Even if you use tons of apps on your iPhone, you probably don't think to rate them often. Unless you have an extremely poor experience and want to let others know how much you dislike the app, most people don't take the time to leave reviews.
However, while leaving reviews seems minor, doing so can help a lot of people out. Here's why you should start leaving reviews on the App Store more often.
1. Reviews Help Other Users Make Decisions
When you're unsure of an app's quality, you likely check reviews to help you figure out whether you should install it. Reviews can clue you into common problems with the app, help you understand how other people typically use it, and separate junk from quality apps.
If nobody reviewed apps, then these helpful notes wouldn't be available for other App Store users. This is especially important for lesser-known apps that don't have a lot of reviews, as well as paid apps since there's a cost associated with trying them. You sharing your experience with an app could be exactly what someone else needs to make the call for themselves.
You might think that reviewing a popular app will result in your review getting lost in the shuffle. But since everyone can mark a review as Helpful or Not Helpful, there's a chance that your particularly well-thought-out review could rise to the top. And even if it doesn't, it still contributes to the star average, which represents the app's quality at a glance.
2. Reviews Can Assist Developers
Developers put their apps through a lot of testing, but it's impossible to anticipate every possible problem ahead of time. Once the app is on the App Store, reviews can help clue developers into issues with their app, and in turn, improve the product.
For instance, if the app doesn't work well on a particular iPhone, the developer might reach out to you after you leave a negative review about your experience. After making a tweak to the service, a wave of positive reviews can signal to the app's creator that people largely like the changes.
Looking at reviews helps developers get a handle on the standing of their apps since it's often easier to leave a review than it is to reach out to the developer directly.
3. Reviews Improve the App Store
Apple works hard to make the App Store a place full of useful apps. While the company has requirements for companies to list their apps, sometimes a lousy or low-quality offering can sneak through. Using reviews, you can let Apple know when an app shouldn't be on the store—or if one is particularly excellent.
A sudden influx of negative reviews might happen when an app owner sells to another company and the app takes a dive in quality under the new ownership, for example. On the other hand, a steady flow of five-star reviews might signal that the app is worth an Editor's Choice award on the App Store.
Reviewing the apps you use provides the App Store with data to understand which apps are great and which are terrible. This helps everyone who uses the service in the end.
Reviews Are Small but Appreciated
Even though it only takes a minute to review an app, you should do it as often as you can. Someone will likely appreciate you sharing your experience with an app, even if it's only in the aggregate sense. Whether the app is amazing, terrible, or just so-so, making that feedback public is useful for everyone.
Be aware that not all reviews you see online are legitimate, however.