How to create Android apps for Google Play?

Google Play is one of the biggest mobile app marketplaces in the world. While Apple has a close-knit ecosystem, Google has its doors open for multiple app stores, hardware manufacturers, mobile app development frameworks, and so on.

This approach has enabled Google to create a huge market with millions of apps listed on its official and unofficial app stores. If you are planning to enter the Android app market, you must move ahead with a robust plan and strategy. This will help your app stand out and not get lost in the crowd.

In today’s blog piece, we will walk you through a concise but helpful guide to building Android apps for the Google Play store. Stay tuned till the end and learn how you can launch your own app and target the huge Android user base.

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Google Play Statistics: An overview of the Android app market

Source

Is Android app development profitable? Are businesses still investing in Android apps? Can Android apps bring revenue?

If these are the questions you have, you are in the right place. Before getting into Android app development, let us first get a hang of the Android and Google Play market and explore some figures and statistics that give an overview of the same.

As per AppBrain, currently, there are around 2.2 million (2,281,098) apps on the Google Play Store. Comparatively, the Apple App Store features 1.8 million apps. As evident, Google Play Store is a bigger app marketplace.

As per Statista, around 52,000 new apps were added to Google Play in February 2024 itself. While there has been a decrease in these numbers over the years and months, the demand for Android apps is evergreen and the ecosystem is continuously expanding.

In fact, Android OS is the most popular and widely used operating system. It has an OS market share of around 41.61 percent and a population share of 48.22 percent. Thus, there are around 3.9 billion Android smartphone users around the globe.

This huge community of users contributes to the revenue made by Google Play and the Android ecosystem at large. In 2022, consumers spent 42.3 billion US dollars on Google Play games & apps. In 2023, the spending crossed 50 billion US dollars and is expected to continue to rise this year.

Evidently, Google Play is home to profitable apps and there is huge scope for revenue and growth. Thus, creating and launching Android apps can be profitable if you move ahead with the right strategy.

How to build Android apps for Google Play? Step-by-step guide

Now let us cut to the chase! Go through the step-by-step guide and create your own Android app. Build apps for your business or start your own app development company and sell unlimited apps to customers.

Step 1: Do your research

Research is the key to any successful mobile app development project. Once you know what you want, it becomes easier to streamline the journey and achieve your goal. Start with an extensive mobile app market and audience research. You should aim to find answers to the following questions:

What is the goal and purpose of your app?
How is your app different from the existing products?
Who is your target audience? How will you reach them?
Who are your competitors? What can you learn from them?
What type of app do you want to create?
What are the features you want to integrate?
What are the resources you need to create your app?
What is the budget and time that you can allocate?
How will the app make revenue and grow?
Do you need any special clearances for your app?

These questions can help you chalk out a proper plan before developing your Android app. Follow the popular methods of research and make informed decisions based on studies and data.

Step 2: Outline your app design

Extensive research will yield information that you can use to create a layout of your app. This is the next significant step where you establish how your app will look, feel, and function. There are various methods used to create app frameworks and you can opt for one or more of these methods. This includes:

Wireframing: If you want to explain your app’s architecture with basic lines and shapes, you can create a rough layout of your app. These low-fidelity designs are known as wireframes.
Mockups: If aesthetics play a central role in your niche and you want to paint a visual picture of your app, then creating mockups is a great way to outline your app. Mockups are great for conveying the theme and portraying the branding elements.
Prototyping: This is the process of creating high-fidelity app frameworks that give a more accurate representation of the app’s look, feel, and functionalities. Prototypes can be used to give a more interactive demonstration of your app.

Based on your goal, you can create app demos and share them with your colleagues, investors, and other stakeholders. A clear outline will help your team align with your/your client’s app idea and stay on the same page.

Read in detail: Wireframe vs Mockup vs Prototype: What is the difference?

Step 3: Find a development tool

When planning to develop an app, the first thing that comes into our minds is app development companies and agencies. However, this can be time-consuming, cumbersome, and expensive. Thus, you can look for alternatives.

Find an app development tool or platform that can help you accomplish your app development goals without disrupting your budget and schedule. There are several methods of app development that you can opt for, including the following:

I: Build with AppMySite’s code-free app builder

This is the most convenient of all app development options as it is easy, fast, and affordable. AppMySite has truly revolutionized and democratized app development by making it truly DIY and code-free. You can subscribe to AppMySite’s Android app builder and create your own app without coding in minutes.

It is as easy and as seamless as it gets. You can design, develop, and test your native Android apps, all under one roof. Create apps of any kind and scale and launch them on the Google Play Store. The best thing is that you can create a project and develop your apps for free. Only pay to upgrade when you are truly ready and confident of what you have built.

Either turn your existing website into an app or build everything from scratch, there are multiple product options to choose from. We recommend you try AppMySite once and experience no-code app development like never before. Watch your app idea come to life in minutes and reach your targeted market and audience in no time.

II: Use coding-based tools and platforms

If you want a traditional approach and hiring a company or development team is not an option, you can also code your own app. There are several mobile app development frameworks and tools that you can use to design and write your Android app. You can also go with Android Studio, Google’s official integrated development environment (IDE).

However, to develop an app with a tool like Android Studio, coding and programming principles are a primitive requirement. Additionally, you should be familiar with the following:

Programming languages like Java and Kotlin
SDKs (Software Development Kits)
APIs (Application Programming Interface)
UI/UX design components
Database management systems
Version control systems
Testing and debugging tools

This list of requirements is not exhaustive, and the exact nature of working may depend on your project requirements, goals, and complexities. Thus, if you plan to code your own app, you should be ready for these challenges and must have a working knowledge of Android app development.

Step 4: Design and develop the app

Once you have finalized your app development method, you can go on to design and develop your app. With AppMySite, these steps become straightforward and simple. You can design your app with our inbuilt design tool that is intuitive and easy to use.

Design your icons, screens, and other elements and preview everything on a live emulator screen. Once you are done with the design, you can go on to develop your app, add features, and manage settings with easy point-and-click options.

Enable features like push notifications, payment gateways, in-app chat buttons, monetization, and more. Create one app or build a workspace and manage multiple apps under one roof. You can also invite your team members to preview and collaborate on your app project.

Alternatively, you can design your app with mobile app design tools and develop it using traditional platforms like Android Studio. Remember, this is the most critical of all steps. Therefore, use your time and resources wisely and aim to build a flawless app in one go.

Step 5: Preview and test your app

Mobile app testing is an underrated process in the development cycle. However, it is important to test and hone your app at every stage. Once your app is fully developed, put it through rigorous testing using manual or automated testing methods. You can also use a combination of these app testing approaches.

Analyze every aspect of your app including design, layout, responsiveness, content, features, functionalities, navigation, buttons, etc. Fix bugs and flaws and make sure the app is error-free. At this stage, you can also invite beta testers to use your app and give feedback.

Collect feedback and reviews and use them to make constructive changes to your app. Implement the suggestions and feedback and perfect your app’s design and functionality. Make sure it is functional across all targeted environments and devices and works smoothly.

Step 6: Prepare for app submission

Once your app is ready to go live, you can start preparing for submission. While Google Play is not as stringent as the Apple App Store, it has its own set of guidelines and norms that one needs to follow. Thus, you should be thorough with the app submission process to avoid rejection.

Follow these steps to submit your app on the Google Play Store:

Make sure your app complies with Google’s policies and guidelines.
Visit Google Play Console and create a Google Play developer account.
Enter the required details and pay the one-time registration fee.
Create a Google Play Store listing and add meta and images.
Create your application on Play Console and fill out the details.
Upload your fully tested app build (APK file) under ‘App releases’.
Define your app’s pricing, distribution, and regions of availability.
Submit your app for preview and wait for the clearance.

Once your app is submitted for preview, it can take a few days to get accepted. Once your app is approved, you can click on “Start Rollout” and make your app live for users to download and install. If it gets rejected, identify the cause and work on it before re-submitting your app.

You can also explore our Google Play Checklist to ensure you have everything you need to submit your Android app. Otherwise, simply create your app with AppMySite and let our experts assist you with app submission. Optimize your app’s listing and gain better traction and visibility.

Step 7: Launch and promote your app

App development and maintenance require consistent effort. Once your app is live, you can start promoting it across multiple channels like your website, social media, and more. Use popular marketing techniques to increase your downloads and collect feedback, reviews, and ratings.

Use the insights to make improvements and changes to your app. Push updates and new versions when required and keep enhancing the look and feel of your application. Keep it aligned with the latest trends in the industry and stay relevant. For more information about app development and promotion, you can refer to our detailed guide suggested below.

Read in detail: How to create an app? Make an app in ten simple steps

Wrapping up

Android is the biggest operating system in the world. This makes Google Play the biggest app marketplace. Therefore, targeting the Android user base and launching an app on the Google Play Store can be a profitable idea.

If you want to start an Android app development company, you can subscribe to our white label agency solution. Resell our no-code white label app builder under your brand name and enable your customers to build their own apps without coding.

Extend white label app development services or create apps for your own business, the choice is yours. There are endless product options, and you can pick what suits you the best. Try AppMySite for free or get in touch with us.

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