How to play with free channels - bringing in 300,000 users in three months

When a new APP product enters the market, how to quickly accumulate its first batch of seed users in a short period of time is a question that every operator is thinking about. This is also what I have been doing. Today I would like to use my own experience in the projects I have worked on to share with you how we accumulated 300,000 users for a product in just three months.

In November 2016 , I joined the project team I’m currently working in. The project name is [One-click Generation]. I was the second employee to join the operation department. I was recruited by Zhao Jixing, the former operation director of One-click Generation (he has experienced the pioneering stages of many startups and has unique insights into channel mining and brand operations. Friends who are interested can add his WeChat ID : zhaojixinghaha )

In November 2016 , our registered users were less than 1 million. We began to customize promotion strategies and methods . After three months of hard work, by the end of January 2017 , the number of users brought in through our free channels had increased by 300,000 . Currently, the total number of our product users has exceeded 1.8 million.

Our promotion method is not complicated. To put it simply, we focus on the application market , use media reports , evaluation platforms, and KOL cooperation as the outbreak points, and work together through different methods and multiple channels to achieve the effect of product exposure.

Let’s start with the application market. I won’t say much about the importance of the application market.

There are many activities in the app market, and I have roughly classified them into five categories:

1. New product recommendation (applicable to new applications launched less than 6 months ago). There are 6 mainstream channels for application:

① 360 Mobile Assistant – New Product Recommendations

 http://dev.360.cn/html/zhuanti/pgyindex.html

②Tencent App Store – Excellent new applications

 http://wiki.open.qq.com/wiki/Excellent New Application Rules #3._.E6.8A.A5.E5.90.8D.E6.A0.87.E5.87.86?|imageMogr2/str ip /interlace/1/quality/85/format/86?|imageMogr2/strip/interlace/1/quality/85/format/86

③Ali Application Distribution Open Platform – Dream Seed Plan

 http://aliapp.open.uc.cn/plan/seed/act

④Lenovo Music Store – New Product Recommendations

 http://open.lenovo.com/developer/gotoRecommend.jspx

⑤Meizu App Market – New product self-recommendation

http://open-wiki.flyme.cn/index.php?title=%E6%96%B0%E5%93%81%E8%87%AA%E8%8D%90

⑥Sogou App Market – Sogou Good Apps

 http://zhushou.sogou.com/open/content/goodapp.html

The effect of the new product recommendation activity is average. [One-click Generation] has participated in new product recommendation activities on three channels: 360 Hand Assistant, Meizu App Market, and Sogou App Market. In the month after participating, each of the three platforms increased the number of download users by about 2,000 . Although there is a certain effect, the effect is not obvious.

2. First-release cooperation (when the product has version iteration, you can apply for first-release cooperation). Most platforms can conduct first release:

① Tencent App Store – Excellent new applications

 http://wiki.open.qq.com/wiki/Excellent New Application Rules #3._.E6.8A.A5.E5.90.8D.E6.A0.87.E5.87.86?|imageMogr2/strip/interlace/1/quality/85/format/86?|imageMogr2/strip/interlace/1/quality/85/format/86

② Xiaomi Open Platform – First Launch Cooperation

 http://dev.xiaomi.com/docs/appsmarket/distribution/first_release/

③Meizu Open Platform – Application First Release

http://open-wiki.flyme.cn/index.php?title=%E5%BA%94%E7%94%A8%E9%A6%96%E5%8F%91

④Ali Application Platform – Application First Release

 http://aliapp.open.uc.cn/plan/first/act

⑤ OPPO Mobile Assistant – First Release Application

 http: //open.oppo mobile.com/app/starter

⑥Anzhi Market – Initial launch application ( requirement: download volume > 100,000 )

 http://dev.anzhi.com/help.php?type=help&id=66

⑦ Baidu Mobile Assistant – First Launch Cooperation

 http://app.baidu.com/docs?id=10&frompos=401022

⑧ Huawei AppGallery – First Release Application

 http://developer.huawei.com/consumer/cn/wiki/index.php?title=First Release Application Operation Process

⑨Gionee Easy Exchange – Initial Public Offering Application

 http://open.appgionee.com/cp/manage/service/appStarterApply

⑩Lenovo Music Store – First Release Application

 http://open.lenovo.com/developer/appApply.jspx

Xiaomi’s first launch platform has the best effect, but the apk package needs to be submitted 7 days in advance, and the review is relatively strict. But if the review is passed, you can get a recommended position display for 3-5 days. [One-click generation] Version 3.1 was first released by Xiaomi. Two months after the launch, Xiaomi Store brought nearly 50,000 users to our product.

The second is Tencent App Store. For ordinary first releases, basically as long as you submit it, it will be approved. But if the product has a major update and is good enough, there is a chance to be recommended on the homepage. [One-click generation] Version 5.0 was first recommended on the homepage of Tencent App Store and attracted more than 10,000 users in the first 5 days. Within one month after the first release, it brought in more than 50,000 downloads

3. For special events, there are also 6 mainstream channels for application:

① OPPO application platform – the most beautiful application

 http://open.oppomobile.com/app/beauty?|imageMogr2/strip/interlace/1/quality/85/format/

②Ali Application Platform – Special Topic Self-recommendation

 http://aliapp.open.uc.cn/wiki/?p=516#shbz

③ Huawei AppGallery – Enlightenment Program (temporarily suspended)

http://developer.huawei.com/consumer/cn/devunion/ui/activity/futureActivity.html?activityID=511&template=1&type=1

④ Gionee Easy Exchange – Special Topic Application (Special Topic Updated from time to time)

 http://open.appgionee.com/cp/manage/service/specialApply

⑤Lenovo Music Store – Application for topic inclusion (platform topic, self-recommended topic inclusion application, self-recommended topic creation)

 http://open.lenovo.com/developer/applyTopic.jspx

⑥Sogou Mobile Assistant – Special Event (Apply within the forum)

 http://bbs.zhushou.sogou.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=2624002&extra=page%3D1

The effect of the Sogou Mobile Assistant activity was average. After about a month of being online, the activity brought in about 1,000 users.

OPPO 's most beautiful applications performed the best in the special event, and of course the quality requirements for the products were also very high.

The advantage of Huawei App Market’s special events is their long event cycle. [One-click Generation] has participated in Huawei's [See You on Monday] and [Enlightenment Plan] activities, with a cycle of 2 months. In total, we have brought about 70,000 users.

4. For official version application (adding official logo), there are still 6 mainstream media that can apply:

① 360 Mobile Assistant – Official version http://dev.360.cn/mod3/mobileapp/?qid=2723359194&appid=203142586

②Baidu Mobile Assistant – Official Certification http://app.baidu.com/apps/appdetail/7102376?frompos=500074#

③Gionee Easy Exchange – Official Logo Application http://open.appgionee.com/cp/manage/service/appAuthenticationApply

④LeTV Mobile Assistant – Official Certification http://open.le.com/guide/?page_id=1990

⑤Sogou Mobile Assistant – Official Certification http://zhushou.sogou.com/open/user/app/index.html

⑥Tencent App Store – Official Label http://wiki.open.qq.com/wiki/mobile/Official label application process specification #2._.E7.94.B3.E8.AF.B7.E8.A7.84.E5.88.99

The application of the official version is mainly to improve the user experience and play a certain auxiliary role in bringing in users.

It is not difficult to apply for the official version of each platform. You only need to submit your qualifications as required.

5. Apply for welfare activities (need to provide coupons or physical prizes). I have sorted out 15 activities on various platforms:

① 360 Mobile Assistant – Welfare Zone http://dev.360.cn/pr icode /list#?|imageMogr2/strip/interlace/1/quality/85/format/

② OPPO App Market – Activity Recommendation http://open.oppomobile.com/app/activity

③Ali App – Welfare Zone http://aliapp.open.uc.cn/plan/prize/act

④Anzhi Market – Release Gift Package http://dev.anzhi.com/help.php?type=help&id=71

⑤ Baidu Mobile Assistant – Publish offers http://app.baidu.com/docs?id=806

⑥ Baidu Mobile Assistant – Saturday 9 o’clock http://app.baidu.com/index/act/2?frompos=300053

⑦ Baidu Mobile Assistant – Application Show http://app.baidu.com/task/applist?frompos=720201

⑧Gionee Easy Exchange – Activity Application http://open.appgionee.com/cp/manage/service/appActivityApply

⑨Gionee Easy-to-use Exchange – Wonderful Interior Space http://open.appgionee.com/cp/manage/service/wonderfulContent

⑩LeTV App Store – Privileged Benefits Activities http://open.letv.com/guide/?page_id=1994

⑪Lenovo Music Store – Welfare Release http://open.lenovo.com/developer/gotoWelfarePublish.jspx

⑫Tencent App Store – Gift Package Privileges

http://wiki.open.qq.com/wiki/%E7%A4%BC%E5%8C%85%E7%89%B9%E6%9D%83

⑬Sogou App Market – Gift Pack & Event Application http://zhushou.sogou.com/open/content/activity.html

⑭Tencent App Store – Promotions

http://op.open.qq.com/mobile_appinfov2/ability?type=preferential&appid=1105525384

⑮Meizu App Market – Welfare Promotion

http://open-wiki.flyme.cn/index.php?title=%E7%A6%8F%E5%88%A9%E6%8E%A8%E5%B9%BF

The above 5 methods are introduced to you for playing various activities in the Android App Market . The better the prizes of the welfare activity, the more attractive the activity is, and the better the effect will be. (If there are any shortcomings, you are welcome to point them out. My contact information will be at the end of the article.) In addition to the application market, there are some other ways to play, and the effects are also very good.

1. Media coverage

For example, when our products have major updates, or the company has financing updates, or the founders have entrepreneurial experiences, we will apply for coverage on some media websites. I have compiled 11 relatively good media outlets.

① Tiger Sniff https://www.huxiu.com

② Love Fan http://www.ifanr.com/?|imageMogr2/strip/interlace/1/quality/85/format/com

③Yiou.com http://www.iyiou.com/hezuo

④ iDark Horse http://www.iheima.com/user/seek-report

⑤ Pintu.com http://www.pintu360.com/seekReport.html

⑥ Maker 100 http://www.100tmt.com/project/story

⑦Titanium Media http://www.tmtpost.com/report

⑧ Hydrogen Network http://www.iamqing.cn/xqbd/

⑨ New Buds http://newseed.pedaily.cn/project/create/0

⑩ Pencil Road https://www.pencilnews.cn/

⑪ Lieyun.com http://www.lieyunwang.com/

【One-click generation】Has won awards from iFanr, Yiou.com, Maker 100 , Pencil Road, and Lieyun.com These five media outlets conducted six exclusive interviews and reports . Among them, Lieyun.com reported on us twice. The effect of each report is very good. On the day of iFanr’s report, more than 7,000 users downloaded the app; on the day of Yiou.com’s report, more than 5,000 users downloaded the app. Between December 2016 and January 2017 , we have brought in more than 50,000 users through media reports.

2. Evaluation platform

If your product is good, in addition to media reporting platforms, you must not miss out on some review platforms.

① The most beautiful application http://zuimeia.com/?|imageMogr2/strip/interlace/1/quality/85/format/com

② Digital tail http://app.dgtle.com/

③ 36kr http://next.36kr.com/posts

④ Love butt http://www.appnz.com

⑤ Minority http://sspai.com/

In November 2016 , [One-click Generation] was recommended as the most beautiful application. Within one month after the recommendation , it brought us more than 20,000 download users. The effect is quite ideal.

3. KOL cooperation

Except for welfare activities, which may require certain expenses to support, other activities are free. Of course, there are more ways to use free channels. We can also find industry bigwigs and KOLs to send WeChat tweets on our behalf. It can be either self-media or personal account. You need to negotiate the fees yourself. The first KOL we found, Qiuye PPT , helped us promote the product for free . The effect is also very good, one promotion brought 4000+ downloads.

Disadvantages: Finding KOLs requires a certain amount of time and effort, and the results are not necessarily guaranteed.

Advantages: High-quality KOLs have highly loyal fans, and their tweets can quickly convert into user downloads for you.

The above are some channel gameplays that I sorted out in the [One-click Generation] project. I hope it can be of some help to everyone.

Finally, I would like to share with you a table of all the activities I have compiled. If anyone is interested in the channels, you are welcome to contact me at any time to communicate.

Mobile application product promotion service: APP promotion service Qinggua Media advertising

The author of this article @朱成功 is compiled and published by (Qinggua Media). Please indicate the author information and source when reprinting! Site Map