The Benefits of Positive Feedback

Have you ever downloaded an app from the Android Market, or App Store, and after using it for a few minutes thought “this is just awesome”? If you’re like me, the answer is yes. But was your first thought to contact the developer and tell him how happy you are? Or did you just keep using the app, happy to have something that works?

I was reading the comments on Tap That! Number the other day. Here’s the latest review by someone called Jake:

Definitely fun. Almost addicting, perfect for short spans with nothing to do. I can’t even think of anything I would add! Good job guys. Good job.

Reckon he’s happy? I would say so. As a developer, reading a review like this is really uplifting. It validates the time you put into writing the software, and shows you’ve made a difference in at least one person’s life. It might sound overly emotional, but for me that’s ultimately what software is about – changing peoples’ lives. Hopefully for the better 🙂

I think that’s why developers can get so obsessed with watching their analytics – seeing how many people are using the app, how long they use it for, how often they return, and so on. It’s the natural instinct to validate our effort by how much impact it’s making on other people.

So next time you download an app, think about the developer. Can you spend about 30 seconds of your time to write a review, post a comment, or somehow let him know that you appreciate his work? I can tell you, it makes all the difference in the world.

Photo credit: seanbjack