Since the launch of Apple’s app store in 2008, mobile applications have become part of our daily lives. Nowadays, there’s an app for nearly everything you might need, ranging from productivity to social media, to online shopping and commuting—and even healthcare! With over 2.7 billion smartphone users and 1.35 billion tablet users worldwide in 2020, the mobile app industry is thriving and showing no signs of stopping.

For mobile app developers, this is an opportunity to strike gold. In fact, mobile apps are expected to generate USD 189 billion in revenue by 2020. However, with over 2.2 million apps already available for download in the Apple app store, and 2.8 million in the Google Play Store, it can be difficult for a newcomer to stand out.

While simply having your app available on the store was enough during the first few years of smartphones, nowadays, you need to have a strong mobile app marketing strategy.  There are several ways to approach this, but to help you out, here are three tips you can use to hit the ground running.

Look for a Niche That You Can Occupy

While apps can be a lot of different things, these should be able to do one thing successfully: fill a need. This means that your marketing strategy must start as early as the development phase, where decisions regarding what features and functionality to include are decided by what problem or issue you can fix through the use of your app.

This way, your marketing and app development strategies are feeding off one another, and it will be much easier for your marketing to talk about the app, its features, and the value that it brings to your customers.

Start Marketing by Telling a Story

With development underway, it’s best to kick your marketing in overdrive. By now, you should be thinking about creating a website, starting a blog, and making sure that your content is gaining traction.

Your content needs to be regularly updated and engaging. One way of doing this is by seeking professional web development and search engine optimization (SEO) services. This way, you are getting the word out while also getting ahead of the curve.

Remember that SEO results may take a while to appear, but the sooner you start, the quicker your content will be searchable and up on the first page. While you’re focusing on SEO, it’s also a good idea to employ social media advertising as well, as it will allow you to drive traffic to your website and reach more people on different platforms at the same time.

Engage Potential Customers Through Open Beta Tests

During the course of development, you will want to conduct many rounds of user testing and feedback processing. As you look for groups of people to test for your product, make sure that you are already targeting the same kind of people who are most likely to use the app. This way, your testing phase also becomes part of your marketing efforts, since you are actively trying to introduce your product to your target customers.

One good way to do this is through a limited public beta testing, where you open a limited number of slots to the public who want to be one of the first people to get access to your app. While beta tests provide helpful real-life information about how users will interact with your app, you will still want to make a good first impression. For this reason, it’s best to conduct open betas when you have a more or less finished product, with only a few minor bugs to iron out.

Digital Marketing Services: The Key to a Successful Mobile App Strategy

Mastering digital marketing is a must for any marketer, but it is especially important if you are looking to get people to use your mobile app. With the amount of content we consume through our smartphones on a daily basis, it can be challenging to stand out. If the marketing process is not your forte, you can always seek the services of a reputation management firm that will handle every aspect of digital marketing—be it for branding, web development, SEO, or social media management.

Get Help from a Digital Marketing Solutions Provider

Are you looking for a digital marketing agency to help you out with your business? CloudMellow is a one-stop-shop provider of digital marketing services. We offer everything from website development to reputation management services. Call or contact us today to get your free audit!