What is the best way to ensure your app continues to be top of mind after a customer has already downloaded it?
1. Send Well–Timed Notifications
Pay attention to when a user typically uses your app, and then send a notification for around that same time each day. A well–timed notification can reinforce behavior that you’re trying to turn into a habit, and may actually be appreciated by your users rather than annoy them. You can use emails and text messages as alternative communication channels that serve the same purpose. – Mattan Griffel, One Month
2. Start With the Icon
This is where a good icon comes in. Like most people, I have dozens of apps I never use. The ones I notice again and again are the ones I can’t ignore. If your icon isn’t something that’s still eye-catching after it’s been scrolled past a few times, it’s time to go back to the drawing board and develop a new one. – Adam Steele, The Magistrate
3. Continue to Market App Features
Typically, we download an app because we need a feature it offers us, such as a calorie counter when we’re dieting or an instant messaging feature for our team during a big project. When we no longer need those features, we stop using the app. To keep yourself relevant, regularly incorporate new features into your app and consistently tie in reminders into your marketing plan. –Nicole Munoz, Start Ranking Now
4. Send Customers a Survey
Ask them how they like the app, how they are using it, and what can be improved. This type of short survey reminds them that they should check it out as wellas get you information on what they think of it. You can then contact them again to let them know you appreciate their insights and will be including their suggestions in future app updates. – Murray Newlands, Due.com
5. Invite Them to Join Social Media Pages
Get them in the loop for further engagement opportunities on social media, where you can start and continue a discussion with them. Here you can provide more content on how to use it and ask them directly about their experience. By continuing to provide useful advice on these sites, they will come back and apply that advice to the app, keeping it active. – Zach Binder, Ranklab
6. Retarget Them
Create campaigns for existing customers to bring in referrals. Retarget existing customers and message them with incentives to share your app with friends and family. This keeps your app top of mind and turns your audience into a sales vehicle. – Marcela De Vivo, Brilliance
7. Update Your App Often
The only surefire way to remind people that your app exists on their phone is to tweak features and submit changes through the app store. This way, everyone who has it downloaded gets a notification and sees your app on their list of apps to update. This keeps your app top of mind and will spark curiosity for those who have filed your app away in a folder in the depths of their smartphone. – Matt Wilson, Under30Experiences
8. Connect With Them Outside of the App
One of the most effective ways to build a relationship with your customer after they downloaded your app is to connect with them outside of the app. For instance, when the user is signing up, capture important information such as the user’s social profiles, mobile number and email address. Add the user to a daily, weekly or monthly email newsletter. Connect with them on social and send them SMS text messages. – Kristopher Jones, LSEO.com
9. Create a User-Centered Design
Inherently, a user-centered design will determine if users adopt the particular app, and how long this app stays in their mind. By focusing on creating an easy to use and an intuitively learned app, the end user will hopefully adopt your app into their daily lives and continue to do so. Take Snapchat for example: relatable content keeps the app fresh for the user, even if they don’t open it frequently. – Kevin Yamazaki, Sidebench Studios
10. Make the Value Proposition Clear in the Beginning
Provide immense value to the customer. You can interrupt them with constant notifications, but at the end of the day, that’s only going to annoy them if they don’t see the value of your app. If you can show them why they need your app upon their first use, they’ll keep coming back to it. If they don’t need it, then there isn’t much you can do. The value proposition must be clear. – Ismael Wrixen, FE International
11. Create a Loyalty Program
Since we get users via our web platform as well as our app, we know that our app users are our biggest and most loyal fans. App downloads should always be an automatic loyalty program subscription. We offer discounts for repeat use. Other ways to reward repeat users include points towards prizes, routine raffles, and free trials of premium features. And, of course, let them know via push notifications. – Manpreet Singh, TalkLocal
12. Publish Your News Around the Web and on Your App
After version one of your application, continue to innovate, integrate new “sticky” features, create partnerships with interesting companies that can bring additional value to your app, and tell the world about it. Keep your app top of mind by making sure you’re always in the headlines, both in top-tier tech publications like TechCrunch but also on targeted publications that your users follow. –Ayelet Noff, Blonde 2.0