Hooked: These Simple Habit-Forming Tricks Increased our App’s Retention by 53%
Following this simple canvas we were able to increase daily active users / monthly active users (DAU/MAU) by 53% literally over night.
On October 4th, 2016 we launched a new version of Marbles which provides free, 24/7 peer-to-peer mental health support. In this new version of Marbles we implemented the following features to improve our user experience across the Hook Canvas:
- Strengthened our internal triggering following this simple storytelling methodology explained in The Social Media Marketing Podcast
- Added more external triggers by increasing the frequency and diversity of push notifications
- Lowered the threshold on attaining reward by adding flexibility to our core user event — we allowed a user to skip certain requested user information if it got to be cumbersome (take 30 seconds and download the app to more accurately understand what I’m saying)
- Implemented a random avatar feature to our 100% anonymous message boards to further increase the amount of variable rewards available to our users — it’s really fun, check it out
- Maintained a realistic expectation of what an user investment is based on happiness research by Sonja Lyubomirsky. That meant we only requested that our users fill out the Reflection once a week vs. every day.
Several years ago Nir Eyal tuned into a behavior.mn meetup group via Skype in Minneapolis, MN to discuss his book Hooked. I was shocked that he’d take the time (likely pro bono) to discuss with us and afterwards I immediately devoured the book and it’s methodologies.
These simple levers can offer incremental improvements in the user experience that over time and testing, can contribute to big gains in make-or-break business metrics. I highly recommend applying the thinking to your next project!
If you want to chat about more specifics about how we’ve improve retention in a challenging market — we offer young adults a 100% troll & stigma-free place to discuss mental and emotional health challenges — drop me a note or comment!
Just like Nir Eyal responded to me after I thanked him for coming to Minneapolis, I will be paying it forward!
Best,
download marbles for free from www.livebeyondthelabel.com or
help us eliminate young adult suicide
