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Ask HN: What methods and tools can I use to decrease my app churn?

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11–20 of 65 posts

Re: Ask HN: What methods and tools can I use to decrease my app churn?

#12
post #7

Doesn't this statement: >I have a high churn rate (install/uninstall ratio) of about 70-80% Contradict this statement: >I know its an app with a viable market, and has potential. Other suggestions: >I am getting 3-5 free 3 day trial signups You are giving it away for free, charge people up front, then you will know if it really solves a problem they are willing to pay for. That is when you will know you have product…

Well I think I have a retention/engagement problem that I don't know how to troubleshoot. Most of the users who sign up for the free trial stick around and pay. So it's not like I am not seeing any sign ups.

Re: Ask HN: What methods and tools can I use to decrease my app churn?

#13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

yes I have a registration page prior to the main content page. No tutorial animation but I have a button inside the menu. and the emails were not really personalized since I don't have much other than their emails

Maybe try sample content that leads them into registration? You can also try to get them to register after they’ve tried to engage with the content. Users are moser likely to register after they’ve engaged.

This is a good suggestion thanks

Re: Ask HN: What methods and tools can I use to decrease my app churn?

#14
post #7

Doesn't this statement: >I have a high churn rate (install/uninstall ratio) of about 70-80% Contradict this statement: >I know its an app with a viable market, and has potential. Other suggestions: >I am getting 3-5 free 3 day trial signups You are giving it away for free, charge people up front, then you will know if it really solves a problem they are willing to pay for. That is when you will know you have product…

I really like Amplitude

Re: Ask HN: What methods and tools can I use to decrease my app churn?

#15
post #7

Doesn't this statement: >I have a high churn rate (install/uninstall ratio) of about 70-80% Contradict this statement: >I know its an app with a viable market, and has potential. Other suggestions: >I am getting 3-5 free 3 day trial signups You are giving it away for free, charge people up front, then you will know if it really solves a problem they are willing to pay for. That is when you will know you have product…

Mixpanel works great on apps as well..

Re: Ask HN: What methods and tools can I use to decrease my app churn?

#16
post #4

I'd select 10 random users who abandoned the app and offered them $10 in Amazon ecards for 10 minutes on the phone with me. Then, I'd ask them what they had hoped for when they signed up, and what went wrong.

Exactly this. 80% churn means you don’t have an app (yet.) or, you have an app, but you are not positioning it correctly. You have the wrong customers basically.

Re: Ask HN: What methods and tools can I use to decrease my app churn?

#17
post #8

So a few things jumped out at me: 1) It’s going to be a grind and the fact that you increased from 200 actives to 500 actives is a good sign! 2) 10-20% trial signups conversion isn’t terrible until you’ve found the right type of customer you’re targeting. Bigger companies might be getting close to 40% but that is for a product that already has market fit. 3) second other suggestion...email and get in front of your us…

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: What methods and tools can I use to decrease my app churn?

#18
post #5

> Currently my app has a couple of issues with a few crashes a day which I am working to resolve but I don't think that is the culprit. How sure are you about this? Speaking personally, if I installed an app that was otherwise good but crashed that often, I'd likely uninstall it.

Well it obviously has a negative effect but the reports are giving me 10 crashes per day and there are 100 more uninstalls so even if 1 crash = 1 uninstall, why are the other 90 ppl uninstalling...

Re: Ask HN: What methods and tools can I use to decrease my app churn?

#19
1) Create the conversion funnel. EG: clicked ad -> installed app -> registered -> engaged with new user flow -> used product part a -> purchased product part b. What parts should they see and use all broken down. As they progress in the funnel they are more engaged.

2) Fill in all the stats of the conversion funnels. This will give you a baseline to answer: Did my modifications help or make it worse. EG: clicked ad -> installed app will be a %50 drop. installed app -> registered was a 20% drop. Amplitude works fine here.

3) Get a steady stream of users in. Ads, forums, social anything. Just a handful so you can see if you are changing things in 2).

4) Setup user testing. (UXCam 5) This is the hard part. Make some change. See if it changes 2). Changes made in the early part of the funnel will change how many people TRY your app. Changes made in the later portion will change how many people STAY in your app.

6) Do 5) until you give up. Over and over. Then if you can't make 2) better quit.

7) If your cost of user acquisition is less than your profit. Run to a VC as fast as possible and pour gas all over it [or not].

Re: Ask HN: What methods and tools can I use to decrease my app churn?

#20
post #10

During uninstall take them to a page where you very simply and sincerely ask them for feedback. Promise that you will read it and respond to it. Don’t require an email on that form though so they can answer anonymously if they want to.

Great suggestion but from what I've read there really isn't a way to detect uninstall events on Android.
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