How can you keep users engaged with your app

Did you know that the average app retention rate after 90 days is generally accepted to be around 20%? That means that just 20% of users downloading your app will still have it on their device and be using it three months later. Having invested time and resources building an app, you’ll want to do all you can to help your clients ensure your creation doesn’t fall into this category.

To help you help your customers, we’ve outlined a few proven app retention strategies which you can share with your clients to showcase your knowledge and add value to your service.

#1 Crack your app store listing

One of the best ways to ensure a strong app retention rate is to begin right at the start with a crack app store listing. This is your chance to grab users as soon as they found out about your app and convince them to download it – but it’s also a really core part of anyapp retention strategy.

Your app’s app store description should really sell the app, playing up its USPs, how it will help or entertain the user and why they need it on their device. If you get this bit right, you’ll be well on your way to convincing the user of your app’s value, not just for the initial download but day-to-day further down the line.

#2 Onboard users

If you’ve ever purchased a gadget and found it impossible to set up, or downloaded an app or computer program and been left feeling totally clueless, you’ll need no convincing of the power of onboarding. Over and above welcoming new users to the app, onboarding is gives you as the app developer an opportunity to deliver value and offer a pleasant user experience from the first time the app loads.

A good onboarding process will reinforce the value of your app and give users a full overview of how to use it, plus all of its functionality. This again makes it more likely that the user will remain engaged with the app and feel happy and confident using it – helping to boost the app’s retention rate.

#3 Incentivise users

Are you guilty of always doing your shop at a particular supermarket, buying your coffee from a particular chain or always filling up at a certain petrol station in order to boost your loyalty points, even if that option isn’t always the closest or most convenient? That’s the power of an incentive.

You can use this same approach to keep users loyal to your app – simply incentivise them to keep using it. This incentive could take numerous forms and should be relevant to the nature of your app. For an ecommerce retailer, you could offer regular discounts or early access to seasonal sales to the app user for example. A food chain could give stars with each purchase, which can then be redeemed for a free meal or beverage.