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Are you a mobile app developer who is looking to sell your app online but aren't sure where to start? Look no further! Our essential guide to selling your mobile app online will cover all the key steps you need to take in order to successfully market and sell your app.
Idan Waller36 min readFrom identifying your target audience and creating a website to utilizing social media and launching a landing page, we've got you covered. We'll also delve into the importance of creating a demo video, reaching out to influencers, advertising online, optimizing for app store search, offering a free trial or lite version, and providing excellent customer support.
With these tips in hand, you'll be well on your way to selling your mobile app online with confidence.
Identifying your target audience
Before you even begin to think about selling your mobile app, it's important to identify who your target audience is. This will help you tailor your marketing efforts and pricing strategies to appeal to the right people.
Identify Your App’s Purpose
Before you can define your target audience, you need to understand the purpose of your app. Ask yourself questions such as:
For example, if you are developing a mobile app for a restaurant, you need to understand
what the app will do for the restaurant and its customers.
How to find your target audience
Identifying the target audience for a mobile app is crucial for the success of the app. By understanding the specific group of people that the app is intended for, app developers can create a product that meets the needs and desires of the target audience.
One real-life example of the benefits of identifying the target audience is the social media app TikTok.
TikTok was able to identify its target audience as young people who enjoy creating and sharing short videos, and the app has since become incredibly popular among this demographic.
In fact, TikTok has over 3.5 billion downloads worldwide and is particularly popular among younger users, with 32% of TikTok users aged 16-24.
Explore your current user base
You can do this by analyzing customer data from sources such as Google Analytics, social media accounts, and live-chat systems. This can provide valuable insights into the demographics, psychographics, and geographic location of your current users.
It can help you to understand what features and marketing strategies are appealing to a similar audience. You can create a preliminary target user profile by considering the intended purpose of your app, the demographics and psychographics of your target audience, and the ways in which your app will be used by this group.
Use market research to confirm and refine your target audience through methods such as surveys and focus groups. By following these steps, you can effectively identify your target audience and create a product that meets the needs of this group.
Examples
Great examples for finding your target audience are Uber and MyFitnessPal:
Creating a website
A professional website is essential for any business, including mobile apps, to showcase features, provide information, offer a call to action, display pricing, implement pricing strategies, and keep up with new features and promotions.
Use your website to highlight the key features and benefits of your app, with videos, screenshots, and other visual elements to give users a sense of what your app does and how it can help them.
Make sure to include information about the cost of your app, as well as any available discounts or promotions. This can help users understand the value they are getting and encourage them to download your app.
Keep your website up to date
Make sure to keep your website current with any new features or promotions for your app. This can help keep users engaged and encourage them to continue using your app.
Consider offering different pricing options or tiered plans, as well as discounts or promotions, to appeal to a wider audience and increase revenue. You could also consider offering a free trial or a freemium model, with paid upgrades or additional features, to allow users to try your app before committing to a purchase.
Want to get an immediate, honest valuation on your app? Just choose iOS or Android and type its name below!
Slack - The website for the popular team communication app "Slack" provides a detailed overview of the app's features, including real-time messaging, file sharing, and integrations with other tools. It also includes pricing information, with options for both free and paid plans, and a clear call to action to "Try Slack for free."
The website also provides resources for users, such as a support center and user guides, to ensure a positive experience with the app.
Trello - The website for the project management app "Trello" provides an interactive overview of the app's features, with videos and screenshots to showcase its capabilities. It also includes pricing information, with options for both free and paid plans, and a clear call to action to "Sign up for free."
The website also provides resources for users, such as a support center and user guides, to ensure a positive experience with the app.
Utilizing social media
Social media is a powerful tool for marketing your mobile app. You can create a strong presence on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Tiktok and Instagram, and use them to share updates, answer customer questions, and promote special offers. Don't forget to include links to your website and app store listings.
Leverage social media to increase app downloads
Utilize social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram to promote your app and drive downloads.
Feature user-generated content such as reviews, screenshots, testimonials and videos to showcase the app’s features and benefits. As a recent study mentioned: Testimonials can help increase conversion rates by 34%.
Use social media to interact with users and respond to their feedback. Create polls and surveys to gain insights into how users use the app and what features they want to see. Additionally, use social media to provide updates on new features and bug fixes.
For example, create polls and surveys on Twitter and Instagram to gain insights into how users use the app and what features they want to see.
Utilize social media to create a presence for your app. Post content related to the app, such as tips and tricks, industry news, and updates. Additionally, use social media to create a community of users who can share their experiences and provide support to each other.
For example, post content related to the app such as tips and tricks, industry news, and updates on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
An example of a company that effectively utilized social media to increase app downloads is the language learning app, Duolingo. Duolingo created a strong presence on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram by regularly posting updates, answering customer questions, and promoting special offers.
Additionally, they featured user-generated content such as reviews, screenshots, and videos to showcase the app's features and benefits. Duolingo's social media strategy has helped to drive millions of downloads for their app.
Another example of a company that effectively utilized social media to increase brand awareness is the e-commerce app, Wish. Wish created a community of users on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram by regularly posting tips and tricks, industry news, and updates related to their app.
They also used social media to interact with users and respond to their feedback, creating polls and surveys to gain insights into how users use the app and what features they want to see. Wish's social media strategy has helped to increase brand awareness and drive sales for its app.
Launching a landing page
A landing page is a standalone web page, created specifically for the purpose of promoting your mobile app. Use your landing page to provide more in-depth information about your app and its features and a clear call to action for users to download it. Make sure to include social media buttons and links to your website and app store listings.
Reviews and ratings are a great way to build trust and credibility with potential users. By displaying customer reviews and ratings on the landing page, potential users can get an idea of what other users think of the app, and this can help to encourage them to download the app. According to a study by Spiegel Research Center,95% of online shoppers read online reviews before making a purchase.
Offering incentives for downloading an app can be a great way to encourage users to take the next step and download the app. This could include offering a free trial period, discounts on in-app purchases, or exclusive content. For example, the popular music streaming app, Spotify, offers a free 30-day trial period for new users who download the app from their landing page. When launching a landing page for your mobile app, it is important to include a clear and compelling value proposition. A value proposition is a statement that communicates the unique benefit or value that your app provides to users. It helps to attract potential users and encourage them to download the app. To create a strong value proposition, it is important to highlight the key features and benefits of your app, and explain how it addresses the specific needs and pain points of your target audience.
An example of a company that effectively utilized a landing page to promote its mobile app is the meditation and sleep app, Headspace. Headspace created a standalone web page, specifically for the purpose of promoting their app.
The landing page provided in-depth information about the app and its features and a clear call to action for users to download it. Additionally, Headspace showcased customer reviews and ratings on the landing page, building trust and credibility with potential users.
Creating a demo video
A demo video is a great way to showcase your mobile app and its features in action. Consider creating a short, concise video that demonstrates how your app works and why it's worth downloading. You can share your demo video on social media, your website, and your landing page.
It can be tricky to get people to your app page, but when they're there, you want to make the most of it! Video is a great way to increase the chances of people downloading or buying your app – it helps your audience get to that 'aha!' moment where they really understand what you're offering. A research by wyzowl shows that 78% of people have been convinced to buy or download an app after watching a video.
A demo video can provide a more engaging and interactive way to explain the features and benefits of a mobile app. For example, a demo video for a fitness app could demonstrate how to use the app to track your progress, or how to set up personalized goals.
According to a study by wyzowl, 86% of people say they’d be more likely to download an app if they could watch a short video demonstrating how it works ,and 77% of people say they’ve decided to download a mobile app after watching a video that demonstrates how it works.
To gain a better understanding of what a great app demo video looks like, you can take a look at these 10 app demo video examples. These examples showcase different types of app demo videos. By watching these examples, you will be able to see the different techniques and styles that are used to showcase an app's features and benefits in a clear and engaging way
Influencer marketing can be a powerful strategy for promoting your mobile app and increasing downloads. According to a survey by Statista, 60% of marketers report that influencer marketing has a higher return on investment compared to traditional advertising methods.
Collaborate with popular influencers
One way to utilize influencer marketing for your mobile app is to collaborate with popular influencers in your industry who have a large and engaged following relevant to your target audience. By offering them a free trial of your app in exchange for a review or promotion, you can leverage their reach and reputation to promote your app on their social media channels and blogs, and reach a wider audience of potential users.
In addition to increasing brand awareness and credibility, influencer marketing has been shown to be effective in driving app downloads. A study found that influencer marketing campaigns resulted in a 6.5x increase in downloads for a mobile app. By connecting with passionate and engaged influencers and bloggers, you can effectively promote your app and drive downloads from a relevant and engaged audience.
A great example of One company that did a great job utilizing influencer marketing is the photo editing app, VSCO. They partnered up with popular influencers in the photography industry to spread the word about their app.
The influencers got to try out the app for free and in return, they shared their experience with their followers on social media and blogs. This helped VSCO increase brand awareness and drive more downloads for the app. By working with influencers, VSCO was able to reach a wider audience and showcase the app to potential users.
Another company that effectively used influencer marketing is the fitness app, Fitbit. They teamed up with popular fitness influencers to showcase their app to a wider audience.
The influencers got to try out the app for free and in return, they shared their experience with their followers on social media and blogs. This helped Fitbit increase brand awareness and drive more downloads for the app. By working with influencers, Fitbit was able to reach a targeted audience and showcase the app to potential users who are interested in fitness.
Advertising online
Online advertising is a great way to reach a wider audience and drive more traffic to your app. Consider using platforms like Google AdWords or Facebook Ads to promote your app to specific demographics or interests. Make sure to set a marketing budget and track your ad performance to ensure you're getting a good return on investment.
An example of a company that effectively utilized online advertising to drive more traffic to their app is the travel app, Booking.com. Booking.com used Facebook Ads to target users in specific locations who were interested in travel-related content. By targeting specific demographics and interests, Booking.com was able to reach a wider audience of potential users and drive more traffic to their app.
Another example of a company that effectively used online ad networks is the game developer, Supercell. They used AdMob and InMobi to place ads on websites and in other apps that target users based on their interests. The game developer placed interstitial and banner ads of their games in apps related to the game's theme. This helped Supercell to reach its target audience and increase the visibility of its games.
App store optimization (ASO) is the process of improving your app's visibility and ranking in app store search results. With the increasing number of mobile app downloads worldwide, it is essential to optimize your app's search visibility in app stores in order to drive downloads and increase user engagement.
There are several steps you can take to improve your app's ranking in app stores and increase its visibility.
Identifying relevant keywords can help ensure that your app appears in search results when users are looking for solutions to their problems. For example, a weather app might target keywords like "forecast," "radar," and "temperature." By using these keywords in the app's title and description, the app will be more likely to appear in search results for users who are looking for weather-related information.
Users are more likely to download apps that have a high rating and positive reviews, so it's important to actively manage and respond to customer feedback. By focusing on improving the user experience and encouraging satisfied users to leave positive ratings and reviews, you can increase the likelihood of converting potential users into actual users.
For example: This the article found that increasing customer reviews resulted in an 11% increase in conversion rate.
Including visually appealing screenshots and videos in your app's listing can help grab the attention of users browsing the app store. These media assets give users a better understanding of what your app does and how it looks, which can increase their likelihood of downloading it.
An example of a company that effectively utilized app store optimization (ASO) is the personal finance app, Mint. Mint identified relevant keywords such as "budget," "finance," and "personal finance" and included them in the app's title and description.
This helped the app to appear in search results when users were looking for personal finance-related information and increase visibility in the app store. Additionally, Mint actively managed customer feedback and encouraged users to leave positive reviews. This helped to increase the app's rating, resulting in more downloads and increased user engagement.
Offering a free trial or lite version of your app can be a great way to entice users to try it out before committing to a purchase. Consider offering a limited-time free trial or a stripped-down version of your app with in-app purchase options to encourage users to upgrade.
Offering a free trial is a great way to give potential users a taste of what your app has to offer before they make a purchase. A free trial period allows users to explore the app's features, and see how it works and how it can benefit them.
This can help increase the likelihood of converting potential users into actual paying users. According to a study, most companies that use free trials say they account for up to 10% of new sales. This shows the effectiveness of offering a free trial in driving new sales and encouraging potential users to make a purchase.
Creating a lite version of your app can be a smart move. It allows potential users to try out a limited version of the app before committing to a purchase. According to this article, this can increase the likelihood of them becoming paying users.
A lite version typically includes a subset of the full app's features. It is often free to download, which can help increase visibility and downloads of the app. Additionally, offering a lite version can provide valuable feedback on what features users would like to see in the full version. It also helps to reduce user acquisition costs and increase user lifetime value.
An awesome example of offering a free trial is Adobe Creative Cloud. Adobe Creative Cloud offers a free trial period for new users to test its features before committing to a subscription. This strategy has been successful, with over 30 million subscribers as of December 2022.
The free trial allows potential customers to experience the software and make an informed decision about purchasing the full version. This approach helps to increase user acquisition and satisfaction.
A great example of a company that succeeded with its app lite version is Evernote. Evernote is a popular note-taking and organization app that offers a lite version of their app. This allows users to try out the basic features of the app before committing to a purchase of the full version. Evernote's lite version strategy has been a success, with the company reporting over 250 million registered users as of December 2022.
Providing excellent customer support is essential for maintaining a loyal user base and encouraging positive reviews. Make sure to respond promptly to customer questions and issues, and consider offering a customer support hotline or live chat option for users who need immediate assistance.
Responding to customer inquiries and feedback
Providing excellent customer support involves being responsive to customer inquiries and feedback. This includes actively monitoring customer service channels such as email, social media, and in-app chat, and promptly responding to customer inquiries and complaints.
By addressing customer concerns in a timely and professional manner, you can build trust and loyalty with your user base. It is important to note that according to studies, 50% of consumers will switch to a competitor after one bad experience, and 80% will switch to a competitor after more than one bad experience.
Therefore, providing timely and effective customer support can be crucial for maintaining customer satisfaction and retention.
Excellent customer support includes providing self-service resources that customers can utilize to find answers to their questions and troubleshoot issues on their own.
A comprehensive knowledge base that is easily searchable and contains pre-defined canned responses made by customer support staff is crucial for this. According to a study, 91% of consumers state that they would use a knowledge base if it's available.
Additionally, having an offline help solution is important, especially for users who may not always have internet access. This empowers customers to help themselves and reduces the burden on customer support teams, leading to more efficient and satisfactory customer service.
Providing excellent customer support means continuously working to improve the customer experience. This includes regularly gathering customer feedback, tracking customer support metrics such as response time and satisfaction, and using this data to identify areas for improvement.
Additionally, it means investing in the training and development of customer support teams, to ensure they are equipped to provide the best possible service to customers. By continuously improving customer support, companies can ensure they are providing the best possible experience for their users, leading to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Grammarly is a popular grammar and spell-checking app that offers excellent customer support. They provide a comprehensive help center with FAQs, tutorials, and troubleshooting guides, as well as a feature where users can submit questions and receive responses from their customer support team.
They also have a community forum where users can share tips and get help from other users, and an in-app chatbot that can provide instant assistance. Grammarly's customer support team is well-trained and always ready to help customers with any issues they may have.
As we have said before, it is important to define an audience and establish a marketing strategy for the correct dissemination of the app through the different platforms. However, we cannot leave aside the power of monetization.
What is an app monetization system?
It is how your app generates money constantly.
Some of the most common options are:
Subscriptions: This can be through a "premium" service or access to exclusive content.
In-App Purchases: In this case it gives the user the possibility to make purchases directly from the app in order to improve the usability experience or even buy different add-ons that result in a specific benefit.
Advertising: The possibility of counting ads is a good source of income. In the same way, you will be able to encourage the user to purchase the premium version of the application without intrusive advertising.
Pay-per-download: Another very good way of monetization is the pay-per-download option. In this case the user could only get the app by making a payment before downloading.
In short, the monetization channels of the app are not only a source of constant passive income, but also a key pillar when setting the price before valuing your app.
You have all the work done and the alternative of selling your app online in marketplaces.
However, if more is needed, the search for external investors is an excellent additional channel to carry out the dream of monetizing your app.
For that, you can follow these steps:
In the first instance, try to define a company profile that shares the vision of your business and is relevant to the app.
They can be people in charge of the company's development or hierarchical personnel in the investment area. For this, nothing better than LinkedIN.
In the first instance, you can use LinkedIn messaging and their email, in case it is public.
At the same time, you can establish phone contact and even visit the company in person.
We have reviewed in this article the different ways to sell your app online. However, there is one key aspect that you must take into account before setting up a meeting with potential investors or exposing your app to a marketplace.
We are talking about the intellectual protection of the idea.
How to protect your work efficiently?
The best way to do it is through a "Non-Disclosure Agreement".
This agreement signed by all parties will allow you to have a legal safeguard of all the information that has been shown in the meetings.
According to Ironclad in its article "Non-Disclosure Agreements: Everything You Need to Know": An NDA creates the legal framework to protect ideas and information from being stolen or shared with competitors or third parties. Breaking an NDA agreement triggers a host of legal ramifications, including lawsuits, financial penalties, and even criminal charges. NDAs offer a level of protection to your business so that even accidental breaches are covered.
There are various types of NDAs.
Among the most common are those that are established unilaterally and in which one of the parties is obliged not to disclose confidential information. (This may occur in the cases of employees of companies, for example).
On the other hand, in those that are mutual, both parties decide not to share the information.
In conclusion, selling your mobile app online is a multi-faceted process that requires a combination of marketing strategies and excellent customer support. By following the tips outlined in this guide, you'll be well on your way to successfully marketing and selling your mobile app online.
Don't forget to continually track your app's performance and make any necessary adjustments to your marketing efforts. And don't be afraid to experiment with different pricing strategies and partnerships or collaborations to find what works best for your app and your target audience.
Q: How do I decide on a pricing model for my app?
A: Deciding on a pricing model for your app will depend on the type of app and your target audience. Some popular pricing models include free with in-app purchases, a one-time purchase, or a subscription-based model. It's important to consider the competition and what pricing models are successful in your app's category.
Q: How can I improve my app's user experience?
A: Improving your app's user experience can be done by conducting user testing, gathering feedback from users, and analyzing usage data. This can help you identify areas for improvement such as navigation, loading times, and user interface design.
Q: How can I keep my app relevant and engaging for users?
A: Keeping your app relevant and engaging for users can be done by regularly updating the app with new features and content. Additionally, you can use push notifications and email marketing to keep users informed about new updates and promotions.
Q: How can I track and analyze app performance?
A: You can track and analyze app performance using tools such as Google Analytics and Mixpanel. These tools can help you track key metrics such as downloads, active users, and user engagement. Additionally, you can use these tools to segment your users and analyze user behavior.
Q: How can I ensure my app is secure for users?
A: Ensuring your app is secure for users can be done by implementing security measures such as encryption, secure login, and regular security updates. Additionally, you can work with a third-party security company to audit your app and identify potential vulnerabilities.
Q: How can I make my app stand out in a crowded market?
A: Making your app stand out in a crowded market can be done by focusing on a unique value proposition, creating an engaging user experience, and building a strong brand. Additionally, you can leverage user reviews, ratings, and word of mouth to increase visibility and credibility.
Q: How can I improve the app's loading times?
A: Improving the app's loading times can be done by optimizing images, reducing the number of requests, and implementing a content delivery network. Additionally, you can use tools such as Google's PageSpeed Insights to identify areas for improvement and track progress over time.
Idan Waller
A die-hard digital entrepreneur and app industry innovator, I’ve dedicated my career to revolutionizing mobile applications. After growing in direct response marketing and founding the 100K and 10M clubs, I co-founded BlueThrone with my brother Alon. We’re committed to elevating extraordinary apps and shaping the app industry’s future, focusing on creating unparalleled user experiences worldwide.
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