Why do you need App Store Videos & Play Store Videos?

When properly made, videos for your own apps on App Store or Google Play can be essential to their productivity. However, the questions are endless. Can I post the same video on both platforms? Should I make two completely different ones? Can my app succeed on IOS and fail on Google?

Before getting to all that and more, let’s identify your end goal. You want to attract users to your app before they press “install”. So you obviously need to know the system and learn how to work it to your advantage.

Contents

1. Intro to the importance of App Store Videos & Play Store videos

• What Makes A Good App Store Video
• What Makes A Good Play Store Video
• Differences video-wise

2. IOS

3. ANDROID

4. How To Work With Both

5. Summary of App Store Play Store video differences

Intro to the importance of App Store Videos & Play Store videos

Wouldn’t it be nice that instead of being content with only 5 screenshots of your app, there was also a video that displays your product in all its glory? Well, the app store and play market got you covered!

One of our slogans read, “Videos are the king of content,” and we stand by it here at Burnwe, especially in this case. Showcasing an entire product needs to be done visually, and the closest thing to that is a video. The possibilities are endless with video, but we have to keep in mind, depending on your app and where you want to post it, the different protocols and restrictions to take into account.

What Makes A Good App Store Video

First off, if you even want to get that video out there in the first place, you’re gonna have to follow a couple of rules Apple enforces. This shouldn’t by any way scare you off, creativity and genius always find their way.

To get that thumbs up from Apple, your video has to comply with every single one of these; let’s start with Dimensions. App previews are sadly displayed differently for different IOS devices so you have to meet the criteria, standardly the vertical mode, not to mention if your app is for iPads, it’s a whole different game. Moving on to Recording. It’s one of Apple’s guidelines to prevent people from filming themselves using the app in any way. Voiceovers, however, have recently been given the green light! But showing hands interacting with the product or device isn’t allowed, and MINIMAL if ANY animations.

Although this may seem bland at first, there’s an obvious silver lining here, all the attention will be on your app and not the little animations near it; what else do you need? Duration. A MAJOR ONE is IOS forces app creators to cut their preview videos short somewhere between 15-30 seconds (30 seconds MAX). Don’t view Apple’s “rules” as super-strict, good-for-nothing rules, look at them as rules that lean on shaping your video structure-wise and guaranteeing success.

What Makes A Good Play Store Video

Android leans back on restrictions, letting your imagination run free, so it’s basically your job to benefit from it! Some things you should keep in mind, though, are

1) Google Play Store DOES NOT autoplay your vids; there is always that “play” button present with a thumbnail, but that doesn’t really help. A lot of users are accustomed to not doing much for themselves and instead of letting apps do it for them. You may be surprised, but a very limited number of people actually press play.

2) Play store promo videos are slightly different, mostly cuz they don’t appear as much as they would if they were on App Store. And in the listings, you will never see a video pop up. They only appear after you click on the app.

3) Although Google Play doesn’t CARE what your video looks like and encourages creativity, you are limited to a single video per app.

Just check out one of OUR Play Store videos, and you’ll see for yourself.

Differences video-wise

IOS

In reference to the point above, we find it crucial to note that as a result of strict dimension specifics, it makes it virtually impossible to use the same app preview videos for both IOS and ANDROID. Thanks, App Store!

A major plus for IOS is that their videos auto-play, granted, muted but still. Autoplay videos are really beneficial as they immediately capture the viewers’ attention. This really skyrockets your app’s instalment rate. As we said, a major plus.

Android

You’re getting a relatively easy deal with Android on this one. Play store allows you to just post a youtube video and calls it, get this, an app promo video. Making your life just a ‘lil bit easier. Point to Play Store.

It’s sometimes arguable if this benefits your app or not since your preview video is basically a youtube video, which may sometimes divert the user’s attention to the HUGE Youtube logo on the lower left side, and they may even press it.

Take into account that although your Play Store doesn’t set any requirements video-wise, you’ll still need to follow youtube’s guidelines (horizontal dimentions) in addition to that, you’re not allowed to monetize your video for obvious reasons.

No, you don’t need the approval to post your video in the play store. Post whatever. No criteria, no nothing! You’re free to do whatever you need without going through additional check-ups.

Google Play Store DOES NOT autoplay your vids, there is always that “play” button present with a thumbnail, but that doesn’t really help. A lot of users are accustomed to not doing much for themselves and instead of letting apps do it for them. You may be surprised but a very limited number of people actually press play.

How To Work With Both

After learning about all of the App Store’s restrictions, it may seem pretty hard for you to get on board with making two different app previews but we’re here to change your mind. No, it’s not a hassle for no real reason. It’s definitely a hassle, but it’ll pay off in the end.

A tip from us.

Even though you won’t be facing as many challenges with your Play Store store video as with your App Store video, there’s another side to that coin…

Google provides a list of guidelines/recommendations that make Google algorithms like your app even more. Of course, they don’t force these upon you, but if your end goal is to have a very successful, professional, and smart video, you’re gonna wanna follow every single one of those recommendations.

Just as an example, let’s take video length. App Store videos need to be a maximum of 30 seconds long, but who in their right mind is even gonna make a video longer than 30 seconds? The illusion that Play Store is giving you much more freedom is a myth because it’s unnecessary.

Summary of App Store Video & Play Store Video differences

Now that you know the rules to the game, it’s time to get started and jump-kick your app’s journey with one of the most important components of its success, a good preview/promo video! Demonstrating and promoting your app is the key to audience engagement. Sometimes, people are too lazy to click “download” to know what your app’s about, and can you blame them?

We’re here to offer our support and be a part of your journey, so get in touch with us. Burnwe specializes in making promotions and app previews that’ll blow your mind.