It's hard to build an app. It's even harder to market & grow one. Check 10 growth hacks we often use at Whalla Labs to grow our clients apps.

1. Growth Hacking for Mobile Apps
10 Universal Tactics
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2. Steve Young, Appmasters.co
With the cost per install
consistently growing each year,
app publishers must get
creative with their marketing
efforts.
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I bet that you would like to see your app
being downloaded by millions of users

4. And that’s totally reasonable!
I mean... Who wouldn’t like that?
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Unfortunatelly, there are already tons of
great mobile apps in app stores...
Image source

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...and to overtake them you have to
market you app the smart way

7. We’ve collected these
10 universal growth hacking tactics
that we’ve used to grow our client’s apps.
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10

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10 Growth Hacks For Mobile Apps

9. #1Deploy Analytics
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10. 1. Define your micro-conversions
If You haven’t done it, do it ASAP. It’s not a hack at all.
You need to know the funnel leading users to conversion.
2. Set Event Tracking
MixPanel is a great tool for that. It’s simple and keeps you
focused on the most important metrics.
3. Have your funnel up and running
That’s it. You are now ready to move on into hacking and testing.
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#1Deploy Analytics

11. #2 Release early beta
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12. 1. Identify a market similar to your target market
If you target US teenagers, make Canada your testing ground.
Release MVP/early beta. Let it be a quiet launch.
2. Think up a name
App name is a crucial brand asset. Don’t use it for testing the MVP.
Think up a name – the more descriptive the better.
3. Data & feedback
The goal is to get as many data & feedback as possible.
Get in touch with your users. Don’t be shy or lazy. Go to forums.
You need 2k-3k users to make data relevant.
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#2 Release early beta

13. #3 Create fake landing page
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This one is not fake, but still it is a good example.

14. 1. Create fake landing page
Forget growing an app w/o doing usual marketing stuff.
Test CTR for various copy, personas, design and CTA.
2. Spend some money on ads
You need valuable traffic. Don’t go cheap on that.
Spend some bucks to drive your target demo onto app site.
Use social media/blogging if you have time and skills.
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#3 Create fake landing page

15. #4 Follow Guidelines
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16. 1. Follow Dev Guidelines
It’s worth it. Respect the platform and its context.
Following Guidelines helps getting featured.
2. Contact MS / Apple / Google
Get in touch with app store owner & ask for featuring. If you fit the
guidelines, your chances are quite fair. That is, if your app isn’t a crap.
3. Useful Links
• Windows Phone
• iOS
• Android
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#4 Follow Guidelines

17. #5 Do some ASO testing
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18. 1. Test App Icon
Well designed icon, next to descriptive name, is the main factor that
makes people check out screenshots & description.
2. Test Screenshots
Screenshots are about your value proposition and user on-boarding.
Add description/copy, it often boosts installs. Make screenshots vertical.
3. Test Keywords
The goal isn’t to improve your position. You want to find right queries.
Do keyword research: use Thesaurus, Google Keyword Tool & Appcod.es
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#5 Do some ASO testing

19. Have you seen our:
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We do mobile design, development and marketing

20. #6 Cross-promote
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21. 1. Use your apps, apps of your friends etc.
This is one of the most effective ways to drive new installs.
Use house ads to promote your other apps –
preferably of similar genre.
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#6 Cross-promote

22. #7 Use AdWords
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23. 1. It works
AdWords App Install Ads works. It will work great if you can spend
some time to know the tool better.
2. Target specific devices
Target devices running on iOS/Android to eliminate non valuable
clicks.
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#7 Use AdWords

24. #8 Ignite Activity
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25. 1. „Add Friend”
Phone address book is a social graph ready made. Use it.
2. „Add Friend” v. 2
Create an opportunity to add other users (from the area nearby etc.)
as friends.
3. Don’t force it
Never, ever force your users to send invites, post on Facebook etc.
Ever.
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#8 Ignite Activity

26. #9 Push Notifications
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27. 1. Time limited messages
Push notifications can increase retention really well.
„On sale this weekend”, „Free level to unlock today”. It works great.
2. Social notifications
Inform about friends/in-area activity. Use names. Personalize.
3. Push notifications are permission based
Make it easy to opt-out.
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#9 Push Notifications

28. #10 Target Uncrowded Platform
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29. 1. Windows Phone converts great
Folks often don’t believe that.
Take a look at the numbers below.
2. Few Apps in the Store? Good
In Google Play there are already over 1,800,000 mobile apps, while
in the App Store there are over 1,500,000.
In the same time in Microsoft Store there are ‘only’ 700,000 apps.
3. WP users are hungry for good apps
What’s more, they generate fair volume of valuable & engaged traffic.
Check out Qpony app we did for mcommerce business in the next slide.
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#10 Target Uncrowded Platform

30. Spot 6 differences
Tip: compare WP & Android Average Session Time.
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#10 Target Uncrowded Platform

31. Have you seen our:
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We do mobile design, development and marketing

32. QUESTIONS?
Contact us
hello@whallalabs.com
@WhallaLabs
+48 607 127 551
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