Nami introduces the latest release of their Subscriber Experience Cloud platform focusing on core capabilities that meet the Accessibility and Localization needs of Enterprise Mobile App Publishers.

Nami® (PRWEB), a leading provider of comprehensive mobile subscription capabilities for enterprise mobile app publishers has released the latest version of their carrier-grade subscriber experience cloud platform featuring accessibility and localization features.

“The shift to subscriptions as a fundamental mobile app monetization strategy is a global phenomenon and to do it right and make subscribers happy, apps need the ability to speak to their users where they are and make sure everyone is able to benefit,” explains Dan Burcaw, CEO and Co-Founder of the company.

Localization is the ability to present key components like the Paywall Purchase Experience in the user’s choice of languages. The Nami platform’s Paywall Builder feature now supports all the languages available on the user’s mobile device making it easier and better for publishers to adopt the languages their subscribers use natively.

Accessibility is the way software adapts its user interface to the needs of users with different requirements, such as those who may need assistance with visual cues or input. Paywalls built with the Nami platform can now be used more easily by people of all abilities.

Both Nami’s Localization and Accessibility features are built on top of the enterprise scale and carrier-grade security capabilities that give businesses of all sizes the stability, reliability and confidence to ship their products globally.

Nami ML is an early-stage business that has built a comprehensive Mobile Subscriber Experience platform focused on creating Happy Subscribers that lets mobile app publishers focus on the unique features of their apps while managing the end-to-end subscription lifecycle from first use to customer support and renewal. To try the platform sign up for free at https://namiml.com

The holiday season is the most lucrative time of year for app publishers. In fact, the week of Christmas in 2020 generated $1.8B in consumer spend on just the App Store. Here are ten app growth hacking strategies for the holidays.

10. Include Keywords in App Name

According to AppFigures, the most important App Store Optimization (ASO) technique employed by app growth hacking experts is including keywords in your app name. Be sure to identify the right keywords before employing this tactic.

9. Add Holiday Search Terms

Consider temporarily updating your app title, description, and metadata with seasonal keywords. For example, an app in the Shopping category may want to include terms such as “Cyber Deals” around Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

A few notes about this app growth hacking technique:

• Be sure the seasonal keywords are still relevant to your app
• Don’t forget to remove the seasonal keywords when it’s time

8. Update App Icon with Seasonal Cheer

Refresh your app icon with a holiday theme. This simple change can help you catch the eye of dormant users and bring them back into your app. Research also shows that holiday-themed app icons can drive up to 40% more app installs.

A few notes about this app growth hacking strategy:

• Use color palettes or small adornments associated with the holidays.
• Don’t fundamentally change your icon. It should still be familiar to users.

7. Use Promoted IAPs

The App Store doesn’t just promote apps. In-app purchases (IAPs) and auto-renewable subscriptions can receive promotional placement on your product page and via editorial features. Since you have to chose which in-app purchase products to promote, most apps just simplify don’t take advantage of this feature.

Also, promoted in-app purchase products feature their own metadata including title, description and icon. This means you have another opportunity to include keywords and tailor artwork for the holidays.

6. Share Offer Codes

You have a lot of offer codes at your disposal. Share a set with bloggers and press. Better yet, reach out to your most loyal users. Empower them to share offer codes with their network. This will help you nurture loyalty with top users and help you find new users via referral.

5. Add App Localization

The holiday season produces strong results around the globe. If your app isn’t yet localized for major markets, now is the time.

To get the most impact from this app growth hacking technique, be sure to:

• Offer translated versions of your app’s product page
• Properly localize the strings in your app’s UI text
• Don’t forget to extent localization to your app’s IAP paywall

4. Acquire App Installs from Web Traffic

Do you have decent traffic to your web site? It’s amazing how many web sites don’t use Smart Banners when someone visits from mobile. All it takes to promote your app to mobile traffic is a meta tag. If you’re not already doing this, it’s about the lowest-hanging fruit you’ll find in your app growth hacking journey.

3. Throw an In-App Event

iOS 15 features a new marketing tool for app publishers called in-app events. The gist is your app or game can run a live event to drive users in at certain times. Best of all, in-app events get promotional placement across the App Store including:

• On your product page
• In search results
• Featured by Apple’s editorial team

You can also link users to your in-app event page so you can drive traffic from outside your app such as via through a display ad or email marketing.

2. Get Featured!

Getting featured on the App Store is one of the best and perhaps most elusive app growth hacking strategies. Rest assured, you can get featured! Here’s the formula:

• Follow the App Store best practices for design, localization, accessibility
• Ship a major app update adopting some of the major new iOS features
• Reach out to the App Store editorial teams and make the case

On the last point, the editorial team us looking for great apps with great stories to feature. Share yours! You’d be surprised how many app developers don’t bother and thus won’t ever get featured. Don’t forget to mention the new iOS features you’re taking full advantage of.

1. Update your Paywall

You’ve gotten this far. App installs are up and your holiday season is going great! Or is it? Did you capitalize on those new installs? Sadly, many apps don’t have the ability to make changes to their IAP paywall without requiring a development cycle and app update.

Making changes easily is important. You’ve gone through the effort to update your App Store product page and keywords for the holidays. Now you need to make sure your paywall messaging and creative is consistent as well.

Plus, you might want to run some special introductory pricing during the holidays. With a dynamic paywall, you can easily swap in your promotional product. Just as easily, you’ll want to swap them out when the promotion is over.

Nami turns the paywall into an app growth marketing asset. Book a time with one of our app growth experts. We’re love to help you optimize your app revenue.

It’s earnings season on Wall Street and for companies in the App Economy. It's a tale of two monetization strategies plus pressure creating additional uncertainty. Here are three areas to watch as companies report Q3 2021 results:

1. The Impact of Apple’s Privacy Changes on the App Economy

Q3 2021 is the first full quarter impacted by Apple’s iOS privacy changes. App Tracking Transparency (ATT) rolled out with iOS 14.5 on April 26, 2021. ATT shifts the iOS ID for Advertisers (IDFA) from Opt Out to Opt In.

IDFA is used to measure a user’s interaction with advertisements. IDFA is also widely used to tie mobile users to customer profiles. This allows advertisers to follow users with ads across web and mobile.

The companies most predicted to feel pressure from the ATT rollout include Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) and Snap (NYSE: SNAP). Both are part of the App Economy due to their heavy dependence on mobile advertising revenue.

Facebook Q3 Revenue Miss

While Facebook saw little impact in Q2 resulting from ATT, the company felt the pain in Q3. Facebook missed revenue targets expected by analysts which Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg attributed to ATT:

“As expected, we did experience revenue headwinds this quarter, including from Apple's changes”

Facebook is preparing Wall Street for a bumpy Q4 in part due to ATT:

"Our outlook reflects the significant uncertainty we face in the fourth quarter in light of continued headwinds from Apple's iOS 14 changes, and macroeconomic and COVID-related factors."

Snap Misses Revenue Too

Snap also missed Q3 revenue expectations. CEO Evan Spiegal cited iOS ad tracking as the driving force:

“Our advertising business was disrupted by changes to iOS ad tracking that were broadly rolled out by Apple in June and July.”

Following the earnings report, Snap’s price per share dropped approximately 25% and hasn’t recovered after two full days of trading.

Oppenheimer analyst Jason Helfstein expects much of the digital advertising industry to face IDFA-related headwinds. Both Facebook and Snap are promising technology investments to mitigate the impact.

It remains to be seen how well companies will adapt and how aggressively advertising-centric companies look to subscriptions as a means to accelerate a return to growth.

2. Early Clues from Google’s Subscription Commission Cuts

Speaking of subscriptions, Google just announced a reduction in Play Store subscription commissions. The earnings impact for App Economy companies will take time. The change won’t take effect until January 1, 2022.

However, the market is already responding positively to the news. Shares of DuoLingo (NASDAQ: DUOL), the popular language learning app, are up ~15%:

DuoLingo isn’t alone. Shares of Bumble (NASDAQ: BMBL), the dating app, are up more than ~5%:

For subscription-based apps, the reduced commission is a feel good moment that’s likely to release some of the pressure that has been building. It’s likely temporary but will cause app publishers to pile on pressure for Apple to follow suit.

Regardless of the commission, App Economy companies will still have too much churn. These companies will need strong retention programs and they need to elevate their subscriber experience.

3. Are More Changes On the Horizon Due to Regulatory Pressures?

Apple’s advertising privacy changes put more control in the hands of the end user. In the process, they have disrupted digital advertising. At least for a while. Most users if asked would surely agree that this is a positive change. So while Apple is receiving scrutiny, it’s by the parties most dependent on advertising business models.

On the other side of the monetization coin, app publishers selling directly to consumers have long been fighting for more favorable business terms and fewer restrictions. To them, this isn't about the end user at all. Rather, about building a sustainable business.

To Apple, some of the asks such as side-loading apps, alternative app stores, or even different payment mechanisms would harm iPhone’s security and privacy models.

In the US, developers went to court and received concessions via a settlement with Apple. In Japan, the Fair Trade Commission closed an investigation into the App Store after Apple offered a different concession. Of course, the already famous Epic v. Apple lawsuit resulted in a court order followed by an appeal by Apple.

Jurisdictions around the world are examining Apple and Google for potential anti-competitive behavior. While it is not clear how this will turn out, there is no doubt uncertainty lies ahead in the App Economy.

Google today announced a major change to the Play Store commission structure affecting subscription apps. Starting on January 1, 2022, all subscriptions sold by app publishers on the Play Store will incur a 15% commission.

This is a change from the current 30% / 15% commission. Presently, the commission is 30% during the first 12 months of a subscription. Then, the commission goes to 15% for each auto-renewing period thereafter.

The current commission incentivizes long-term subscription retention which has been a challenge for many app publishers.

According to Google, the Play Store commission change was motivated by discussions with app publishers like Duolingo and Bumble. Churn rates in year 1 can be high in categories like dating and fitness.

“We’ve worked with our partners in dating, fitness, education and other sectors to understand the nuances of their businesses. Our current service fee drops from 30% to 15% after 12 months of a recurring subscription. But we’ve heard that customer churn makes it challenging for subscription businesses to benefit from that reduced rate.” - Sameer Samat, VP Product for Android and Google Play

The reduced Play Store commission is welcome news for app publishers, but only a part of the story. In 2020, consumers spent nearly 2x more on the App Store than Google Play. It remains to be seen if Apple will follow Google’s lead.

While a short term win for app publishers, it doesn’t matter what the subscription commission if they don’t reduce churn. Ultimately, the best way to combat churn is to build a customer base of happy subscribers.

A subscription app launch is an exciting moment for app publishers. As launch day approaches, your team is no doubt looking forward to celebrating all the hard work.

No doubt expectations are high for your subscription app performance. As you work towards launch day, it’s important to also think about the days and weeks that will follow.

Do you have the right foundation to both operationalize and optimize your subscription app? Here’s five important items you should add to your pre-launch checklist so you are ready to scale.

1. Be sure your subscription app leverages each app stores’ monetization features on launch

Each distribution channel such as Apple App Store, Google Play and Roku offer different standard capabilities for in-app subscriptions. Some of these features are optional, but offer a benefit if you take advantage of them.

For instance, both the App Store and Google Play offer Grace Periods so users don’t lose access to their subscription services if the credit card charge for a renewal fails to process. This gives users time to credit their billing details and app publishers a tool to avoid involuntary churn.

Google Play also offers a unique feature: the ability for a user to pause a subscription. This is a great way to retain subscriptions even if they need to temporarily step away from your subscription product.

Each platform offers a different mix of capabilities to app publishers offering in-app subscriptions. These features are designed to help you operate a better subscription app.

When launching your subscription app, be sure you’re taking full advantage of everything your distribution platforms have to offer to enhance your subscriptions.

2. Subscriptions apps can’t be static. Launch with the ability to iterate quickly.

Too many apps ship with a hard coded subscription purchase experience. While typical, it means development cycles and app updates to make changes.

Once you launch your subscription app, you’re going to want the marketing agility to experiment. Want to try a different introductory offer? Does your messaging need to adapt to strategy changes from leadership? Do you want to offer a new subscription tier?

These are just a few ways your in-app subscription storefront or paywall needs to be a marketing asset, not a fixed screen. In fact, think of this as an opportunity that is tangential to your App Store Optimization efforts.

3. Users expect subscription apps to be localized and accessible. Don’t punt until after launch.

Your team may be thinking about localizing your subscription app as an enhancement after launch. The same is probably true for accessibility features such as enlarged fonts and audible screen reading (e.g. VoiceOver).

This is a bad idea. The best apps don’t wait. One reason is because localization and accessibility are factors that the Apple and Google editorial teams consider when choosing apps to feature. More importantly, it’s the right thing to do.

What’s this mean for subscription apps in particular? Don’t just localize your key app screens. The paywall should be localized and accessible.

Use the user’s device language and store region to localize the subscription storefront for them. The paywall should also support accessibility features such as larger fonts, gray scale, and screen reading.

You won’t get credit for having some of your app screens localized and accessible. Your potential subscribers come from all walks of life and expect a great experience which includes your purchase experience..

4. Don’t forget to launch with analytics designed for subscription apps

Almost every app launches with some sort fo general purpose analytics solution such as Adobe Analytics or Mixpanel. However, subscription apps need to go a step further.

Due to the nature of subscriptions, actionable insight into what’s working (or not) is a challenge. Typical analytics tools understand single moments where commerce takes place. The customer’s journey with a subscription over time is what’s important.

That journey may include a free trial, conversion to paying subscriber, multiple renewals, and yes even possible cancellation and churn. Unfortunately, most general analytics tools don’t adequately model revenue, let alone subscription revenue.

You need a subscription analytics solution to augment (and enrich) your general purpose solution. If you don’t have this for launch, you’ll be missing critical data to help you improve and optimize efficiently.

5. Have a plan for how you will deliver customer support

Your subscription app launch is fast approaching. Your attention needs to turn to product operations. The most important item for your launch checklist item concerns customer support.

How will you deliver support once you get to market? App ecosystems are indirect channels, so your data and insight into the customer and their purchase history is limited.

You can’t log in to App Store Connect and look up a subscriber. Nor is there such a place inside of the Play Developer Console. This means your customers will be writing into support looking for help and you need a way to provide answers.

The solution involves two parts. First, you need clean and platform agnostic subscriber data. Second, you need to make that data available in a form that can be retrieved and understood by your support team.

At Nami, our #1 job is to help you create happy subscribers. Our Subscriber Experience Cloud provides the right foundation for delivering a great subscription app. To learn more, get in touch or book a demo.

Apple Fiscal calendar 2022 starts on September 26, 2021 and ends on September 24, 2022. Apple uses this calendar for the company’s accounting as well as reporting and payments due to app developers.

Here is the 2022 calendar by quarter and by period:

Apple Fiscal Calendar 2022 by Quarter:

• Q1: September 26, 2021 - January 1, 2022
• Q2: January 2, 2022 - April 2, 2022
• Q3: April 3, 2022 - July 2, 2022
• Q4: July 3, 2021 - September 24, 2022

Apple Fiscal Calendar 2022 by Period:

• Period 1: September 26, 2021 - October 30, 2021
• Period 2: October 31, 2021 - November 27, 2021
• Period 3: November 28, 2021 - December 25, 2021
• Period 4: December 26, 2021 - January 29, 2022
• Period 5: January 30, 2022 - February 26, 2022
• Period 6: February 27, 2022 - March 26, 2022
• Period 7: March 27, 2022 - April 30, 2022
• Period 8: May 1, 2022 - May 28, 2022
• Period 9: May 29, 2022 - June 25, 2022
• Period 10: June 26, 2022 - July 30, 2022
• Period 11: July 31, 2022 - August 27, 2022
• Period 12: August 28, 2022- September 24, 2022

App Developer Payout Schedule

Apple pays developers proceeds for app or in-app purchase sales within 45 days of the last day of the fiscal month in which the transaction was completed.

Payments are made only if the following is true:

• App developer has a Paid Applications Agreement in effect
• App developer has providing banking information in App Store Connect
• Proceeds exceed the minimum monthly threshold for each country or region
• App developer satisfies any monthly invoicing requirements

Apple consolidates proceeds so you can expect a single payment to your bank each fiscal period.

Apple Developer Payout Calendar Resource

Here is an online Apple payout calendar resource you can bookmark that is updated for the current fiscal year. It’s also available in an downloadable PDF format.