15 Down To Earth Ways Of Getting Your App More Popular

There are well over ten million mobile apps on the four biggest mobile app store, namely; Google Play store for Android application, Apple Istore for IOS based devices, Windows store for windows based operating devices and Amazon app store which is compatible across various operating systems. Most of the top and most popular mobile applications in the market today have and continue to spend millions of dollars in adverts, app maintenance, branding, app development, update, law suites, among other expenses. In other to carve a dominant and convenient space for your app in the over saturated mobile app market, a lot of effort has to be invested in planning, strategy, and execution of the mapped out strategy. In the same industry where other are spending continuously in advert, some employed certain techniques and have leveraged on the right factors, such that a few of these apps never spent a dollar for promotion(e.g, whatsapp). This goes a long way to affirm how relevant and important it is to know the right marketing strategies. Below are 15 of the simplest, practical and easy methods to marketing our app;

1. Develop a microsite;

apps like Path and Snapchat have largely leveraged on this idea to succeed. Regardless of the other promotion strategy you intend to employ, a microsite will serve as a 'home' for your app. In most app stores, you are made to describe your app using restricted characters and keywords, without adequate room to negotiate and relate well with potential users.

2. Tease your potential audience before the launch;

This strategy is especially important for app the are paid to download as it help to gather enthusiastic audience even before the mobile app is launched. A big example of an app that has leverage on this technique is 'Tinder'. This opportunity can be used to gather the contact details of interested potential users.

3. Blog;

'Buffer app' is one of many apps that uses this strategy effectively. Before, during and after launch, one good way to stay in the new is blogging about topic around your apps. It could be on recent update, useful tips for the app users, or news around your app, just ensure you try to stay in the news. Blogging doesn't necessarily mean you run a blog, it could be guest post or even ghost blogging, whatever work in your case.

4. Let people Know (social media is 'free');

Take great advantage of social media to connect with and get more users. No matter how small you feel the news, event or development is, once it's safe for public consumption, tell it on social media; you never know what's going to go viral. It's quite bad for users to check your social media handle and realize you are inactive.

5. Seeing is believing (Videos are so cool);

'Dollar Shave Club app' is one of many apps that have leveraged on the power of videos. Quality and well published videos often tell stories that user and potential user can relate with, making it more and more obvious that they need your app.

6. Reach out and ask for help;

Remember that personal friend who is very famous on twitter, or that Instagram handle for your other business? Try to leverage on networks and ask for help when needed. Influencers on social media sometime love to be associated with quality and reputable products. In case you any, don't be afraid to ask for a promotional endorsement.

7. Get the Press, Good Press, a lot of it;

Even though bad press isn't an entirely bad idea, good press is safe and clean enough to guarantee success. Take it or leave it, the press remain the best tool to connect with the docile and information dependent masses. Use the buzz around press attention to carve out loyal user base.

8. Leverage on app Review platforms;

Appstoreapp, AppAdvice and 148apps are some of the many sites that give genuine reviews on mobile apps. In some cases, these websites reach out to apps they deem worthy, in some cases, they do the review without even getting in touch with the app publishers. However, the case may be, if you have something note-worthy, feel free to submit and pitch to them.

9. Speak to your app developer;

this applies only if you have hired a professional mobile app developer to handle your project and not some regular guy who unfortunately knows how to code. Hire dedicated developer will have adequate experience on the trending methods and efficient strategies of promoting apps.

10. Get in touch with Bloggers in your niche;

Identify the top and most popular bloggers in the niches related to what your app centers around.

11. Apply for Awards;

winning awards or even getting nominated can attract a lot of positive press which is very good for business. Awards like 'The Mobileys' and Kiip Build Fund are some of the most popular award events you can consider.

12. Explore Podcasts (not many people are utilizing);

besides radio ads and jingles, not many people use podcast. Consider having an autoplay podcast on your website and upload it to iTunes. It's important to make sure the podcast isn't all promotional, try to center it around relevant contents in your niche.

13. Keep and use contact;

Regardless of the platform, find a way to have a means of collecting the personal contact of every potential user you come across with. If this strategy is taken serious over time, it will be a good leverage for promotion to have such list at hand.

14. Run an online contest;

Most people online are actually busy people who actually ought to be doing something else with their time. Running any competition, contest or challenge gets people engaged and attracted. However, this strategy proves more effective for branding rather than actual conversion.

15. Take negative reviews serious;

Developers, publishers and mobile app marketer love to disregard negative comments or reviews as hate, especially when it comes amidst thousands of positive results. In actual sense, negative reviews can serve as a pointer to necessary improvements and responding to them in a concerned and polite way also goes a long way to convince intending users to download the app.

They are many simple techniques to help in promoting your app, but there are a lot of factors to consider, such as your budget, business model, type of mobile app and audience. The above listed are just some general tricks, strategies and methods that have been successful. The primary aim of any app owner is to make sure every user is happy. There are a few inorganic and aggressive ways to boost the popularity of an app but they are largely unethical and therefore should be avoided. The above listed, among other hundreds are options any serious publisher should explore.