We live in such an era where smartphone users took over the number of desktop or laptop users. And all we see when we browse our menu are apps. World’s largest app stores offer over 8.9 million apps worldwide.
In this ocean of apps, it’s very hard to stand out. Large corporations have dedicated teams of marketing executives to figure out the right app marketing plan. But what do you do?
Luckily, you’ve got Appgeyser. In this post, we’ll go over the basic steps of crafting a killer marketing strategy that will make your mobile app visible to the eyes of the people. Without further ado, let’s get started.
The Pre-Launch Phase
An ideal marketing strategy should start its actions even before the app’s releases. It’s the pre-launch phase of the app and a very crucial period for the future of the app. It’s also known as the awareness stage, where you create awareness about the upcoming existence of your app among the audience.
Once you’re done setting your brand’s positioning and core values, it’s time to get a head start on marketing.
1. Set a Release Date
You cannot just release your app on a random day and expect millions of downloads. It’s contradictory to the basic mobile app promotion strategies. A rule of thumb is to look for events around the time you plan to release your apps.
A lot of businesses go wrong with the timing. If there is a major event going on around the world, or even worse, something is cooking up in your own industry, it’s ideal to stay away from those dates. Determine a date where you can expect to get full coverage.
2. Do Market Research
As a business owner, you know who your audience is. You know what they want from your business and you’ve positioned your brand to fulfill their needs. But do you know what kind of marketing content they like to consume?
To build awareness, it’s fundamental to understand the behavioural patterns of your audience. You should have a clear idea about their web browsing habits, their interests, and overall lifestyle.
If you haven’t done that, it’s time to get on the train to find what your audience likes. You need to point out a few pillars that you can work on for your app marketing plan. When you know how to grab the attention of the audience, the rest becomes easy.
3. Competitor Analysis
Unless you’re the only business in your industry, you have competitors. And you are bound to have more successful businesses than yours. Even if it hurts your ego, you should take a look at what they are doing.
A competitor analysis will allow you to get insights that you thought never existed. Your competitors might have a way of communicating that you can use as well, in your own style.
Make a list of the top 5 competitors in your industry and study their business strategies to figure out your mobile app promotion strategies. Compare your app to theirs to see what they are doing better than you.
Once you are done with the research, you will surely have some valuable insights that you can later incorporate into your app marketing plan.
4. Invest in Content Marketing
Content marketing has become a fundamental part of any business strategy. People consume content on the internet all the time and you should get a piece of that as well. Whether through your website or social media page, communicate with your audience. Show them that you care for them and you have a solution to one of their many problems.
5. Create Social Media Hype
The lion share of our time on the internet is dedicated to social media. We spend hours scrolling Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook in a day. Utilize this opportunity to create awareness. Let your audience know that you are coming out with a new app.
Create a series of content that shows the benefits of your app. Portray the key features you are looking forward to providing.
Go beyond just product marketing. Remember the behavioral research you did earlier? Use the information to connect with your audience. Build trust. And trust goes a long way in mobile app promotion strategies.
The Acquisition Phase
Once you launch the app, it’s time for user acquisition. You can go in a plethora of ways when it comes to acquisition. User acquisition is directly related to the rank of your app in app stores. The faster it gets downloaded, the higher the ranking you can climb.
1. Paid Advertisements
No matter how good your organic reach is, there is nothing that tops paid advertising. It’s particularly important right after the launch of your app. First, you must determine the channels you want to use for advertisements. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, web banner ads, etc. are some of the most common yet effective channels for user acquisition.
2. App Store Optimization
Along with the paid ads, you must also focus on optimizing the app for the app store you are targeting. The optimizing methods might vary depending on which platform you are targeting. Keywords play a huge role in mobile app promotion strategies.
You must find a keyword that reflects your business and have less competition. Incorporate the keyword in the descriptions, titles, and anywhere else it feels relevant. If you manage to get a high enough ranking in the initial days, the app will continue to rank higher on its own, thanks to the algorithms app stores use.
The Post-Release Phase
Congratulations, you have successfully executed the app marketing plan. Now, it’s time to keep up the good work.
1. User Feedbacks
Asking for and incorporating user feedback into your mobile app is the most effective way of gradually building trust. It will result in positive reviews. Learn to address the mistakes you might have made along the journey. Assure the users that you are trying your best to fix things and making the app more enjoyable to them.
How you ask for feedbacks also matters. You can’t annoy the user with popups now and then. Pushing a popup when the user is about to leave the app is the safest way to go.
2. Referral Bonuses
Bonuses are tried and true methods of grabbing people’s attention. If your business model allows it, offer referral bonuses to users. It doesn’t have to be money every time. Rather, offer something that your audience might value more than money.
For example, if you are operating a food delivery app, offer free delivery credits or discounts on their favorite restaurants as a referral bonus.
3. Stay Away from False Advertising
False advertising, or overpromising, whatever you might like to call it, don’t do it. Any successful marketing strategy is about sticking to what you promise. If you overpromise and fail to deliver, you are breaking the trust. It’s the worst thing you can do to your business because it takes time to build trust. But it doesn’t break it.
Final Thoughts
No app marketing plan is complete without proper strategies. And crafting mobile app promotion strategies is unlike anything in the marketing paradigm. Take your steps carefully and follow through with your promises. You might be looking at a very successful future ahead.
If you’re thinking about creating an app for your business for free, look no further than Appgeyser!