Do you remember the time when everybody started making those dance challenge videos? You initially had no idea what was going on.
Yep, that was TikTok. And if you didn’t download it at the start of it becoming a viral sensation, it felt as if you were having FOMO. It probably felt like you weren’t in on a joke that millions of people were.
But did TikTok go viral accidentally? Was it luck? Well, we can’t say for sure about the luck part. It was definitely Tiktok’s smart and aggressive mobile app promotion strategies. From the influencer campaigns, music collaborations, and catchy video content, they had cracked the code for new app advertising.
They didn’t just create an app and pray that people around the world download it. Instead, they made sure that people saw, used, and shared it.
So, what’s stopping your app from becoming a global app sensation like TikTok?
If you have built a fantastic app, but only 57 people have downloaded it. The problem might not be in the app itself but rather a lack of mobile app promotion strategies. But don’t worry because we have got you covered.
In this guide, we will show you how to promote your app with 10 smart and best ways to promote an app. It’s completely fine if you’re a newbie at marketing your app. Because after reading this guide, you will have a range of different methods to market your app. So, without further ado, let’s get into it!
Before You Promote: Is Your App Ready?
Prior to applying these app promotion strategies, you have to make sure that if your app is even ready. If your app is broken or confusing for the users. It will hurt your brand’s reputation regardless of how good the app promotion is.
So here’s a quick checklist that you must go through to make sure that your app is ready for launch:
- Simple sign-up and onboarding
- Clear and user-friendly design
- High-quality screenshots and app icon
- Main features working smoothly
- No bugs or accidental crashes
- Fast loading (under 3 seconds)
First impressions matter! Yes, even when it comes to apps. It can quite literally make or break your app’s future success. For instance, if your app is slow or lagging, most people won’t give it a second chance.
Did you know that 88% of users say they’ll stop using an app if it crashes just twice? In fact, 86% will delete it if signing up is too hard. That’s why a smooth and fast app is important to keep the user happy and retain them.
Pro Tip: Ask 10-15 people outside your team or friend circle to use your app. Their unbiased opinions will be gold!
So, What is App Promotion and How to Promote Your App?
Basically, app promotion is simply getting your app in front of people. It also includes making sure that they want to download and use it. The app promotion strategies range from social media, ads, influencers, SEO, email marketing, user reviews, and whatnot.
You can promote an app using:
- Organic methods (free): email marketing, blogs, content, social media
- Paid methods: ads, sponsored content, influencer deals
The goal isn’t just to get installs. It’s to get the right users who stay, engage, and love your app.
Why Does App Promotion Matter?
You might believe that your app is great. And that may be true. But if no one hears or sees it, how will it get downloaded?
There are 3.5 million apps on Google Play and over 1.6 million apps on the App Store. The competition is brutal. In that case, you don’t need just luck. Your app needs a promotion plan.
A good app promotion will:
- Get yourself found in crowded app stores
- Bring in users who are actually interested
- Boost downloads and rankings
- Increase sales
- Keep app users coming back
What Are the 10 Best Ways to Promote Your App?
So are you ready to take your hidden app to people’s homescreen fav? Here are some beginner-friendly best ways to promote an app that really work in 2025.
From email marketing to influencers, these tips are clear and smart. They are sure to skyrocket your app downloads:
1. Know Your Audience Before You Launch
Before you start spending money on influencers or ads, you must know your target audience. This means that the users who you want to download your app. When you really understand your audience’s habits, their pain points and needs, you are more likely to fulfill them better. For, instance, TikTok reached their Gen Z audience by targeting dance trends and challenges.
- Make 1–2 sample users (age, interests, daily habits)
- Ask what problems your app can solve for them
- Find where they spend time online (YouTube, Instagram, forums)
- Knowing your audience helps you promote your app the right way
For, instance, TikTok reached their Gen Z audience by targeting dance trends and challenges.
2. Use Your App Store Optimization (ASO)
The app store page of your app is like a personal digital store. If this store doesn’t look good, people wont download it. That’s where App Store Optimization (ASO) comes to the rescue! It means making your app easy to find and trust. You can do this by:
- Add keywords (important words people search) in your title and description
- Use clear, high-quality screenshots and a short demo video
- Ask happy users to leave reviews and ratings
Apps like Duolingo do this well. They use fun pictures, clear words, and a short video to show what the app does.
3. Build a Great App Landing Page
Having a website for your app shows the credibility of your app. It also helps with SEO as your app’s landing page. Even a very simple landing page helps your users learn about your app and why they need it. It must include:
- Clear CTA buttons and app store links
- Testimonials, app features, and contact info
- Keywords so your page shows up in Google search
For example, the Calm app, which won Apple’s “App of the Year” in 2017. It had a very minimal and relaxing website that matched its meditation vibe.
4. Use Social Media the Smart Way
Using social media for your app is a smart move. When you have understood on which social your audience spend most of their time, you can meet them there. You dont just post randomly, instead you post to make them aware, engage and entertain:
- Share behind-the-scenes, quick tips, or user stories.
- Join trends like Reels, TikTok sounds, or challenges.
- Respond to comments and foster a loyal community
Temu, the online marketplace, is also becoming popular for its branding on all major social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok.
5. Use Influencer Marketing for App Promotion
People trust other people. Influencers can help your app feel trustworthy and more personal. Especially influencer who have a niche following. You can:
- Find influencers your users already follow
- Give them early access and let them be authentic
- Offer giveaways or discount codes to track results
A great example of influencer marketing in tech would be by Samsung. They have collaborated with Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) who is a famous tech influencer with 20 million subscribers. He is known for his Samsung Galaxy device unboxings and reviews on YouTube.
6. Leverage Email Marketing
Sending emails for your app are a great way to remind and engage your audience. They are pretty direct, can be customized and is beneficial for building long-term and loyal customers.
- Build a list via your landing page or app sign-up.
- Send weekly or monthly updates with tips or offers.
- Personalize messages based on user behavior.
Although email marketing would work for almost any app. One email marketing strategy that stands out is for Foodpanda. It sends regular emails regarding food deals, late-night food deals, and funny situational emails linked to food with a humorous CTA.
7. Create a Demo or Promo Video
People’s attention span has decreased so much in recent years. Now, they just want a short tutorial on how your app really works. Therefore, a short video that shows how your app works, its key features, and benefits is a smart way to marketing your app.
- Keep it under 90 seconds and show real use cases.
- Add music, captions, and user testimonials.
- Share the video on social media, your site, and app store.
For instance, Slack. It uses short and friendly videos showing how the app helps teams work better. It focuses on real-life problems, like too many emails or slow communication.
8. Use Push Notifications Wisely
The aim of push notification is to keep your app on the top of mind. But this can go wrong very quickly if you send too many notifications. So, keeping a good balance is necessary:
- Remind users about discounts or cart items.
- Use personalization (like name or behavior).
- Keep messages short and spaced out.
Zomato, another food delivery app in India is famous for its humorous and funny notifications for its app users.
9. Run Paid Ads (If You Can)
Paid ads is also an amazing way to target your exact audience. You can target them based on age, income, interest, location and much more. Its a little on the expensive side but its a sure-shot way to advertise your app to your intended audience.
- Use Meta Ads, Google UAC, or TikTok Ads.
- Test multiple images, captions, and CTA buttons.
- Track installs and adjust based on performance.
Candy Crush, the fun candy game app crossed $20 billion in lifetime revenue in 2024. It became famous by using Facebook ads to reach the right people. They showed fun, colorful game previews to get users to download and play.
10. Track, Learn, and Make It Better
You can’t possibly improve your app if you don’t even know what’s working and what’s not working. So, in that case, Data helps you see what users like, what they ignore, and where they get stuck. To use data for your app’s development:
- Use tools like Firebase, Mixpanel, or App Annie
- Track installs, user activity, and how often people come back
- Make changes based on real user behavior and test what works
Spotify uses data to test new features and make the app better for its users. It also helps them suggest music that people actually want to hear, considering their playlist and searches.
Promote Your App the Smart Way
Creating a fantastic is just one piece of the puzzle. When you know how to promote your app, this is what will get you noticed. With so many apps out there, smart mobile app promotion is what will make you standout. This will increase your downloads while keeping your users happy.
So whether you choose to run paid ads, use niche influencers, or go organic, a well-informed app strategy makes all the difference.
Do you need help in building a successful app in 2025? Linkitsoft creates high-quality and user-friendly mobile apps that guarantee downloads.
Start now and make your dream app a reality!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is app promotion?
App promotion is just informing people about your app. This way, they can find it, download it, and use it. It uses app promotion strategies like ads, social media posts, influencer collabs, and more.
How to promote your mobile app?
There are a plethora of ways to advertise your app. You can advertise your mobile app by using social media, running ads, working with influencers, sending emails, or even making short promo videos. The end goal is simply to get more people to see and download your app.
How to market a new app?
For a new app, you must start by knowing who your app is for. Meaning, who is your target user. Then use things like a simple and theme-relevant website, demo video, social media, and app store optimization (ASO) to advertise your app and increase the number of downloads
How to advertise a mobile app?
You can advertise your mobile app in two major ways: organically (for free) or with paid ads. Organic methods include using social media, SEO, blog posts, and email marketing to promote your app. On the contrary, paid methods include running ads on platforms like Google, Facebook, or TikTok to reach the right audience quickly. Both can work, but it depends on your goals and budget.
What are the best ways for Android app promotion?
Some of the best ways to promote an Android app includes using Google Play ASO, social media marketing, influencer campaigns, and running targeted Google ads.