The only way to keep your app consistently relevant in the market is to evolve and adapt it to the changing needs of its users. But this is more than just introducing the most popular features and hoping they will be enough.
Instead, you need honest user feedback to help align your app’s updates with users’ needs. Essentially, you need an ongoing feedback loop system that gives you actionable insights about users’ concerns, issues, pain points, and features they’d like to see in your app.
However, there’s not just one way to collect user feedback. You need to implement a holistic feedback system comprising different techniques to ensure you don’t miss anything. Therefore, in this article, we will cover the most practical user feedback techniques you can implement to improve your app consistently.
6 Techniques to Improve Your App with User Feedback
Here are six tried-and-test techniques you can use to collect and implement user feedback to improve your app:
1. Implement Pre-launch Beta Testing
You can collect feedback on the app’s prototype before its launch to ensure it’s well-received upon its release.
This technique, also known as beta testing, is often implemented by app developers before the final release. It focuses on a small group of users who provide valuable feedback. To encourage users to test prototypes, you can offer incentives, like future discounts.
As the beta users interact with your app, they collect important insights like UI issues, crashes, bugs, etc. Additionally, you can collect reviews from beta testers about the features they think are missing. Once you have all the data, you can make those changes before the final release, increasing the chances of your app’s success.
2. Monitor App Store Reviews
App store reviews are your first point of contact with users after its release. While some reviews may be useless, the majority of them can give you actionable insights regarding the user experience.
Dedicate some time to regularly monitor reviews to not miss any opportunity for improvement. Instead of only focusing on the ratings, read reviews thoroughly and make note of recurring issues found in multiple comments. When going through reviews, focus on areas like user experience, complaints, feature requests, bug reports, crash reports, and other likes/dislikes.
When replying to complaints, let users know that you’re working on fixing these issues. You can also engage privately with dissatisfied users to make them feel heard and increase retention.
3. Collect Feedback through In-App Surveys
Implement in-app feedback systems to make feedback submission more convenient for your users. These systems should allow users to give you focused insights about their experience without having to email or call you.
These surveys don’t have to be extensive like traditional research surveys. Instead, you can introduce simple opportunities for writing reviews, suggesting new features, and leaving a thumbs up (or thumbs down) at critical points in the app, such as:
- After signup
- After the app loads
- After a purchase
- Before a new window
- After completing a task
- Before closing the app
You must ensure that these in-app feedback systems are not invasive, interruptive, or needlessly complex, as that could negatively affect the user experience. Implementing seamless in-app surveys can:
- Give you real-time user feedback
- Help you quickly collect bug reports and feature requests
- Improve trust and credibility among users
- Gain actionable customer insights
4. Setup App Analytics
User feedback is subjective - and varies from person to person.
In addition to this type of feedback, you also need quantitative insights into your apps’ performance. You can integrate various analytics tools to collect data on key metrics such as visitor count, feature adaptation, click rates, user inputs, etc.
These tools work in the background, collect practical data, and help you understand how your users interact with your app. They are essential for collecting feedback without disrupting the user experience.
5. Build a User Feedback Community
88% of customers appreciate companies that provide a community space for feedback. Building such an engaging community not only informs you about the changes needed but also develops a culture of loyal users who believe in you. The key is to consistently talk to them on such forums and make them feel like their opinions matter.
You can develop such communities inside your apps, on Facebook groups, private website forums, or other social media community platforms.
6. Create Efficient Implementation Systems
It is one thing to collect feedback, but it is another to implement it. You must set up efficient development cycles to ensure that the data collected through feedback is used effectively to adapt your apps to changing demands.
If the development and upgradation are inconsistent, users will eventually think their reviews do not matter. Here are some recommendations on how to implement the user feedback:
- Set up recurring development cycles that focus on the most pressing issues first. Every update must resolve such a crucial issue.
- Be willing to conduct a development cycle ahead of schedule if the issue poses a greater threat to user experience and app quality.
- Create different user groups and rotate them regularly to collect feedback on newly introduced features and updates to create a feedback loop.
- The development cycles should be short and agile to ensure the rapid rollout of the most needed changes. The less important changes can be implemented gradually in later updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best practice to collect user feedback without annoying them?
To collect user feedback without annoying users, make sure to time them right. For example, if they’re in the middle of ordering food while they’re hungry, don’t give them a popup asking about their app experience. Generally, it is best to provide feedback options after the completion of an in-app task.
How can I determine which user feedback to focus on first?
The key is to categorize feedback based on the severity and frequency of the issue. If it is a major issue that repeatedly hinders user experience, make sure to fix it first and foremost.
What are some incentives I can use to encourage user feedback?
To encourage users to share their thoughts, you can offer incentives like exclusive features, loyalty rewards, or discounts. These incentives will increase the quantity and quality of feedback you’re getting.
Summing it Up
While anyone can implement these feedback techniques, transforming them into efficient systems can cost time and money.
For a company strapped for resources, the best way to collect feedback and implement changes is to partner up with a development expert. It can save time and money that a company may otherwise waste in costly mistakes.
Thanks to our expert team of developers and designers, VeryCreatives can be that partner for you. We understand the pulse of the market and can help you leverage opportunities your competitors might miss.
Book a free call now to explore how we can help you and your app be more successful.
