getting users back in app through homescreen integration

I'm trying to figure out ways to get users to return into my app more often

so far i have: http://android.arnodenhond.com/tutorials/home-screen

1. Widgets
2. Live Folders
3. Shortcuts

• Install shortcut

4. Quic开发者_运维技巧k Search Box
5. Notifications

please answer any other tricks you know of?

---

You seem to have it pretty much down functionality wise so

• Widgets - you say you have widgets, but how good are they? In my experience widgets are one of the most-used Home-screen features. Do you offer per-widget configuration? Do they look nice and fit well with the other widgets?
• User Interface - it's always important to have a sharp looking app; if the functionality is there, then this should be the big focus. Try something a little different, make use of some animations (sparingly)

Some other things you might want to look at, not specifically to do with the Homescreen but they apply to it too:

• Responsiveness - nothing puts off a user like a slow or crashing app
• Icon - the number of Android developers I have come across that put out an app with either (a) an extremely large icon (b) a tiny icon or (c) an icon that fails to even attempt to comply with the icon design guidelines; the icon is often the first thing a user will see after installing your app so it's important to get it right, there are icon design guidelines for a reason.

Also please don't pop up random notifications (I'm not saying you are, just don't!), notifications should happen for a reason or most likely they will just end annoying the end user who will uninstall your app.

I generally find that

1. Live folders do not seem to be that popular
2. Although the search box gets used for in-app searches, very, very few people make use of the Global search functionality from the Homescreen since most people never enable it.

---

You could use a broadcast receiver for example when ever user turns on the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. You could as show a notification to the user to fire your application

---

I think notifications are your best bet. As long as they provide value of course.

---

I think you already have all ways that available on Android app. level.

---

If you want more features above a normal Launcher to get users return to your app., this idea following is quite nice I think. Check out this. As you can see, the app show up on any activity such as a Map.