The mobile app market is expanding rapidly, with over 2 million apps on the Apple App Store and 3.5 million on Google Play. In such a competitive landscape, businesses must develop effective strategies to drive app downloads and keep users engaged. According to research by SIMFORM, the average person uses around 40 apps, while Buildfire reports that 49% of people open an app more than 11 times per day.
At Venn Apps, we’ve had the privilege of launching and scaling apps for leading Shopify merchants like Motel Rocks, Represent, AYBL, and Anine Bing. These experiences have given us unique insights into what drives success in the e-commerce app space.
Drawing from this expertise, we’ve compiled 10 proven tips to help increase app downloads and boost user engagement, ensuring your app not only attracts attention but also keeps customers coming back.
1. Optimise your Shopify mobile app for search
To increase visibility and ensure potential customers can find your app, it’s crucial to optimise it for search within app stores. This involves using relevant keywords in your app’s title, subtitle, and description. Optimisation enhances your app’s ranking, making it more discoverable by users. You can refer to Apple’s guidelines on app store optimisation here: article for expert tips and insights.
2. Request app reviews from happy customers
Positive reviews not only improve your app’s reputation but also impact its visibility and ranking within the app store. The more high-quality reviews your app has, the higher it will appear in search results. The best time to request a review is immediately after a customer makes a purchase. At this point, customers are typically satisfied and more likely to leave a positive review.
Make sure you include a simple, non-intrusive prompt encouraging them to share their feedback.
3. Promote your Shopify mobile app via email marketing
Your existing customers are your best prospects for app downloads. Email marketing is a powerful tool to reach out to these customers. By integrating with an ESP like Klaviyo, you can segment users based on their app usage. This enables you to target customers who haven’t downloaded the app yet or re-engage those who may not have used it in a while.
Additionally, you can set up automated emails to encourage post-purchase customers to download the app for a better shopping experience.
4. Leverage Social Media to promote your Shopify Mobile App
Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook are excellent channels for reaching your existing customer base and promoting your app. With strong visuals and targeted messaging, social media is an essential part of any successful app promotion strategy. Consider leveraging influencer partnerships to boost your organic social media strategy.
5. Make use of App Store Search Ads
Similar to Google Ads, the Apple App Store and Google Play Store allow you to bid on keywords relevant to your brand, competitors, and industry. Start with a modest budget to test which search terms perform well, then scale based on your target cost per acquisition (CPA). Keep in mind that mobile users typically retain better and spend more, so a slightly higher acquisition cost can be justified.
6. Add an app banner to your Shopify website
You have invested in an app because it provides a much better user experience than a mobile website. As such, it's fundamental that you direct all of your mobile customers towards the app. The best way to do this is to add an app banner that pops-up whenever a customer visits your mobile website. The banner serves as a reminder that you have an app, prompting customers to either open the app (if they already have it installed) or download it if they don’t.
7. Set-up universal linking on your Shopify website
Take your app promotion one step further by setting up universal links on your website. Universal linking allows mobile users who already have the app installed to be automatically redirected to the app when clicking on a link from the mobile site. This creates a seamless user experience, encouraging app usage and increasing engagement.
8. Send push notifications regularly
Push notifications are one of the most powerful tools for maintaining user engagement. They are 10 times more likely to be read compared to emails, making them highly effective for driving action. Regular push notifications can promote new products, seasonal collections, or exclusive offers.
Automated push messages like abandoned cart reminders or back-in-stock alerts can also significantly boost conversion rates and app activity. Consider using Venn Apps’ exclusive lock-screen feature to collect push opt-ins and build hype before a launch!
9. Incentivise app downloads with discount codes
Who doesn’t love a discount? Offering exclusive discounts to users who download your app is a great way to incentivise downloads. Customers are more likely to install the app if they know they can access special offers, and it gives them a reason to start engaging with the app right away.
10. Incentivise app downloads with app-exclusive products
Another effective strategy is to offer exclusive products or collections that are only available on the app. By creating unique, app-only product releases or early access to new collections, you give users an incentive to download and engage with the app. This creates a sense of exclusivity and enhances the value of your app, making it more appealing to loyal customers.
By implementing these 10 strategies, you can increase your Shopify mobile app’s downloads, drive user engagement, and build a loyal customer base. At Venn Apps, we have helped many brands achieve lasting success with their apps, and we’re excited to continue supporting the growth of Shopify merchants in the UK and beyond.
For more insights on launching and scaling your mobile app, get in touch with us today!