So you released a killer update for your app, but you can't see the download numbers growing in App Store. Guess what, your old 1-star reviews will stay with you forever. Follow our 5 steps to achieve a good app rating in App Store and Google Play.

You can be like Jared from HBO’s Silicon Valley and pay a bunch of money to an Indian click farm to get some positive app reviews. Or, you can follow our 5 practical steps to make your users want to rate your app.

(Quick tip: don’t be like Jared, use our tips instead.)

Users only spend a few seconds to decide which app they are going to download. But what can they base their decisions on? Prior knowledge, recommendations from friends, screenshots.

Maybe a few get to even your boooring app description. You highlight all the awesome features you have, but be honest: no one reads that.

App rating plays a crucial role for the user in deciding which app to download. You need to get positive reviews.

1. Stop begging for an app rating.

To be frank, everyone knows that leaving an app rating is a pain in the ass. After you’re redirected you may have to log in, then select a rating, type a few words and send your review. Why would anyone do that? Also, it’s pretty awkward to beg your users for app rating.

So, instead of begging, why don’t you make them want to show you some love? Let’s see two examples by Behance and one of our favourite clients Liligo. Which one would you be more likely to agree to?

Seriously, Behance? We know what we would choose. 😉

This may sound a no-brainer but everyone hates popups. Nothing is as annoying as a popup asking for a review when you are in the middle of something. Still, a lot of apps do that.

Instead, embed the rating section in your content, so it’s not disturbing the users’ flow. Give them an easy option to hide that section, so they won’t be annoyed even if they don’t want to rate your app.

2. Be playful, do the unexpected.

The most important thing is to create an emotional connection with your users. The best way to do that is to make them smile. Use a funny illustration or copy, make it stand out!

As a result of one of our brainstorming sessions with Liligo, we even thought about using a GIF to show how they feel about using the app:

3. Be proud of your rockstar developers.

For an average user, your app is just another drop in the sea. They don’t know anything about the rockstar developers, designers, product managers behind your app. So, why would they do a favor for some indescribable entity?

Studies have shown that they are more willing to give you a positive app rating if they know the people behind the product. Knowing that James, Jesse, and Adam will have a great day when they see that someone loves their product.

So, don’t be afraid to show who’s behind your awesome app. Just be proud of them!

We recently wrote an ebook: “Product Managers’ guide to UX design”. Click here to download!

4. The perfect moment to get positive app reviews

If you made user journeys you probably know that users have some ups and downs during their sessions. Sometimes, they are insecure and concerned, but sometimes they are happy and feel accomplished.

To get the best ratings, you have to find the places in the user’s journey where something good happens to them. It can be a completed web checkout or the end of a successful Uber journey.

The key is that they have to feel the value you provided them. So don’t ask for a review after they just started the app, or when they are in the middle of something. It’s like showing cat videos to your colleagues while they are heads-down working.

5. Provide a space for negative feedback.

So know you have a brief idea about how to get positive app reviews. But what about those users who are not happy with their experience? No matter how hard you work, there will always be people who are not satisfied with your product.

What can you do with them? Of course, you don’t want them to leave a 1-star rating saying that “This app is just a useless piece of sh✼t”. But still, negative feedback is extremely useful. At our UX company, we always emphasize how important it is to listen to your users.

The best idea is to provide an in-app feedback option for them. Offer a channel where, instead of writing a negative app rating in the store, they can still let you know the things they don’t like about your product.

Then, you can read all those negative reviews and cry or laugh a lot. But then take the time to get back to every user with an answer to their comments and complaints.

By following these 5 steps you will have an easier time getting positive app reviews. Oh, and you won’t have to worry like Jared has to. But don’t forget the most important thing: you can’t build a house on sand.

You can do everything to get nice reviews but first, you always have to make sure that your product is actually killing it!

What next?

Can you think of some cool examples where app rating requests are well done? Or, any crazy negative experiences? Or, did the click farm approach actually work out for you!? Make sure to let us know in the comment section.

For further reading on hiring a UX team, feel free to check out our ebook The Ultimate Guide on Hiring a UX Team.

We also wrote a book about Product Design you might want to read. Order it today – with free shipping!

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