So, you’ve created a brand-new mobile app and are eager to start earning a profit and enjoying the tidal wave of downloads and positive reviews, yes? Unfortunately, it isn’t usually as easy as it might seem. There are numerous factors influencing the success of an app and plenty of roadblocks that can hinder your app monetization. Fortunately, there is also a wide range of methods that can come in handy for increasing your app’s downloads and, subsequently, profits.
Though it might seem like the most important thing is to boost your app’s download rate, there are other important metrics which can affect your app’s performance:
Below we’ll concentrate on the free methods which can help you improve the performance of your app.
ASO is the process of boosting the visibility of a mobile app in an app store. Optimizing your mobile app allows it to rank higher in an app store’s search results and, consequently, is vital for driving installs and increasing your app’s revenue.
App Store Optimization is a vital process for increasing your app’s discoverability, which is why it can’t be overlooked or underestimated. The role ASO plays for mobile apps is similar to the role of SEO for websites. So, don’t miss out on ASO as one of the largest discovery channels available to your app and read about some proven mobile applications SEO methods here.
Choosing a name for your business, website or app is crucial. A good name can become your brand’s most valuable asset, while a bad name can spell disaster for your business. They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression, so your app’s name, description and icon, are the most important and, possibly, the only interaction a user has with your app.
So, what do you have to take into consideration when creating a compelling and catchy name for your mobile app and description? We’ve prepared a list of valuable advice that will help you successfully name and describe your app.
Some people underestimate the power of icons and consider them a negligible component in app development. However, icons can be a determining factor when it comes to app downloads. Moreover, an icon can become a reason for the outright rejection of your app by the app store.
By contrast, startups should use familiar elements to convey a certain idea. For instance, Language Navi, a new translation app, features a magnifying glass and words from different languages in its icon.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so, as a rule, people get information out of images. Consequently, traditional written descriptions are no longer cutting in, and app stores are opting for visual representation.
Here, screenshots come in handy, as their aim is to communicate the user’s in-app journey visually. However, to drive installs, screenshots have to be appealing and allow you to put your app’s best foot forward.
So, what do you have to keep in mind if you want to create great screenshots?
– The first approach is advisable for apps with an easy-to-use interface and involves taking snapshots directly out of your app.
– The second approach involves combining app screenshots with images, mockups, and graphics to address consumers’ emotions and feelings.
– The third approach, being the most sophisticated one, involves creating artistic images and illustrations.
More than 60% of people discover apps outside the app store via various sources including word-of-mouth recommendations, social media, a website or a blog, etc. So, to drive downloads and boost your app’s popularity, you’ll have to start creating brand awareness and building your online presence. The more exposure you bring to your app, the more users you will acquire.
Below, we’ll discuss some ways that may come in handy for expanding your reach and driving installs.
Don’t just copy and paste a link – highlight the benefits of your app and provide exceptional content that will engage your audience and drive downloads. Use as many social media channels as possible, but make sure you manage to handle them all and keep them updated.
The Facebook group of the Angry Birds app can serve a great example of how to leverage social media for promoting your app.
However, before asking them to write a review, ensure that your app is good enough to be featured on such sites, as they commonly look for apps which are crash-free, beautifully designed and contain compelling and unique content.
People trust word-of-mouth recommendations and reviews from real people over traditional advertising methods, so encourage reviews through in-app messages and ask your friends and acquaintances to give feedback on your app. Incentivize people to give you reviews by using lead magnets such as coupon codes, discounts or some other perks.
Moreover, you can ask influencers in your niche to review your app, and this is a proven way to not only increase your product’s discoverability, but also establish its credibility and brand awareness.
However, don’t get discouraged if people don’t rave about your product or provide negative feedback, draw lessons from poor reviews and fix what needs to be fixed.
No matter how much time and effort you invest in promoting your app, no one will download it unless it resonates with your target audience and offers them something of unique value. Your consumers should get some tangible benefits from your app, such as reduced costs, additional revenue or improved customer experience.
To achieve all this, you have to implement analytics while creating and promoting your app. Analytics should provide information on the way users behave from the moment they download it until they delete your app, and conduct various tests including A/B testing. The internet abounds with analytics services you can leverage to improve your UX in your app. Google’s Universal Analytics is the most popular one.
Besides, there is no doubt, your app should be crash-free and user-friendly. To ensure this, your app should undergo rigorous testing.
Both Google Play and Apple’s App Store serve the same purpose, which is to provide a variety of apps for downloading. Despite their similarities, there are some striking differences in the layout and policy of each store, which can greatly influence consumer behavior and interaction with the app store pages.
We are going to describe the differences between Google Play and Apple App Store below.
Google Play | Apple App Store | |
Layout | The main part of the Screenshot Gallery is placed below the fold, while the prominent Feature Graphic is at the top of the page, above the fold. This encourages visitors to make quicker download decisions. | The Screenshot Gallery is above the fold and visitors are exposed to the Gallery immediately; this grabs their attention and encourages engagement. So, visitors are likely to scroll further and explore content available in the store, but are less likely to make quick download decisions. |
App name/title | The app name is limited to 50 characters.You can change the title at any time. | The app name is limited to 30 characters.The title can be changed, but only if you submit an updated version. |
Keywords | Keywords can be used in the description. | Offers a section to add keywords to. The description has no impact in terms of ASO. |
Pricing | Becoming an Android developer costs $25 per year. | The Apple Developer Program annual fee is $99. |
Security | The review process is rather quick, it can take less than two hours, and there is a low bar to getting started. As a result, there are many malicious apps published in Google Play. | The review process can take up to two weeks due to the high-quality standards the store sets. As a result, Apple App Store ensures the top standard for its apps. |
Visibility | Google Play search model is similar to the way search engines function, which means that a query will match with everything from the app name to the app description. | To find your app in the store, the user will have to search for one of the keywords you’ve added to the keywords checkbox. |
Discoverability | Apps can be listed on the “similar apps” and “also installed” sections. | Apps can be published in different categories. |
What are the best methods to promote your app and drive installs in 2019? There are no ready-made answers to this question. You should combine all the free methods we’ve listed above, and remember that the quality of your product and its users are of the utmost importance to you, and be creative when making and promoting your app.
Though there are no shortcuts or get-rich-quick schemes when it comes to pay-to-download app promotion, the time and effort you invest in it will eventually pay off, and your app can become an incredibly lucrative revenue stream for you.