5 Things that Force iPhone Users to Uninstall Otherwise Good Apps

Mobile apps are nifty little things that have the power to increase the utility of the iPhone exponentially. Every single app enables your mobile to accomplish a specific task. Apps enable mobile owners to use their iPhone as a hand-held gaming console, as a financial manager, as a GPS, as eReader, and a thousand other things besides. On top of it, the apps can communicate with each other to heighten the iPhone experience.

Apps are what make iPhone and other smartphones so special. There is a lot that creative iPhone app developers can be proud of. But that is just one side of the story. While apps do have the ability to enrich the lives of users, some of them also have the power to annoy the hell out users with their antics. Here, we will take a look at how iPhone apps (that are otherwise good) can enrage a user and get deleted.

#1. Convoluted Sign-up Process

There is a way of getting deleted from an iPhone without being used even once. While most app developers work hard to keep things simple and get the users to sign up as fast as possible, there are some app developers who try and pry out huge chunks of information from users during the sing-up process. It is notoriously difficult to fill forms on mobile, and lengthy forms will deter most users and force them to simply get rid of your app.

# 2. Asking for Unnecessary Permissions

Most iPhone users store a lot of their private information on their mobiles. They can give an app permission to access certain parts of their mobile in order to use its services. But when apps ask for information that is not needed, it raises the users’ hackles and gets the app deleted in a second. For instance, if a game app wants to access my location or email contact list for no apparent reasons, I may doubt the intentions of the developer and delete it as fast as possible.

#3. Apps Desperate for Ratings

There are almost a million apps on the iTunes app stores. Apps need to stand out if they want to catch the attention of the users. Most people depend on the reviews and ratings that an app has received from previous users to decide whether to buy it or not. So, most apps ask the users for a rating. The best practice is to ask for a review after the user has used the app for a certain time. Some apps ask for review every few minutes and pester the users to give a rating. While this ploy can work in the favor of the app and help it get rated by many people, it may also push some users to simply uninstall the app.

#4 Useless Push Notifications

When iPhone introduced the push notification, app developers as well as users were quite thrilled at how this feature would improve the overall experience of the device. After a few years, push notifications are the most abused feature on iPhone. While a user would definitely like to know important news, reports of dangerous weather in his location, or get location-based reminders, no one likes to check their phone twice every minute to see some irrelevant update on social media sites or sport scores. Too many users are not aware of how to disable the notifications. Apps that come pre-installed with the push notification on can really get on the nerves of the users.

#5. Full screen, video ads

App developers have to place ads in an app to make money when they are offering the apps for free, but users absolutely hate ads in paid apps. And the ads should be non-intrusive – ads that affect the functionality of the iPhone won’t stay in the device for long. A small banner ad at the bottom of the mobile may be acceptable, but a full page ad that cannot be turned off makes the user wait twiddling thumbs for 10-15 seconds won’t make the cut. A video ad is even worse as it uses the iPhone users network to stream a video that he doesn’t want in the first place.

Wrapping up

The iPhone is chock-full of fantastic features. App developers should not be afraid of using them to make money. But if the app behaves in a way that hinders the user in any way, there is a good chance that it will get deleted. You can use in-app advertisement, you can ask the users to rate apps, and you can deliver push notification – but only when it is in the interest of the users and when you know how to do it with consideration. Otherwise, even if your app is extremely useful or entertaining, the users may simply get fed up and uninstall it.

Author Bio: Ryan Benson has been a part of mobile app development since the last 4 years, and he believes that an app with good usability and navigation can subtly impress and influence the users. Currently, he works for an iPhone.PLAVEB, an iPhone app development company. Connect with him on Facebook and Twitter.