6 Smart Tips for Marketing Your First App

Are you getting ready to launch your first app but worried about securing day-one sales? If so, I promise you're far from alone!

Developers and other professionals across all industries want to see their new applications do well. But this is often easier said than done. App stores are crowded, and standing out isn't easy. Plus, it's not always easy to connect with your intended audience, especially if this is your very first product.

I've been in your shoes before, and I know it's challenging. Today, my goal is to help by sharing six actionable tips you can use to market your app to more people. The following strategies have helped us launch several successful products, and I believe the same is possible for you.

Let's get started. 

Get to Know Your Audience

Do you know who is most likely to download and use your app? If not, you need to spend some time learning about your target audience so you can get a crystal clear understanding of their goals, needs, and pain points.

Think of it this way: knowing your customers is the difference between selling your product on the street and pitching to random people versus opening a specialty store that people have to willingly enter.

The first group doesn't know you are; they may not understand your app, and there's a good chance they wouldn't need it even if they did understand. On the other hand, people who walk into the specialty store know exactly what's inside, and many of them are intent on taking action, whether it's buying a physical product or downloading an application.

You can get to know your audience by reviewing social media and website analytics, tracking trending topics, and reading other well-known publications in your industry. Combine all of this information into a fictional profile, also called a customer persona. Personas will guide everything you do, from choosing SEO keywords to creating advertisements for your app.

Really understanding your audience is key. Once you know who you want to reach and where to find them, you can tailor your messaging and channels specifically for them.

Create Relevant, Helpful Content

Now that you know what your audience needs, it's time to create relevant and helpful content. I highly recommend including a blog on your site. Over 77% of internet users report reading blog posts regularly. If you have a site full of interesting and engaging content, you'll have a better shot at reaching more people.

And the more people who see your website, the more opportunities you have of getting visitors to download your application.

Use the information you've gathered to create all kinds of content that resonates with readers. Here are a couple of quick pointers to help guide you on this journey:

• Focus on solving problems. Create content that addresses common pain points your users experience. Offer tips, how-to advice, and guides that they'll find helpful.
• Get specific. Include details, examples, and case studies to illustrate your points. This will help you establish credibility and experience while helping readers. 
• Encourage engagement. Pose questions, run polls and contests, and encourage your audience to interact with your site. 
• Create targeted landing pages. People are more likely to download your app if you make a designated landing page that explains the features and benefits of clicking download.

Offer Users Something Extra 

Traditional content is a good start, but the best way to get more downloads is to offer users something extra for checking out your app. There are plenty of different ways you can catch people's attention and get them to take action.

Lead magnets are an extremely effective way to get more app engagement. Put plainly; a lead magnet is an exclusive promotion or piece that someone gets for doing something on your site, like downloading your app.

For example, if you're building a fitness app, you could market it on your landing page by telling users they get 3 free workout lessons just for signing up. Similarly, if you sell equipment on your site, new app users could get a coupon for 30% off their next order.

These incentives are a great way to get people to engage with your app who may have otherwise decided to try something else. It's also a great way to reward people who are going to download your app with or without the bonus. 

Optimize for App Stores

Getting your app into the major app stores with optimized listings is crucial for discovery and downloads. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when submitting to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store:

• Choose a clear, descriptive title. Include your brand name and keywords that will draw in your target users. Avoid vague names or overused keywords to have a better chance of reaching your audience. 
• Write a compelling description. Briefly explain what your app does and highlight the key benefits. Use keywords strategically so people will have an easy time finding you, but avoid keyword stuffing.
• Select relevant categories and keywords. Accurately categorize your app and choose keywords that users would search for.
• Create high-quality screenshots and videos. Showcase your app's best features and UI. Give people a reason to want to click download. 
• Highlight great reviews. Highlight and respond to user reviews so you can build trust and social proof. Need help getting reviews? Start by asking in-app.

Optimizing for the various stores will improve your app's visibility, conversion rate, and organic downloads over time. Don't forget to continuously experiment and iterate based on performance data and customer feedback.

Invest in Social Media Marketing

Social media marketing is another excellent way to promote your new app. Believe it or not, over 4.66 billion people use social media, and this number has increased year over year.

In other words, sites like Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and X are the perfect places to connect with potential customers and highlight your expertise and products.

You'll want to create plenty of engaging posts that help your followers and people who stumble on your page for the first time understand who you are, how you can help, and why they should care. I like to use posing questions to get people to comment, which will help boost your post in the algorithm.

I also suggest sharing plenty of video content that shows your app and products in action. When you consider that people watch over 1 billion hours of video on YouTube alone every day, it's no mystery why video marketing has exploded in popularity.

I also suggest going out of your way to join other communities. People are far more likely to show interest in your app if you help them without asking for things in return. My advice is to join relevant groups and answer questions from other members. These seemingly small interactions will add up, and app engagement will follow.

Track Your Analytics

My final tip for you is to make sure you track your analytics across the board. You'll want to know how people are engaging with your website, social media, and, of course, your app.

The information contained in these reports will help you make informed decisions for the future. For example, if you see a lot of people stop using your app after the first day, this could be a sign that you need to develop an onboarding program to help people get comfortable with your application.

It's also worth remembering that your audience's needs and goals will change over time. If you're not paying attention to what they have to say and their behavior across all marketing channels, you will miss out on countless opportunities to optimize your app and business model as a whole.

If you follow the strategies I discussed today, I think you'll be in a much better position to get more people to use your app. Don't forget that it takes time to build an audience, so don't be surprised if there's no overnight surge in traffic. Stay patient and persistent, and good things will follow.