The App Center is designed to grow mobile apps that use Facebook – whether they’re on iOS, Android or the mobile web. From the mobile App Center, users can browse apps that are compatible with their device, and if a mobile app requires installation, they will be sent to download the app from the App Store or Google Play. All developers can create an app detail page. The page is required for being listed in the App Center, and it will also become the new destination when non-users search for your app on Facebook.
Many developers have been successful with in-app purchases, but to support more types of apps on Facebook.com, developers will be given the the option to offer paid apps. This is a simple-to-implement payment feature that lets people pay a flat fee to use an app on Facebook.com.
For your App to be Eligible, follow these rules:
- An app on Facebook.com in a canvas page
- A mobile app built for the web, iOS or Android that uses Facebook Login
- A website that uses Facebook Login and has an immediately logged-in, personalized experience
- An App for Pages built to manage or enhance other companies’ Facebook Pages
The App Center is designed to showcase high-quality apps that people love to use thus the apps must have:
- Have an easy-to-use interface, clear content, value to users, and no significant bugs.
- Show a clear distinction between ads and content, without excessive advertising.
- Have high app ratings and a low negative feedback rate.
- Set clear expectations about what user activity it shares on Facebook, and when.
- Not mimic Facebook UI elements in a way that’s misleading or unintuitive.
- Have a logged-in, personalized experience when users arrive on your website from your app detail page.
- Users shouldn’t have to click a “Log in with Facebook” button again when they arrive.
- The experience should be somewhat personalized so that they know they are logged in.
Don’t despair! if your app is rejected, the Facebook team will explain why and give you suggestions for what to change. Once you make the suggested changes, you can resubmit your app to be listed in App Center and even if your app isn’t listed in the App Center, users can still find it through search, bookmarks, and social channels like requests, feed, and timeline.There are tons of categories to develop Apps on; books, business, communication, entertainment, fashion, productivity, strategy, food and drinks and the king of them all, Games.
What does this mean to African developers? A lot. We have been agitating for developers to come up with apps that will have a global impact. Facebook is providing an opportunity to showcase as well as develop developers. So all of y’all who have been complaining about not having the right platform, this is the time to put your skills where your mouth is and come up with ingenious apps that will make Africa not just mere users of Facebook but active participants in what makes Facebook ticks while gaining fame and maybe money but note most technopreneurs didn’t start out to make money, it is only natural for it to come along.
You are still here, move along. I am itching to play Captain Africa games or Lagos conny conny boardroom strategy or whatever it is you choose to call it.
Image Credit: Facebook
