App developers: Focus on these factors to reduce user churn

People love apps.

The average person has around 80 apps installed on their phone at any given time. 

But there’s a downside. The average time between installing an app and deleting it is just 8 days. For Android, the uninstall rate of gaming apps is over 65%. Even in the highly popular category of social apps, the rate is close to 60%. 

User churn is a significant challenge for app developers, and it must be addressed quickly and effectively. After all, the window of time in which to capture the user’s attention and loyalty after install is very short – just a few days. That’s why developers should be proactive about churn, analyzing why users abandon an app and implement strategies to combat churn before it sets in.

Let’s take a look at some aspects of app development that you can improve to keep users engaged and reduce user churn:

• Onboarding: Onboarding is the first impression your app makes on the users. The onboarding journey should clearly demonstrate the app’s value proposition and how it solves users’ problems or makes their lives better and easier. Simplifying the registration process and avoiding overwhelming new users with excessive information are also crucial.
• Personalization: By observing user behavior within the app, developers can tailor the experience to each individual. Recommendations, customized content, and relevant notifications based on users’ preferences and usage patterns can enhance engagement and make users feel valued. 
• Communications with users: In-app messaging, push notifications, social media, and email can be used purposefully to inform users about special events, promotions, or simply to express gratitude for their loyalty. Deep linking can further enhance the effectiveness of these communications by directing users to specific sections within the app, making it easier for them to engage.
• Rewards: Rewarding users strategically is another effective method to increase retention. Time-sensitive rewards, such as daily challenges or in-app currency, create incentives for users to return. Tailoring rewards to key features of the app and offering exclusive incentives can further boost engagement and loyalty.
• App analytics: Analyzing app analytics can reveal when users are abandoning the app or encountering difficulties or bugs that lead to churn. By identifying and resolving these pain points, developers can improve engagement and retention, ultimately reducing churn.
• User experience: If an app fails to provide value, loads slowly, or consumes excessive storage space, users are likely to uninstall it. Developers must ensure a seamless and efficient user experience from the start. This is more than just ironing out bugs; a great app has intuitive navigation, is easy to use, and displays ads that are compelling and relevant to the user’s interests and location. 

Looking to optimize user growth and retention, and drive success for your app? Start.io can help with advanced monetization strategies based on data-driven ad experiences. Contact us today.