Need More Downloads for Your Android App? Try These 6 Strategies.


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There’s an app for everything these days. From apps to help you order pizza, and apps to health you lose weight afterward. For issues and problems, we didn’t even know we had, there’s an app for them. But this can cause a big headache for app developers.

With umpteen apps at a user’s beck and call, how do you make sure that your app is getting the most number of downloads it can? If you’re struggling to get your app onto users’ phones, you might want to consider these 6 tips and strategies to get more downloads for your Android app.

#1 Make Sure Your App Works and Works Well

Seems like a no-brainer, right? Yet, it’s a point that can’t be reiterated enough. Making sure your app is in tip-top working order is one of the most effective ways to get more downloads.

But how is this the case?

Well, an app that has multiple bugs or crashes a lot is going to frustrate users. They will then leave a bad review and rating on your Google Play page. This will really discourage potential new users from downloading your app.

Succesful apps, like top-rated shopping list app, Listonic, know all too well that an unstable app means fewer downloads. It’s why they work to make sure the launch of any new version of their software cause as few problems for users as possible.

#2 The Key to Getting More Downloads is Keywords

When you make a website, you need to have great search engine optimization (SEO). When you make an Android app, you need to have great app store optimization (ASO) on Google Play. For this to be good, you’ll need good keywords.

But what do good keywords achieve?
Visibility.

This puts you higher up that endlessly long list of apps when users are looking for something to download.

No matter how good your app is, if you haven’t got good visibility on Google Play, you simply won’t be getting those downloads.

Even if you think this shouldn’t be the case, and that app quality is what should drive downloads, the hard fact is that there is a direct correlation between visibility and high download rates.

But what type of keywords should you focus on: head, mid-tail, or long-tail?

Believe it or not, the best keywords are long-tail keywords. While head and mid-tail keywords are the ones searched more often by users, they have the most fierce competition for them meaning it’s very difficult to become the #1 result for them. But, long-tail keywords have less traffic and less competition.

So, why go for more specific keywords with less traffic and competition?

If there’s less competition, you’re going to have a much easier time of getting to the top of searches using this keyword.

Also, because long-tail keywords are ones that users use when looking for something quite specific, you’re more likely to convert them and get them to download your app.

This is because they know exactly what they want, and your app has come up top in that detailed search.

The only drawback is that researching relevant long-tail keywords takes some time and effort. But, the results really do pay off.

#3 Get Your On-Metadata On Track

There are 2 types of metadata that have major influences on your ASO: off-metadata and on-metadata.

Off-metadata is information that includes:
  • Number of app downloads
  • User reviews
  • User ratings
On-metadata is information about your app, including:
  • Title
  • Developer name
  • Description
  • Icons
  • Feature images
  • Screenshots

Unfortunately, you don’t have much control over off-metadata. You can only influence some of it, which we’ll talk about later. However, on-metadata is wholly within your control. So, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t have this as complete and as comprehensive as possible.

But why?

Consider your Google Play page as the sales pitch. Your keywords have got them to this point, but users will still need to be convinced to press that download button.

If your on-metadata is as complete as it should be, it will make you look like you know what you’re doing, and your page will ooze professionalism.

It will also provide plenty of information about your app that will inform users as to whether this is the app that they want.

Furthermore, the more your on-metadata is complete, the more Google Play will like you. The more Google Play like you, the more of a boost they’ll give you up that list of apps. That visibility, as a result of your on-metadata being complete, will result in more downloads.

#4 It’s All About the A/B Testing

Just because you’ve got your on-metadata completed and have your keyword research paying off doesn’t mean you can just leave your Google Play page be.

You can increase your number of downloads even more with a few tweaks to certain elements on your page: a new screenshot here, or a different description there.

But how do you know what to change, and what changes to make?

This is where A/B testing helps. A/B testing is where you create 2 versions of your Google Play page where 1 version has a single element changed. When the test is initiated, 50% of new visitors to your app’s page will see version A, whilst the other 50% will see version B.

From this, you can figure out which version is getting the most downloads. Then, you can implement the new version for everyone to see, and increase your number of downloads.

So, is it important to do A/B testing regularly?

Well, because the app market and users’ tastes are ever-changing, it’s good to tweak things once in a while and keep up with the zeitgeist.

For example, new screenshot designs that other successful apps are using might be a good fit for your app and keep those downloads coming in. So, why wouldn’t you try them out?

#5 Socialize, Socialize, Socialize

One way to survive the oversaturated app market is to stand out from the crowd using an effective social media presence. Social media is particularly good for apps that are just starting out, as it can be a good way to get the word out there that your app exists.

One of the best things about social media engagement is that it’s free. There’s very little financial risk compared to other marketing strategies. But, in order for it to be effective, it will require a considerable amount of effort in lieu of cash.

Driving up those download numbers via social media engagement will only happen if you can create frequent, high-quality, and engaging content. Does this well enough and you may even hit the jackpot of having your trend or app go viral.

It can also be a good channel for users to give you feedback or let you know of any issues that might be causing bad reviews and keep new users away.

#6 Consider Content Marketing

As well as putting great content out over social media, having a good content marketing strategy will also help get your more downloads for your app.

Content marketing isn’t like making obvious marketing pitches. It’s about producing content that people want to engage with, on topics that are related to your app. Once they’ve engaged with the content, they may well download your app as a result.

This can be done by putting articles up on your app’s website or writing guest posts containing a backlink to your app for publishing on related blogs.

Content marketing can work really well when built into your app’s website’s overall SEO strategy. Long-tail keywords can be distributed across any number of articles as a way of bringing people to your website and getting them to download your app. Link-building via guest posting will strengthen your search ranking making your app’s website even more visible.


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James Waygood

James Waygood is a British content writer living in Poland, working as Content Editor for Listonic. He has a passion for tech, video games, and gadgets. If he's not writing, he's gaming or trying out the latest apps and devices.

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