How to Increase App Installs and Downloads? 15+ Strategies Revealed!

Mobile apps are now making each and every task easy, but on the downside, on the app stores, users will get multiple alternatives of each app. So, the problem is as soon as the users find an app irrelevant, they switch and it results in fluctuating number of app downloads and installs. But what’s the way out? Is it even possible to increase app downloads and installs?Well! The low number of app downloads/installs is a real concern! It is a struggle to boost app downloads and a bigger concern is to remain installed.

You can get app downloads and installs increased up to twice their current value with clever marketing. And users will remain glued to the app as well.

Eager to know how you can increase mobile app downloads? Check the following!

Mobile App Downloads and Installs – Amazing Facts

Why Does The Number of App Downloads and Installs Drop?

We attempted to discover the prime causes of low app downloads and installs. Check what is the problem you are facing and let’s fix that to boost app downloads.

1. App Quality

No matter how wonderful features your app has, the users will refrain from installing it if the features seem irrelevant. So, on the install page itself, your app needs to be appealing enough to increase mobile app install.

2. Keyword Shifts

Sometimes low app installs rates can be due to keyword changes, a common issue where popular keywords in app stores lose effectiveness over time.

As a result, new keywords are becoming more important than old ones. So, you need to optimize your app for stronger keywords to get ranked and and amplify your app downloads and increase installs.

3. Algorithm Update

The crawling and ranking algorithms of Google are ever-changing. Maintaining a competitive edge in a crowded app market is essential to keeping up with these algorithm changes. Unless the apps are updated with the recent algorithms, they will not be visible anywhere. As a result, the mobile app installs will be limited in number.

4. Poor Color Schemes

There are some trending colors for different domains and target audiences. An app loses its relevance if it does not follow these, which is another reason behind low app downloads.

Thus, trendy colors tailored to specific demographics and services are essential to ensure that the app remains competitive and attracts users and increases app downloads.

5. Average Graphics

Well, app downloads may fall due to poor quality or average graphics. If the graphics are not impressive enough, users feel less connected to the app. As a result, they either do not download the app or uninstall it after using it once/twice.

6. Insufficient Tech Stack

In today’s competitive marketplace, users expect innovation to enhance and add value to their experience. A mobile app without advanced features will fail to appeal to the target group and get more downloads. As a result, the number of downloads will come downward.

7. Slow Loading Speed

Apps that frequently crash or have slow loading speed run the risk of immediate rejection by users. When a mobile app has 3+ seconds of wait time – the users will not take a second to uninstall it. Therefore, you must optimize its speed to get more app downloads and skyrocket your installs.

8. Strong Competitors

Strong competitors can be a reason behind low app downloads. Maybe a newbie cannot cope with the graphics, features, or offers of competitors; as a result, it does not get app installs. Users on finding minimal glitches, uninstall these apps as so many alternatives are already there.

9. Too Many Ads

While running the app, if users see too many ads that affect the app’s smooth usage, they will not rethink before uninstalling it. It is possible that they never turn up to this again. So, ads that block the UI are a direct hindrance in boosting app installs.

10. Black hat Practices

Unethical SEO practices, such as keyword stuffing or the use of misleading metadata, can significantly reduce an app’s ranking in app stores, and significantly affect its discoverability. So, users will not install the app at all. Therefore, it’s essential for you to prioritize ethical SEO strategies.

11. Marketing Gaps

The merchants need to put some effort and investment into making the app visible. A lack of proper marketing and promotion can also cause low app downloads too. Good promotion strategies through various channels can boost app visibility and increase app installs.

Now, let’s move on to the most important and awaited part of this blog: how to increase app installs. Well, it is possible to boost app downloads, but you will not necessarily get instant results – it takes some time and patience to see results.

How to Increase Your Mobile App Downloads and Installs?

Find proven ways to increase app downloads and installs in this segment.

1. App Store Optimization (ASO) to Increase App Downloads

You must optimize the app to increase its installs right from the place from where people download it. App Store Optimisation or ASO can directly help you in getting more app downloads than before with a higher app-store ranking and a wider reach.

Try now: MageNative Mobile App Builder

2. Improve Branding To Create An Appeal To The Users

While app store optimization helps in better visibility on the app downloading platform, a better brand presence will grab the attention of your buyers on different platforms. Altogether, these will help you to boost app downloads.

Read : 9 Effective Tips For Successful Mobile App Branding

3. Utilize Social Media Platforms To Expand Your Reach

Right now, social media platforms hold a wide number of users; therefore, these can be excellent mediums to expand the reach of your app. So, to get more app downloads, social media marketing can help you by securing higher views and organic traffic. Social media marketing also helps the app to stay trendy.

4. Influencer Marketing to Increase App Downloads

Along with social media marketing, influencer marketing also deserves a little investment for higher app installs. Influencers have huge followers; so, once you collaborate with them and get their shoutouts, you can utilize their audience for your app. So, identify influencers who deal more with your target audience before collaborating.

For excellent influencer marketing, you can:

1. Identify Relevant Influencers
2. Use Various Platforms
3. Offer Incentives 
4. Track Performance

Glossier, Daniel Wellington, and many other brands are making the most with Influencer marketing. 

5. Content Marketing For An Engaging Online Presence

Engaging content will always be a part of your game when your target is to increase app downloads. It will help improve your online presence, ranking, boost user engagement and ensure social shares.

Once you implement all these, you can track the number of social shares and SERP ranking to understand whether it brings results.

6.  Freemium Approach (Initial Free/Discount) for more Mobile App Installs

The Freemium approach is a great way to increase app installs; however, it may not always be affordable for all. For this, all the paid features of the app are made free for a particular span. After this period when users have to pay for the features, they cannot avoid the subscription as they have started liking the services thus resulting in skyrocketing app installs.

You can offer 

1. promo codes
2. first-purchase discounts
3. free samples,etc
4. Limited time offers
5. Membership rewards

DropBox, Spotify, WordPress, Candy Crush, MailChimp, and many other companies have used the freemium model to make money. 

7. Get Reviews And Ratings To Strengthen The Brand

Once done with the promos and offers, do not forget to ask the users for reviews and ratings and track the number of app installs. All these will make your brand strong and users rely on the app more.

Therefore, you need to: 

1. Ask for reviews on PlayStore and AppStore.
2. Respond to all the reviews.
3. Update the app if any negative comments point out something flawed.

Check out: Why User Reviews And Ratings Matter In Mobile App Marketing

8. Get Referrals To Bring More Organic Traffic

Referral marketing is another way to increase app downloads and installs for higher organic traffic.

Check out: How a Mobile App Referral Program Can Help Your Business Grow

9. SMS And Email Marketing To Reach Buyers Directly

SMS and email marketing are some of the killer ways to boost app downloads and installation. It may take time to bring a result, but it can convince users for app downloads even after uninstalling it. So, showcase your offers with crisp content in emails to amplify app downloads and installs.

Some effective SMS and Email marketing strategies are –

1. Write compelling messages
2. Include call to action
3. Send personalized messages 

10. Affiliate Marketing to Increase App Downloads

Affiliate marketing is a slow but sure way to increase app downloads; it may bring results pretty slow but it can be highly profitable. 

For effective affiliate marketing to boost app downloads, follow these: 

1. Select good third-party publishers
2. Optimize your affiliate content
3. Track your performance
4. Offer incentives, if possible.

11. Paid Campaigns and SEO to Increase App Installs

Lets now discuss the ads and SEO practices – a strategy that can cost you a few bucks but it will bring more app installs for you.

Did you know? 
Top apps spend $1000+  to boost app downloads!

12. Upgrade The Website To Get The Web Audience

The web audiences can also help you to get more app installs. So, you must also work on your website – you can upgrade your website based on the trends and colors. A new website can also help you to get the attention of the users who use browsers to install your app.

13. Localization of Contents And Listings To Target A Wider Range Of Audiences

Localizing makes your app friendly to your target market, so try to localize the content and listings. This will create reliability among the users and increase mobile app downloads and installs for you.

For localisation use:

1. multiple languages.
2. geo-location tracking.
3. multi-currency, etc.

14. Simple Usage With Top-Notch Features

On the app downloads and installs page, your app needs to appear simple yet unique. You have to ensure that they find all the necessary features they need and at the same time the user needs to look simple.

So, incorporate the mCommerce features (AR, VR, Social commerce, sustainable commerce, voice commerce, image search, live commerce, etc.) to get more app downloads than before.

15. Optimize App Loading Speed

Fast app loading speed can increase your app downloads and installs. You can use Firebase help to reduce wait time. It will result in better user experience followed by higher session durations.

After implementing Firebase, track crash rate, retention rate, session length, and uninstall rate to monitor the number of downloads daily.

16. App Tracking with KPIs for more App Installs

Once you implement the strategies, you need to track their performance. It will help you to determine the number of app downloads. With this, users can monitor the app’s performance and get more downloads and installs.

You may also be interested in 25 KPIs That Measure Performance, Success, And Growth Of Shopify Mobile Apps

17. Offline Activities to Increase App Downloads

Once you complete these online activities, you can take the help of offline activities like press releases, offline ads, etc. to get more app downloads.

You can also use your connection with the media to approach companies to use your app for their benefit.

What Can Merchants Do Before Launch To Increase App Downloads?

You can use these activities to market your app and increase its downloads and installs during and after it is launched. Now, let’s take a look at pre-launch activities.

Market Research

Proper market research helps in identifying the profitable factors for you. You will get to know the on-demand products, scopes of the industry, market size, etc., to avoid any big loss. So, spend sufficient time to boost app downloads and installs.

Identify Target Audience

Once you identify the niche, point out your buyers and understand the percentage who can use an app. It will help you to have an idea of how many app downloads you may have on average. Unless you identify the target market, you cannot determine the use cases. Therefore, concentrate here.

Identify Their Preferred  Platform

After identifying the target market, check the platform where your target audience has huge participation. You have to start your pre-launch campaigns there to get noticed so your app installation and download will increase.

Competitor Analysis

You must also identify companies with the same niche and target audience. After that, you must understand their strategies and discover how to exceed them. In this way you can get more mobile app installs.

Low Number of App Downloads and Installs – Is It A Matter of Concern – Why?

A low number of app downloads and installs will always be a concern since it hints at a high customer acquisition cost.

So, if you cannot increase your app downloads and installs, you will need to take more help from paid campaigns. However, it will bring your net profits down. Therefore, you can use these proven strategies to increase your app downloads and installs organically.

FAQs

How Do I Increase Installs?

To increase app installs, focus on App Store Optimization (ASO), improve branding, utilize social media marketing, leverage influencer marketing, create engaging content, offer initial free/discount promotions, gather reviews and ratings, implement referral marketing, use SMS and email marketing, consider affiliate marketing, run paid campaigns, optimize app loading speed, track app performance with KPIs, and engage in offline marketing activities before and after launch.

Why Are App Installs And Downloads Important?

App installs and downloads are crucial because they indicate the popularity and success of your mobile app. Higher numbers of installs can lead to increased user engagement and revenue.

What Are The Challenges In Increasing App Installs And Downloads?

Challenges in increasing app installs and downloads include strong competition, changing algorithms, poor app quality, and the presence of too many ads that can deter users.

How Can App Store Optimization (ASO) Help Increase App Installs?

App Store Optimization (ASO) can improve your app’s visibility on app stores, leading to more downloads. It involves tasks such as keyword tracking, improving impressions, optimizing images, and tracking downloads and reviews.

What Are Some Branding Strategies To Boost App Downloads?

To improve branding, consider revamping your logo and tagline, updating color schemes, and optimizing icons on both the app and website.
How can social media platforms be used to increase app downloads?
Social media marketing can expand your app’s reach and visibility. You can track followers, count social shares, upload trendy content, and use deep links to attract users.

How Can Influencer Marketing Help Increase App Installs?

Influencer marketing involves collaborating with influencers who have a large following. Their shoutouts can help you tap into their audience and boost app downloads.

What Role Does Content Marketing Play In Increasing App Downloads?

Content marketing, including images, reels, videos, blogging, and guest blogging, can improve your online presence and encourage social shares, ultimately leading to more app downloads.