This post is brought to you by Purchasely, the one-stop app growth powerhouse. It is part of ‘Everything You Need to Know About Programmatic Advertising: WHYs, HOWs, and WHATs, a series co-produced by IconPeak and Purchasely.
Continue to the second part of the series written by Iconpeak, to learn about the implementation steps and benefits of programmatic advertising.
Gaining app downloads is a fundamental cornerstone for the growth and success of an app. It opens up opportunities for increased user engagement, revenue generation, and brand visibility. Simply put, no download, no business to grow.
But stepping through this gateway has become more challenging than ever before.
In this section, we will uncover the layers of obstacles that app marketers encounter in their pursuit of user app downloads.
- Increased competition and store overcrowding: The number of apps available in app stores has skyrocketed in recent years. This exponential growth has naturally led to intensified competition among app developers, each vying for user attention and downloads. As a result, standing out from the crowd and capturing the interest of users has become increasingly difficult. Apple App Store alone hosts over 2.24 million apps and games, while the Google Play Store boasts about 2.65 million apps. Amidst the fierce app battleground, it’s crucial for app developers to find the best effective strategies to cut through the noise and attract users to their apps.
- User fatigue: Mobile phone users today are bombarded with an overwhelming number of app recommendations and advertisements. This constant barrage of promotions can lead to app fatigue, causing users to become desensitized and less motivated to download new apps. Studies show that the average smartphone user has approximately 80 apps installed on their device, but they regularly use only a fraction of them. This phenomenon highlights the challenge of capturing users’ attention and convincing them to try out new apps amidst the sea of options available to them.
- Fear of losing: As numerous surveys suggest, downloading an app has become an effortless and immediate action, something most of us regularly experience as app users. However, on the flipside, many individuals have a growing hesitation to even click the download button. This hesitation stems from concerns beyond poor app marketing. People fear losing: losing their time on a subpar app experience or accidentally losing money due to the complexity of canceling a subscription when desired. Tune in to the Subscription League podcast episode titled “Using transparency to increase your conversion rate with Eveline Moczko.“ to gain insights into how leading book summary service Blinkist addresses this subscription anxiety and increases conversion rates.
- App Store Optimization (ASO) challenges: App Store Optimization (ASO) plays a crucial role in ensuring an app’s visibility in app store search results. However, optimizing an app’s visibility has become increasingly complex. App stores implement algorithms that take various factors into account, such as app title, keywords, ratings, and user reviews, to determine an app’s ranking in search results. App developers must navigate this intricate landscape and employ effective ASO strategies to enhance their app’s discoverability and attract organic downloads.Learn more about App Store Optimization (ASO) and other numerous tactics for acquiring users.
- User trust: Privacy concerns and security breaches have become prevalent issues in the digital era. Users are becoming more cautious about downloading apps from unknown sources or apps that require excessive permissions. Building trust with users has become paramount, as they want to ensure that the apps they download are secure, reliable, and respectful of their privacy. Establishing a positive reputation and providing transparent information about data usage and security measures can help alleviate user concerns and increase their willingness to download and engage with an app.
- Increased user expectations: Today’s users have higher expectations when it comes to app functionality, usability, and design. They expect apps to provide a seamless and intuitive user experience, high-quality content, and innovative features. Meeting these elevated user expectations can be a significant challenge for new apps entering the market. Developing an app that not only meets but exceeds user expectations requires careful planning, research, and investment in user experience design and development.
- Ad blocking tools: The prevalence of ad-blocking tools poses yet another hurdle in the app download journey. With the rise of ad-blockers, traditional advertising methods such as display ads and pop-ups are being filtered out, making it more difficult for app marketers to reach their target audience effectively. Ad-blocking tools aim to enhance user experience by eliminating intrusive ads, but they also impact the visibility and reach of legitimate app advertisements.
In the face of these challenges, app marketers need innovative strategies to overcome the hurdles of app downloads and attract their desired user base. One powerful solution to consider is leveraging programmatic advertising.
From how to implement programmatic advertising to how it can help boost revenue and maximize ROI, read the article Programmatic Advertising: Implementation & Steps
This collaboration between Iconpeak and Purchasely empowers app marketers to explore the boundless horizons of programmatic advertising and maximize their revenue potential through Purchasely’s cutting-edge in-app monetization solutions.
*Note: This article is co-produced by the experts at Iconpeak and Purchasely