Proven Strategies to Improve User Retention in Streaming Apps

What makes users stick around on streaming apps? Is it content, the ease of navigation, or perhaps the personalized recommendations? The truth is. It’s a mixture of all these elements that collectively create an effortless and deeply satisfying user experience.

As the competition heats up in the streaming industry, platforms must go beyond the basics to hold and retain audiences. According to Statista, there are over 3.9 billion users across different OTT streaming apps. They crave platforms that know their likings, suggest personalized content, or do so with their viewing patterns.

User retention in streaming apps becomes more challenging when hundreds of options are available in the market, all competing to onboard maximum users. The more platforms there are, the easier it gets for users to switch if they’re not consistently impressed. 

With over 15 years of experience in app development, experts at Cubix know inside out how to make an app successful. To help you with the user retention challenges once and for all, this blog shares a few tested & tried strategies that will help you enhance your app retention rate and convert casual viewers into loyal subscribers.

Why is User Retention Essential to an App’s Success?

User retention is all about how well your streaming app is to persuade users to come back again. It’s a key metric that shows whether people find enough value in your app to stick around after their first visit. The high customer retention rates are a good sign that they enjoy the experience. 

On the other hand, low retention could be an indication of issues with the app’s user experience, content, or maybe features part of it. Here is why app user retention matters most in a niche of streaming:

• Smart Spending: Keeping existing users is usually cheaper than attracting new ones. Your focus on retention will cut down on marketing expenses and make it profitable.
• Building Brand Loyalty: When users consistently return to your app, they begin to develop an emotional connection. This loyalty prevents them from switching you and creates a strong brand identity.
• Word-of-Mouth Marketing: Happy users are your best marketers. They’re more likely to recommend your app to friends and family, helping you gain new users without extra cost.
• User Insights: Long-term users can offer insights that help improve your app. Their feedback can guide updates to features, content, and the user experience.
• Customer Lifetime Value (CLV): Users who stick around tend to spend more over time. A higher Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) means each user generates more revenue.
• Beat the Competition: In a crowded market, user retention can set your streaming app apart. A loyal user base gives you a competitive edge, making your service the go-to choice over others.

How to Make Your Streaming App Irresistible to Users

Whether you are focusing on iOS or Android app development, developers should carefully tailor streaming apps with retention strategies to account for each platform’s unique characteristics and user behaviors.

Personalized Journeys for Every User

Who wouldn’t love being special? What if an app starts recommending you everything that you love to do regularly? That’s what personalization does. It puts data analytics and sophisticated algorithms into use, delivering more relevant suggestions based on individuals’ habits, preferences, and contextual factors such as time of day. According to MCkinsky’s research, 78% of users are more likely to engage with content that is personalized to their preferences. 

For instance, Netflix’s recommendation system, which utilizes a complex algorithm analyzing user behavior, is estimated to save the company over $1 billion annually by reducing churn. 

It allows users to customize their interfaces—such as adjusting theme colors or selecting content categories—and creates a sense of ownership that enhances their overall experience. When users feel that the app is designed for them, they will definitely return.

Engaging Content Library

An engaging content library makes you a streaming app for all users. It includes adding a wide range of offerings that spans various genres, languages, and formats so that there’s something for everyone. You are advised to update the content library regularly to keep the platform fresh. 

For example, platforms like Disney+ gained over 28 million subscribers in just a few months due to exclusive titles such as (The Mandalorian). This is a standout example demonstrating the significance of unique content that drives user loyalty.

According to the Nosto report, 67% of users cite content variety as a key factor in their platform choice. 

Those who invest in exclusive content, such as original series and films, will set a streaming app apart from its competitors. 

Prioritize a good UI

It’s an undeniable fact that an appealing interface won’t let users easily go away. A good UI/UX is a core element that either makes or breaks a streaming app. Users love and expect an easygoing interface that allows them to find content quickly. You can add progressive app features like search filters, personalized playlists, and quick access to recently watched items to enhance user satisfaction. 

In fact, 91% of unsatisfied customers don’t complain about their bad experience; they simply leave without giving feedback. It is recommended that you scale your app performance better to ensure fast loading times so that users never get frustrated and abandoned.

Social Features

Social features are very important as they help the user connect with others in a beneficial way. Integrating such features into apps will create a sense of community. It will allow users to leave reviews, rate content, and participate in discussions with those who share similar interests. 

According to Think with Google, shared experiences increase subscriptions by 22%. You can add different app features, like watch parties, which enable users to invite friends to view content, creating shared experiences that can deepen their connection to the app. 

Gamification & Cool Rewards

Adding gamification and reward features within your app is an outstanding way to hook users. It makes the app experience full of fun and interactive twists. We have shared a few common practices that will help you persuade users to return for more.

• Earn Achievements and Badges: Let them earn badges for watching a lot of content or exploring new genres. Such little rewards will make them feel accomplished and encourage their participation.
• Join Fun Challenges: You can add friendly competitions to earn rewards, such as a weekly challenge to watch a series. Those who complete the challenge get points or special content.
• Set Up Reward Tiers: Design a tier system relevant to users’ engagement. The more they use the app, the higher they climb, and it keeps them active and will be anxious to reach the next tier.
• Host Special Events: Run limited-time events or promotions that offer unique rewards. This creates a sense of urgency and excitement, encouraging users to come back regularly to take part and earn special perks.
• Share the Fun: Share users’ achievements or challenge results on social media. It adds a social element and helps spread the word about your app, drawing in new users interested in joining the fun.

Remember, a successful referral program can increase user acquisition rates by 25%. These rewarding schemes will increase retention and organic growth to expand the number of users through word-of-mouth.

Flexible Subscription Models

An easy-go subscription model makes your app budget-friendly and will help you target those with limited budgets to get started with you. You can also go through user demographics to develop tiered pricing options—such as ad-supported plans, family bundles, or premium memberships. 

In fact, these multiple pricing options are admired by 60% of users. That’s due to the freedom to choose what works best for users, which will help them make decisions based on their budget and viewing habits. 

To be more friendly, you can share free trial periods to help them explore without commitment. If users feel the value of the content and features firsthand, this may be a better chance to convert into paying subscribers to contribute retention rates.

How We Helped Our Clients Achieve 85% User Retention

At Cubix, we were recently approached for a social media app project Social Flock with an aim to enrich people’s lives by helping them reconnect with friends and family. We were supposed to an engaging environment that attracts users and keeps them coming back for more. And that’s exactly what we delivered.

We brought together some of our most skilled developers, designers, and strategists to create something that meets industry standards. From day one, they ensured that every feature, from social sharing tools to group chat options, was designed with the user in mind. Several features within the app were added for maximum user retention, including Mutual requests, personalized post feed, invites & earning through the app, offline games, and more. 

These efforts really paid off—within the first year, the app reached over 500,000 downloads and saw a 75% boost in overall interaction. This collective of our agile team led to an impressive 90% satisfaction rate. Plus, our community-building features resulted in a 60% increase in daily active users and doubled the network size. With a standout 85% user retention rate, Social Flock proves that a thoughtful design will definitely impact users to be connected and committed.

Got a Project in Mind?

Successful steaming app retention isn’t achieved overnight; it requires continuous effort, adaptation, and a deep understanding of user needs and preferences. 

At Cubix, we provide end-to-end growth solutions at every stage of the mobile app development journey. Our professional team utilizes leading user acquisition and retention strategies that won’t let your clients switch to competitors. When you partner with us, you receive:

• High-End Technology
• User Friendly Design
• Innovative Features
• Flexible Monetization Options
• Fast Time-to-Market

If you’re seeking to get the most out of your next streaming app project, contact us today. We’re excited to discuss your app concept!