If you are in the process of starting a new business you will want to get your business off the ground right away. There are many ways you can do this and it all comes down to how you utilize marketing techniques and strategies. Something that a lot of companies miss out on when first starting a new business is a mobile app. A lot of people assume it will cut into their budget too much but with the right help and support it isn’t so bad. An app means that your audience and clients will be able to contact you and use your company right away.
Do you know how many apps there are in the big wide world? There are on average around 4 million apps divided between iOS and Android. As well as that, around 80% of the population around the world own a smartphone capable of downloading these apps. On average users spend at least six hours a day researching and scrolling on their phones. This is why it is a good idea to get an app out there related to your business. You are more likely to get users through an app rather than a website.
If you have heard of a marketing funnel then you may assume they are all the same. However, the mobile app marketing funnel is completely different from the digital marketing funnel. In simple terms, this funnel will guide your user through the whole process of using your app. The funnel begins the moment the user hears about your app to being a loyal user. Commonly the mobile app marketing funnel is referred to as the mobile engagement loop.
A lot of work goes into mobile app marketing, from determining who your target audience will be to improving the app based on how people use it. The main aim of having an app for your small business is to increase the number of downloads and keep your sales up with loyal customers.
There are three main stages to mobile app marketing, take a look below to learn more about each individual stage.
Awareness
This is a pre-launch stage of your app where you build visibility for your brand. By this stage, you should already know what your branding will look like to your target audience. Market research will give you an idea of who will be using your app. At this point, you need to work out a launch date and iron out any rough patches within your app. When you create your app it should improve on areas where other apps have failed.
Create content and a website or landing page with regards to your business. Network and create connections with influencers and bloggers to create content for your app.
Acquisition
This stage is based on getting users of the app and increasing the number of people downloading it. This stage should always be closely monitored and improved as and when required. If your downloads skyrocket then this will ensure you rank high in the app store. Use paid ads on your app, this will get your user’s attention and generate more custom.
To get your app to where you want it to be, high in the rankings, you need to focus on ASO, similar to SEO but specifically for app stores. A decent ASO strategy involves using targeted words to be discovered and eye-catching designs.
Retention
It can be tricky to keep users of your app, this is what the final stage is all about. You will find a lot of people use the app and then delete it. You don’t want this to be happening with your app. Retaining your users means keeping them engaged. You could make use of in-app messaging such as keeping them updated with their app progress and anything that needs to be worked on, a failed payment for example. You may want to add some form of AI or chatbot to your app, this is in case of any hiccups with your users. They will be able to fix any issues that arise with the help of a chatbot.
Mplan is an app marketing agency offering expert digital marketing solutions to businesses. With a research-backed & data-driven approach for your app advertising, we help you with end-to-end media planning & advertising services including the definition of your target audience, media strategy, execution, analytics & optimisation for long-term growth. Get digital marketing strategy for the next media campaign with us.