The Ultimate Guide to Creating Compelling In-App Events

One powerful tool in the arsenal of app marketers is the strategic use of in-app events. In this article, we delve deep into the world of in-app events, exploring what they are and how they can be harnessed to drive success. 

As your trusted app marketing agency, we’ll explain in greater detail, how they’ll impact ASO, and guide you through the intricacies of configuring in-app events with concrete examples. 

What is In-App Events?

In-app events are essentially the actions that users take while interacting with your mobile app. These actions, carefully tracked and monitored by app developers, serve as valuable data points to enhance various aspects of the app’s performance and user engagement.

Think of in-app events as the breadcrumbs left behind by users as they navigate through your app’s landscape. Each event represents a specific interaction or achievement within the app. 

Where Are They Shown?

In-app events iOS are prominently showcased across the Apple App Store as event cards, visible on product pages, in search results, and through direct searches. These event cards provide users with quick access to the events associated with your app

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Moreover, in-app events receive exposure in editorially curated selections and personalized recommendations on the Today, Games, and Apps tabs, enhancing their discoverability and engagement potential.

Configuring In-App Events in App Store Connect

Keep in mind that you can submit up to 10 in-app events in a single submission, but only 5 of them can be published on the App Store at any given time. What’s more, the submissions undergo a speedy 24-hour review process, ensuring swift access for your users.

Begin by logging in to your App Store Connect account. This is your gateway to configuring your in-app events.

When creating your in-app event, pay attention to the following key details:

• Reference Name

 Assign an internal reference name for organizational purposes within App Store Connect.

• Event Information

 Fill in comprehensive event details, including metadata. This information provides users with a clear understanding of your event’s purpose and value.

• Event Badge

 Choose a visually appealing event badge. An enticing badge can make your event more recognizable and enticing to users.

• Regional Availability

Specify where your event will be accessible. By tailoring regional availability, you ensure that your event is relevant to specific target audiences.

Take your in-app event setup to the next level by adding these crucial details:

• Event Availability

Set the event’s start and end dates. Keep in mind that in-app events can run for up to 31 days and can be promoted up to 14 days before the start date. You also have the option to restrict event availability to specific regions and dates.

• Event Deep Link

 Provide a seamless user experience with a deep link. This link directs users who tap “Open” on the event card or details page to the event content within your app. It’s highly recommended to use a universal link or custom URL and to avoid URL shorteners.

• Event Purpose

Choose the option that aligns with your event’s objectives. Options include suitability for all users, attraction of new users, informing active users, or re-engaging lapsed users.

• Event Priority

 Events are listed chronologically based on their start dates, with the soonest event displayed first. If desired, you can mark an event as high priority to give it precedence over normal priority events.

• Event Cost

 Indicate whether participation in the in-app event requires an in-app purchase or subscription.

In-App Events’ Impact on ASO

Capitalizing on them should be part of most ASO strategies simply because of the following advantages:

1. Enhanced Search Visibility

Boost your app’s discoverability by using keywords on event cards, akin to metadata. When users search for specific events, your event cards appear in results, expanding your reach and attracting potential downloads.

2. Engaging Existing Users

They’re just as important to be a part of user engagement strategies, specifically. Why? Well, users searching for similar events discover your event cards, renewing their interest and encouraging active participation, ultimately retaining their engagement with your app.

3. Editorial Visibility

Help you gain more prominence in editorial collections on the App Store’s Today, Games, and Apps tabs. This premium placement enhances your app’s organic visibility, attracting new users and boosting downloads and interactions.

Learn more tips to skyrocket your mobile app here. 

Some Examples of In-App Events with Their Respective KPIs

These are the practical In-app events examples that prove their value in aiding in App Analytics.

1. Purchase (Revenue):

What it does: This event tracks how many purchases are made in your app and the revenue generated from these transactions. To do this, you can create a custom event to monitor when users buy items within your app.

Why it’s valuable: It helps you understand the spending behavior of your users. You can identify patterns among users who make purchases, which can be crucial for app marketers. It also provides insight into whether it’s more profitable to monetize users through ads or in-app purchases (IAP).

KPIs it helps calculate: With this event, you can calculate two essential KPIs. First, the Return on Advertising Spend (ROAS) helps you measure how effective your advertising campaigns are in generating revenue. Second, the payer rate tells you the percentage of users willing to make purchases, aiding in making decisions about acquiring new users.

2. Time Spent on App (Engagement):

What it does: This event tracks the average daily or weekly time users spend within your mobile app. It’s crucial for understanding if users return to your app after initially downloading it.

Why it’s valuable: It helps app publishers gauge user engagement over time. For instance, tracking session time can reveal whether users are having a positive experience with your app. 

If you notice a decrease in session times after increasing the frequency of ads, it’s a signal that it might be time to improve the user experience or rethink your ad strategy.

3. App Opens (Returning Customers):

What it does: This event monitors how often users open your app, providing insights into user loyalty.

Why it’s valuable: It’s a useful metric for app marketers aiming to build and measure customer loyalty, which is a facet we’ve highlighted in our Mobile app  market research article. 

By setting up the app open event, you can track the user retention rate, which compares the total number of app opens to the total number of users acquired in the same cohort.

Conclusion

In the ever-evolving landscape of app marketing, leveraging in-app events is not just a strategy; it’s a necessity. By understanding, configuring, and optimizing these events, you can pave the way for increased success and growth in the competitive world of mobile apps. 

There are many app marketing services out there that can’t safely say that they’ve delved into the intricacies of in-app events. We’re confident that you can harness their power with the help of the information we shared here and by having us as your guide.