So you’ve just built a fantastic app that you’re really proud of and you think is going to be the next big thing. But guess what? You’re not alone.
3,739 apps are published on the Play Store everyday. Furthermore, over 5,000 apps are submitted to the iOS store on a daily basis. While this is impressive, it doesn’t include the millions of apps that already exist on these platforms.
Unfortunately, many of these apps will never generate more than a handful of downloads. And 75% of app downloads result in one open… and that’s it.
What this means is that a brilliant idea is not always enough to sell an app. The market is very competitive and there are high odds that your app won’t get the attention it needs and deserves without your help.
But don’t lose hope—as challenging as customer acquisition can be, it is not an impossible task. You just have to know the right actions to take before and after publishing your app to help users find it.
In this article, you’ll learn a few tricks you can apply to your app marketing efforts to generate awareness for your app, grow your download numbers, and make more money.
1. Be Strategic in Naming and Describing Your App
If you want your app to be memorable and easy to find, you have to give it a name that’s simple, unique, and relevant to its purpose..
Take your time when coming up with a name and properly think about the connotations and consequences of each option. You want a name that’s short, easy to spell and remember.
Try to pick a name that reflects what your app is meant for. People should be able to guess what your app does just by looking at the name. Make sure the name you choose isn’t being used by someone else already as that might land you in serious legal trouble.
Although app stores give you 225 characters for your app name, don’t get carried away. Stick to 25 characters or less because that’s the most that’ll show up in search results anyway.
Furthermore, ensure your app name contains keywords that are relevant to the category or niche it belongs to. Whether your app helps create a productive work-from-home environment or helps users organize shopping lists, keywords are key to being found.
The description of your app is also very important for your app’s ranking and potential users. It’s where you get to tell people everything they need to know. So, talk about the important details like features and benefits, required permissions, and subscription models if applicable.
Your description should also contain the appropriate keywords you’re targeting with your app. For instance, if you have an investment app called “Wise Investments”, aim to use the word “investment” 3-6 times in your app description.
Also include other relevant keywords like “finances”, “money”, and “returns” a few times. But always be strategic and natural with your keyword usage. Avoiding stuffing keywords into your description for the heck of it so you don’t give off spammy vibes.
2. Optimize Your App for Better Search Results
App Store Optimization (ASO) is one of the most effective ways to put your app in front of your target audience. Think of it as
The higher your ASO ranking, the more easily you’ll show up in search results, which will in turn affect the number of downloads that come your way.
Despite how critical ASO is to an app’s success, many app developers and app marketers often neglect it.
By paying attention to the various on-and off-page elements that contribute to your ASO rankings, you can optimize these factors to increase the likelihood that people will discover, click through, and download your app.
The following ASO factors can help increase your app’s sales:
- Number of downloads
- Ratings and reviews
- Country
- Keyword relevance
- App starts
- Revenue
- Updates
- Retention
- Social proof
- Backlinks
Refining these elements can help you enhance your app store optimization strategy to attract more users and influence downloads.
3. Use Compelling High-Quality Visuals
Regardless of how beneficial your app is or how many great features it has, most users won’t bother with it if their first impression is bad. Your app page is like the billboard for your app. It needs to grab attention. And this is where good design comes in.
The visual representatives of your app are the first things that people look at before deciding to download it or move on to something else. So, it’s up to you to convince them that your app is worth trying out.
Start by designing a unique app icon that is recognizable, eye-catching, and able to clearly communicate the function of your app.
Use screenshots and pictures to showcase your app’s most important features to entice users to download it. The point is for people to see the app in action so make sure your images are clean, crisp, and professional.
Try to include at least 3-6 screenshots and photos, with each one highlighting a different aspect or primary benefit of the app. Make sure you include arrows, captions, and explanations where necessary to show users how it works.
If you have the resources, consider producing a preview video for your app as well to show off your product’s rich visuals and offer more insights. This will help to impress your audience and make them want to explore more.
4. Encourage User Reviews and Referrals
Positive reviews serve as testimonials to the relevance and quality of your app, which demonstrate to other users that your app is worth downloading.
Research shows that social proof is one of the most effective forms of advertising.
People are more likely to trust a product that other people have tried out and vouch for. In addition to informing others about the value of your app, organic reviews can also provide critical feedback that you can use to improve.
It’s important to be proactive about asking for reviews either through in-app engagement or off the app. When sending in-app messages, be careful not to irritate users with too many notifications.
You can also ask influencers and other public figures that are popular amongst the audience your app is targeting to try it out and drop a review for others to see.
Furthermore, you can use incentives to turn existing users into brand ambassadors for your app. For example, you can offer discounts, free subscriptions, coupon codes, redeemable points, and other prizes to users who leave reviews or refer your app to someone else.
The more glowing reviews your app receives, the greater your credibility, which will inspire more people to download and try it out for themselves.
5. Spread the Word
Knowing how to build an app is one thing, but ensuring it reaches your target audience is a completely different matter. You can’t hope that people magically find out about it on their own. Instead, you need to get the word out and let people know it exists.
Start by creating a unique landing page dedicated to your app on your website. It should have a clear and compelling call-to-action encouraging users to take the next step and download the app.
You can use this page to convey all the key features and essential information to prospective and existing users alike.
It’s also important to have a defined marketing plan and budget so you know exactly how you’re going to go about promoting it to generate the response you crave.
Instead of rolling out your marketing campaign over a few weeks or months, consider reducing the time-frame to make your efforts more concentrated. If done successfully, you’re bound to see incredible returns on your investments.
When picking the marketing channels to spend your money on, remember to select the ones that are most popular with the audience your app is targeting. Some of the advertising
mediums you can use to create awareness and drive downloads include:
- Content marketing
- Social media
- Email marketing
- Press releases
- Sites like Quora, Medium, Reddit, and Digg
- App directory sites
- SMS marketing
- Magazines, blogs, and other relevant publications
6. Leverage the Power of Social Media
With more people working from home, social media is one of the best ways of increasing app sales, expanding your reach, and engaging with your users. Most people spend hours on social media sites every day and your target demographic is likely not an exception.
First you need to find out what platforms your audience prefers to spend their time on and join them there. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and YouTube are some of the most popular social media platforms out there.
Pick the ones that work best with your target group and type of content, then create your profile, and try to increase your customer audience. Furthermore, use branded links to your app’s landing page in your social media bios. I suggest using a link shortener like Rebrandly link shortener for the same.
Keep in mind that you’ll have to do more than share promotional content and sales pitches to capture the interest of your audience and keep them engaged. Use content curation tools to assemble a variety of content that educates or entertains your followers.
You can create conversations that drive conversions by sharing an informative and fun blend of:
- Tutorial videos
- Blog posts
- Infographics
- Images
- GIFS
Make sure you post on your profiles regularly. You can use social media scheduling tools to give the appearance of a consistent social media presence.
It’s also a great place to provide customer support, respond quickly to comments and questions from your audience, listen to their feedback, solve their issues, and keep them happy.
Build It and Market It Until They Come
Whether users are looking for ways to have more productive mornings or keep themselves entertained, there are plenty of apps they can choose from. So, you need to implement strategies that put you in front of the pack and convince consumers that you’re the better choice.
Boosting your app’s sales requires consistency and quality. So it’s important to start on the right track by paying attention to your design, ASO factors, social media engagement, and reviews.
Take the steps to boost your app’s rating and retention. Use stunning visuals to showcase your app’s features. Encourage reviews and ensure there aren’t any technical flaws that’ll negatively impact the user experience.
Don’t forget to continuously analyze how users are interacting with your app and use this insight to optimize your product to ensure continuous growth.
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