Have you already launched your app, and seen relatively good numbers, but want to know where to go from here?
Do you feel like you need to get more eyes on your app, but you aren’t sure how?
There are a ton of things you could do that might help, but then there are a few that almost certainly will help. We’re going to outline 7 surefire ways to get more eyes on your app and really get it noticed.
Have a solid ASO plan
The first thing you should do is make the most of your ASO plan. This means using the best and most appropriate keywords, which means knowing what keywords people are looking for. Tools like SensorTower, AppAnnie, AppTweak and SearchMan are crucial for this, so take advantage of them.
When you’re putting your ASO strategy together, make sure you don’t overlook these components.
Do a good job of analyzing, monitoring, and iterating your keyword field and app title, and you’ll see more downloads and higher rankings in the App Store. Ultimately, you want a tool like SensorTower to give you an A in your ASO, but even a B can be respectable.
Check out our Black Hat ASO strategy if you want to discover a ninja trick to increasing your keyword rankings.
Build your social media community
This takes time, but it’s definitely something you’ll need to retain your community and keep them involved. Build up your Facebook and Twitter following, and make your users feel like they’re part of something. This means providing good quality content, on a regular basis. Eco Birds does this well with its Instagram community, and so does Fun Run 2. Both use Instagram to stay connected with their users, who often post their own updates and game-play videos.
Make sure your focus with your social media campaign isn’t getting new users. Rather, you should focus on interacting with your community of users. Also, be sure your users can get to those social pages right from your app; people these days will only click on things that are obvious and right in their faces.
Seek out app reviews from websites and YouTube channels
This is just like pitching the media, so be sure you pay attention to how you do it. We’ve talked about the mistakes you can make that mean reporters won’t reply to your emails, and those same mistakes apply here.
Be sure, though, that you remain persistent. Don’t get discouraged if a YouTuber doesn’t reply to you the first or second time you reach out to them. Sometimes, people will only pay attention to something after it’s been in their face four or five times.
Maximize the assets the App Store lets you include
Use as many screenshots and preview videos as the App Store allows you. This gives potential downloaders a good view of your app, and makes it easier for them to decide whether or not they want to try it out.
You can even run A/B tests on your screenshots and other assets, which is a great way to increase your downloads. If your app is on Google, you can even structure this testing using Google Experiments, a strategy that many developers have used with great success.
In your screenshots, be sure to update them as you get more social proof with your app. In your updated screenshots, include any mentions you get from reputable blogs.
Look for app contests where the users vote
There are a ton of different app contests out there, and they can be great for exposure for your app. For example, Best Mobile App Awards has its Open Award Contests that are accepting applications as of the time of this writing. Another great opportunity is 148Apps.com’s Best App Ever Awards, which happen every year. The key is to make sure you focus on contests where the users vote. Otherwise, you won’t get promoted unless you win.
That’s not to say that you should ignore those lucrative contests, but you should also seek out opportunities for users to vote for your app. These contests always have application deadlines, so make sure you find one that starts about the time you’re ready to get more eyes on your app.
Take advantage of social media advertising
This will certainly cost you some money, but it will get you more downloads. Running Facebook ads and Twitter app cards is a terrific way to get more interested users, so they’re often worth the investment. Facebook alone has more than 1.1 billion daily active users, so you’re sure to find your market niche there. Buying app installs might not sound grandiose, but it’s a terrific way to get more eyes on your app. The best part about using Facebook ads is that it can often be a less expensive route to take than other User Acquisition routes – so much so that ticketing app Applauze/955 Dreams generated a ten-fold higher click-through rate and a 50 percent lower cost per install using Facebook Ads than it did with its other UA strategies.
Like any advertising campaign, you’ll need to play your cards right. Generate appealing ads, use great copy, and make sure your app is ready for the influx of new users. Finally, be sure you set your daily and total budget right with Facebook or Twitter, or you could really see the money flow out.
Watch what your competition is doing
This is a bit sneaky, and maybe a tad “black hat,” but watch what your competition is doing. What keywords are they using, how are they structuring their screenshots and app descriptions? This is a great way to develop your own strategy, by building off their success.
The same tools that you use for your own ASO, SensorTower and AppAnnie, and others, can also be used to find out what your competitor does. Leverage these tools to your advantage, and make the most of them.
Summary
There’s seven tactics you can put into action to get your app noticed. These aren’t necessarily guaranteed to get you thousands of downloads, but they’ll certainly put you on the right track. Put these methods into motion, and you’ll see a dramatic uptick in your download rates and your App Store rankings.
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