How to Increase iOS App Downloads

When the iOS app store launched in 2008, 500 apps were available. And today? About 2.22 million different apps are available to download. (Android users can choose from even more: There’s about 3.48 million apps on the Google Play Store.)

The market for apps is about as big as they come. “In 2018, global mobile app revenues amounted to over 365 billion U.S. dollars. In 2023, mobile apps are projected to generate more than 935 billion U.S. dollars in revenues via paid downloads and in-app advertising.”

It makes sense with the number of connected mobile devices worldwide. There are now more than there are people (7.94 billion) — in 2021, the number stands at almost 15 billion, up from just over 14 billion in the previous year. By 2025, that number is expected to reach 18.22 billion. “These devices are approaching ubiquity in advanced economies, among which median penetration levels stand at 76% of adults. In South Korea, a stunning 95% of adults own a smartphone.”

You can probably tell where we’re headed: There is both a huge opportunity in creating apps, as well as quite the competition. What is the most effective way to increase iOS downloads? There's nothing more stifling to growth (or discouraging) than when no one is interacting or engaging with your new application. In this article, we'll highlight the most effective methods for increasing iOS app downloads.

How to Generate More iOS App Downloads 

Sarah Perez writes for TechCrunch: “Apps aren’t just a way to pass idle hours — they’re also a big business. In 2019, mobile-first companies had a combined $544 billion valuation, 6.5x higher than those without a mobile focus. In 2020, investors poured $73 billion in capital into mobile companies — a figure that’s up 27% year-over-year.”

Generating iOS app downloads is crucial: Your app won’t succeed without ‘em.

1. Commit to Expert App Store Optimization

You've heard of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), but have you heard of App Store Optimization (ASO)?

“App store optimization is the process of optimizing mobile apps to rank higher in an app store’s search results. The higher your app ranks in an app store’s search results, the more visible it is to potential customers.” 

Here are some ASO factors to pay attention to:

• App name and title
• Keywords
• Description
• Subtitle
• Total number of downloads
• Ratings and reviews

“According to Google, 40 percent of apps are discovered through app store searches. This makes search in the app store the most used method for discovering and downloading new apps.”

2. Create a Simple Landing Page

Make a simple landing page with a clear introduction of your unique application. In most cases, a simple sentence or two should suffice. Be sure to include plenty of great visuals so prospects know what your app looks like before even clicking ‘download’.

“Because this is the first contact between your brand and a potential customer, the landing page for the mobile app must be crystal clear about what problem your app solves. This may be your only chance to convince visitors to try it. And first impressions count.” Read more here to learn about the various elements of an effective landing page.

3. Build a Demo Video

100+ million people watch online video each day — and 64% of website visitors are more likely to buy a product if they’ve seen a video about it first.

“Demos are helpful for making onboarding seamless by quickly educating users and familiarizing them with the UI. Whether you have a video of next steps for users to take or an animated gif depicting the app’s functionality within the mobile browser, app demos will help users quickly reach the ‘aha moment’ within your app.”

Your app demo video should be short and to the point. Check out this guide for more info.

4. Add Spatial Audio

You might have heard about spatial audio in the past year from Apple, Netflix, or Clubhouse — simply put, it’s becoming table stakes. “Spatial audio recreates the way we hear sound in real life. There is a ton of cool research about how it helps people not only feel more immersed in natural conversations virtually, but also actually decreases cognitive load (goodbye, Zoom fatigue), while improving speech intelligibility, too.”

Clubhouse’s Head of Streaming, Justin Uberti, explains why the social audio app with 10+ million weekly active users chose to implement spatial audio via High Fidelity’s Local Spatializer: “Your mind has to figure out who’s talking. Without spatial cues you have to use timbre… that requires more cognitive effort. [Spatial audio] could actually make for a more enjoyable experience aside from more immersion.”

Check out spatial audio in action:

Spatial audio improves a ton of applications beyond social audio platforms, too. Think of virtual events with networking that actually feels like you’re in the same room as people. Or how about videoconferencing?

And with the Local Spatializer, it’s possible to easily implement spatial audio now, too: It’s the perfect solution for native apps (like Clubhouse!). Learn more here.

5. Analyze and Measure

Use data and insights (session length, retention, etc.) to optimize your in-app experience, and by association, appeal on the app store.

Additionally, you might consider investing in user research to better understand why customers were inclined to or not inclined to download your app. Consider the following:

• Why did you download the app?
• What do you like about the app? What do you dislike?
• What were some considerations you made prior to downloading?

And there you have it: How to increase your iOS app downloads. The market for mobile apps is clearly not going anywhere, and the figures are growing every year. Make your app stand out.