It takes the right combination of app features and marketing to boost user numbers and increase the app’s popularity.

Every business wants their app to be a success. Until users actually find the app, it might struggle along with only a handful of devoted users.

Be Unique

While there are numerous weather apps available, every user has their favorite. The reason – each app is presented in a new and unique way. One of the best ways to market an app is through organic marketing. Trying something new or making the information in the app easier to access than any of the competing apps will get users talking. The more they recommend the app, the more new users the app will receive.

Takeaway: The key is to look closely at the competition. Determine how your new mobile app could improve upon these existing apps. Work with a professional mobile developer to make your app unique and appealing.

Add Useful Features

The more useful an app, the quicker it’ll gain traction in the marketplaces. Even with the best marketing techniques, users won’t download an app if it’s not something they feel is useful. For instance, an app that’s just a marketing pitch for a business isn’t going to attract many users. If the app allows the user to make purchases, compare prices, find locations, access exclusive deals and more, they’ll not only want to download it, but use it regularly. This helps the app rank higher in mobile marketplaces which leads to more new users.

Takeaway: In addition to marketing, focus on the app itself. Talk to potential users and ask what features they’d find most useful. Incorporate the ideas which best fit in with your vision of the app to make it a must have app. Consider hiring a developer who can easily work all these features into an easy to use and attractive app.

Use Social Media

Advertise your new mobile app on all the social media channels you use. Since followers and fans are already interested in your business, they’ll want to know about the app. Use fun campaigns leading up to the app release that tease about features and show screenshots. Incorporate polls or quick questions to see which features users like or want most. Not only do these posts inform potential users about the new app, but interested users are likely to share at least a few posts with their own friends and family.

Takeaway: Even a simple social marketing campaign helps spread the word about a new app. After all, user numbers won’t increase if no one knows about the app to begin with. Consider adding social sharing to the app itself to further boost your social marketing.

Offer Incentives

Everyone loves to get a discount or something for free, including mobile users. Advertise incentives on the company blog, website, social media channels and email newsletter. If users believe they’ll get something useful in return for at least trying the new app, they’re far more likely to download and explore the app. A simple discount, a unique feature if they enter a special code, a useful free ebook or any other small incentive is all it takes to get people talking and more users trying an app.

Takeaway: Instead of just marketing the app itself, market the incentives a user receives for downloading the app. You can even offer additional incentives if they share a link to the app on their on social media accounts. It helps you market to more users and people are more likely to download apps if they’re recommended by someone they know.

Try Ad Networks

Basic advertising is still a classic, yet effective option for marketing a new mobile app. Using ad networks with a targeting option will help you get your app in front of more eyes who might actually be interested. With millions using social media, social sites are great for targeted ad marketing. Mix this with the incentive method and user numbers will jump. Plus, an increase in downloads helps boost the app’s marketplace ranking, leading to more organic marketing.

Takeaway: Try using a few ad campaigns through different ad networks before and after the app launch. This builds hype and continues to spread the word after the app is live.

Conclusion

With a solid set of useful features and a great marketing strategy, gaining new users isn’t a problem. Work closely with a professional app developer to make the app look beautiful and function as smoothly as possible. After that, spread the word on your site, blog and social media channels.

Need help creating a must have new mobile app? Contact StuartMedia today to get the design and functionality your users’ crave and you need.