Get More App Downloads: 4 Fundamentals for Developers

Or, take bits and pieces from different places, reaching a wholly original solution.

Whatever path you choose, what matters, in the end, is that they deliver genuine value to their end user. In other words, developers need to make sure that their users are getting rewarded for the time they spend on the app.

One way to make sure that an app delivers is to test it using what is known as an MVP, minimum viable product.

The idea is to build the app in its simplest form and then see whether it does solve the customers’ problems and whether the customers are willing to doll out cash for it. Not only will this help developers confirm that they are on the right track, but it will also inform them of any aspects they might be missing.

2. A solid backend can make all the difference

An app’s backend is the code the users don’t get to see; it is the code that works silently in the background, doing all the calculations and governing the users’ overall experience. Is it any wonder that the backend is so important?

Bearing this in mind, every dev out there should make sure that their backend is mostly geared towards serving a single feature, the main one that they identified during their market research.

This is because each feature solves a particular need, and an app that tries to solve several needs simultaneously usually ends up fumbling and serving none of them. Alternatively, an app that focuses on one need and targets a specific niche has a much better chance of succeeding.

Once the core feature is identified, direct all your efforts towards maximizing its effect. Accordingly, you will be able to deliver a high performing application that delivers superior value.

But, what’s even more important than delivering superior performance is maintaining this high level of performance and offering the users a consistent experience.

3. The front end is just as important for more app downloads

The front end pertains to the code that the users actually get to interact with; it encompasses the user interface, shortened as UI, as well as the user experience, shortened as UX.

In a nutshell, the main tenant here is KISS: keep it simple and stupid.

The simpler and more intuitive an app is, the more likely it will be adopted by users. Remember to keep an eye on efficiency, always thinking about how you can minimize the number of steps a user has to take to perform a specific task within the app.

Image by William Iven from Pixabay

You should also think about the aesthetics of the app as well. After all, making an app efficient doesn’t mean that a developer has to make it hideous as well.

Users care about what the app looks like, and if they feel that they are using something that looks like a rushed high school project, odds are that they won’t become repeat users.

4. Marketing the app can give it the extra push it needs:

Assuming that you have followed all the previous steps and developed your app properly, you can start thinking about how you can market your app.

It is worth pointing out that marketing isn’t an all-encompassing solution; without following the above steps, all the marketing in the world will be of little help.

Also read: Why Should Businesses Invest in React Native App Development?

Begin by developing an overall marketing strategy for the app. This strategy will probably be based on the need the app serves along with the core feature that solves the need. The clearer you are on who you are serving and how you are providing your service, the easier it will be for you to come up with a solid strategy.

Break down your marketing strategy into three portions:

• The prelaunch phase, which is what developers do before the app has officially launched.
• The launch phase, which involves letting people know about the app as it launches.
• The post-launch phase, which covers things such as offering the users a customized experience, keeping them engaged, and taking in and incorporating feedback from the users.

With that said, here are a few tactics that you can use during the different phases of marketing:
The app’s name:

There is a saying that in theater, the show starts from the sidewalk. Similarly, an app’s marketing starts with its name, which is the first thing the user interacts with before they’ve even had the chance to see the user interface.

App Store optimization:

Similar to SEO, App Store optimization lets an app dominate the search results. In order to achieve this, you will have to rely on the use of keywords, clear app descriptions, the cultivation of excellent rating and reviews, among other things. 

Pricing:

As Seth Godin mentions in his book “This Is Marketing,” a product’s price tells a story. And with that in mind, you can develop different business models to satisfy your customers. On the one hand, there is the freemium model, which is especially effective when it comes to apps that flourish with network effects. On the other hand, a stratified pricing model can be ideal when serving different niches.

Social media:

Almost everybody is on social media these days, making it all the more imperative that developers get there too. There are many platforms to work with, including Facebook, Pinterest, and Youtube, and while one platform might be suited for a particular app, another platform may be more ideal for another.