10 effective growth hacking techniques for mobile app marketers

As the mobile app industry continues to grow, it is becoming increasingly difficult for developers to make their apps stand out in such a crowded marketplace. To stay ahead of the competition, many app marketers are turning to growth hacking — an innovative approach that combines creative marketing with technical development. While no single solution can guarantee success, these 10 effective growth hacking techniques can help get your app off the ground — or take its performance even further!

Growth hacking is a concept that has taken off in the mobile app marketing world in recent years. In essence, growth hacking incorporates techniques and strategies to spur rapid user acquisition and engagement for mobile apps. These are 10 effective growth hacking techniques that marketers can use to promote their mobile apps with some relevant case studies.

1. Paid Advertising on Social Media Platforms

One of the most common methods used by app marketers to drive user acquisition is through paid advertising on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. These platforms allow marketers to target users based on specific criteria such as age, location, interests, and so on, which makes it easier for them to reach a more relevant audience for their app. 

For example, the fitness app Fitnet leveraged this method by creating targeted ads on Facebook. They were able to achieve a cost per install of just $0.18, which was much lower than their competitors in the same space.

2. Influencer marketing

Another powerful growth hacking technique that app marketers can use is influencer marketing. This involves working with influential people on social media or other platforms to promote your app to their followers and increase awareness about its features and benefits. 

A good example of such a campaign is Tinder’s collaboration with Australian supermodel Miranda Kerr, who shared her experience using the Tinder dating app with her millions of followers on Instagram. She spoke about the ease and convenience of using this app for meeting new people and attracted more than 400,000 engagements from her followers in less than 24 hours!

3. Engage Users with In-App Content

To further enhance your marketing efforts, app marketers should also focus on engaging users within the app. This means providing different types of content such as articles, blog posts, and videos that can be accessed through the in-app navigation menu or by sending push notifications to users. 

For example, a mobile game like Clash Royale used this technique effectively by featuring popular YouTubers in their game to increase visibility and engagement among players.

4. Launch Free Versions of Your App

In addition to optimizing your app for multiple devices and including valuable in-app content, it is also important for app marketers to consider launching free versions of their apps. This not only gives users more flexibility and freedom when using your product, but it also makes it easier for them to experience the features and benefits of your app. 

One good example of this growth hacking strategy is Foursquare’s Swarm app, which offers users the ability to check in at various locations through their mobile devices and see what their friends are doing nearby.

5. Offer Incentives for Referrals

Another simple yet effective technique that marketers can try out is to offer incentives or rewards for referring others to your app. According to a study by the Wharton School of Business, up to 50% of user acquisition for apps came from referrals made by existing users. This means that marketers can leverage existing users and followers on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by offering them rewards such as free upgrades for referrals.

 For example, the gaming app My Singing Monsters offered referral codes to existing users and rewarded them with coins that could be used to purchase items in-app.

6. Leverage Open Source Communities

Marketers can also use growth hacking techniques such as leveraging open source communities to make their marketing efforts more effective. 

One good example is the game Flappy Bird, which grew rapidly by making its code available via GitHub, thus allowing developers from all over the world to contribute to its success by creating fan versions of the game or designing new levels. By using this growth hacking technique, marketers can tap into a larger pool of users and drive downloads and engagement among the developer community.

7. Run Contests and Giveaways

Another growth hacking technique that marketers can try out is to run contests and giveaways. This not only helps you engage and expand your user base, but it also provides an opportunity for users to promote your app on their personal social media channels. 

For example, to market its ride-sharing app Lyft, the company launched a campaign called the “ftie Awards” which gave away prizes like free cars and gas cards worth $500 each week when users shared photos of themselves with Lyft drivers on Twitter or Instagram in creative or interesting poses.

8. Leverage User Reviews.

User reviews are also an important part of any marketing strategy as they provide valuable feedback about your product or service. By leveraging this growth hacking technique, marketers can use reviews to improve their app, address customer concerns and enhance the overall user experience. You can start tracking your app review directly from here which helps you to manage your application reviews in a very simple manner.

One good example is the food delivery service GrubHub, which partnered with popular review site Yelp to help increase customer engagement and boost its growth strategy.

9. Optimize Your App for Multiple Devices

It is important for marketers to optimize their apps for multiple devices in order to utilize growth hacking techniques that are most relevant to their business needs. In addition to optimizing your app size or design so that it can be used on a variety of mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones, you should also consider creating different versions of your app according to region or country (e.g. China vs USA).

10. Leverage external traffic sources

In addition to these methods, app marketers can also leverage external traffic sources such as blogs and review sites to attract more downloads for their app. They can do this by creating interesting content around their app’s features or benefits every few weeks, which will help ensure that they stay in front of potential customers. 

One example of an app marketer who has leveraged external traffic sources to increase downloads is Sarah Jones. To achieve this, Sarah creates engaging content around her app's features or benefits regularly, which helps keep her apps in front of potential users and drives more downloads. For example, she might write a blog post about the unique benefits that her travel planning app offers to travelers, such as helping them save time by finding flight deals and cheap hotels quickly.

So, the above mentioned are the 10 effective growth hacking techniques that mobile app marketers can use to improve their user acquisition, retention, and referral rates. 

As you can see, you are that much closer to realizing your growth goals with these eight mobile app growth hacking tactics. Rather than focusing solely on a particular channel, tactic or funnel stage, you should always think about your marketing strategy from a bigger perspective instead of focusing solely on one channel. Have fun hacking.