In the ever-evolving world of mobile apps, the quest to capture your audience's attention and get more people to install your app is a fun challenge. In this article, we're going to dive into a whole bunch of strategies – some won't cost you a dime, and others are worth every penny – all aimed at boosting those app installations.
Capturing the App Audience:
Paid and No-Cost Installation Channels
7 Free & Effective Promotion Strategies
To begin with, we highly recommend leveraging existing resources to draw in an audience for your application. We have outlined seven effective methods to boost your app installations.

Share on Social Networks

Irrespective of the social networks where your brand is active, there will be followers interested in receiving updates about your company. Regularly highlight in your posts and stories the convenience of researching and ordering products through your mobile app. This eliminates the need for plastic loyalty cards, as everything is readily accessible in the app.

Don't Overlook Email Marketing

If you have an email mailing list, make sure to promote your new app here as well. Offer additional incentives for customers to use the app when making purchases, encouraging them to try this new shopping method without delay.

Implement a Smart Banner on Your Website

The initial and simplest step is to prominently display a banner on your website that links to your application in the app store. This banner should not be tucked away in a section of the site or hidden as a small icon in the website footer. It should be prominently featured on the main page. This way, your loyal customers will become aware of the app's existence and may be inclined to give it a try. For instance, at IMSHOP.AI, this is the very first recommendation made by their manager when launching a pilot.


Implement ASO (App Store Optimization)

ASO is the mobile app world's equivalent of SEO. Fortunately, achieving a prominent ranking for your app is more attainable here. Below, we've outlined a concise set of guidelines to enhance your app's appeal to the algorithms.

Utilize Engaging App Screenshots
  • A captivating visual presence is crucial for catching the user's eye and effectively conveying your app's value.
  • Use vibrant colors that align with your brand and create concise, compelling captions.
  • Incorporate compelling call-to-action text.
We highly recommend prioritizing video format in your gallery, as it not only grabs attention but also distinguishes your app from competitors. According to wyzowl, 80% of users choose to download an app after watching a video.

Optimize Your Keywords
Keywords play a significant role in improving your visibility within app stores. Focus on three key areas: Title, Subtitle, and Keywords.

A strategic tip: Consider including the brand names of actively searched competitors and variants with typos or transliterations among the top 500 most popular queries in the App Store.

Cultivate Positive Reviews
An impressive 79% of users assess app ratings before downloading an app. Low ratings can raise doubts and skepticism among potential users, underscoring the importance of monitoring your app's ratings closely and addressing any fluctuations promptly.

An app with a 3-star rating risks losing about half of its potential downloads, while a 1-star or 2-star rated app risks losing almost all prospective downloads.

To avoid overwhelming users with review requests

  • Periodically request their feedback about the app.
  • Kindly ask users who rate your app to complement it with a review on the store since these reviews are also indexed.
  • In the event of a negative review, respond promptly; it's best to avoid leaving customers feeling unheard.

By following these guidelines, you can enhance your app's visibility and appeal, leading to increased downloads and a more positive user experience.

Incorporate QR Codes

We're not talking about traditional flyers and leaflets here. You can start by including QR codes linked to the app download on packaging, boxes, and even cash receipts. Consider the convenience for customers receiving your online orders who will appreciate an even more streamlined shopping experience. Check out this article to learn how Yamaguchi used this way to gain more app users.

Leverage Offline Touch Points

If your business has a physical presence, take advantage of it to inform potential customers about the additional tool they now have to interact with your brand. Display eye-catching banners in your store, offer assistance in finding the right clothing size through the app in fitting rooms, and inform customers about special bonuses at the checkout counter.

Harness the Power of Content

Remember that your application doesn't solely have to serve as a product catalog. You can integrate a blog within the app. Create engaging content that people will want to share, and watch as users themselves become promoters of your app. Read how Aravia (cosmetics brand) use helpful content to draw new clients to the app.
Trustworthy Paid Promotion Channels To Maximize Your App’s Reach
Investing in promoting your app is a big step toward its success. With our experience in launching mobile apps, we're happy to share three effective methods that consistently get great results for our clients. These paid promotion channels will help your app shine in the busy digital world.

Display and Contextual Advertising: Get More App Installs

If you want more people to install your app quickly and see if in-app purchases are better than website sales, give contextual and display advertising a try.

These ads are shown to people who are already interested in similar content. That means more people will download your app. You can place these ads in search results, on Google ad network websites, and on mobile devices. Our clients really like this method because it brings in a lot of traffic without costing too much. It helps you reach people who are genuinely interested in your app, and you'll see more downloads as a result.

Advertising on Social Networks: Reach the Right People

Advertising on social networks is a flexible strategy that lets you personalize your message and target the right audience at the right time. You can create ads that match people's interests, age, gender, and more.

While you've probably heard of Facebook and Instagram for social media ads, consider trying other options like Bigo and TikTok Ads. They can introduce your app to unique audiences, often at a lower cost compared to other places.

Influencer Marketing: Partner with Popular Bloggers

Influencer marketing is a powerful way to get more people to know about your app and download it. Even though it might cost more per download, the benefits make it worthwhile.
When you team up with influencers, make sure to pick them carefully. Check their reviews to see if they're trustworthy and reach a lot of people. Ask the blogger to promote your app to their audience and think about offering special promo codes, discounts, or bonuses to attract more users.

To sum it up, using paid promotion sources can do wonders for your app. Whether you choose display and contextual advertising, social network ads, or influencer marketing, the key to success is planning carefully, targeting the right audience, and making a message that people connect with.
What key performance indicators should I keep a close eye on?
Certainly, it's imperative not only to invest efforts into promoting your application but also to consistently monitor its performance through relevant metrics. You can make use of tools such as AppStore Connect and Google Play Console to access download analytics, where the primary metric of interest will be the installation conversion rate. Additionally, within AppStore Connect, you can utilize the Benchmarks tool, which provides insights into the average conversion data within your application category.
App Profile in App Store Connect
Developer Profile in Google Play Console
Please bear in mind that the conversion rate is influenced by the source of your traffic. When employing a paid traffic source, the installation conversion rate tends to be notably lower in comparison to organic traffic sources. To accurately assess the effectiveness of a specific approach, it's crucial to examine your data over time, carry out A/B tests, and subsequently evaluate your progress against the Benchmarks.

However, if you are serious about using paid traffic sources, we highly recommend employing tools such as AppsFlyer, or any other attribution system of your choice, to comprehensively analyze the effectiveness of all your user acquisition channels from a single platform.

So, there you have it, a bunch of tricks for getting your app out there, from freebies to shelling out some cash. By using these strategies, you're not just promoting your app; you're creating a connection with your audience, making it super easy for them to see why they should check out your app.

Remember, whether you're going for the free stuff or the paid options, the secret sauce for success is simple: Plan it out, aim for the right crowd, and make your message something people can't resist. With these tricks up your sleeve, your app is all set to shine in the crowded world of mobile apps, and there's no limit to how far it can go.

If your business still doesn't have a mobile app, it's high time to figure it out. Book a free demo and our managers will create a free mobile app prototype with your catalogue!