Every app owner wants millions of users and higher revenue. If you're one of them, you likely need to invest significant effort, time, and money to gain popularity. Achieving viral app success through traditional marketing alone is nearly impossible—unless a miracle happens!
To maximize user acquisition, you need a strategic plan, even if you're an established company. The quest for a popular app starts during design and continues as long as you aim to maintain or grow your business. That's why we see this process as a cycle.
The Cycle of Designing a Popular App
A core requirement for designing a popular app is connecting with people and fostering user love. Popularity isn't just about high download numbers; it's about convincing people to use your app and share it with others.
Let's look at the initial stages of app design leading to popularity.
6 Stages to Design and Build a Popular App
Users love some apps for various reasons. Here, we outline 6 stages to turn people into "app-loving" users—your best partners in expanding your market success.
Let's get started!
Easy Design
The first step is to provide users with an unparalleled design. People are bombarded with countless mobile apps and content. Your app should say: "I'll never be confusing or boring."
A super easy app design with minimal distractions is key. Providing valuable service instead of annoying ads or unnecessary content is the key to simplicity. Evaluate your design and remove confusing details.
Social Media Success
People spend a lot of time on social media using phones and tablets. 60% of this time is spent using mobile devices. Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and YouTube are the most popular social networks.
How do you leverage this data?
Share your app and its professional content on social networks. One of the most effective and organic ways to reach more users is through user-driven sharing.
Positive Reviews
User reviews create a trustworthy and transparent profile for your app. Work on it! You can encourage positive reviews by timing your requests appropriately. Wait until users have spent some time with your app; let them develop genuine interest first. Asking for five stars too early is counterproductive. Build a real connection first.
Without successful word-of-mouth marketing, you can't sustain viral growth. Don't hesitate to reach out to happy users and encourage positive reviews – just ensure you're not overly pushy.
Targeted User Selection
Choosing the right time and place doesn't automatically guarantee target audience engagement. Don't try to appeal to everyone. Allocate your resources to those likely to use, love, and share your app. Know your audience and engage with them to convince them.
You should define your target audience even before the design stage so you can tailor the app to their needs. Key characteristics include age, location, gender, income level, education, profession, etc. This precisely defines which channels you can use to reach them and how to persuade them to use your app.
App Store Optimization (ASO)
App stores have their own rules. Therefore, you need to optimize your app for this environment. App Store Optimization (ASO) helps your app gain visibility. If users can't easily find your app, they might not download it.
With over 2 million apps in various software stores, getting noticed isn't easy. Key ASO factors are title and keywords. When you find your primary keyword, don't forget to include it in your title. To improve your ranking, you can regularly change your keywords, but we don't recommend changing your title unless absolutely necessary.
Rewards
People love rewards; this applies to app users too. Reward users for specific behaviors, such as inviting friends. You can offer free themes, upgrades, and discounts to both existing and new users. Because this is a common tactic, you need to be creative and avoid being annoying.
Time-limited offers create a sense of urgency, prompting action. Newcomers will review your offer quickly and won't delay.
Conclusion
The pursuit of app popularity starts at the design stage and continues indefinitely. Implementing these six factors significantly increases your chances of reaching millions of users. Once you have a simple, engaging design and launch, focus on marketing and promotion. Social media and positive reviews are key elements in this process.
To attract more people, define your target audience and address their needs. Optimize your app based on user searches and reward them for desirable behaviors. If you need professional app design and consulting for your business, contact Rahkarpouya.
