The most challenging part of the app stores is that the relationship with customers is by default theirs, instead of yours. You can change this, however - by having optional or required logins in your app, it's possible to create a database of your app customers. We recommend making the logins optional and working to provide clear benefits to your customers for logging in - like saved progress, personalization and activity streams that are specific to app activities.

The login system you create should give benefits to your app's customers, first. However, in creating a reason to login, you can get the benefit of knowing more about your app's customers, including a way to contact them, like an e-mail address.

Once you've created a customer database, you can utilize the database in order to connect with your customers on a regular basis, engaging them on a regular basis to tell them about updates to the app, tell them about other apps in your portfolio and share news and information. Because many app customers stop using your app in the first month, creating an external channel to communicate with your app customers gives you a powerful re-engagement channel.

Simply reminding them of your presence can lead to a significant increase in the retention rate. More than that, however, a regular communication with your app customers about new features and examples of how people are using your app is enough to dramatically change your retention patterns.