January 15, 2025

10 Effective Ways to Promote Your Mobile App

Alexandre Le

Product Guides

Even if your mobile app is perfectly optimized, without a well-thought-out marketing plan to promote it, all your efforts could go to waste.

There are numerous mobile app promotion strategies to raise visibility, reputation, and user engagement, from influencer marketing to app store optimization. With our in-depth guide, OneMobile team will show you 10 effective ways to promote your mobile app to the next level:

1. Use QR codes to promote your app.
2. Leverage email marketing.
3. Utilize loyalty program
4. Run Apple Search Ads and Google Play Ads
5. Launch a referral program
6. Take your App Store Optimization seriously
7. Make the best out of social media marketing
8. Apply for App awards
9. Influencer
10. Partner with other businesses

1. Use QR codes to promote your app

Add a scan-to-download QR code on your website

If you want to acquire more app downloads, one of the fastest and most effective ways is to feature a scan-to-download QR code on your website.

By utilizing QR codes, your user can easily download the app no matter what device they are viewing on your website. Adding a QR code to your website is an easy way to enhance your owned media to improve app engagement.

Here are some reasons why you should add QR codes to your website.

- Improve app engagement: Using a QR code on your website enables your customers to scan the code and immediately go straight to the Google Play Store, Apple App Store, or in-app content, without the extra steps of searching for the app and content.
- Cost-effective: You can have cost-effective ways when add QR codes to your website. Additionally, if you need a change it, it’s very easy to upload a new QR code image to your site.
- Measurable: Measuring QR code interactions driven from your website allows you to track scans (or clicks) instead of only impressions. Measuring QR code scans and resulting app installs improves your understanding of your users and their needs.

💡 Pro tips:

So, where to put QR codes on your website? We refer to you two options:

- Mobile app download popup: Display a popup on your storefront to encourage customers to download your mobile app.
- Download-app block (Embed): Add a download banner onto your website’s footer. An app block you can seamlessly drag and drop into your online store theme’s footer.

Feature a QR code at your physical store

If you have a physical store, you can also print a QR code and place it there. Display a QR code prominently in your physical store to encourage customers to download your mobile app. This QR code should link directly to your app’s download page, making it quick and easy for customers to access.

💡 Pro tips:

You can place the QR code near checkout counters, entrance areas, or promotional displays with clear instructions on how to scan and download. Additionally, highlight the benefits of the app, such as exclusive discounts, loyalty rewards, or convenient features, to motivate customers to take action.

2. Leverage email marketing

According to a study by Exact Target, “91% of people check their email daily”. So, if you have a subscriber list, don’t forget to promote your app via email.

Provide users with relevant content like your app updates, and industry news or address their pain points to help them engage with your emails. With emails, you can not only create awareness about your app but also build valuable relationships with your customers.

Don’t forget to place the download app pop-up in the footer email. Any email, whether it be from your tech support, newsletter, or even the payment confirmation email should include a footer with one line advertising your app.

Additionally, you can run mobile-exclusive discounts, which offer to incentivize customers to download and shop through your app.

3. Utilize loyalty program

Providing personalized rewards and incentives for users who download and use the app can increase downloads and engagement. This can include discounts, free items, and other exclusive offers that are only available through the app.

Moreover, you can run a campaign in which your customers earn more loyalty points if they shop on the mobile app. Thus, the leverage of download apps will increase. For example, a daily mobile app check-in can earn 100 points.

4. Run Apple Search Ads and Google Play Ads

Apple Search Ads (ASA) are sponsored text ads that drive awareness and app downloads in the App Store. Similarly, Google Play also has Universal App Campaigns (UAC) to run ads for your mobile app.

Both are displayed as “Sponsored” or “Ad.” Similar to Instagram, this helps people differentiate between promoted and regular apps. Sponsored apps are displayed higher on the search page in the App Store/ Play Store and are also promoted in other apps.

Here is how ASA and UAC differ from each other:

Feature	Apple Search Ads (ASA)	Google App Campaigns (UAC)
Platform	Only on the App Store (iOS)	Google Play Store and other Google channels
Search Ads	Highly focused and effective for App Store search	Appears in Google Play search results (not a standalone feature)
Optimization	Customizable keywords and specific audience targeting	Fully automated optimization
Bidding Method	CPC (Cost Per Tap)	CPV, CPI, CPA (depending on the campaign goal)

5. Launch a referral program

Because people not only trust but often act on recommendations from friends and colleagues, word-of-mouth marketing is a well-established method to successfully promote your mobile app.

You can tap into their social networks and expand your reach by incentivizing your existing users to recommend your app to their friends and family.

For example, launch a referral program where users earn rewards, such as app credits or exclusive features, for every successful referral, driving app downloads and fostering organic growth.

6. Take your App Store Optimization (ASO) seriously

The ultimate goal of ASO is to get the app to rank higher in the App Store search results. The higher an app ranks in an app store’s search results, the more visible it is to potential customers. Any new app entering the market these days is simply competing with millions of others, so it’s crucial to create a listing that’s as accessible and appealing as possible.

Remember to optimize your app listing, including:

- App logo: design high-quality and visually appealing icons.
- App title, app description: write engaging, keyword-optimized titles and descriptions.
- App screenshots: creating attractive and informative screenshots.

Are you also searching for “How to promote an Android app?” from time to time? For more information, you can check our article: How To Prepare IOS/Android App Listing: Best Practices + Templates to get expert tips for your app listing for both platforms.

💡 Pro tips:

Remember to conduct A/B tests for key elements of your app and regularly monitor data to determine which image styles or copy resonate best with your target audience.

7. Make the best out of social media marketing

Organic: Host giveaways and contest

Promoting giveaways is a crucial part of mobile app marketing. Brands can leverage various channels such as social media, email newsletters, and in-app notifications to reach their target audience and encourage participation.

Create leaderboards and run a contest in your app. Tell your audience to complete a certain task online or offline, share the experience, and tag each other on social media with contest- or app-specific hashtags and handles to help raise awareness. There are online services that allow you to create and raffle off prizes for those who share your app, post about it, or complete other tasks. Either way, be sure to publicly reward the winners to show that you appreciate their support.

Paid ads: Run ads on social media

To maximize effectiveness, don’t forget to leverage both organic and paid social promotion channels. Research the best days and times to post based on your target audience’s online activity and behavior. Thus, the ROAS (return on ad spend) rate will be optimized.

Since organic reach typically declines over time, be sure that your posting schedule aligns with your research findings to maximize the visibility and shareability of your posts.

Some platforms that merchants can consider to run ads to push app download

- Facebook Ads: Both sites offer advertising campaigns for any budget. Extensive targeting options and broad reach beyond just the Facebook platform.
- Google AdMob: Ads can be placed either manually, or using Admob’s smart AI feature which automatically detects the best placement for each ad to maximize engagement.

💡 Pro tips:

Create a 30-second video showcasing your app and share it on Instagram, blogs, and YouTube. With 80% of consumers downloading apps after watching a demo video and 73% preferring video for product learning, this approach educates your audience and drives downloads effectively.

8. Apply for app awards

Another super visible element on your app store page is awards.

All the top apps can boast award wins, and they don’t just do it for the glory: these external accolades also provide a ton of press, exposure, reviews, and downloads.

Here are some of the top app awards sites you should check out:

- Appy Awards
- Best App Ever Awards
- The Webby Awards
- AppCircus competition
- Best Mobile App Awards
- Apple Design Awards
- OZApp
- Appster Awards
- Ericsson Application Awards

9. Influencer

Though it costs, influencer marketing is an effective channel to promote your app, boost brand awareness, and drive installs through trusted recommendations.

💡 Pro tips:

- Look for influencers whose content and audience closely match your target demographic/ budget.

- Choose influencers respected by your target audience and willing to advocate for your app.
- Let them try it, provide feedback, and share their excitement with their followers, who can further spread the word.

10. Partner with other businesses

Collaborating with other businesses can be a powerful strategy to promote your mobile app. By forming partnerships with complementary brands, you can leverage their audience to increase visibility and downloads. For example, if you have a gym or a sportswear brand, you can partner with a fitness app.

This approach not only helps you tap into new customer bases but also strengthens your app’s credibility through trusted partnerships.

💡 Pro tips:

- Offer co-branded campaigns, such as exclusive discounts or cross-promotional offers, to incentivize users to download your app.
- Consider integrating your app’s features with your partner’s services (e.g., loyalty rewards for purchases made through their store via your app).
- Feature your app in their newsletters, websites, or social media platforms to reach new audiences.

Conclusion

By implementing these 10 mobile app promotion strategies, you’ll enhance your app’s visibility, user engagement, and download rates. Whether you’re exploring free tactics like social media contests or paid avenues like App Store ads, these tips offer a comprehensive guide on how to market an app and achieve lasting success. Start applying these strategies today to stand out in the crowded mobile app marketplace!

Alexandre Le Content Specialist

“I'm Alexandre Le - a marketer with 5+ years of hands-on experience in the eCommerce industry. I want to use my expertise and personal perspectives to produce insightful blog posts that help online store owners to launch, run, and scale up their businesses successfully.”

Alexandre Le

Content Specialist

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