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10 tips for user acquisition on a budget

By AppLovin·Mar 13, 2025·4 min read

Summary

The article provides 10 strategies for cost-effective user acquisition (UA) for app businesses with limited budgets. It emphasizes that UA is evolving due to changes in social media, programmatic advertising, and algorithms. Key insights for ad ops decision-makers include: optimizing app store presence to improve organic discovery; using AI tools to automate and optimize campaigns; creating valuable content (e.g., videos, memes) to build trust and awareness; partnering with micro-influencers who may accept free app access for promotion; implementing referral programs to incentivize word-of-mouth; maximizing social media ads with performance-based targeting; earning press coverage through timely pitches; making data-driven decisions using free tools like Google Analytics; cross-promoting with complementary apps; and focusing on retention to maximize user lifetime value.

The article highlights low-cost alternatives for each strategy, such as using free editing tools for content creation and leveraging organic social growth. It stresses that creativity, optimization, and a mix of organic and paid tactics can drive high-quality users and engagement even on a shoestring budget.

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