include any offensive or illegal content in your app. This includes hate speech, graphic violence, and nudity.
- Performance: Your app should be responsive and stable. Make sure to test it thoroughly before submitting it for review.
The app may also need the right provisioning profile. This file tells Xcode which development team your app belongs to and what devices you’re allowed to deploy it on.
You can create and manage your provisioning profiles in the Apple Developer Portal. If you’re a member of multiple development teams, select the correct one when creating or modifying your profiles.
3. Marketing Plan
You can’t just release an app and hope people will find it. You need to have a plan for how you’re going to market your app and get it in front of your target audience.
There are many ways to market an app, but some of the most effective include:
- Social media. Create social media accounts for your app and post regular updates about new features, special offers, and other news.
- App store optimization. Make sure your app’s listing in the App Store is as effective as possible. This includes using the right keywords in your title and description so people can find the product when they search for relevant terms.
- Paid advertising. Use paid advertising to get your app in front of people who are likely to be interested in it.
- Press release. Get media coverage for your app by sending out press releases or working with a PR agency.
4. Pricing Structure
How you price your app will have a big impact on its success. If you charge too much, people may be reluctant to buy it. But if you charge too little, you may not make enough money to cover your costs.
Consider the value of your app and what people are willing to pay for it. You can also look at what similar apps are charging and use that as a starting point.
You can change your app’s price at any time, so don’t be afraid to experiment a bit to see what works best. You can also offer in-app purchases to give people the option of paying for additional features or content.
5. App Analytics
App analytics are essential for understanding how people are using your app and what areas need improvement. Many tools can help you with assessing the following metrics:
- Active users. How many people are using your app on a daily or monthly basis?
- Session length. How long do people use your app on average?
- Retention rate. How many people come back and use your app after their first session?
- Screen views. Which screens do people interact with the most?
- Events. Which actions do people take most often in your app?
- Sources. How did people hear about your app?
6. Security
Even the Apple Store is not immune to malware. This vulnerability is serious since many people trust that the apps in the store are safe to download.
To protect your app and your users, make sure you take security seriously. This includes using SSL/TLS for all communications, encrypting data at rest, and implementing other security best practices.
If you’re not sure where to start, there are many resources available online that can help you.
Conclusion
Releasing your iOS app is an exciting moment. But before you hit the “Submit” button, there are a few important things to check off your list first.
Make sure you’ve tested your app thoroughly, created a marketing plan, and chosen the right pricing structure. You should also have app analytics in place to track your progress and identify areas for improvement. And finally, don’t forget about security.
