Consumer Apps Are Winning Time and Attention

1. Implement Reward Systems

A reward system is a feature that gives users benefits, such as points or coins, for completing desired tasks. Those points can then be used to take further action in the app. Reward systems drive what we call a “progression loop”—the rewards incentivize further engagement, allowing users to earn more rewards, driving more engagement.

In addition to boosting engagement, reward systems improve retention. Mobile apps can offer weekly or monthly tasks to keep users returning regularly.

Reward systems can be implemented across nearly any app vertical. We’ve even seen reward systems implemented in common utility apps, where users collect tokens for utilizing the main app features. They can then earn extra tokens for opening and using the app on consecutive days, building a “streak.” Users can then redeem tokens for gift cards, sweepstakes entries, or charitable donations.

Finance apps, especially in crypto, leverage reward systems. They integrate task-reward loops for financial management, helping to motivate users to complete financial tasks and ultimately drive higher user engagement.

2. Build Strong Communities

Social status and community are strong motivators that encourage user engagement and retention. This is why apps that foster community through the app experience see stronger user affinity and higher lifetime engagement. But how can an app build a community that feels authentic to the user and the brand?

Creating a space for users to share user-generated content allows for self-expression, connection, and social status. It adds a social layer to existing content through the initial user-generated content uploaded to the community and the comments and engagement on each user post. This adds the benefit of saving on content creation resources because the community uploads the content and creates opportunities for additional engagement.

Team systems are another great way to capitalize on a user’s desire for social status and connection. To understand how team systems work, think about how your favorite fitness app adds a layer of competition and connection. Typically, users can join a team to compete against other teams and those within their team. Subfeatures like leaderboards, chats, and team-to-team competitions inspire user engagement and encourage user retention.

Example: Strava builds community through its clubs feature.

3. Innovate How You Monetize

Apps must transcend beyond basic subscriptions if they’re truly interested in improving user lifetime value and driving more revenue. Adding elements of convenience or even gamification to a subscription plan can help to make an app more engaging for your users and keep them coming back. For example, taking inspiration from the season pass system that is so popular in mobile games is a great way to drive user retention. With a season pass, for a user to get the most out of their subscription, they need to complete tasks or engage with the app, which boosts app engagement.