In-App Notifications

Push notifications are short, clickable messages sent directly to a user's device by mobile apps or websites, even when the app isn't actively in use. They appear on lock screens, notification centers, and banners to deliver timely updates, promotions, reminders, and alerts. For mobile apps, push notifications are one of the most effective tools for driving user engagement, increasing retention, and re-engaging inactive users.

The mobile app onboarding process involves a series of steps that new users take to get started with an app. This process entails guiding users through the product, providing relevant information, and helping them set up their accounts. This is the first opportunity for users to understand the value of your product. By the end of the onboarding process, users should be familiar with the mobile user interface (UI), navigation patterns, and basic app functionality. A smooth app onboarding process can increase app usage as it reduces user uncertainty and frustration.

App retention refers to the capacity of an application to sustain users' engagement and activity for a specified duration after they have downloaded and installed it on their devices. It gauges the proportion of users who revisit the app after their initial download and reuse it. Essentially, app retention is an indicator of user loyalty and demonstrates the app's ability to deliver a positive user experience and satisfy user requirements over time. Retention rates are typically measured on Day 1, Day 7, and Day 30. High app retention rates are critical for the success of an app because they suggest that users perceive value in the app and are inclined to continue using it in the future.

Active users is a fundamental metric that counts the number of unique individuals who engage with your mobile app within a specific time period. This metric serves as a key indicator of app health, user engagement, and growth potential. By tracking active users across different time frames—daily (DAU), weekly (WAU), and monthly (MAU)—app developers and marketers can measure product stickiness, evaluate marketing effectiveness, and make data-driven decisions to optimize user acquisition and retention strategies.

An upsell is a sales and monetization technique where an existing user is encouraged to upgrade to a higher-value product, plan, or subscription tier. In mobile subscription apps, upselling typically involves persuading a user on a monthly plan to switch to an annual plan (often at a per-month discount), upgrading from a basic tier to a premium tier with more features, or offering an enhanced version of a specific feature the user already uses frequently. Upselling is one of the highest-leverage revenue growth strategies because it targets users who have already demonstrated willingness to pay — the friction is much lower than converting a free user to a first-time subscriber. Effective upselling requires precise timing (presenting the upgrade when the user encounters a limitation or reaches a milestone), clear value communication (showing exactly what additional value the higher tier provides), and frictionless execution (making the upgrade a one-tap action). For web-to-app subscription models, upselling can occur both within the app (in-context prompts when a user hits a feature gate) and on the web (email campaigns, web dashboard prompts, or renewal-time offers). When combined with downselling and cross-selling, upselling forms a comprehensive pricing optimization framework that captures maximum value from each user's willingness to pay.