Mobile App Monetization
Tips & Mistakes
Lessons learned so far…
What we do?
Monetizing mobile apps with surveys
Drag & drop – 1 line of code
Less than 2min integration
One permission in manifest file
Monetizing mobile apps with surveys
No space in app’s UI (overlay)
Minimal intrusion
Users engage with the survey within the app
Users win gifts (Happy users)
Lives well with other ad networks
(supplementary source of revenue)
High payouts (up to 20x more than ads)
Insights panel
Learn about your users
Internal surveys
Talk to your users
Running on over 100,000,000 all over the worLD, We still learn every day…
Mobile App Monetization
Understanding how the ecosystem works
The two types of mobile app users
1) App users that are willing to pay (even 1 cent)
2) App users that are not willing to pay (anything ever)
The two different revenue models for an app
1) App user pays
2) Mobile Monetization Network pays
Mobile App Monetization
Several different models out there
Paid
Freemium
In-App Advertising
Paidmium
Dynamic
Mobile App Monetization
Identifying the right business model for an app is crucial for its success
“Freemium and In-App Advertising expand their massive lead over other app business models”
*App Annie  IDC: Mobile Advertising and Monetization 2013 - 2018
Mobile App Monetization
Usage
Free trial
Functionality
User experience
Combination
Lots of freemium techniques out there
Mobile App Monetization
Banner Ads
Interstitial Ads
Video Ads
Offer walls
Native Ads
Surveys
Lock Screen Ads
Incentivized Ads
Plenty of Mobile Advertising models
Mobile App Monetization
Which ad format delivers the most revenue to developers?
Publishers making at least $100K per month from in-app advertising more frequently reported that video
ads or offer walls generated higher revenue volume than other ad formats
*Source: App Annie Survey March 2015 (n = 1642)
Mobile App Monetization
Revenue composition across different markets
One size does not fit all – Each market is different
*In-app advertising across all app stores; app store revenue across iOS App Store and Google Play
Source: App Annie  IDC
Mobile App Monetization
64%of Android developers are below the “app poverty line” of $500per app per month
24%of developers interested in making money earn nothing at all
A further 23%make less than $100per app per month
*Developer Economics Q3 2014: State of the Developer Nation - VisionMobile
Developer Survey 2015
Survey participation:
5,000 mobile users from 132 countries.
Both Android and iOS users.
Survey language:
English, Greek, Spanish, Arabic, Polish
Survey time period:
13/2/15 – 17/2/15
Digging into the perceptions and preferences of mobile users
App Monetization Mistakes  Tips #1
Do not try to monetize too soon. Bring excitement, engagement and then monetization
Not focusing on the on-boarding experience
We have seen that...
the bad way
Churn rate 82% 13% growth of UMAU
the good way
App Monetization Mistakes  Tips #2
Plan a monetization strategy and integrate within your app’s flow
and UI design before building your app.
We have seen that...
the bad way
Completion rate 0.3%
IN 1 MONTH OUT OF GP
Completion rate 28.0%
the good way
App Monetization Mistakes  Tips #3
Positioning, timing, frequency, variety and mood of the user when ad is shown - really matters!
Do not make them wait
Do not make them hit accidentally
We have seen that...
the bad way
Completion rate 0.1% Completion rate 22%
the good way
App Monetization Mistakes  Tips #4
• User impatience can be monetized
• Thrive in exclusiveness and uniqueness
Monetize upon scarcity
We have seen that...
the bad way the good way
App Monetization Mistakes  Tips #5
• Build a community
• Implement the right social components
• Monetize upon social competitiveness and acknowledgement
Make your app social
We have seen that...
the bad way the good way
App Monetization Mistakes  Tips #6
Who are your users? How do they use your app? Monitor app and user behavior.
We have seen that...
the bad way
More women - new content
the good way
App Monetization Mistakes  Tips #7
It’s not about downloads. It’s about users!
Launch on a selected target group. Invest in retention rather than acquisition
We have seen that...
the bad way the good way
App Monetization Mistakes  Tips #8
Each platform is different.
Same as app store... Same as device… Same as user...
We have seen that...
focus on device focus on user
App Monetization Mistakes  Tips #9
No app is dead. It is just abandoned.
Don’t be static and outdated. Evolve!
We have seen that...
the bad way the good way
App Monetization Mistakes  Tips #10
Be patient.
Treat users as your clients.
A short session app can be monetized too.
We have seen that...
SHORT SESSION APP INVESTING IN THE LONG TERM
App Monetization Mistakes  Tips #11
Diversify, target differently.
Combine formats.
Set revenue targets. Will make you focus to improve performance.
We have seen that...
the bad way the good way
App Monetization Mistakes  Tips #12
Choose the right Ad Network.
Respect policies. Combine, use mediation.
Update to new SDK formats. User Experience.
We have seen that...
NETWORKS EVOLVE TOO, STAY UP TO DATE
Thank you.
andreas@pollfish.com
@vourkosa
Pollfish
developers survey
www.pollfish.com/infographic/developer
Survey participation:
5,000 mobile users from 132 countries.
Both Android and iOS users.
Survey language:
English, Greek, Spanish, Arabic, Polish
Survey time period:
13/2/15 – 17/2/15
Mobile App Monetization Mistakes and Tips
Mobile App Monetization Mistakes and Tips
Mobile App Monetization Mistakes and Tips
Mobile App Monetization Mistakes and Tips
Mobile App Monetization Mistakes and Tips

Mobile App Monetization Mistakes and Tips

  • 1.
    Mobile App Monetization Tips& Mistakes Lessons learned so far…
  • 2.
    What we do? Monetizingmobile apps with surveys Drag & drop – 1 line of code Less than 2min integration One permission in manifest file
  • 3.
    Monetizing mobile appswith surveys No space in app’s UI (overlay) Minimal intrusion Users engage with the survey within the app Users win gifts (Happy users) Lives well with other ad networks (supplementary source of revenue) High payouts (up to 20x more than ads) Insights panel Learn about your users Internal surveys Talk to your users Running on over 100,000,000 all over the worLD, We still learn every day…
  • 4.
    Mobile App Monetization Understandinghow the ecosystem works The two types of mobile app users 1) App users that are willing to pay (even 1 cent) 2) App users that are not willing to pay (anything ever) The two different revenue models for an app 1) App user pays 2) Mobile Monetization Network pays
  • 5.
    Mobile App Monetization Severaldifferent models out there Paid Freemium In-App Advertising Paidmium Dynamic
  • 6.
    Mobile App Monetization Identifyingthe right business model for an app is crucial for its success “Freemium and In-App Advertising expand their massive lead over other app business models” *App Annie IDC: Mobile Advertising and Monetization 2013 - 2018
  • 7.
    Mobile App Monetization Usage Freetrial Functionality User experience Combination Lots of freemium techniques out there
  • 8.
    Mobile App Monetization BannerAds Interstitial Ads Video Ads Offer walls Native Ads Surveys Lock Screen Ads Incentivized Ads Plenty of Mobile Advertising models
  • 9.
    Mobile App Monetization Whichad format delivers the most revenue to developers? Publishers making at least $100K per month from in-app advertising more frequently reported that video ads or offer walls generated higher revenue volume than other ad formats *Source: App Annie Survey March 2015 (n = 1642)
  • 10.
    Mobile App Monetization Revenuecomposition across different markets One size does not fit all – Each market is different *In-app advertising across all app stores; app store revenue across iOS App Store and Google Play Source: App Annie IDC
  • 11.
    Mobile App Monetization 64%ofAndroid developers are below the “app poverty line” of $500per app per month 24%of developers interested in making money earn nothing at all A further 23%make less than $100per app per month *Developer Economics Q3 2014: State of the Developer Nation - VisionMobile
  • 12.
    Developer Survey 2015 Surveyparticipation: 5,000 mobile users from 132 countries. Both Android and iOS users. Survey language: English, Greek, Spanish, Arabic, Polish Survey time period: 13/2/15 – 17/2/15 Digging into the perceptions and preferences of mobile users
  • 13.
    App Monetization Mistakes Tips #1 Do not try to monetize too soon. Bring excitement, engagement and then monetization Not focusing on the on-boarding experience
  • 14.
    We have seenthat... the bad way Churn rate 82% 13% growth of UMAU the good way
  • 15.
    App Monetization Mistakes Tips #2 Plan a monetization strategy and integrate within your app’s flow and UI design before building your app.
  • 16.
    We have seenthat... the bad way Completion rate 0.3% IN 1 MONTH OUT OF GP Completion rate 28.0% the good way
  • 17.
    App Monetization Mistakes Tips #3 Positioning, timing, frequency, variety and mood of the user when ad is shown - really matters! Do not make them wait Do not make them hit accidentally
  • 18.
    We have seenthat... the bad way Completion rate 0.1% Completion rate 22% the good way
  • 19.
    App Monetization Mistakes Tips #4 • User impatience can be monetized • Thrive in exclusiveness and uniqueness Monetize upon scarcity
  • 20.
    We have seenthat... the bad way the good way
  • 21.
    App Monetization Mistakes Tips #5 • Build a community • Implement the right social components • Monetize upon social competitiveness and acknowledgement Make your app social
  • 22.
    We have seenthat... the bad way the good way
  • 23.
    App Monetization Mistakes Tips #6 Who are your users? How do they use your app? Monitor app and user behavior.
  • 24.
    We have seenthat... the bad way More women - new content the good way
  • 25.
    App Monetization Mistakes Tips #7 It’s not about downloads. It’s about users! Launch on a selected target group. Invest in retention rather than acquisition
  • 26.
    We have seenthat... the bad way the good way
  • 27.
    App Monetization Mistakes Tips #8 Each platform is different. Same as app store... Same as device… Same as user...
  • 28.
    We have seenthat... focus on device focus on user
  • 29.
    App Monetization Mistakes Tips #9 No app is dead. It is just abandoned. Don’t be static and outdated. Evolve!
  • 30.
    We have seenthat... the bad way the good way
  • 31.
    App Monetization Mistakes Tips #10 Be patient. Treat users as your clients. A short session app can be monetized too.
  • 32.
    We have seenthat... SHORT SESSION APP INVESTING IN THE LONG TERM
  • 33.
    App Monetization Mistakes Tips #11 Diversify, target differently. Combine formats. Set revenue targets. Will make you focus to improve performance.
  • 34.
    We have seenthat... the bad way the good way
  • 35.
    App Monetization Mistakes Tips #12 Choose the right Ad Network. Respect policies. Combine, use mediation. Update to new SDK formats. User Experience.
  • 36.
    We have seenthat... NETWORKS EVOLVE TOO, STAY UP TO DATE
  • 37.
  • 38.
    Pollfish developers survey www.pollfish.com/infographic/developer Survey participation: 5,000mobile users from 132 countries. Both Android and iOS users. Survey language: English, Greek, Spanish, Arabic, Polish Survey time period: 13/2/15 – 17/2/15