Eye for Travel asked me to share tips on how TripIt succeeded in driving millions of app downloads. I presented this at the Eye for Travel Distribution Conference in Chicago in September 2013.
8 Tips to Get Your Killer App Found_Eye For Travel
1. 8 Tips to Get your Killer App Found
Heather Forsythe
heather@tripit.com
September 23, 2013
Eye For Travel Distribution Summit
2. • 900K apps on the iPhone
app store alone (6/13)
• 71 apps downloaded per
device lifetime
• 41 apps installed on a
given device
• 11 apps downloaded per
year on a device
• 15 apps used regularly
2
There is intense competition for app downloads
3. In 6 years TripIt has grown to 9 million users…
3
4. Looks great, functions well, pleasure to use, intuitive,
minimizes battery drain and data usage, kept fresh with
updates and enhancements…
Tip #1: Most important, create a great app that delights …
and fulfills a need for the user
4
5. Tip #2: Ongoing effective PR has been one off our biggest
drivers of awareness … and downloads
5
6. • Mario Armstrong + CES = Today Show = 250% more mobile downloads
• JD Andrews + Facebook photo of the week = 200% more “likes”
• @ThePointsGuy + #TwitterChat = Trending on Twitter
Influencer engagement adds up…
8. Tip #4: Pay close attention to your
app store listings
8
• Name
• Icon
• Description
• Category
• Ratings (3.5+)
• Being a Featured App or Editor’s
Choice really makes a difference
Signups via Android
9. Tip #5: Identify and Leverage Brand Advocates
to Spread the Word
0-6
7-8
9-10
Suggest improvements
Share video
Share a story
Join Cloud 9
10. Tip #6: TripIt has used PPC for consistent level of
acquisition…but it’s getting more competitive
10
CPA Trend
12. SAMSUNG - distribution
Tip #8: Partnerships and co-marketing (barter!) drive
awareness and downloads
12
CLEAR - barter
13. • Do you want global downloads?
• Which platforms (iOS, Android, other)?
• Launch and app update timing – be aware of what else
is happening then
• Pick multiple categories that suit you (travel and….)
• Pricing – free or paid/subscription
Other things to keep in mind…
13
Even more app downloads (but not everyone who downloads an app signs up and uses it, so we track actual users.
I’m going to show you how we’ve done it – on a very limited budget.
Half sign up online, then download; half download, then sign up.
Travel, tech, and mainstream business, and lifestyle
Traditional media, bloggers, and influencers
Today show – broad reach
Influencers: bloggers, travel writers, tech influencers
Events to meet bloggers and influencers – SXSW, TBEX, PepCom blog posts, video(s), TripIt Chat (we trended).
Meet and foster relationships at events like
TBEX
SXSW
CES
PepCom
Name:
Should relate to what the product does
Easy to remember and pronounce
Keep within Google, Android character limits, or it will be cut off
Unique
Can you get the url and social handles for that name?
Test names with your target
Icon
Simple, few colors, easy to spot – even in a folder
Description:
Screen shots
Search-optimized; maximize keywords
Endorsements and awards
Video (Android)
Zuberance is a brand advocacy program that provides a platform to identify and energize our most enthusiastic customers.
PPC used for consistent level of acquisition…but getting more competitive