FBInsider

How to Design the Perfect Facebook Application for the Users and You - Keep Them Guessing

(This is the 3rd part of a 4 part article, you can read the part 1 here and part 2 here)

Keep Them Guessing.

Now that you’ve introduced your app to Facebook users, don’t just end your relationship with them there.  Like all relationships, good ones, “it takes two to tango.”   If you or your app isn’t putting forth anything towards the user, the user probably is going to do the same.  They’ll have your app installed, but quickly become just another inactive user.  You need to keep them on the edge of their seats as much as possible.  Users are curious; give them something to be curious about.  Users are self conscious; give them kudos for actions they perform through your app.  Users are bored; give them an addiction.  These fundamental ideas, when meshed together, can make an extremely powerful and highly active application.  The more the users actively use your app, the more feedback you’ll receive, which in turn will give you a stronger idea on how to improve the application as well as increasing your chances of gaining new users.  It’s a social network; the users of the social network do exactly what it’s all about, they socialize.  If you give them something to socialize about, or use to socialize, they’re going to share it with their friends.  The topic of distribution of your app will be further explored in the core concept: ask politely.  As for now here are a few ways that will help you keep your users guessing, keeping them active within your app.

The most common ways to keep users guessing is some type of point system.  This point system can be utilized in a combination of ways.  The point system has two main parts: methods for the users to obtain points and methods for the users to use the points.  You could reward the user with points for actions they perform in your app (invite friends, interact with friends, submit reviews, submit suggestions).  You could reward them points for solving solutions (puzzles, games, riddles, and trivia).  After the users have obtained points, give them a reason for wanting to get points in the first place.  The points could be a certain type of currency that allows them to “buy” new features within your app or “buy” an item or action to perform on other Facebook users.  The points could be used to determine rank.  The rank could unlock features to only the more active users.  Either make the new features or items viewable, but not usable to unqualified users or tell the users that if they get so many points they’ll unlock new items or features.  Don’t forget that you’ve established a relationship with the users and it is crucial that they feel the need to stay in that relationship with your app.  Keeping them active through a point system keeps the users curious and addicted.

Another common way to keep your users active within your app is make your app a utility.  Maybe your app isn’t as much of a novelty as it is a utility.  If you app is used as a tool, there is still methods to keep the user curious, happy, and active.  Again, reiterating that this is a social network, create some level of interaction with your tool that allows the users to communicate with other users.  This type of communication can be direct or indirect.  Direct methods of communication can include, but not limited to, user sharing and user reviews.  Allow users to share ideas with other users.  Or give the users the ability to review other users’ content, possibility as a form of constructive criticism. Indirect methods can include, but not limited to, user comparison and user submitted content.  Let the user know how he/she compares with other users.  Create a level of compatibility between users so that they know what other users are the most resourceful or similar to themselves.  If you don’t have much time to add new content to your app, devise a way to allow users to submit content.  This content could be in the form of new topics, ideas, or products.  You may want to incorporate a review process before user submitted content goes live.  This could protect the flooding of superfluous submissions.  Or take it one step further, utilizing the social network and allow the users to vote upon your content.  The content with more votes will be used.   The point system previously discussed seems to work best with apps that are a novelty, but it can also work in a utility app.  This just adds to the overall value of your Facebook application.  With your users actively using your app you build a solid foundation to work from.  There is never a reason to stop improving app, remember keep the users guessing.