How to Launch a Mobile App: The Most Effective Pre-Launch Steps

March 4, 2021

Reading time about 5 minutes

Coming up with a unique app idea for your business is simply isn’t enough – the app market is too competitive these days. Considering the time and budget, it is getting harder to stand out among 4.5 million other apps and the investment is large.

Launching your mobile app unprepared results in costly and brand-damaging mistakes. Once you enter the pre-launch phase of your app, you should have a strong and robust marketing plan. It is crucial for mobile app success. Here are 6 best pre-launch steps that you can follow to achieve your goals faster.

  1. Launch a Dedicated Website

Your app must have a website. Build a landing page or a small website that displays information about the app. Websites are easily optimized so you can redirect traffic to the app store. However, ensure your website is clean and appealing so that customers get answers to all their questions that they are looking for. Web push notifications are a smart feature that notifies your user base of when the app is launched. Websites are an incredible way to establish a potential initial user base without much effort.  Your website should have:

  • App logo and slogan
  • Explanation about the features with app screens
  • Social media integration
  • A section to sign up for app notifications
  • App explainer video (if possible)
  • Contact form

Post-launch of the app, you can make a few changes to the website. For instance, add reviews, links of respective app stores to download the app, and a subscription button for users who wish to subscribe to e-mail updates.

  1. Do the Beta Testing

Not necessarily, but it is highly recommended for you to open a beta version of your app. The skilled beta app testers check the complete functionality of the app by taking notes of any bugs, UI/UX-related issues, logical gaps, and also provide the general feedback of the app.

There are many platforms where you can host the beta version of the app, TestFlight, is one of them. Taking the help of beta testers, you can rectify a few bugs and launch a refined version of your app with the target audience.

Do you know, 25% of users abandon apps after one use? Beta app testing is a great way to reduce app abandonment rates. Once you get all beta testing reports, you can ask the development company to fix the issues before publishing the app online.

  1. App-Launch E-mail Blast

Sending an app launch e-mail to your database has a significant impact on your launching. You can offer early-bird discounts and special bonuses for the first ten people who download the app. It is a smart strategy to boost downloads in a short time. In that e-mail, you can focus on a few things like:

  • Catchy Subject Line or Personalized Greetings

According to a recent survey by Campaign Monitor, there are 26% more chances to open the email if it has a customized subject line.

  • Create a Value Proposition

Tell your users why they should care about the app. Be clear about the benefits of downloading the app.

  • A Strong and Actionable CTA

The primary purpose of your app launch email is not just announcement but also to convert through app downloads. A prominent CTA (call to action) will urge users to download your app.

  • A Small Teaser Video of the App

While text explains the features of the app, but high-quality images and videos make it ideal for users to understand it better.

  1. Prepare a Press Kit

Besides email launch, you should create an informative press kit. It should highlight app features and their benefits. A perfect Press Kit consists of an app logo, app description, app screenshots, links to social media channels, and contact information.

  1. App Store Optimization

App store optimization is important for your app to get found even to those who are not necessarily looking for downloading the app. Pre-launch ASO includes deeper insights about the competition and the target audience. In this, you can analyze which keywords will lead to the highest incoming traffic numbers.

  1. Set Up Analytic Tools

Before you launch, setting up analytics tools into the app can help you track the app’s data and provide information to improve the app experience. Some of the best app analytics tools are Flurry, Firebase, App Annie, and much more.

Summary

Following the steps, you will be ready to dive into your app deployment without any distractions and enjoy success in the future. Whether you’ve already launched an app but didn’t witness any traction or if you are still early stages of building an app, consulting a Mobile App Development Company in San Jose is a wise option. Being in the industry for so many years, they can guide you throughout the mobile app development process. They can build a customized checklist based on your business model and tell you what you need to do from ideation to successful deployment.