It’s challenging to enter into the Salesforce AppExchange. For many developers and businesses alike, the process from developing your solution to making it available to the public might be onerous.
The first two stages of planning and creating your solution can be completed by you or your company, but publishing it on the Salesforce AppExchange is a completely different story.
Have you got a query? “I have a concept for an app; where do I start?”
We are aware that if you have this question, you must be filled with confusion and hundreds of questions. Here, the focus is on building and releasing your application on Salesforce AppExchange, the top cloud marketplace, rather than the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
It is simple to develop a Salesforce AppExchange application and list it on this AppExchange platform. With the right advice, the process could be simple for you.
The process is broken down into a few steps that are described below to create a proper listing using a series of security reviews.
Now You can put an end to your search for “how to get your application listed on Salesforce AppExchange.” All of the information necessary to help you get your app listed on the Salesforce AppExchange has been covered here in this blog crafted by Top Salesforce Appexchange partner, Oaktree software
Let’s delve into the interesting blog
What is AppExchange?
The AppExchange offers a wide variety of apps that are designed to cater to various industries and use cases, making it a great resource for Salesforce customers looking for solutions to particular business needs. This can include applications for marketing, sales, customer support, finance, human resources, and more. The AppExchange also offers a wide range of third-party products, including dashboards, analytics tools, and data migration tools.
Customers can browse, download, and review apps on AppExchange, as well as leave ratings and reviews that can guide other users in choosing which apps to use. Customers are now able to view the opinions and experiences of other users of the app, which can be very useful when deciding whether or not to use it.
In order to help ensure that the apps meet certain standards of functionality, security, and quality, AppExchange also has a certification process for the apps that are listed on the platform. Customers can install apps with confidence knowing they will function as expected thanks to this process.
How to Get the App Listed or Published on Salesforce AppExchange?
Getting your app published on the Salesforce AppExchange can be a thorough process that requires you to meet certain technical and business requirements, pass several reviews and verifications, and provide ongoing support for your app. Here’s a step-by-step guide on the process of getting your app published on the AppExchange:
Step 1: Start by signing up
To save you time, you can skip ahead to the next step if you are already a Salesforce consulting partner (like Oaktree Software), an ISV partner, and have access to the partner community portal.
However, if your company is not Salesforce-centric or if you are not a Salesforce AppExchange partner but have an app idea that would allow you to enter the Salesforce ecosystem, your first step should be to Sign up in the Partner Program.
Filling out your company information and selecting an independent software vendor are simple processes (ISV). An email containing your login information will be sent to you to formally welcome you to the partner community.
Note: Depending on the region or nation, the registration process varies. As a result, if you are an American company, your process will differ from Indian companies.
Step 2: Aware about your plan
What happens next? You may be wondering where you can create the listing now that you are a member of the Partner community.
It’s critical because this is the only way for potential customers to find apps for their businesses. Navigate to the publishing tab in the partner community and select “Create a new listing.” You must submit your business plan here by answering a few questions. You must mention the name of your app as well as its purpose. Tell them how your idea addresses business pain points or how it expands the capabilities of Salesforce’s platform.
Be precise with your language and how you intend to leave an impression with your app
Step 3:Â Explaining your business Plan
Following the submission of your listing, a few members of the Salesforce team will arrange a call with you to go over your business strategy and plan. What you mentioned in the listing form must be fully explained during this call.
We will outline a few things you can do to get ready prior to the call based on our personal experience. They might question you regarding the following:
What inspired you to create this app, and how?
How do you hope to use your app to overcome the difficulties?
Do any competition applications with a similar concept?
Are you going to keep it free or charge for it? Why, too?
Additionally, the Salesforce team may make improvisational suggestions. So don’t be alarmed! Be confident and relaxed when describing your application’s unique selling proposition and how it differs from others on the AppExchange. You can also display your app’s prototype to make a stronger impression.
Step 4: Finish the legal formalities.
It’s time to proceed and finish up all the legal and compliance obligations after the call. It is necessary to sign a distribution agreement and have technical calls with a technical evangelist.
However, if you plan to enter the consulting industry but are not currently offering such services, you should submit a Due Diligence and Compliance Certification on behalf of your business. Information about your business, operations, and connections will be included in that certification.
Currently, the Salesforce team is checking these specifics to see if they adhere to their standards for ethics and integrity.
Step 5: Next comes the coding
You have an idea, but creating a real app is the crucial next step. Set your engineering and development team to work on that. Have the top business analysts, developers, and quality control experts on your team. Create a development strategy, make sure all the features are there to boost the functionality, have a well-thought-out UI & UX, and test and re-test the app until there are no bugs left. This will help them understand the vision behind creating the app and put them on the same page.
Let’s say you don’t want to deal with the hassle of hiring or training. If so, you can also get in touch with PDOs (Product Development Outsourcers) or top Salesforce Consulting Partners, who have built similar applications before and can help you with the process in general.
You probably want an app you create to stay on the market. If so, keep in mind that you should always be making improvements. Remember that the features of upcoming releases can be seamlessly integrated into the current application.
Step 6: Free vs. Paid? The method varies!
Whether an application is free or paid, it costs money to develop it and list it on the Salesforce AppExchange. Let us explain this using our own personal experience. If you intend for Free process then you don’t have to additional fees to move further and on the other hand, if you are considering making your app paid version live then the Salesforce team needs to sign an agreement with the security review fees
Step 7: Review
The team is afraid of the security review. However, it would be best if you crossed the storm to reach the rainbow. The following are put to the test during the AppExchange security review:
The application’s security condition.
List every security flaw to which the app is susceptible.
SOQL and SQL injection.
access control protocols and cross-site scripting.
Violations of record-sharing (i.e., specific to the Salesforce platform only).
There is no guarantee that your application will pass the preliminary review stage. The Salesforce team will, however, ask you to make the necessary changes if they discover any flaws. Make changes and submit it for a follow-up review. This process will be repeated until your app is bug-free.
The security review procedure could take four to six weeks, so calm down and be patient. Even so, you’ll get a congrats email once your application passes the security review for all your sweat, blood, and tears.
Step 8: It’s the big moment.
Who will use your application now that everything is finished? How would you inform them of it? How might you draw it in?
Certainly too much pressure. Don’t take it, that is. To make your AppExchange listing stand out, you must adhere to a few recommendations. Using our own experience as a guide, we concentrated on a number of factors to set our listing apart from the competition:
The key is SEO: It enhances the way that applications look and are listed in the search results. In our description, we included all the pertinent keywords for this. Utilize all the words and phrases you believe the customer might type into a search engine to find a solution.
Attractive Images
You can upload a minimum of 14 images to AppExchange to advertise your product. Please use images to convey the benefits or solutions that your product will provide, rather than trying to sell the product itself.
Limit the number of words on each screen and keep it simple. Make sure that only the most important details and crucial stages are included.
Be wise when using the resources section: You can add all the pertinent details about your product, such as user manuals, demo videos, installation guides, etc., in the resources section of your Salesforce AppExchange listing.
Why Hire a Salesforce AppExchange partner to Publish your app on Salesforce AppExchange?
A Salesforce AppExchange partner such as Oaktree software can help you publish your app on the AppExchange and offer a number of advantages, including:
Knowledge and experience: Salesforce AppExchange partners are adept at developing and releasing apps for the AppExchange. They can guide you through the process more effectively because they are acquainted with the specifications and standards set by Salesforce.
Technical support
To make sure that your app satisfies the technical specifications set forth by Salesforce and integrates seamlessly with the platform, Salesforce AppExchange partners can offer technical assistance with developing and testing your app.
Security and compliance:
Salesforce AppExchange partners are knowledgeable about the security and compliance standards for apps on the AppExchange and can assist in making sure your app complies with these requirements.
Marketing and Promotion
By embracing the AppExchange development services from the Salesforce AppExchange partners you can get assistance with marketing and app promotion. They can assist you in developing a listing that will pique interest, generate buzz, and connect with the right customers.
Ongoing assistance
In order to keep your app up to date and functioning properly, Salesforce AppExchange partners can provide ongoing support and maintenance for it, including troubleshooting, bug fixes, and updates.
Cost-effective: Working with a Salesforce AppExchange partner can be less expensive than publishing your app on your own because they can use their expertise, resources, and connections to guide you through the process more quickly.
Certifications: Salesforce AppExchange partners are Salesforce-certified and have the knowledge to make sure your app is of the highest caliber and complies with all of Salesforce’s standards.
Compliance: Salesforce AppExchange partners can assist you in making sure that your app complies with the rules and laws of the region you are targeting. This will increase the number of customers who can access your app.
Hiring an expert Salesforce AppExchange partner such as Oaktree software to publish your app on the AppExchange can offer you a number of advantages, including expertise and knowledge, technical support, security and compliance, marketing and promotion, ongoing support, cost-effectiveness, certifications, and compliance, all of which can help increase your chances of success in getting your app listed on the AppExchange.
Conclusion
It can be difficult to create an application and list it on the Salesforce AppExchange platform. But it is accessible as a, b, and c if the right information and direction are provided by offering them the solution they want, it is the ideal platform for connecting with businesses around the world.
Throughout the process, please stay in touch with the Salesforce team, pay attention to their instructions, and construct the app correctly. By conducting extensive market & business research, choose whether you want to take it to market as a free or paid app. Good luck with your upcoming application, and that’s all we have to say. Don’t hesitate to contact our passionate and best Salesforce AppExchange consultants in India if you have any questions as you travel along on this journey.
