Lessons I Learned Publishing My First App on Google Play
Publishing an app on Google Play is one of those milestones that every developer, entrepreneur, or hobbyist dreams of. For me, it was the moment when an idea I had in my head finally became something real that people could download on their phones.
But here’s the truth: the journey wasn’t as smooth as I thought it would be. I made mistakes, learned lessons, and discovered insights that every beginner should know before hitting that big “Publish” button.
In this blog, I’ll share the most important lessons I learned from publishing my first app on Google Play. Whether you’re building a hobby project, a side hustle, or your first startup app, these lessons will save you time, money, and frustration.
The Excitement of Building My First App
Like most beginners, my journey started with a simple idea. I wanted to create an app that solved a small problem I personally faced. I didn’t aim to build the next Facebook or WhatsApp—I just wanted something useful and polished enough to share with the world.
I picked a simple tool: Android Studio with Flutter, though some people prefer no-code platforms like Thunkable or Adalo. After weeks of late nights, tutorials, and debugging, I finally had a working app.
At this point, I thought the hard part was over. But I quickly realized that building the app was only half the battle.
Lesson 1: Google Play Developer Account Isn’t Free
Before you can publish an app, you need a Google Play Developer Account. Unlike Apple’s $99 annual fee, Google charges a one-time $25 fee. It’s affordable, but as a beginner, I hadn’t expected this upfront cost.
👉 Lesson: Budget for publishing costs early. Even “free” apps have hidden costs.
Lesson 2: App Store Listing Matters More Than You Think
I assumed that the code and features of my app would do all the talking. Wrong. Google Play requires you to fill out:
I rushed through these, but later realized that the listing is what convinces people to download your app. A polished description, attractive screenshots, and a clean icon can make the difference between 10 downloads and 1,000 downloads.
👉 Lesson: Treat your app store listing as seriously as your code.
Lesson 3: Testing Saves You Embarrassment
When I published my app, I was excited and wanted it live immediately. I skipped proper testing. Within a week, reviews came in saying:
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“App crashes on my Samsung phone.”
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“Doesn’t work on older Android versions.”
I had tested only on my own device, which was a mistake. Google Play provides tools like internal testing, closed testing, and open testing tracks. I should have used them.
👉 Lesson: Always test on multiple devices and Android versions before publishing.
Lesson 4: Reviews Are Brutal but Valuable
My first negative review felt like a punch in the stomach. I had poured hours into the app, and someone dismissed it with one star. But over time, I realized reviews are gold.
They showed me what features users wanted, what bugs I missed, and what really mattered to people.
👉 Lesson: Don’t take criticism personally—use it to improve.
Lesson 5: Updates Build Trust
After receiving feedback, I released an update fixing some bugs. To my surprise, users responded positively. A few even changed their 1-star reviews to 4 or 5 stars after the update.
That’s when I understood: publishing your app is not the end; it’s the beginning. Regular updates show that you care, and they build user trust.
👉 Lesson: Commit to continuous improvement, not just a one-time launch.
Lesson 6: Metadata and Keywords Matter
I discovered that just like websites use SEO, apps need ASO (App Store Optimization). The keywords in your app’s title and description affect whether people can find it.
For example, my app was a simple habit tracker. Instead of just naming it “Trackify,” I should have used a title like “Trackify – Habit Tracker & Goal Planner.” That way, users searching for “habit tracker” would have a better chance of finding it.
👉 Lesson: Learn the basics of ASO early—it’s free traffic you can’t afford to miss.
Lesson 7: Monetization Isn’t Magic
I thought I would publish my app, turn on ads, and money would roll in. Reality check: my app had only 200 downloads in the first month. Ad revenue was barely enough to buy a cup of coffee.
I learned that monetization strategies (ads, in-app purchases, premium upgrades) only work if you have a user base. The real priority is building something people love and want to use every day.
👉 Lesson: Focus on user value before monetization.
Lesson 8: Marketing Is Just as Important as Coding
I expected my app to magically appear in people’s searches. Instead, downloads trickled in slowly. That’s when I realized: you have to promote your app.
I started by:
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Sharing it on Reddit and forums
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Creating a small landing page
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Asking friends to review it
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Posting on social media groups
Each step helped. Slowly, my app gained visibility.
👉 Lesson: Don’t just build—promote. Marketing is half the game.
Lesson 9: Patience Is Key
I checked my developer dashboard obsessively in the first week. Every new download felt like a victory. But growth was slow.
Eventually, I learned that apps don’t go viral overnight (unless you’re very lucky). It takes weeks, months, and sometimes years to build traction.
👉 Lesson: Play the long game. Focus on steady improvements and user satisfaction.
Lesson 10: Publishing My First App Was Just the Beginning
The biggest lesson of all? Publishing an app on Google Play isn’t the finish line—it’s the starting point. The real journey is maintaining it, listening to feedback, and learning from your users.
I started as a beginner with zero experience. Now, I’m confident enough to build better apps because of the mistakes I made with the first one.
👉 Lesson: Don’t wait for perfection. Publish, learn, and improve.
FAQs
Q1: Do I need to know coding to publish on Google Play?
No. You can use low-code and no-code tools like Thunkable, Adalo, or Appgyver.
Q2: How long does it take for an app to be approved?
Usually 24–48 hours, but sometimes longer if Google needs a review.
Q3: Can I publish multiple apps with one developer account?
Yes. The $25 fee is a one-time payment, and you can publish unlimited apps.
Q4: What’s the hardest part of publishing?
For beginners: app store listing, testing, and marketing.
Q5: Can I update my app after publishing?
Yes, and you should! Updates improve ratings and user trust.
Conclusion
Publishing my first app on Google Play was a rollercoaster of excitement, frustration, and growth. I learned that the journey doesn’t end with publishing—it begins there.
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The app store listing is just as important as the app.
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Testing and reviews are crucial for improvement.
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Marketing and patience matter more than you think.
If you’re about to publish your first app, don’t wait until it’s perfect. Put it out there, learn from feedback, and keep improving. Every developer starts with version 1.0—and the only way forward is to take that first step.
So go ahead: create, publish, and learn. Your future self will thank you.
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