Boosting User Reviews: A Guide to Smart Prompting in Mobile Apps

2–4 minutes

In the fiercely competitive world of mobile apps, user reviews can make or break the success of an application. Positive reviews not only serve as a testament to your app’s quality but also play a crucial role in influencing potential users. So, how can you encourage more users to share their feedback without resorting to intrusive surveys? The answer lies in smart prompting, a strategic approach that prompts users for reviews after a successful interaction. In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of this method and how you can implement it to generate more user reviews for your mobile app.

The Problem with Surveys:

Traditional methods of gathering user feedback often involve interrupting users with surveys. However, this approach can be disruptive and may result in user frustration. Users are more likely to provide valuable feedback when they feel it’s on their own terms, and not forced upon them. Smart prompting allows users to share their thoughts organically, creating a positive and authentic user experience.

4 key points to consider when implementing smart prompting.

1. Identify Key Moments

To implement smart prompting effectively, it’s crucial to identify the key moments within your app that represent successful interactions. These moments could include completing a level in a game, making a purchase, achieving a milestone, or successfully navigating a new feature. By targeting these positive experiences, you increase the likelihood of users providing positive feedback.

2. Timing is Everything

The timing of your prompt is crucial. Avoid bombarding users with review requests as soon as they open the app. Instead, wait for the opportune moment when they’ve just accomplished a significant task or achieved success. This not only ensures a positive mindset but also increases the chances of users taking the time to leave a review.

3. Contextual and Unobtrusive Messaging

Craft your review prompts with a focus on contextual and unobtrusive messaging. Clearly communicate why their feedback is valuable and how it can contribute to improving the app. Make sure the prompt doesn’t disrupt the user experience and can be easily dismissed if the user chooses not to leave a review.

4. Leverage App Store Review Prompts

Leverage the app store’s built-in review prompt functionality. Both Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store allow you to prompt users for reviews within the app, providing a trusted and familiar path for users to share their opinions.

How do you get the app to actually prompt?

Both Android and Apple do it different ways, and they both have helpful information. Apple information can be found at https://developer.apple.com/app-store/ratings-and-reviews/ and Android information can be found at https://developer.android.com/guide/playcore/in-app-review. It is worth noting that Android has Quota‘s for the number of times users can be asked to provide reviews (Apple suggests not pestering people), but the action to ask for a review from a user should be treated as a suggestion for the App to prompt, not a 100% certain request.

Conclusion:

By adopting a smart prompting strategy, you can boost the number of user reviews for your mobile app without resorting to disruptive surveys. Focus on identifying key moments, timing your prompts effectively, and ensuring that your messaging is both contextual and unobtrusive. By making the review process seamless and incorporating trusted paths like app store reviews, you create a positive user experience that encourages users to share their thoughts willingly. As a result, your app can gain valuable feedback, improve its overall rating, and attract more users in the competitive mobile app landscape.