Have you ever wondered how people who have just made mobile apps further expand their business and services to a wider audience and get people to download their apps?

Unfortunately, you can’t just force people or tell people to install your app and call it a day. That would not attract or compel anyone and would look pretty old school. Even if you already own an app, it looks fun and unique, and you have run several tests on it to ensure flawless navigation.

But there is one problem: no one seems to be downloading your app 😣

So, for you to avoid that, we have compiled the best and most effective tactics to uplift your mobile app and increase downloads. These strategies are proven to work, especially when it comes to social media apps. In today’s competitive market, you have to do more than just create an attractive mobile application.

In this comprehensive blog, we will look at some hidden tricks and highly effective approaches people use that have gained millions of downloads for their apps.

Why Do I Need A Mobile App?

In today’s mobile-driven world, a compelling mobile app isn’t just a trend. It’s a powerful tool for any business, offering a multitude of benefits over a website alone. This way, you can extend your reach beyond desktops and laptops and slip right into your customers’ pockets as a personalized brand companion.

Mobile apps offer unmatched convenience and accessibility. They allow users to access your services, browse products, schedule appointments, or engage with your content anytime, anywhere, with just a few taps. This instant gratification factor is crucial in today’s world, with people constantly on the go, keeping your brand at the top of their minds and boosting customer satisfaction.

Furthermore, mobile apps enable enhanced functionality and personalization. They can include features like push notifications to send timely updates and promotions, location-based services to offer personalized recommendations, and even offline functionality for uninterrupted access to certain features, even without an internet connection. This dynamic and interactive experience fosters deeper engagement and loyalty from your customers.

So, now we hope you get the point of why a mobile app exceeds the limitations of a static website, transforming it into a dynamic and interactive platform that enables convenience, engagement, and valuable data collection, propelling your business towards increased brand loyalty, customer satisfaction, and long-term success. If you don’t own a mobile app yet, you can easily get one made by professionals at affordable prices. AppsVent is known for its skilful mobile application development and is perfect for creating stunning and high-performing mobile apps.

17 Strategies to Increase Mobile App Downloads

1. Conduct Market Research

Before you create a mobile app or even initiate an idea for it, you have to know who your target audience is. This is the first and most important step many mobile app owners fail to achieve.

For instance, you provide fitness advice and create your own merch. If you see that your industry leans more towards active fitness, like bodybuilding and muscle gain, you wouldn’t want to target individuals who are interested in Pilates or Yoga, right?

You need to understand your audience’s needs and do relevant research with existing competitors. See what they have, and you can do better. Come up with better ideas. If you feel like you are struggling with this, you can always hire professionals to ease the process for you. When you have a team to back you up with rigorous market research, they can also help you identify the gap in the industry and aid you in filling that gap. Ultimately, this creates a successful mobile app that is willing to be downloaded by thousands.

2. Gain More With App Store Optimization

So, you may have heard of SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), but have you discovered what ASO is yet?

Although they both are very similar in nature and in relation to your mobile app’s advancement, but, App Store Optimization has more of a greater impact in this domain. As professionals, we know how Google recognises websites that have been SEO-optimized. The same is the case with mobile apps that have been ASO-optimized. With a mobile app with applied ASO, Google will rank it higher in the search results. The higher the rank, the more users will trust and download your app. Fortunately, ASO helps determine whether your app has actually been downloaded or not.

Here are a couple of more factors that you gain through ASO:

• Keyword Relevance: mobile applications with popular keywords in their title and description will see more downloads.
• Positive Reviews: the more positive reviews you gain through your app, the more you gain the upper hand automatically. When users rank your app, it will also be ranked higher, pushing it towards more people to download.
• Increased Revenue: Of course, the better your app gets through ASO, the higher your revenue generation will be.
• More Downloads: The more downloads you have, the more you will end up getting in the future. App publishers aim for a steady amount of downloads so they gain higher ranks.
• Backlinks: If you add backlinks to many relevant pages, your overall app ranking will improve. This is like a natural process.
• Country: You can boost your ranking through the power of regional success. Believe me, this definitely has a snowball effect on your audience.
• Social Proof: Don’t underestimate the power of social media and the various platforms it holds within. This can definitely boost your app’s app store ranking, especially on Android

Taking these factors into account can significantly impact your app’s public perception and app store algorithm treatment.

3. Use App Localization

The App Store and Google Play Store offer a great opportunity to reach users worldwide. However, users are unlikely to download an app that they can’t understand. This is where localization comes in.

Localization involves adapting your app to different languages, cultures, and locations. It includes translating content and optimizing design, as well as adapting your app listing. Good localization can help you connect with new audiences from around the world and lead to positive reviews and referrals. It also improves the user experience for people who download your app in different regions.

This shows your audience that your mobile app is inclusive and that you have created a localized app that represents several languages and so on. This is another way to increase app downloads successfully.

Airbnb has localized everything from app UI to payment methods for 220+ locales and 60+ languages. You can even see how it has the “editor’s choice” badge.

4. Engage Potential Users With Content Marketing

There are several apps that can be promoted effectively through good content marketing, ranging from photo editors to financial management apps. One effective way to do this is by adding blogs to your app website, creating video tutorials on YouTube, or even starting your own podcast series.

Evernote is a great example of a company that has effectively used this strategy over the years. The note-taking giant regularly shares relevant content on productivity, including the results of user surveys.

By providing valuable content to your audience, you can attract users and promote your app at the same time. You can include an elevator pitch for your app within every blog post, video, or podcast episode. Additionally, creating and pushing out content on a regular basis can give your website a significant boost in terms of search engine optimization (SEO).

5. Create a Website

If you already own a website, consider improving and maintaining it on a regular basis. This is the basics of digital marketing and is still a strong strategy for increasing mobile app downloads.

But you may wonder why we are mentioning websites when this whole blog is about mobile applications. Well, with a website, you expand your digital marketing strategy and this way you are able to be more discoverable to your audience. Just having an app is not enough. Many people tend to search for new apps in app stores or through Google and other search engines. By creating a website, you will have the opportunity to attract potential users and showcase the best features of your app within a digital space that is fully under your control.

You don’t need to create a super fancy website, but it should still do justice to your mobile app. You will have to focus on the SEO strategy for this, too. It will just better your website performance and boost your app as well.

6. Create Pre-launch Buzz

Build anticipation and curiosity with your viewers and targeted audience. Make them wonder what all the hype is about. You can achieve this by creating a landing page with a clear CTA (call to action). Make your viewers want to sign up first to get promotions or special discounts you may offer on your app.

By offering limited-time discounts on your product or service within the app, providing exclusive content like bonus features or early access to new releases, or implementing a referral program with rewards for both the referrer and the newly acquired user. People are sure to download your app once it is launched!

For example, a fitness app might increase downloads by providing free access to premium workout routines for a limited time. A social media app could implement a referral program where users earn points or redeemable rewards for each friend they invite to join the platform.

With this strategy, you are offering something truly valuable and time-sensitive. You can effectively motivate downloads, encourage user engagement, and trigger organic growth through user referrals.

For instance, Interior design brand Havenly teased a new service with an enticing email campaign: “Next week, we’re launching something new that we know you’ll love.” It’s simple yet leaves customers curious about the brand’s launch.

7. Social Media Marketing

Social media platforms are a powerful playground to ignite excitement and organic reach for your mobile app. Don’t just post generic download links! Craft engaging and informative content that piques user interest and showcases your app’s value proposition. Utilize relevant hashtags to ensure your content reaches the right audience searching for solutions your app offers. Run interactive contests and giveaways to create engagement and generate buzz.

Encourage user-generated content by asking users to share their experiences with your app using a specific hashtag. This authentic content builds trust and social proof, encouraging others to download and explore your app.

Consistency is crucial when it comes to building a loyal following around your app. It’s important to publish engaging content on a regular basis, respond to comments and messages, and actively participate in relevant online communities to maintain momentum. By strategically utilizing social media, you can transform it from a mere promotion platform to a thriving community hub. This can ultimately help you drive organic downloads and propel your app towards success.

For example, you may have heard of Duolingo. Before, we can say that yes it was just another language learning app, but now, thanks to the power of social media marketing, Duolingo used other social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok to promote its app further. They even came up with mascots to represent their owl and other characters from the app. Now, that turned out to be very successful.

8. Personalized User Experience

To create a successful mobile app, it’s not enough to rely on the features alone. You need to engage users and build a community around your app. There are many ways to achieve this, such as creating forums where users can discuss the app, share tips and tricks, and offer each other support.

You can also add chat functionalities within the app to facilitate real-time conversations and build a sense of camaraderie. Running contests and giveaways can encourage users to participate and share their experiences with the app.

Consider hosting live Q&A sessions or AMAs with your development team or relevant experts to build stronger relationships with your user base. Remember that building a thriving community takes time, so be sure to actively engage with users, respond to their feedback, and create a welcoming environment where they feel valued and heard. This approach will foster a sense of belonging and loyalty, ultimately boosting user engagement, retention, and the success of your mobile app.

9. Encourage Positive Reviews and Ratings

Encouraging satisfied users to leave positive 5-star reviews and high ratings on the app store can act as social proof, building instant trust and credibility for potential downloaders. Imagine scrolling through an app store and coming across an app with hundreds of positive reviews highlighting its ease of use, valuable features, and overall satisfaction.

This will significantly increase the perceived value of your app and incentivize others to download it, knowing they are more likely to have a positive experience. It is essential to not only encourage reviews but also respond to both positive and negative feedback. Thanking users for positive reviews shows appreciation and strengthens your connection with them.

Addressing negative reviews professionally demonstrates that you value user input and are actively working to improve the app, fostering trust and loyalty among your user base.

Remember, positive reviews and high ratings are crucial in the app store, so encourage them, respond thoughtfully, and leverage their power to attract new users and propel your app’s success.

10. Offer Ongoing Updates

Don’t let your app go stagnant. Keep your users amused with fresh value and constant updates. Regularly releasing updates is essential for several reasons. First, it shows your commitment to user satisfaction and appreciation for their feedback. New features, bug fixes, and performance improvements not only enhance user experience but also address their pain points and show you’re actively improving the app.

Furthermore, updates can reignite user interest and encourage engagement. Introducing new features, functionalities, or even cosmetic changes sparks curiosity and encourages users to re-explore the app. This can lead to increased app usage, the discovery of previously unused features, and a renewed sense of excitement surrounding your app. Additionally, updates can address security vulnerabilities, ensuring user data remains protected and fostering trust.

By balancing innovation with stability, releasing frequent updates with valuable improvements and maintaining a secure environment, you can keep your users engaged, strengthen their loyalty, and ultimately increase your app’s long-term success, definitely making more people want to download your app.

11. Try Engaging in Public Relations

This involves strategically crafting and sharing your app’s story with relevant media outlets, influencers, and industry publications.

One effective way to promote your app is by generating positive media coverage. You can achieve this by issuing press releases that highlight your app’s unique features, its potential impact on users, and any relevant company milestones. Securing placements in respected publications or online tech blogs can build your brand’s credibility and increase awareness among your target audience.

Another approach is to connect with industry influencers such as journalists, bloggers, and tech reviewers who focus on your app’s niche. By offering these influencers exclusive access to your app for early review opportunities, you can benefit from positive reviews from trusted voices. Such reviews can significantly influence potential users and boost download rates.

For instance, TedTalk further expanded its domain into Ted Conferences, leading towards more engagement by using public relations as a strategy.

Participating in industry events is also a good way to promote your app. You can join relevant industry conferences, trade shows, or online events to showcase your app, interact with potential users and partners, and leverage these platforms to generate media buzz and expand your network.

12. Create a Community

Creating a thriving community around your app can significantly increase user engagement. To foster a sense of belonging and connection, you can create dedicated spaces where users can interact with one another. These spaces can include online forums, social media groups, or even in-app chat features. Encouraging user-generated content, such as hosting contests or asking users to share their experiences, can also help to foster a sense of community.

It’s also essential to respond to questions, address concerns, and actively engage with your user base. Doing so shows that you value their input and are committed to providing an excellent user experience. By building a strong community around your app, users will feel valued, connected, and invested in the app’s success. This fosters loyalty and encourages users to return to the app regularly and participate in ongoing discussions.

Basically, building a strong community around your app is crucial for creating an environment where users feel valued, connected, and invested in the app’s success. This fosters a loyal and engaged user base, which is the lifeblood of any successful mobile application.

13. Partner Up With Other Apps

Creating a vibrant community around your app can significantly increase user engagement. You can achieve this by establishing dedicated spaces where users can interact with each other. This may involve setting up online forums where users can ask questions, share experiences, discuss app features, and offer suggestions.

You can also create social media groups, such as Facebook or LinkedIn, that are focused on your app’s niche. These groups can allow users to connect, share tips, and participate in discussions relevant to your app’s functionalities. In-app chat functionality can also be integrated, allowing users to connect directly with each other, ask questions, and build relationships.

By creating these spaces, you encourage organic user interaction, foster a sense of loyalty and belonging, and gain valuable insights directly from your user base. This feedback loop allows you to continuously improve your app, address user needs, and ultimately build a thriving community that fuels the long-term success of your app.

Remember, building a thriving community takes time, so it’s important to actively engage with your users, respond to their queries, and demonstrate your commitment to their experience. Doing so will foster trust, encourage continued engagement, and position your app as an essential part of their digital ecosystem.

14. Create Loyalty Programs

To foster a loyal user base and encourage repeat engagement, consider implementing a compelling loyalty program. This program can reward users for their continued dedication by allowing them to earn points for various actions like completing in-app tasks, participating in events, or referring friends. These points can then be redeemed for exclusive rewards such as discounts, premium features, early access to new content, merchandise, or gift cards. By incentivizing users to actively engage with your app and recognizing their loyalty, you create a sense of achievement and appreciation.

This enhances user satisfaction and drives repeat engagement, ultimately boosting the long-term success of your mobile app. Remember, loyal users are more likely to become brand advocates, promoting your app organically and contributing to its sustained growth.

15. Get Some Influencers

Not every start-up has the expertise or resources to build a massive following on social media. However, this should not discourage you from promoting your app on social media. If you want to introduce your app to a new audience, you can consider collaborating with social media influencers. These influencers spend hours every week engaging with their followers.

By offering a sponsorship package, many influencers will be willing to talk about your app and even demonstrate it in their social media posts. However, it is important to choose the right influencers to partner with. While big names can help you reach millions of people, working with influencers who have a smaller but highly engaged audience built around a particular interest can lead to greater success.

For example, Calm is an app that helps people to relax and meditate. The team behind the app regularly shares content on Instagram, from soothing images and advice on managing stress to heartfelt videos from happy users. But here you can see they have also partnered with the famous singer Harry Styles to boost their application.

16. Promote Referrals

Referrals are a powerful form of marketing. People tend to trust recommendations from their friends more than advertisements or articles, especially if your app has a social component. While a few of your satisfied users may spread the word on their own, most people need an incentive to do so.

This is why many apps offer a referral system, where users are rewarded for getting their friends and family to download and create an account on the same app. Simply including this feature can boost your app’s downloads.

17. Play With Pricing

Apart from browsing search results and Editor’s Choice collections, users mostly discover new apps through app charts. If your app manages to make it to the top ten, it will receive a lot of positive attention. However, for both paid and freemium apps, achieving this feat can seem quite challenging.

But there is a way to make it happen. Many developers use limited-time price drops as an incentive to encourage a sudden influx of downloads within a short span of time. This, in turn, boosts the app’s ranking in the charts, exposing more people to the product. Even if you’re only making $0.98 on all purchases during a given week, you might end up with greater long-term returns due to increased brand awareness.

Now You Know!

Increasing the number of downloads for your app is often a challenging task. However, by utilizing the following tips and best practices for promoting your app, you can significantly boost your app’s downloads and store rankings. Always keep your target audience’s preferences in mind while implementing these strategies. What works for general consumers may not be as effective for your specific audience.

So, use these tips while keeping your users’ best interests in mind. Additionally, it’s essential to keep up with industry trends since the App Store and Google Play frequently change the criteria for what apps should feature. Make sure to update any necessary elements of your app to deliver what your users need so you always remain high in app store rankings. By following these steps successfully, you can feel confident in driving serious app sales.

Nonetheless, if you find it all daunting, you can always reach out to the professionals of AppsVent. With years of experience and expertise, this company’s professional team is ready to lead your app to newer heights.