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Google Play Store’s Algorithm Quietly Changes, Tanking Some Apps’ Rankings

31 points by folli 8y ago

WA 8y ago
> We do not know if the changes are permanent. Regardless, this should be a clear wake-up call for indie developers that any slight change in the Play Store’s ranking algorithm can significantly impact your app’s success. Developers are encouraged to proactively improve their app’s quality. 1. People use a platform controlled by others to get free marketing. 2. It works and people love free marketing. 3. Platform owner changes the rules of the platform, free marketing is heavily impacted. 4. People feel entitled to their free marketing and complain a lot. * The conclusion is so wrong: people should actually invest in other marketing channels, preferably in platforms they control, instead of relying solely on the platform owners goodwill. ”Platform“ applies to Play Store, App Store, Facebook, Google Search Results, Instagram, Twitter, ...
- jbob2000 8y ago
  Free marketing? Apple takes a 30% cut from purchases and charges $99 a year. Google charges a $25 flat fee and also takes a 30% cut. This is not free! That being said, I see your point that app developers are beholden to the platform. I kind of side with the platform here; the play store has a lot of shitty apps that probably deserve a ranking shakeup. If it turns out to be a bug, that would be unfortunate, but if it’s just a couple of knockoff apps complaining about google cleaning up the store, then good riddance.
  - Chilinot 8y ago
    The marketing is free, the "package manager" is not. While the fee is way to big in my opinion, i fully understand why they take this fee. Storage and bandwidth is not free, even when you have a peering contract.
    - jacquesm 8y ago
      Yes, let's pretend that Apple and Google infrastructure is provided 'at cost' after you've paid your 30%.
  - iKSv2 8y ago
    However, its nowhere mentioned in the terms that these fees go to or for Marketing, unless I am mistaken.
- pjc50 8y ago
  The "free marketing" runs in the other direction as well: the apps are marketing for the platform.
  - iKSv2 8y ago
    sure they are but I dont think Android, in 2018, is at a level where it requires apps to market the platform

31 points by folli 8y ago

WA 8y ago

> We do not know if the changes are permanent. Regardless, this should be a clear wake-up call for indie developers that any slight change in the Play Store’s ranking algorithm can significantly impact your app’s success. Developers are encouraged to proactively improve their app’s quality. 1. People use a platform controlled by others to get free marketing. 2. It works and people love free marketing. 3. Platform owner changes the rules of the platform, free marketing is heavily impacted. 4. People feel entitled to their free marketing and complain a lot. * The conclusion is so wrong: people should actually invest in other marketing channels, preferably in platforms they control, instead of relying solely on the platform owners goodwill. ”Platform“ applies to Play Store, App Store, Facebook, Google Search Results, Instagram, Twitter, ...

jbob2000 8y ago
Free marketing? Apple takes a 30% cut from purchases and charges $99 a year. Google charges a $25 flat fee and also takes a 30% cut. This is not free! That being said, I see your point that app developers are beholden to the platform. I kind of side with the platform here; the play store has a lot of shitty apps that probably deserve a ranking shakeup. If it turns out to be a bug, that would be unfortunate, but if it’s just a couple of knockoff apps complaining about google cleaning up the store, then good riddance.
- Chilinot 8y ago
  The marketing is free, the "package manager" is not. While the fee is way to big in my opinion, i fully understand why they take this fee. Storage and bandwidth is not free, even when you have a peering contract.
  - jacquesm 8y ago
    Yes, let's pretend that Apple and Google infrastructure is provided 'at cost' after you've paid your 30%.
- iKSv2 8y ago
  However, its nowhere mentioned in the terms that these fees go to or for Marketing, unless I am mistaken.
pjc50 8y ago
The "free marketing" runs in the other direction as well: the apps are marketing for the platform.
- iKSv2 8y ago
  sure they are but I dont think Android, in 2018, is at a level where it requires apps to market the platform