So, you’ve created this really cool app, something that people are going to enjoy using. Now, you are trying to earn some money on the back end, and one way to do that is by displaying ads. However, you can’t simply put any old ad in front of people. You need a plan. And that plan is your business plan for in-app mobile ads. Let’s work out just what would make a good one.
First, you must consider the user base for your app. Figure out what they are like, their ages, and their interests. If you fail to take this step, you risk annoying your user base and driving them away. The better you understand your users, the better you can show them ads they may actually care about, which lowers the odds that they get annoyed and stop using your app. For instance, if you have a cooking app, ads for kitchen gadgets or meal delivery services may be a good match.
Then you’ll want to select the appropriate ad formats and decide when and where they will be displayed. Some show up as banners at the top or bottom of the screen. Others are full-screen ads that pop up once you complete a specific activity. Video advertising may appear in front, during, or at the end of the content. Show the ads in such a way that they appear as if they are a part of your app, and choose the formats that are logical for your app structure. For example, for a game, you can show an ad after a level is complete. For a news app, you can display a banner as a person reads an article.
Also, think about where the ads will be on the screen so that they are visible but do not pop out too much. You want to find a medium where users are seeing the ads, but not at the expense of a smooth user experience.
You must consider potential earnings and continually test and optimize your in-app marketing strategy. There are a few different ways in which you are paid to run ads, which are per click (when someone actually taps on the ad), per impression (every time an ad is shown), or per view for video ads. Learn more about these models and analyze how your users engage with each ad format. Monitor not just whether they are clicking but also whether they are watching. Use resources to track the success of your ads and determine what generates the most revenue. Your first ad strategy won’t necessarily work, so you need to continuously experiment with formats, placements, and timing to home in on what works best for your users and your revenue targets.
Creating a sound business strategy around mobile ads on your app is simply about understanding your audience, picking the right ways to show ads, timing them right, knowing how you’re getting paid, and always looking for ways to make things even better. If you play your cards right, you can make money from your app without losing users.