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If an app pops up a "rate us" modal, it gets a 1-star in the app store, with a note to the developer why. I don't care how great your app is.

exe34 2y ago
on my phone, I have play store firewalled and only allow it out when I want updates/install something. if I could be bothered with the effort, this is the kind of petty I would engage in.
trinsic2 2y ago
Absolutely my practice as well. App devs should never be in the business of nagging for reviews.
- ascagnel_ 2y ago
  I don’t daily drive Android, so I’m not sure if there’s an equivalent, but iOS has a system review nag/prompt that can be disabled globally. If the app lets the system manage it (where it waits a while to see how long you’ve used it before surfacing the prompt, and doesn’t redirect sub-five-star reviews to their own internal tracking), then I’m happy to leave a genuine review. If the app violates any of these rules, I go out of my way to leave a one-star review. Don’t overrule my preferences in the name of growth hacking.
baxtr 2y ago
As an indie app developer this makes me really sad. We need reviews otherwise we won’t get enough downloads. Big companies can pay huge amounts on ads, we can’t and thus rely on positive reviews and ratings. Fact is that most users won’t rate unless asked. If you really like an app give it a nice review.
- maerF0x0 2y ago
  we will, of our own accord without nagging.
  - williamdclt 2y ago
    It’s only a guess, but I don’t think data is on your side. I seriously doubt that appreciative users “will, of their own accord with your nagging” rate apps. I’d bet it’s less than 2% who do
    - nahnahno 2y ago
      Yeah the comment reads as originating from a person who has never tried to sell something. You need to ask to get attention
      - HappMacDonald 2y ago
        Or as a knee-jerk reply from a kid when asked to do their homework or take out the garbage. :J
        moate 2y ago
        I read it as the tone of someone sick of advertising. I understand you need to sell your product (that I may even like) I just don’t give a fuck. When your UI pisses me me off enough, then you get a rating. I cannot stress this enough: It is not your customer’s job to evangelize your product, even if their literal life depends on its continued existence. Entrepreneurs/sales need to get over themselves. Signed, Someone who worked in sales.
      - gonzobonzo 2y ago
        > You need to ask to get attention That’s fair, but if you push someone to review your app they’re going to rate it as they see fit, based on what’s important to them, not what the developer thinks is important. If the user feels strongly about a particular element - such as a pop up asking for a rating - they’re going to rate it based on that element. A developer is always free to change the app if they think it’s useful to appeal to that group of users, or ignore that group of users and accept that they don’t like the way you designed the app.
      - luma 2y ago
- tpmoney 2y ago
  While I appreciate that need, as a user this is the worst way to get me to review your app. Especially because so many of them aren't tuned for paying any attention at all to what their users are doing before prompting them. I had one app recently prompt me for a review before I'd even completed their "first time tutorial" slide deck. Not only do I not know enough at that point in time to even review the app, but if I was so inclined to click through at that moment it would have been to leave a review complaining about the practice rather than saying anything substantive about the app's functionality. But even when they're not that bad, they're almost always popping up when I open the app (the moment when I'm specifically intending to do something that I'm now being interrupted) or in the middle of some workflow. It's the same annoying behavior that web pop-up folks used to do too. Personally, I'd rather see you add a small UI element somewhere, or a banner that appears briefly but critically doesn't cover up any controls. If you absolutely MUST use a pop up, you know when the best time to do that is? After I've completed some in app purchase. If I'm spending money on your product, chances are I'm moderately satisfied with it and feeling pretty good about it at that moment. Or if you don't have in app purchases, unless you've made a "content browsing only" app, you probably have some workflows that have a definite end state. Prompt me then, at the end of me doing what I've come to your app to do. But I've never once given a review / stars to any app that has interrupted me in the middle of or at the start of doing something.
  - extraduder_ire 2y ago
    The nRF connect app (bluetooth debugging tool, mostly) asks for reviews at the bottom of the changelog for app updates, along with an explanation for why they don't do it inside the app itself. Very glad they handle it that way, and I don't think I've seen any other app that does.
    - docmars 2y ago
      That is a nice way to avoid a dark UX pattern, but very few people actually look at changelogs, so even in that case, a less technical app doing the same thing may be missing a lot of potential reviewers. Granted, there are plenty of other places to slot a review link in where it could be just as effective.
- zaptheimpaler 2y ago
  Yeah I understand this and definitely do not retaliate against being asked for reviews. I find the usual modal pop-up for a review can be a bit jarring or appear at inopportune moments though, i wonder if not using modals would be better.
  - idle_zealot 2y ago
    Being annoying and jarring is the point.
    - jack_pp 2y ago
      If u wanted to be less annoying do it after the user has a "win" on your app, after they use it for something useful or they had a fun interaction depending on the type of app. Don't just interrupt me randomly before I do the thing I need
- ikiris 2y ago
  Then don’t be annoying about them. I do the exact same thing that guy talked about. Dark patterns get explicit 1 stars
  - Petersipoi 2y ago
    Unfortunately an annoying app will out compete a non-annoying app in terms of reviews. Even if a few people like GP 1-star it, it's still worth it since most will 5 star it.
    - idle_zealot 2y ago
      This is the reality, but it's bad. How do we fix it? An App Store policy banning the practice? Global extensions like in web browsers that can use block lists to enable user to hide annoying elements automatically? De-weight reviews from users whose app install orginated from an ad click rather than organically to level the playing field?
      - rixed 2y ago
        A way to fix the problem would be for the App Store to ban that practice _and_ itself nag the users for ratings, in the less annoying way; like, asking you to rate a list of apps you have been using a lot when you open the App Store, and also asking you to rate when you delete an app. That would be a win for everyone.
        docmars 2y ago
        I came here wanting to say the same thing. It's a lot like Amazon emailing customers periodically to review recent purchases and making it really easy to do it. I pretty often do that and it works! It doesn't feel annoying either because it isn't in my way. The key is catching the user when they aren't completing a specific task. People often check email to pass time, which is perfect for this.
        Libcat99 2y ago
        Not when you open the app store. The typical app store workflow for me is I visit the store to download a specific app I'd like to install. That app will then have to download and install while I wait. That "while I wait" is an ideal time to ask me to rate other recently installed apps, or an app I haven't used in a while.
- Xelbair 2y ago
  if you make a good app don't pester me with popups while i'm using it. that's horrible UX, simple as.
- Timwi 2y ago
  What makes me really sad is that you've identified a problem with capitalism but decide to push it onto your customers. It's true that most users won't rate unless asked, but that just means they don't want to and it's not your place to “make them”. It's not their fault that big companies exist that can pay huge amounts on ads.
- Timwi 2y ago
  But that's the thing, if it pops up a plea for ratings (or an ad or anything else unwanted and annoying), then I really, genuinely and honestly DON'T like the app.
- krageon 2y ago
  What is there to be sad about? You're getting the feedback you want: Don't beg for things, it's obnoxious and destroys whatever goodwill you have.
- hereme888 2y ago
  If the app is "clean" in terms of respecting users and privacy, I'm totally inclined to rate it when asked. I appreciate the resources required to make them.
- instalabs 2y ago
  You can also ask for reviews nicely without a popup (just show it on some confirmation screen), really no need to bother the user with it.
Etherlord87 2y ago
I only do that if the app asks me for an internal review first, and then, when I give 5 stars, it asks me to give a review again in the store - then I give 1 star.
indoordin0saur 2y ago
Only do this for big corporate apps. The little guys are struggling just to keep their heads above the water because Apple punishes them if they aren't getting reviews.

exe34 2y ago

on my phone, I have play store firewalled and only allow it out when I want updates/install something. if I could be bothered with the effort, this is the kind of petty I would engage in.

trinsic2 2y ago

Absolutely my practice as well. App devs should never be in the business of nagging for reviews.

ascagnel_ 2y ago
I don’t daily drive Android, so I’m not sure if there’s an equivalent, but iOS has a system review nag/prompt that can be disabled globally. If the app lets the system manage it (where it waits a while to see how long you’ve used it before surfacing the prompt, and doesn’t redirect sub-five-star reviews to their own internal tracking), then I’m happy to leave a genuine review. If the app violates any of these rules, I go out of my way to leave a one-star review. Don’t overrule my preferences in the name of growth hacking.

baxtr 2y ago

As an indie app developer this makes me really sad. We need reviews otherwise we won’t get enough downloads. Big companies can pay huge amounts on ads, we can’t and thus rely on positive reviews and ratings. Fact is that most users won’t rate unless asked. If you really like an app give it a nice review.

maerF0x0 2y ago
we will, of our own accord without nagging.
- williamdclt 2y ago
  It’s only a guess, but I don’t think data is on your side. I seriously doubt that appreciative users “will, of their own accord with your nagging” rate apps. I’d bet it’s less than 2% who do
  - nahnahno 2y ago
    Yeah the comment reads as originating from a person who has never tried to sell something. You need to ask to get attention
    - HappMacDonald 2y ago
      Or as a knee-jerk reply from a kid when asked to do their homework or take out the garbage. :J
      - moate 2y ago
        I read it as the tone of someone sick of advertising. I understand you need to sell your product (that I may even like) I just don’t give a fuck. When your UI pisses me me off enough, then you get a rating. I cannot stress this enough: It is not your customer’s job to evangelize your product, even if their literal life depends on its continued existence. Entrepreneurs/sales need to get over themselves. Signed, Someone who worked in sales.
    - gonzobonzo 2y ago
      > You need to ask to get attention That’s fair, but if you push someone to review your app they’re going to rate it as they see fit, based on what’s important to them, not what the developer thinks is important. If the user feels strongly about a particular element - such as a pop up asking for a rating - they’re going to rate it based on that element. A developer is always free to change the app if they think it’s useful to appeal to that group of users, or ignore that group of users and accept that they don’t like the way you designed the app.
    - luma 2y ago
tpmoney 2y ago
While I appreciate that need, as a user this is the worst way to get me to review your app. Especially because so many of them aren't tuned for paying any attention at all to what their users are doing before prompting them. I had one app recently prompt me for a review before I'd even completed their "first time tutorial" slide deck. Not only do I not know enough at that point in time to even review the app, but if I was so inclined to click through at that moment it would have been to leave a review complaining about the practice rather than saying anything substantive about the app's functionality. But even when they're not that bad, they're almost always popping up when I open the app (the moment when I'm specifically intending to do something that I'm now being interrupted) or in the middle of some workflow. It's the same annoying behavior that web pop-up folks used to do too. Personally, I'd rather see you add a small UI element somewhere, or a banner that appears briefly but critically doesn't cover up any controls. If you absolutely MUST use a pop up, you know when the best time to do that is? After I've completed some in app purchase. If I'm spending money on your product, chances are I'm moderately satisfied with it and feeling pretty good about it at that moment. Or if you don't have in app purchases, unless you've made a "content browsing only" app, you probably have some workflows that have a definite end state. Prompt me then, at the end of me doing what I've come to your app to do. But I've never once given a review / stars to any app that has interrupted me in the middle of or at the start of doing something.
- extraduder_ire 2y ago
  The nRF connect app (bluetooth debugging tool, mostly) asks for reviews at the bottom of the changelog for app updates, along with an explanation for why they don't do it inside the app itself. Very glad they handle it that way, and I don't think I've seen any other app that does.
  - docmars 2y ago
    That is a nice way to avoid a dark UX pattern, but very few people actually look at changelogs, so even in that case, a less technical app doing the same thing may be missing a lot of potential reviewers. Granted, there are plenty of other places to slot a review link in where it could be just as effective.
zaptheimpaler 2y ago
Yeah I understand this and definitely do not retaliate against being asked for reviews. I find the usual modal pop-up for a review can be a bit jarring or appear at inopportune moments though, i wonder if not using modals would be better.
- idle_zealot 2y ago
  Being annoying and jarring is the point.
  - jack_pp 2y ago
    If u wanted to be less annoying do it after the user has a "win" on your app, after they use it for something useful or they had a fun interaction depending on the type of app. Don't just interrupt me randomly before I do the thing I need
ikiris 2y ago
Then don’t be annoying about them. I do the exact same thing that guy talked about. Dark patterns get explicit 1 stars
- Petersipoi 2y ago
  Unfortunately an annoying app will out compete a non-annoying app in terms of reviews. Even if a few people like GP 1-star it, it's still worth it since most will 5 star it.
  - idle_zealot 2y ago
    This is the reality, but it's bad. How do we fix it? An App Store policy banning the practice? Global extensions like in web browsers that can use block lists to enable user to hide annoying elements automatically? De-weight reviews from users whose app install orginated from an ad click rather than organically to level the playing field?
    - rixed 2y ago
      A way to fix the problem would be for the App Store to ban that practice _and_ itself nag the users for ratings, in the less annoying way; like, asking you to rate a list of apps you have been using a lot when you open the App Store, and also asking you to rate when you delete an app. That would be a win for everyone.
      - docmars 2y ago
        I came here wanting to say the same thing. It's a lot like Amazon emailing customers periodically to review recent purchases and making it really easy to do it. I pretty often do that and it works! It doesn't feel annoying either because it isn't in my way. The key is catching the user when they aren't completing a specific task. People often check email to pass time, which is perfect for this.
      - Libcat99 2y ago
        Not when you open the app store. The typical app store workflow for me is I visit the store to download a specific app I'd like to install. That app will then have to download and install while I wait. That "while I wait" is an ideal time to ask me to rate other recently installed apps, or an app I haven't used in a while.
Xelbair 2y ago
if you make a good app don't pester me with popups while i'm using it. that's horrible UX, simple as.
Timwi 2y ago
What makes me really sad is that you've identified a problem with capitalism but decide to push it onto your customers. It's true that most users won't rate unless asked, but that just means they don't want to and it's not your place to “make them”. It's not their fault that big companies exist that can pay huge amounts on ads.
Timwi 2y ago
But that's the thing, if it pops up a plea for ratings (or an ad or anything else unwanted and annoying), then I really, genuinely and honestly DON'T like the app.
krageon 2y ago
What is there to be sad about? You're getting the feedback you want: Don't beg for things, it's obnoxious and destroys whatever goodwill you have.
hereme888 2y ago
If the app is "clean" in terms of respecting users and privacy, I'm totally inclined to rate it when asked. I appreciate the resources required to make them.
instalabs 2y ago
You can also ask for reviews nicely without a popup (just show it on some confirmation screen), really no need to bother the user with it.

Etherlord87 2y ago

I only do that if the app asks me for an internal review first, and then, when I give 5 stars, it asks me to give a review again in the store - then I give 1 star.

indoordin0saur 2y ago

Only do this for big corporate apps. The little guys are struggling just to keep their heads above the water because Apple punishes them if they aren't getting reviews.