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 get more 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

The number of mobile app downloads and installs is truly outstanding:

  1. 25% of the apps are used only once since download and install, yet these apps remain on smartphones
  2. Among the top 150 apps, 20-60% get uninstalled within 3 days and 40-80% (77% specifically) get uninstalled in just 3 months
  3. Due to covid-19 pandemic, app downloads increased by 24% (highest Y-O-Y growth since 2013)
  4. Apps were downloaded 100 billion times in 2021 rom PlayStore and AppStore, moreover, it is expected to reach 200 billion times till 2025
  5. China has the highest number of app downloads and hours spent on mobile apps because of high download-per-capita and high usage-per-capita
  6. A survey of Fyresite found that even the top 150 mobile apps face 20-60% uninstalls within the first 3 days of download. The percentage of uninstallation reaches 40-80% ( 77%, to be specific, says another report) within 3 months of downloading.
  7. There are 111.3 billion Android app and 32.3 billion iOS app downloads in 2021 (a total of 143.6 billion, among which 55 million are gaming apps)
  8. The top 3 app categories are Game, Business, and Education
  9. Users of 18-24 years spent 112.6 hours on apps; however, users of  65+ years spent 51.4 hours on apps in 2021


Why Does The Number of App Downloads and Installs Drop?


causes of low app downloads and installs
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.

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 downloads.

Keyword Shifts


Another possible reason behind low app download can be keyword shifts. It is a common problem where the keywords you optimize in your app for in PlayStore and AppStore lose their value.

As a result, other keywords have taken their places. So, you need to optimize your app for stronger keywords to get ranked and get more app downloads and installs.

Algorithm Update


The crawling and ranking algorithms of Google are ever-changing. Unless the apps are updated with the recent algorithms, they will not be visible anywhere. As a result, the mobile app will have limited downloads.

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.

Average Graphics


Well, colors are not all, 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.

Insufficient Tech Stack


A mobile app without advanced features will fail to appeal to the target group. As a result, the number of downloads will come downward.

Slow Loading Speed


When a mobile app is prone to crash or it 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 downloads and installs.

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 enough downloads.

Actually, the newcomers struggle to be visible to users because of the competitors. And then, on finding minimal glitches, users uninstall these apps as so many alternatives are there.

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.

Blackhat Practices


Unethical SEO practices can result in a very low ranking, impacting the app’s visibility. So, users will not install the app at all.

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.

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.
how to Increase app downloads and installs

1. App Store Optimization (ASO) For Better Visibility


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

To do this, you can perform the following tasks:

  1. Track keyword ranking
  2. Try to Improve the impressions (icon, title, and other tags, description)
  3. Optimize the images with updated screenshots
  4. Update the demo video for a crystal-clear idea
  5. Update your app to stay trendy
  6. Track the number of downloads, reviews, and social shares


Find out: A Complete Guide To Turn Your Shopify Store Into A Mobile App

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.

Here is how you can improve your branding:

  1. Revamp the Logo and tagline
  2. Update the color schemes
  3. Optimize the app and website with enticing icons


Read the Success Story of AmorEarth after using MageNative Shopify Mobile App

3. Utilize Social Media Platforms To Expand Your Reach


be more visible
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.

For excellent social media marketing, you can

  1. Track your followers
  2. Count social shares
  3. Upload trendy contents
  4. Use deep links


4. Utilize The Followers Of Influencers (Influencer Marketing)


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.

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 and ranking to ensure social shares.

For this, you can use

  1. Images, reels, and videos with crisp content
  2. Website blogging and guest blogging
  3. Podcasts
  4. Quora, Medium, Reddit, and Digg


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

With Shopify, you can now make your app without writing code. Get Shopify mobile app from MageNative and Boost your sales today!

Explore MageNative Mobile App Builder


6. Initial Free/Discount (Freemium Approach) To Pull Traffic


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 started liking the services. So, your app installs do not come downward.

You can offer promo codes, first-purchase discounts, and free samples to bring you a huge number of installs.

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 users who availed the offer. 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: Top 8 Ways A Mobile App Can Reduce Shopping Cart Abandonment

8. Get Referrals To Bring More Organic Traffic


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

For this, you can

  • Identify the people who gave positive reviews
  • Offer referral discounts
  • Create a loop of referrals
  • Use lock until referral strategy
  • Offer in-app coins
  • Use word of mouth
  • Track number of downloads after referral campaign

Check out: Benefits of Shopify Mobile Apps – See What Your Business is Missing Out Without an App

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 increase app downloads and installs.

10. Affiliate Marketing


Affiliate marketing is a slow but sure way to increase app downloads; it may bring results pretty slow but it can be highly profitable. Pick the third-part publishers wisely to ensure your profit in the future.


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.

So, you can use:

  1. In-app ads
  2. Social media ads
  3. Search ads
  4. Paid SEO tools
  5. Sharp keywords
  6. Adwords


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


12. Upgrade The Website To Get The Web Audience


get website 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. Use multiple languages, geo-location tracking, multi-currency, etc., to reach more people with your app.

All these will create reliability among the users and increase mobile app downloads and installs for you.

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


speed brings app downloads and installs
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


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


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?


how to increase app downloads and installs before launching
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 ensure more 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.

Get experts’ help to market your app from MageNative

Mobile App Builder for Shopify


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 increase app installs.

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.

About Magenative

MageNative is a leading app building platform that facilitates app creation for business owners regardless of their knowledge of technical nuances involved. At MageNative, we convert ideas into scalable mobile apps instantly and most conveniently.

About The Author

I love navigating the world of SaaS with finesse. As an SEO enthusiast and seasoned Copy Writer, I'm here to transform tech-speak into compelling narratives that resonate with online merchants. With a penchant for alliteration and a touch of humor, I bring a unique flair to SaaS content.

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