Tips to Increase App Engagement

The active interaction of a user with an application is referred to as User engagement. And to make a user hitched to the app, the developer has to make sure that the user is provided with a proper reason to keep coming back to the app.

One of the pivotal goals in mobile marketing is to increase user engagement and that can be achieved through various measures such as email marketing, content personalization, and other marketing campaigns.

Why is it so important to increase mobile app engagement? It has been predicted that Total revenue in the App market is projected to reach US$1,608.00m in 2022.

In today’s contemporary world where n-number of apps are available in the market and attracting the attention of users, it is in no way an easy task to get a hold of a user for a particular app.

And hence, it is very important to increase user engagement because users who have had a buoyant experience of a particular app are more likely to return back and without a doubt, these customers will be more enthusiastic to recommend a particular app to their friends, which in turn, increase the app’s user acquisition rates.

Before diving into the tips to increase mobile app engagement, let’s understand some basics about engagement.

What is meant by App User Engagement?

In this digital realm, engagement occurs everywhere on the internet. User engagement assesses whether customers value a product or service.

Engagement can indeed be measured through a range of activities such as streaming services, clicks, shares, and much more.

Highly engaged subscribers are considerably more efficient, as long as their actions result in valuable outcomes such as buying, signups, subscriptions, or click-throughs.

Why is User Engagement Important?

User engagement is strongly linked to overall profitability. User attention is a limited resource, and when users want to spend time on a specific app or site, they are indicating that they value it.

This enables businesses to profit from the product or service through advertisements, subscriptions, or sales. With higher levels of engagement, users are more likely to purchase, return, and recommend the product or service to others.

Teams can increase product profitability by implementing these tips to increase mobile app engagement.

Tips to Increase App Engagement

• Simple Onboarding
• Deep Linking
• Push Notifications and In-App Messaging
• Mobile Marketing Automation
• In-App Communities
• Gamification
• Personalization of Content
• Two-Way Communication
• Fewer Welcome Pages
• Use CTAs on the first welcome page
• Always provide a skip button
• Desktop Onboarding
• Introduction of the Progress Bar
• Offer Customer Support In-App

Simple Onboarding

Through Onboarding, a user is introduced to a product. Onboarding not only instructs the user how to work with the latest interface, but also enables them to customize it.

The developers of the app can use onboarding not only at the first launch but they can also use it when adding fresh functions to the app.

The developers must focus on vital features of the app, and then invite the user or customer to register on the app.

Moreover, app developers should also focus on visualizing the content. Interactive apps keep hold of the user for a long time. Also, to keep hold of the user, app developers can also reward the users with additional functionality after registration.

Developers should also take care that the user is not forced upon for anything on the app, for example, the app should offer the user an opportunity to close or skip the tutorial and shouldn’t be forced to read or watch it to the full.

Deep Linking

One of the best ways to re-engage app users is through Deep Linking.

For instance, if the app has a heightened bounce rate, then the developer can retarget customers who did not complete the registration process.

This can be done by sending a deep link to the user via email or a notification.

The link’s resource then determines the user’s OS or operating system.

As and when the user clicks on the link, the link leads the customer to a distinctive screen that offers a more personalized signup process.

Therefore, it is said to be a simple and somewhat inexpensive way to get more users or customers involved in the app.

Push Notifications and In-App Messaging

Push notifications, which are considered one of the best tips to increase mobile app engagement, remind users or customers that they have an app with such a name on their device.

Second, these notifications significantly streamline the work with the product and save time for the user.

Such notifications are especially very necessary to use in apps as they perform distinctive functions and are not utilized on a daily basis.

Therefore, by sending a push notification to the customer about a new discount or service, the developer provides customers with a fair reason to use the product again and again.

These notifications can also help in promoting app usage if implemented correctly.

It also targets messages based on behavioral preferences and data. A decent and well-crafted push message can more than double the customer return rate for a longer period.

Developers should make sure that they have a tool that helps them optimize push notifications and other user engagement strategies.

Mobile Marketing Automation

The use of web services and software to automate different marketing processes, mainly working with customers – leading them along the funnel is known as Marketing automation.

The primary purpose of marketing automation is to create the most effective communication with possible users and consequently increase sales.

Also Read – Benefits of Social Media Marketing for Businesses

In-App Communities

Communities are social elements incorporated into the application that permit users to communicate with each other and exchange knowledge and experiences.

One of the most triumphant user retention and engagement tactics is to have an in-app community.

The in-app community is successful because it arouses a feeling of belonging and competitiveness amongst the users and encourages them to return to the app, knowing that their coequals are waiting on the platform.

Moreover, having a community in an app “humanizes” the applications, and apps with numerous users have community managers who act as a bridge between the business and customers.

Gamification

Gamification first emerged in the early 2000s and was decrypted quite broadly.

Since then, it has become an efficient and fresh way to draw customers and boost business revenue. Based on viral tools, Gamification motivates users to be socially active and provokes them to lure their friends and acquaintances, and also spend money at the same time.

And so, gamification turns the consumption of a product or service into a game. And everyone is aware that the game has always been a victorious tool for alluring people.

Personalization of Content

One of the numerous aspects of a quality mobile application is content personalization.

The more the content satisfies the preferences and needs of the customer or user, the more likely they are to continue using the product or service.

This can be done creatively and with simple techniques like displaying the user’s name on the screen and in push notifications.

Also, to be in the race for a longer period of time it’s important for the app or the business to amend the proposed content to the location and needs of users or customers.

Also Read – Must-Know App Monetization Strategies in 2021

Two-Way Communication

Communication is the key to success.

Developers must seek user feedback on their apps.

It is very important that the developers must convey to the users that their feedback is vital for the improvement of the product or the service.

The other benefit of this technique is that the users or customers are unlikely to post negative reviews about the product or the service if the user has the option to contact the developer or the service provider directly and fix the issue.

Fewer Welcome Pages

Users should not have to swipe through 8-10 welcome app pages that go into great detail about how to use the app.

You not only increase the likelihood of users skipping it entirely, but you also risk overwhelming them with too much information in one go, further irritating and confusing consumers.

Create 3-5 pages with short and unambiguous copy that briefly describes the app’s core aspects, and benefits, and directs users to a registration page or straightforwardly to their first activity.

To keep users involved on every page, you could also use animated design patterns.

Use CTAs on the first welcome page

Take new subscribers through the phases of undertaking their first action after they sign up.

Try encouraging new users to add their first social media profile, which is considered necessary to use the app. A progress bar at the bottom of the page to encourage new users to complete the process is also a smart tactic.

Always provide a skip button

Take into account that perhaps a user would just have to delete their account as well as then decided to create a new one, or a user by now has yet another account under a new email address the case, thus, new users should always have the choice to opt-out of any segment of your onboarding stream.

Desktop Onboarding

Although the major focus remains on the mobile application, the desktop version of the app should also not be ignored.

Many of your intended users are using the desktop version of the app and an onboarding session introducing all the toolkits of the app must be a priority when designing the checklist for increasing mobile app engagement.

Introduction of the Progress Bar 

Highlighting a progress bar or checklist encourages new users to swipe through the welcome screens, and in-app tutorials, or accomplish their first actions.

This ensures that new users are informed on how to use aspects of the app and provides new users with a boost of confidence after wrapping up all of their tasks.

Offer In-App Customer Support

Even when the new user goes through such an informational induction program, they may have direct questions or encounter a problem that needs to be resolved.

Instead of forcing a user to leave your app to seek assistance, provide a direct line to your Customer Service team via in-app messaging or a link to your help center database with informative articles or to-do lists.

How to Increase App Retention? Follow these 5 tips.

• Responsive Application
• Ensure a proper listing on App Stores
• Making use of the Right Opportunity
• Regular Updation
• User experience should be a Priority

Responsive Application

An application with hundreds of top functionalities but a non-responsive framework is of no use.

Your users will not give the app a third chance after waiting twice for the app to work properly (some won’t even consider a second chance)!

Thus, ensuring a responsive framework must be the very first step before taking into account any new change for deployment.

Ensure a proper listing on App Stores

Until the user recognizes and understands what your app is all about, it is nearly impossible to increase user rates. You need to spread the word.

Ensure a strong marketing strategy to list the facts and benefits of your app. Flaunt all the solutions your app will be offering to user problems. App store listing is important and you need to use every bit of it to appeal to downloads.

Making use of the Right Opportunity

Our day starts and ends with apps like Instagram and Spotify.

And what makes them so addictive?

The reason is that they are so relatable to our daily routines and daily cravings! We cannot survive without good music and socializing. Thus, it is crucial to understand the right opportunity in the market and bug on it to increase user retention. Ensure proper insights into what users want and an addictive and easier solution to their problems.

Regular Updation

After a particular frame of time, apps become stagnant and boring for a user. Thus, you need to ensure regular updates of new features, alterations, and functionalities to retain users and keep them interested in the app.

User experience should be a Priority

If your app is not able to understand what users are liking and whatnot, user retention is not the case for you! Get insights into user behavior and then, plan and implement accordingly.

What is a Good Engagement Rate for the App?

A high level of interaction suggests that people are willing to read more, which implies more clicks on calls-to-action (CTAs) as well as a faster trip down the sales pipeline.

But, different types of businesses and industries quantify engagement differently. Hard metrics like daily active users, cost-per-acquisition, as well as ROI are fairly straightforward, whereas engagement is always dependent on the business model of the company.

High engagement through views or clicks may be beneficial for a news website, but not as an insurance app, where increased usage may indicate that a consumer is about to file claims.

As a result, you can’t just compare numbers because the average is affected by multiple variables. To determine what a good engagement rate is for you, compare your website to businesses operating similar apps, webpages, or platforms. You must also compare equivalent stages of the life cycle.

How do you measure User Engagement?

User engagement rate is measured through engagement rate which is an equation that calculates the level of interaction your subject matter receives in comparison to reach, competitors, or the sector as a whole. Engagement on social media can include things like comments, likes, shares, and mentions. Engagement rate equates to actual clicks, hours spent on your site, or downloads for other online platforms.

Final Words

These were some of the tips to increase mobile app engagement, but in the end, developers must understand the customer experience, both within the app and as a whole. The primary focus for the app, from the first download to becoming regularly used, needs to be on what the customer or user is encountering or experiencing and what value the user or the customer can get from the app at each point in the customer journey.

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