Advertisers, Developers

Q4 Growth Hacks for UA Campaigns

by AppLovin on Sep 27, 2023

Q4 is the most lucrative time of year as both consumers and advertisers gear up for the holiday season. Ad spending in the US alone is expected to reach a staggering $363 billion by the end of 2023. Consumer spending in apps increased by 37% during the Q4 holiday period in 2022 with no signs of slowing. 

How can app marketers take advantage of this increased spending and engagement? The answer lies in AI-based advertising, which is already improving the accuracy, efficiency, and targeting capabilities of performance campaigns. This approach is driving app growth at an unprecedented pace for the industry’s leading app developers.

To get your piece of this holiday magic, prioritize working with partners that are utilizing AI within their solutions and incorporate these tips into your user acquisition strategy.

1. Set realistic campaign goals

Q4 is the time for the high holidays and even higher installs and in-app purchasing — making it an opportune time for growth. However, it’s important to not set overly ambitious goals that may be challenging to hit. While it’s important to aim high, setting unrealistic goals can hinder campaign performance. AI solutions thrive on accuracy and if the objectives are nearly impossible to reach, they may struggle to deliver their best results. Therefore, striking a balance between ambition and realism by setting achievable goals is key to optimizing for successful outcomes.

2. Ensure campaigns have plenty of data

Campaigns are more likely to effectively match with users when there is ample data based on the down-funnel events you want to achieve. It’s important to start campaigns early and allow enough time for the learning phase to identify the best users to drive optimal performance. The amount of data necessary for a UA campaign to be successful varies, but AI-based advertising typically requires relatively less data input and time thanks to its advanced learning capabilities. This means campaign targets are hit within a few days of launch which significantly accelerates ramp-up time. Less time spent on learning also means reduced startup costs, resulting in higher ROAS.

3. Expand campaigns globally

High-value users can be found in every corner of the world because where there is a mobile phone, there are endless opportunities for engagement. This is especially true of Q4 where users are spending more leisure time on apps to shop and connect with friends. Instead of focusing on a smaller set of regional markets, such as tier 1 countries, try expanding your UA globally. By tapping into a broad geographic reach, you open up opportunities for substantial scale and growth. AI makes it easy to find those ideal users through a single global campaign which simplifies management and eliminates the need to juggle geo-segmented campaigns.

4. Try a multi-campaign type strategy

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to finding your target audience. Combining different campaign types will broaden your reach and allow you to engage with different (and often, incremental) audience segments. AI-based advertising efficiently connects the dots across various campaign types and can give you an edge when it comes to acquiring users with complementary retention and ROAS curves. This allows advertisers to not only acquire users for the short-term, but also those who will remain engaged long after the holiday season.

5. Open up budgets for Q4

You can capitalize on the increased app engagement this season by ramping up ad spend and pushing the limits of your growth.  By strategically allocating your budgets and investing in AI-powered campaigns, you can make every dollar count and ensure that your app stands out in the crowded marketplace. As the old adage says – You have to spend money to make money. Revenue gains achieved now can be reinvested into finding even more high-quality users and the cycle of exponential growth starts. 


Interested in leveling up your UA campaign this Q4? AppDiscovery leverages its proprietary AI-based advertising engine to grow apps intelligently and sustainably. Contact us or reach out to your account representative for more information.

Share this:
Resources Company