W3i collaborates with developers to optimize monetization tools such as in-app purchases.  By identifying high conversion in-app purchase touch points in a game, developers can capitalize on a similar implementation.

Venan Entertainment is an experienced game developer, developing games since 2002 (Space Miner Blast, Ninjatown). For their new title, Book of Heroes, Venan partnered with Recharge Studios utilizing the AppX fund, a $10 million fund created to help developers accelerate their game business.  AppX provides a free suite of services; user acquisition funding, actionable insights and game-changing production support with no long-term revenue share and without giving up IP rights.

During the post launch, the AppX team observed healthy activity of in-app purchases in the tutorial and wanted to understand why 25% of the paying users were purchasing an armor bundle virtual good.

In our combined analysis with Venan, we found that the largest monetizing event in the game was during the tutorial. The game was artfully displaying the advantages of a high cost item at the perfect time during the game.

First, the player is shown the context of what is going on in the game. The player must understand the value they are getting from making a purchase before they are presented the offer or they will not make the purchase!

In Book of Heroes, the player is in the game for about three minutes before they are given the opportunity to make a purchase. This makes the player familiar with the mechanics of the game. At the opportune time, the player is presented a bundle of upgrades for their avatar, not the in-app purchase screen. The player is required to purchase armor, but they can choose from multiple tiers. The first tier is easily attainable with their default premium currency amount and provides a minor improvement to gameplay. The second is exactly the cost of investing in the minimal IAP purchase of $1.99 and provides a large advantage over the first. The third requires the IAP of $4.99, and creates a huge advantage for the user’s avatar.

Combine this with a seamless visit to the IAP screen, back to the bundle purchase area and the handy discount amounts on the IAP screen showing the advantage to making a higher purchase, and you have a great monetization event.

Contact W3i to collaborate in growing your app business.  Now time to incinerate some Rath’een Warlocks!

Jimi Van Guilder, Producer, Recharge Studios, W3i, LLC

Jimi is a mobile content expert with a decade of experience working with brands that include Nickelodeon, the NFL, NBC, Marvel, Snoop Dogg and LucasArts. Jimi heads up production at W3i’s wholly owned publishing arm and investment fund, Recharge Studios.

What’s New @ W3i for Mobile App Partners

App ID Creation – Create an ID for your app that you can use for integration. This will save you time speed up implementation so your app is to market faster! Forgot your ID? Do you need to know what we have set up for your currency? Can’t remember if you have been set up as a partner for a specific application? Find it all here!

Self-Service Campaign Management (Coming Soon!) – Stop and start your campaigns to optimize your return. No more waiting for someone who may be in a different time zone than you. Move quickly with the ability to pause and resume your campaigns as needed without the help of a W3i associate. Were you looking for the ability to see the campaign information for your applications? Now you can! You will be able to view your budget, remaining balances, daily cap information, country targeting, rate, start time and expiration time, whether or not your application was featured and more!

Mobile Integration Documentation – For ease of implementation you now have direct access to updates to SDK’s, sample apps, FAQ’s, etc. No more waiting, direct access to all of our integration updates immediately without having to log in.

Create and Save Custom Reports – Saves time and gives you the insight you need at your fingertips. Save your reports for immediate access to your most important reports after login.

Custom Subscriptions (Coming Soon!)– Now that you have the ability to save your reports, wouldn’t it be nice to have them e-mailed directly to you? Coming soon, the ability to subscribe to your custom reports and have them sent directly to you as you need them. Weekly, daily, whenever, you got it!

This is just the beginning of improvements we are making to improve your experience partnering with W3i.

Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 30, 2011–W3i® (www.W3i.com), a leader in monetization and user acquisition services for mobile apps, announced today the launch of the $10 Million AppX Game Developer Marketing Fund.  The goal of the marketing fund is to accelerate user growth for up-and- coming mobile social game developers by aiding in their user acquisition financing.

W3i's AppX - Resources to Accelerate Game Profitability

iOS™ and Android™ game developers’ goal is to drive user acquisition of mobile games accelerating the growth of active users.

This fund reinforces W3i’s commitment to iOS and Android game developers to help them compete with AAA competitors thus accelerating their path to profitability.

W3i is known for its extensive experience in partnering with mobile and desktop app developers to grow their app  businesses.  All developers who qualify for the AppX Game Developer Marketing Fund receive adept production support, actionable insight to optimize their game business and profitable user acquisition with funding to speed up growth.  The AppX suite of services is provided without charge and with no, long-term revenue share.
Using AppX does not require the developer to give up their IP rights allowing them to focus on actual game design and development.

“W3i has proven to be a valued partner in marketing our game, My Pet Zombie. Not only did we quickly become  profitable with our app, W3i helped increase the lifetime value of our users by three times. We would highly recommend using W3i to market your mobile game,” comments Brian Robbins, Founder of Riptide Games.

“We continue to develop tools that add value for mobile game developer partners,” said Andy Johnson, CEO. “Our road map continues to focus on improving monetization and user acquisition tools to optimize ROI using a decade of experience doing the same for our desktop app partners.  The rollout continues with AppX.”  For more information contact W3i AppX.

About W3i: W3i is a leader in monetization and user acquisition services for mobile and desktop apps.  Utilize an experienced team of app-savvy marketers with deep technical know-how and many years of industry experience to grow your app business. We are ready to collaborate with app developers to execute programs that quickly deliver revenue and quality users. To learn more, visit www.W3i.com with offices in San Francisco, Minneapolis and Sartell, MN. 

Press Contact:

Deborah Manthei

Director of Marketing Communications

320-257-7571 (office)

deborah.manthei@W3i.com

The names of companies and products mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners.

Apps World Europe is returning to London Olympia on 29-30 November for two days of discussion and insight around multi-platform apps, with some of the leading brands and individuals from around the industry gathering to examine the latest industry trends, and the impact they will have on us.

This year’s event includes three separate conference tracks, covering a broad spectrum of the industry’s most burning issues; operator and developer revenue streams, publishing strategies, mobile and tablet app marketing, handset innovation, branding and the rise of the TV app.

Oren Todoros will be attending Apps World London on behalf of W3i.  If you’re developing a mobile app for either Android or iPhone, this is a perfect opportunity for you to talk to us and discuss your marketing strategy.

To put things in perspective, 16 of the top 25 grossing US iPhone apps have partnered with W3i to maximize their app’s reach and increase revenue.

Ian Johnson, Apps World founder, said: “We feel like this has been a real watershed year in terms of companies recognizing the value and scope of what apps represent to their future business activities. The interest in apps has broadened to include marketing professionals across all industries. The opportunity for talented developers to connect with large multinational brands is a facet of the show we take very seriously, that’s why we’re offering the developer streams for free.”

Attending Apps World London? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us via Twitter @W3i or @OrenTodoros – The drink’s on us!

One of the easiest things app developers can do to help themselves out in the App Store is spend a little time considering SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and how it can impact an apps ease of discovery. We’ve written in the past about App Store SEO Tips and thought  it was relevant to revisit the topic and put together a deck for your convenience.

Last week we posted app pricing tips from a webinar with our co-founder Robert Weber.  While on the topic of dollars and cents the next question you may have is “how do I make money with my app?” This question may be especially pertinent if you’ve decided to cast your efforts into the exploding freemium market. As before, the slides from the webinar are posted below.

App Monetization, Does Your App Have The Monetization Trifecta?

So you’ve created the greatest app ever. You’re blood, sweat and tears are a testament to its greatness. But in order for it to be a monetization powerhouse, you need to make sure it’s good. Consider the following three elements, if they’re missing, look for ways to add them (we’ll begin posting in coming days on mechanics tips to increase all three).

1. Compulsion Loops, are there ways to draw user back into the app.
2. Engagment, does it have engagement elements that could be monetized, i.e. virtual currency.
3. Value, is it worth your users’ time.

App Monetization, Common Strategies

Three methods of monetizing an app are emerging as the most commonly discussed. Each has its pros and cons and often times a hybrid approach may be the most favorable to a developer.

• Display Advertising, banner ads within a game.
• In-App Purchases(access), using in-app purchases in lieu of a “lite version of a game, offering gamers/users to purchase levels or full access.
• In-App Purchase(virtual goods), using in-app purchases in the form of virtual currency/goods to enhance gameplay. Gameple can continue without the purchase, but the incentive exists for users/gamers to access bonus features or advance faster.

Monetizing Apps, Making It Work

Thinking through game mechanics and the experience will help optimize a more successful monetization effort. Of the three strategies for monetizing, in-app purchases stand to see the greatest lift when combined with intelligent freemium game mechanics, while providing the most value for all stakeholders.

Ryan Ruud, Associate Marketing Communications Specialist, W3i, LLC
Ryan is a new media communicator with a decade of traditional and emerging mass media experience. He uses his passion for apps and connecting people in W3i’s marketing/communications efforts.

How do you make money off an app when you give it away?

At W3i we’ve been a champion of the freemium business model for more than a decade. But I’ll level with you, I understand the challenge developers face when choosing between a freemium or paid option for their web app. At face value, giving away a product you’ve dumped your blood, sweat and tears into seems preposterous. I get it. You wonder, “how can I make money with my app when I’m giving away free access?!” Look at it this way, if the product provides enough value, consumers are naturally going to desire the product and crave more access. That knowledge can drive your development to create a stellar product. Still not convinced, the explosion of mobile apps has helped drive freemium forward.

Freemium gets a push from mobile

In 2010, mobile apps helped shine the spotlight on freemium, in 2011 all signs point to major gains in the market. We’ve written alot about freemium models over the past year but I found a very candid post from Matt Mazur, the founder of Preceden, a web app that helps users create timelines, to be refreshing.

Okay Ryan, freemium is looking pretty good but . . .

Don’t just take our word for it, we know freemium models drive significant lifts in demand for your app. In Matt’s findings, those who tried the app under the freemium model were nearly 350% more likely to buy access than under no freemium option. Take a look at his findings.

Matt eliminated the Free plan from his Web App for a Month: Find Out What Happened

Ryan Ruud, Associate Marketing Communications Specialist, W3i, LLC
Ryan is a new media communicator with a decade of traditional and emerging mass media experience. He uses his passion for apps and connecting people in W3i’s marketing/communications efforts.

You’re busy creating the next great, addictive app so let’s face it you don’t have a lot of time for chit chat or long blog intros. But how do you get seen in such a large pool? Here are three tips to employ over your lunch to bolster your application marketing efforts

Show us, don’t tell us, the power of video content marketing

All the collateral in the world won’t have the same impact as a quick tutorial. Folks are consuming online video in astronomical amounts. In June 2010, Americans consumed 10 billion videos online. How your app works has a chance to jump into that consumption pattern. There are a couple of options, you can create the video in-house, or if you have a large enough fan base you can crowd source the tutorial and give one of your users a chance to be the star. Make sure you check out some crowdsourcing tips first if you go that route.

Distribution Channels

• YouTube
• Vimeo
• Facebook
• Twitter

Screenshots also serve as a great source of promotion, fire up a Flickr account or Twit Pic tips or tutorial screenshots.

Get social: word of mouth marketing amped

This will be brief. If your app isn’t in social spaces, it should be. Monitor to see what is being said about your application and about your competitor’s application. Listen first, and then put together a strategy on how to join the conversation, or jump-start one. Take some time while you eat your chips. Head to Twitter Search and enter a couple keywords pertaining to you app, including your app and your competitors. Also look at what other brands are doing. Appy Entertainment does a good job on Twitter engaging their users.

• Listen first.
• Strategize message.
• Engage conversation
• Lather,rinse, repeat.

Brainstorm application marketing strategy

The best marketing strategy is having a strategy so make sure to take time to brainstorm things like price points, promotion channels and budget. All three areas are pivotal to success or disaster of a marketing strategy.  The key is to get your app in front of someone who is in the market for applications. Incented distribution or in-app advertising might be just the ticket. Let’s face it, billboard advertising will only build awareness, but not directly result in a measurable install. While you finish your milk think of a couple areas you’d like to brainstorm over lunch tomorrow. Brainstorming is a good way to get the juices flowing, invite someone to lunch with you, two heads are better than one.

For dessert, increased application distribution

If  just a few steps enacted over lunch can have an impact in your application distribution numbers just think what a full on application marketing strategy can do.  Share your thoughts, ideas and techniques in the comment section below. Enjoy your cookies now, and happy marketing, lunch is over. For lunch tomorrow? Why not tackle  just application discovery?

This article was written for app developers seeking distribution, however, if you have a website and would like to promote W3i’s applications, go to W3i’s affiliate sign-up form.

Pay Per Install Programs for All Platforms

Every market leading platform, including iPhone, Facebook, Windows, and even Internet Explorer toolbars, has at least one vendor who will sell a consumer app developer installs on a pay per install or pay per download basis.

Cross Promotion Typically the Method Powering Pay Per Install Programs

Most of the pay per install networks utilize some method of cross promotion to drive additional installs while users are installing or interacting with another app.

What Other Distribution Channels Don’t Want You to Know About Pay Per Install Programs

So, how do these pay per install networks, like W3i’s Application Network for Windows apps, iOS apps and browser add-ons, compare in cost to other channels for app distribution such as search, display, affiliate, and OEM?

To answer this question, I had W3i’s Media Buyers examine past campaign performance across these difference channels and tallied up our effective cost per install by channel. The following bar graph is based upon the actual campaign performance which was achieved.

Pay Per Install Programs the Lowest Cost Alternative

As you can see from W3i’s campaign results, pay per install programs can create a meaningful distribution channel while lowering an app developers costs by often as much as one third the cost of other alternatives!

Many app developers have tried search and affiliate programs to promote their app because they are more widely recognized tactics, but have failed to launch and optimize their apps for low cost pay per install networks.

Ask About Compliance & Review the User Experience

Make sure you ask your pay per install program how they adhere to industry best practices, and what care they take in establishing a valued user experience. The engine that powers W3i’s Application Network, InstallIQ, has received the Truste Trusted Download certification and is white listed by Truste.

Get your App on a Pay Per Install Program

Whether you have an iPhone app, a Facebook game, a Windows application, or a browser toolbar, contact W3i to learn how you can launch and optimize your app using W3i’s pay per install network.

Rob Weber, Vice President of Business Development and Co-Founder, W3i, LLC
Rob is an Internet marketing pioneer with over ten, profitable years evolving W3i in the consumer application industry.