Any app shares the common objective of getting more users aka more downloads, right? Though download numbers most of the time do not correspond to the user engagement, at least you have a scope of unleashing better engagement maneuvers once you have garnered a decent download volume.
We agree that the app marketplace is tremendously competitive and you often have very little air to breathe in that crowd. But there are certain ways that helped other successful apps garner a huge number of downloads in no time. Why not try these tested and tried methods?
Here we introduce 10 time-tested ways to boost download numbers for your app.
Nail Your App Store Presence
First of all, you need to get your basics right. If you have not published your app yet, you can take time and fix a few things before going public. Don’t you think your app icon is the very first thing that grabs the attention of users in the app store? Naturally, you cannot afford to design an app logo that just fails to catch attention or make any sense of it.
In the same breath, you should consider optimising your app description to help the stores find it against relevant searches. These two aspects would give your app the app store presence it deserves. Consider the following tips for app logo, title, and description.
- Your logo must be sensible and should represent your app idea or purpose.
- Avoid using a too-flashy icon design. The simple and straightforward design stands out and is best-remembered.
- Let your app title be easy to pronounce and remember.
- Your app description should be simple, straightforward, and clear about what you offer and how you can help the users better.
- You can use one or two relevant keywords in the description but avoid stuffing it with too many.
Market Your UX (User Experience)
It is the UX of your app that you should market as loudly as possible because it is what makes one app different from the other. Here are a few key elements that you can talk about in your marketing campaigns:
- Uniqueness: Is your app really unique in the way it helps the user or on account of app content?
- Ease-of-use: How easy an interface does your app provide? Is it easy to navigate and fast to load?
- Addressing and feedback: Do you address user concerns and give them feedback promptly? How prompt is your app with regard to responding to users?
Build Organic Traffic Through Blogging And Video
An inbound marketing strategy is incomplete without blogging and video. Blogging helps to generate organic traffic by targetting SEO-friendly keywords of that niche. On the other hand, by posting a video you can easily spread the word.
- Blogs published featuring your app should not always promote it directly but can endorse it besides offering valuable information on a topic.
- Targetting trending blog topics on your niche can be effective.
- The video post on your app can be a demo, a promotional one, or a story about your app development.
- It can be posted on social channels, your own website, video-sharing platforms, and also on the landing page of your app.
Unique, Engaging, And Mint-fresh Content Works
Content drives traffic on the web.
But, what about mobile apps? Well, besides app features and UX elements, fresh and unique content is important for mobile apps as well. Remember the following aspects.
- Update your in-app content frequently to stay relevant and fresh.
- Improve content often to address user feedback.
- Encourage users to give feedback and download updates.
- Inform users and let your new update feature prominently with a visually optimised CTA button.
Mind Your Social Media Presence And Engagement
The social profile of your app is crucial to creating its public image. You should use a tone and create a distinct voice that matches the personality of your app.
- Every social platform demands a specific strategy. For example, Facebook is good to create general buzz and gradually build follower base with interesting contents. Twitter can be great if you can come with relevant tweets on your niche quite often. Google Plus is mostly about connecting with communities and influencers. Pinterest and Instagram can be great if you can come up with interesting visual content.
- Besides posting information and promotions about your app, it is important to build dialogue engaging your fans. Always ask for their feedback and answer to their comments.
Do Not Underestimate In-app Feedback
In-app feedback has remained one of the least-focussed areas for the majority of apps to date. But, there is not a better tool to create conversations with existing users and retain them. Only by encouraging in-app feedback can you know the pulse of your users and give them something to voice their concerns and issues. Consider the following tips:
- You should allow giving feedback as easily as possible.
- Let them give feedback through the app only. Do not ask to do the same through other channels like email, social media posts, etc.
- At the right mobile moment, encourage them to give feedback.
- Give them thanks for their valuable feedback and promise to address it at the earliest.
- When addressing a customer-raised issue, give the respective customer their due credit.
Utilise The Power Of Personalised Messaging
Personalised messages show how your app cares for each individual user and how serious you are in making the app better for their use by addressing individual preferences, constraints, and user contexts. Consider the following tips:
- Go deeper into the various demographic, contextual, and purposive aspects while segmenting your audience.
- Always send your messages to users at the right mobile moments on the basis of user context. You can then improve the chances of appreciation for your messages.
Influencers Count, Use Them Wisely
Can you count on anyone on the web who is taken seriously while reviewing an app? Well, he is the influencer and you should go all out to let him review your app.
Every app niche has influencers that people depend upon while deciding to download.
You should target these influencer/bloggers, review sites, and media that can speak positively about your app. Consider the following tips:
- Invite bloggers and web influencers of your niche to review the app. You should allow them free registration to both free and premium versions.
- Reach influential social media personalities who have a great follower base and create a dialogue requesting them to use and share their views on the app.
- Let your close contacts and peers create buzz about the app and spread the word so that it is heard by influencers as well.
Pre-launch Campaign
You can only make your launch event matter if you follow it with a pre-launch campaign long before the actual app date arrives. Creating early hype can make your launch more effective from a marketing point of view. Here are a few things you can do with a pre-launch campaign:
- Offer promo codes to the app audience on social media.
- Engage the audience in promotional contests.
- It can be hugely beneficial if you can coincide your launch with a big event or any trending issue. Infuse your pre-launch campaign with that upcoming event or buzz.
Evaluate Marketing Results
Finally, it is important to evaluate your success through effective analytics. In that context, focussing on the relevant KPIs is important.
- Make use of KPIs measuring your success in organic downloads, app store ranking, app store optimisation, enhancing loyalty and cost-per-download.
- Evaluate the role and significance of KPIs frequently to check whether they are still relevant in relation to your gross app marketing strategy.
So there you have it. Timely strategies and hacks to get your app to the number one spot in the store. All the best!