Dan Burcaw is Co-Founder & CEO of Nami ML. He built a top mobile app development agency responsible for some of the most elite apps on the App Store and then found himself inside the mobile marketing industry after selling his last company to Oracle.
In recent years, the rise of Connected TV (CTV) has revolutionized the way consumers access and engage with digital content. This shift has also opened up new avenues for commerce, allowing businesses to reach their audience on the big screen from the comfort of their living rooms. However, ensuring a seamless and frictionless checkout experience on CTV apps requires a unique set of considerations. In this blog post, we'll explore the best practices for selling digital subscriptions on connected TVs.
1. Simplified User Interface (UI)
The cornerstone of an effective CTV commerce checkout process is a clean and intuitive user interface. Remember, viewers are navigating with a remote control, so simplicity is key. Use large, legible fonts, high-resolution product images, and straightforward navigation paths. Avoid clutter and unnecessary elements that might confuse or frustrate users.
2. Effortless Navigation
Navigation is critical on any platform, and CTV is no exception. Ensure users can easily move through the purchase experience using the directional buttons on their remote control. Use focus states to help the user stay grounded within the UI. Be sure your calls-to-action, like "Start Free Trial" and "Buy Now," receive prominent treatment.
3. Seamless Product Selection
Make it easy for users to browse and select the plans you offer. Use a grid layout that displays multiple products on one screen to save time and effort. Provide concise, engaging pricing information.
4. Optimize for Different Screen Sizes
Connected TVs come in various screen sizes and resolutions. Test your checkout process on different devices to ensure it looks and functions well across the spectrum. Avoid elements that may be too small or difficult to read on larger screens.
5. User Testing and Feedback
The best way to refine your CTV product selection flow is through user testing and feedback. Conduct usability tests with real users to identify pain points and areas for improvement.
Incorporating these best practices into your CTV paywall can lead to higher conversion rates, increased customer satisfaction, and ultimately, a more successful and profitable business. By prioritizing user experience and convenience, you'll be well on your way to unlocking the full potential of the connected TV market.
Nami is #1 solution for optimizing CTV revenue across leading platforms such as Roku, Apple TV, Google Android TV, and Amazon Fire TV. Using Nami’s no-code paywall management solution, you can easily manage your CTV purchase experience from the cloud without requiring development cycles. Leverage Nami’s advanced paywall segmentation engine to run a multivariate tests to find out what works. Contact our product experts to see Nami in action.
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The Great Resignation has seen 33 million Americans leave their jobs since the Spring of 2021. While the global pandemic was a catalyst, it’s not what gave so many people the confidence to make the leap. Do you have an idea to sell an app?
It’s never been a better time to be a solopreneur. All you have to do is explore communities such as #buildinpublic on Twitter to see the diversity of products people are building.
There are plenty of great opportunities to make money online in 2022. Here’s just three:
1. Make and Sell an App
It’s never been easier to learn how to make an app. People from all walks of life are learning how to get started with programming using Swift Playgrounds from Apple.
Want to learn how to design and code your first mobile app? Check out the more than 240 tutorials from Design+Code.
Once you make an app, it’s time to make money. In fact, it’s never been easier to make money by collecting in-app payments through the Apple Store or Google Play. Nami provides a simple toolkit to sell your app like additional features, content, or even tips. Payments can be through one-time purchases or recurring subscriptions.
You can sell your app another way, too! Services like Flippa provide a market place for buying and selling apps. The more app revenue, the higher the price.
2. Build a SaaS app with No Code
In addition to a mobile app, you can build a SaaS (software as a service) application. So-called micro-SaaS apps are easier than ever to build no code tools like Bubble. Once built, it’s easier than ever to get feedback and find your first customers.
Communities like Indie Hackers and Product Hunt provide a great jumping off point. Get the word out by sharing what you are doing and asking for feedback.
Once you’ve generated some revenue, sell the app on Flippa or for a nice premium on MicroAcquire if your monthly recurring revenue (MRR) supports it.
3. Create and Publish an Information Product
Another way to make money online is to share your knowledge with others. Paid info products have become incredibly popular. From ebooks to video courses, these come in many formats.
There are so many of these types of products. Some offered for a one time fee. Others through a membership.
Just a few examples:
Learning the Figma design tool from a course on Udemy
We covered only three of the ways people are making money online. There are so many more. All you need to do is figure out what your niche is and have the courage to get started. Happy selling!
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We have approached the milestone predicted years ago that streaming video will ultimately overtake cable as the preferred source for home entertainment media content. Consulting firm Deloitte reported that 69% of consumers currently pay for some type of video streaming service. The report also found that only 65% of consumers pay for traditional cable or satellite subscriptions. This is a significant increase of 10% from last year. In 2009 only 10% of consumers subscribed to internet video services.
The big three streaming services – Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime were joined this last year, to much fanfare, by Apple TV+ and Disney+. Both of the new streaming services are expected to attract a significant number of subscribers by releasing large-budget content that will no doubt shake up the balance. However, this second wave of streaming services, with the introduction of Apple TV+ and Disney+ will not necessarily mean the viewership pie will be sliced.
An increasing number of video streaming consumers are choosing multiple app subscriptions today to satisfy their viewing content interests. A recent survey found that most people are now willing to pay between $17 and $27 a month for all streaming subscriptions. It is no longer a matter of which streaming service to choose from. It is now how many can I subscribe to for the best value.
The trends in cable cutting from the Deloitte report shows a generational preference among consumers. When we look at millennials, 22 to 35, we see 88% who chose online streaming services while 51% subscribed to traditional cable or satellite. There is still 43% of consumers overall that pay for both services (traditional TV and Internet video services). These consumers, on average, subscribe to three different streaming services. The primary reasons why they chose online streaming services included, access to original programming (57%) and to avoid all advertising (44%).
More Streaming Apps Lead to More Subscription Apps
The dominant model for video streaming services in the United Stated remains the subscription model where a monthly fee is paid to watch video content free from ads. The competition in this market is no longer just about gaining eyeballs for advertisements, it’s about building a subscriber base that provides consistent monthly revenue for the provider. The subscription revenue vs advertising revenue debate has seen clear winners in the music and video streaming space.
This has led to app subscriptions increasing significantly in other verticals as well. Subscription gaming, identity-theft protection software, podcasts, credit reporting, antivirus tools, even SaaS solutions like Photoshop all indicate demand and increasing acceptance of the subscription model as the better option for apps and content consumers.
Subscription services are continuing to grow in markets outside just the streaming space. For app developers that want to grow and optimize a recurring revenue stream, we recommend using Nami ML. Now is the best time to publish your app with Nami, the world’s first platform purpose made to optimize subscription revenue powered by advanced machine learning. Try it for free today.
Nami Co-Founder & CEO Dan Burcaw joins Subscriptions: Scaled Podcast with Nick Fredrick to discuss what it takes to launch a mobile subscription business, how Nami can help, and more.
Here's the podcast synopsis from the show page:
Do you want to learn how a service that helps businesses launch mobile app subscriptions works? Then tune in to the latest episode of Subscriptions: Scaled, with Dan Burcaw, Co-Founder & CEO at Nami ML. Throughout the episode, you’ll learn all about Nami ML as a company, the recent changes in the subscription industry, mobile app subscription integration, and so much more.
No-code paywalls are a huge part of what makes the Nami platform so valuable for our customers. With just a couple lines of code to setup our SDK and then invoke the paywall, developers and app publishers are able to start selling in-app purchases and subscriptions to their customers on Android and Apple devices without having to write any code to process the transactions or manage the complexity of the subscription lifecycle.
Today we are adding even more power and flexibility to our no-code paywall solution by introducing styles.
Prior to the introduction of styles, Nami users were limited to matching their brand on the purchase screen by selecting imagery and uploading it as a background.
Now you can reflect your brand on the purchase screen by adjusting the many styles on the paywall to match your brand palette, including the colors of all fonts, buttons, and the bottom overlay on the paywall.
Let’s start by opening up the Cloud Paywall Creator in the Nami Control Center.
Simply look for the Theme subsection at the end of each screen where you modify the content and design of your paywall. You’ll now see new options to adjust colors and font sizes. Click on a color label to open up the color picker.
Additionally, all text now has the options to add a shadow. Simply turn on the toggle next to Shadow for each text field that you wish to have a shadow. Select a radius and color that works with your designs. See the changes previewed right away our our Paywall Previewer in the web browser.
Add the paywall to a live campaign and click Update and you’ll see the changes reflected in your mobile app right away.
Have really great imagery that you really want to highlight in the design of your paywall? Simply switch off the toggle for UseBottom Overlay and it will go away, placing the buttons for your in-app purchase products directly on the image.
Drawing attention to your most popular SKUs can both help in increasing conversion rates on your paywalls and increasing revenue by driving users to select different SKUs that may reduce churn rates or increase conversions from free trials with your users.
We have introduced 2 new features to help you put the focus where you want it.
You’ll find both of these options on the Products section of the paywall. Put your SKUs in the right order and change the color of your best seller!
If you already spent all your time hunting for the best image for your purchase screen, open the eyedropper tool to select colors directly from your image into any color picker tool in the paywall design. Quickly match the rest of your paywall to the image you’ve selected.
Have a designer that can help you make your paywalls even better or want to reuse a great style you already built in another paywall? No problem. Use the export button on the Overview tab to get a JSON of all your styles. Modify it and then import it into the paywall to get all your style information right away.
Happy designing and we are excited to see the beautiful designs you are able to pull together using our new tools!
Error 2020 occurs when the app’s regional availability settings in App Store Connect do not cover the user’s location. This is frequently intentional, especially for apps targeting specific countries due to licensing or legal constraints. However, it may also happen inadvertently if the app’s settings are misconfigured or certain regions were omitted unintentionally.
Common Scenarios for Error 2020 - App Not Available in Your Country
Developers typically encounter this error in the following situations:
Testing in Unavailable Regions: Attempting to test or distribute an app in a region where it’s not available triggers this error.
Intentional Regional Restrictions: Apps intended for specific markets may block access in non-target regions.
Incorrect App Store Connect Availability Settings: Misconfigured availability settings in App Store Connect can prevent users from accessing the app.
Geo-Restricted Content: Apps with geo-restricted media or services may be limited to certain regions, causing this error.
Step-by-Step Solutions for Error 2020
Solution 1: Review and Update Availability Settings in App Store Connect
Purpose: Ensures that the app is available in all intended regions.
Steps:
Log in to App Store Connect and go to Pricing and Availability.
Under Availability, verify that all target countries and regions are selected.
Update the settings if additional countries need to be included.
Result: Expanding availability settings allows users from more regions to access the app.
Solution 2: Check Regional Restrictions in Content or Licensing Agreements
Purpose: Ensures that the app’s content or services comply with regional restrictions.
Steps:
Review any content or licensing agreements that may restrict the app’s availability.
Ensure that all regions allowed by these agreements are covered in App Store Connect.
Update availability based on these restrictions.
Result: Aligning the app’s settings with licensing agreements avoids inadvertent geo-restrictions.
Solution 3: Test with a VPN to Simulate Different Regions
Purpose: Verifies the app’s availability in target regions by simulating different locations.
Steps:
Use a VPN to connect from a country where the app should be available.
Attempt to access and download the app in the App Store.
Confirm that the app appears as available or troubleshoot further if it’s still restricted.
Result: VPN testing helps identify regions where the app is unavailable, helping refine availability settings.
Solution 4: Notify Users of Regional Availability and Future Plans
Purpose: Provides users in restricted regions with information about potential future availability.
Steps:
Update the app’s description or website to indicate current regional availability.
Optionally include future availability plans for users in currently restricted areas.
Guide users to request updates for new regional availability.
Result: Informing users manages expectations and helps prepare for possible future expansion.
Solution 5: Contact Apple Developer Support if Restrictions are Unintentional
Purpose: Helps address unexpected restrictions that may not align with the intended availability settings.
Steps:
Document all current availability settings in App Store Connect.
Reach out to Apple Developer Support with details of the issue.
Follow Apple’s guidance to adjust settings if necessary.
Result: Apple’s support team can provide assistance to resolve unintentional regional restrictions.
Conclusion
Error 2020 - App Not Available in Your Country, usually results from regional availability settings or content restrictions. By reviewing availability in App Store Connect, checking licensing agreements, testing with VPNs, notifying users of availability, and consulting Apple Support, developers can manage and resolve this error effectively.
With Nami’s low-code solutions, developers can streamline regional app configurations to focus on market expansion with ease. Discover more at NamiML.
