WWDC 2024 and the end of SKAN (maybe)

What is happening in mobile gaming in 2024? Apparently old people game more than young, casual’s growing everywhere. The market as a whole is growing, and daily engagement jumped back up after a decline last year. I recently saw that Adjoe put out a Mobile Games Index 2024 and I wanted to know more, so in this episode of Growth Masterminds, we discuss the latest trends in mobile gaming with Carly Ostasiewski, director of growth at Adjoe. The find unexpected insights from the 2024 Mobile Games Index report, including older demographics outpacing younger ones in mobile game engagement and the rise of casual gaming across various age groups. Key points include the transition from traditional console gaming to mobile, a surge in adventure and action game popularity among kids, and a significant increase in gaming app monetization through integrated ads. Additionally, the report shows that European players lead in daily app usage and explores the growing role of women in gaming. We also touch on the potential integration of gaming with everyday app usage, hinting at a future where gaming becomes a central component of consumer experiences across platforms. 00:00 Introduction and Surprising Gaming Trends 01:19 Demographics and Gaming Preferences 02:37 Kids and Mobile Gaming: The Reality 04:12 Roblox and the Younger Demographic 06:12 Gaming Industry Trends and Monetization 14:51 Regional Gaming Trends 17:05 Future of Gaming: Integration with Everyday Apps 19:22 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Goodbye SKAdNetwork, hello AdAttributionKit. Or AAK, or AdKit. In this special episode of Growth Masterminds, we dive into Apple's new ad attribution kit, announced at WWDC. We discuss the nuances of the new version, not exactly SKAN 5, and its support for third-party app stores and reengagement campaigns. The episode features in-depth insights from Singular CEO Gadi Eliashiv and CTO Eran Friedman, emphasizing the changes, improvements, and expectations for adoption in the ecosystem. Additionally, they touch upon the future of measurement on iOS, the interplay with Privacy Sandbox on Android, and what it means for app developers and advertisers. 00:00 Welcome to Growth Masterminds 01:09 Understanding AdAttributionKit 02:58 Reengagement and Debugging Enhancements 05:46 Backward Compatibility and Postback Formats 10:03 Deep Dive into Retargeting 17:12 Creative Types and Engagement Types 23:20 Exploring SKOverlay and Its Implications 25:19 Understanding SK interaction Types and Attribution Windows 25:47 Custom Click Ads and Alternative App Stores 28:16 Adoption Challenges and Future Predictions 35:47 The Future of Measurement on iOS 39:34 Privacy Sandbox and Android 41:20 Q&A and Final Thoughts

WWDC kicked off today and SKAdNetwork is nowhere to be found. Instead, we have App AdAttributionKit and Web AdAttributionKit (say that 3X fast, we dare you!) and not much detail about where SKAN is going. Out guest today, however, thinks that there' won't be a SKAN 5 or a SKAN 6, and that there will just be new AdAttributionKit releases from time to time. And that all the juicy new tech promised for future SKAN versions is actually here ... So ... Join host John Koetsier in this episode of Growth Masterminds as he explores the future of ad attribution and privacy compliance post-WWDC with guest David Phillipson, CEO of DataSeat. They discuss the potential end of SKAdNetwork, the introduction of Apple's App AdAttributionKit and Web AdAttributionKit, and the challenges and implications for the ad tech industry. They delve into the reliability of modeled attribution data from media giants like Google, Meta, and TikTok, and the evolving modeling strategies used to overcome privacy blind spots. Also, David shares his personal journey into ad tech (which is interesting!), lessons from successful entrepreneurs, and the importance of unified measurement in a privacy-focused world. If you're looking to understand the impacts of Apple's recent announcements and the future of ad attribution, this episode is a must-watch (and you know this is absolutely 100% true because ChatGPT wrote this part of the show notes ... but not this sarcastic little note.) 00:00 Introduction and Opening Thoughts 00:16 The Reliability of Ad Attribution Data 00:45 WWDC and Apple's New Releases 01:05 Introducing the Guest: David Phillipson 04:45 Discussion on SKAN and Ad Attribution 07:34 Challenges and Adoption of SKAN 12:49 Future of Ad Attribution and Privacy 18:51 Unified Measurement and Market Trends 29:30 Final Thoughts and Predictions 32:53 Closing Remarks

How do you achieve insane mobile app retention rates? One way is magic. Another is pure accident. The third is by applying smart frameworks to science (and magic) your way to better retention. In this episode of Growth Mastermind, host John Koetsier speaks with mobile growth expert Jacob Rushfinn about achieving high app retention rates. They discuss four frameworks for tackling retention: Darius Contractor's Psych Framework, RICE Prioritization (Reach, Impact, Confidence, Effort), Eisenhower's prioritization matrix, and Elena Verna’s Conversion Rate Decline Diagnostic. Jacob shares insights from his diverse experience at companies like Balance, Level Up, Amwell, and Automattic. The conversation covers the practical application of these frameworks, the value of early user engagement, and the impact of better retention metrics on long-term success. 00:00 Introduction to Killer App Retention 01:15 The Journey into Retention 04:27 Understanding Frameworks for Retention 07:26 The Psych Framework Explained 14:16 Framework Number Two: RICE Prioritization 20:06 Balancing Quick Wins and Big Bets 21:14 The RICE Approach to Prioritization 21:49 Eisenhower's Prioritization Matrix 25:48 Elena Verna's Conversion Rate Decline Diagnostic 33:58 The Impact of Better Retention 38:32 Final Thoughts and Resources

Should you stop A/B testing creative right now? In this episode of Growth Masterminds, host John Koetsier chats with Ellad Matarasso, Director of Growth at Alison.ai. They discuss the limitations of traditional A/B testing in growth marketing and how Google and Meta do essentially massively multivariate simultaneous testing. Matarasso shares insights on how AI can analyze creative elements frame by frame and correlate them with performance data, thereby recommending the best combinations to maximize ad campaigns. They also chat about the importance of creative in advertising, common mistakes marketers make, and emerging trends such as generative AI in creative production. 00:00 Stop A/B Testing? 00:31 The Evolution of A/B Testing 01:54 How Allison.ai Tests 07:12 How Important is Creative? 12:59 Human Creativity vs. AI 15:51 Trends in Creative Optimization 17:04 Challenges with Major Platforms 19:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Protected Audiences has grown a lot since it was FLEDGE, and even this year. As such, it’s going to be useful for much more than just retargeting, according to 2 experts. In this episode of Growth Mastermind, host John Koetsier explores the intricacies of Google's Privacy Sandbox with a particular focus on the Protected Audiences API. He’s joined by experts Omri Gal, Head of Privacy Sandbox at Singular, and Lucky Harpley, a Product Manager at Remerge. The discussion covers the evolving landscape of retargeting and attribution on Android. They delve into the technical workings, the impact on marketers, and insights from recent testing. The conversation also highlights the challenges and preparation steps for the transition from GAID to Privacy Sandbox, emphasizing the importance of understanding and adapting to new industry standards. Finally, they highlight the key difference between attribution and optimization via GAID right now versus Privacy Sandbox on Android in the future. 00:00 Introduction to Privacy Sandbox and Its Evolution 04:10 Deep Dive into Protected Audiences API 11:32 The Future of Targeting and Retargeting in Privacy Sandbox 19:16 Testing and Implementing Privacy Sandbox Solutions 27:22 Preparing Marketers for the Privacy Sandbox Transition 31:10 Closing Thoughts and Next Steps

Everyone needs better app retention. Especially in health and wellness categories. One app, Welltory, has an insane 56% retention rate for users over the last 3 years. As in ... people installed 3 years ago, and THEY ARE STILL USING THE APP today. How? Perhaps some Jedi mind tricks, which Asya Paloni, VP of Strategy, shares with us in this episode of Growth Masterminds. We chat about Welltory's success in overcoming the notoriously poor retention rates in the fitness and wellness app industry by implementing innovative strategies. We also talk about making the app experience magical, hyper-personalizing content, offering new experiences with each app interaction, and ensuring users never feel bad for not meeting their goals. With a focus on making mundane data engaging and displaying it in real-time in a way that makes sense to users, Welltory has achieved a remarkable 56% usage retention rate over three years. The conversation highlights the importance of user engagement, the psychological aspects of app design, and the power of keeping users interested without relying on notifications or making them feel inadequate. 00:00 Introduction to Jedi Mind Tricks for App Retention 00:53 Unlocking Jedi Mind Tricks: Insights from a Content Creator 02:37 The Wellness App Dilemma: Retention Challenges and Solutions 07:31 Welltory's 5 Core Strategies for User Retention 08:48 Exploring Welltory's Innovative Features and User Engagement 22:47 The Impact of Welltory's Strategies on User Retention 28:48 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Should you have an AI agent assigned to every single app user? In this episode of Growth Masterminds, host John interviews Shaun Wheeler, a data scientist at Aampe. They focus on mobile user engagement and the innovative approach of assigning an AI agent to each app user. They discuss the limitations of traditional user engagement strategies, such as generic pop-up messaging, and the power of AI agents in providing tailored interactions based on individual user behavior. Through examples, including a nursing scheduling app and e-commerce platforms, they explore how AI-driven personalization can significantly impact user retention, monetization, and overall satisfaction, while also reducing communication volume. The conversation highlights the use of surrogate models to predict user behavior, the importance of first-party data, and the future potential of AI in enhancing mobile user experiences. 00:00 Introduction to AI in User Engagement 01:15 A Deep Dive into Messaging Strategies 07:01 The Power of Personalization with AI Agents 09:50 Exploring the Impact of Over-Instrumentation 20:05 Case Studies and Real-World Applications 29:20 Concluding Thoughts on AI-Driven Engagement

What are the most common blockers to growing games profitably? In other words, why won't your game grow? You built a game and it’s awesome, but it’s not growing like you want it to. What’s wrong? Maybe this episode of Growth Masterminds holds the answer. Today we’re chatting with who reminds me of Ben Affleck in The Consultant, because she’s called in when nothing else is working Her name is Sara El Bachri. She runs ShamsCo, does the mobile gaming growth masterclass, and has worked with 40+ gaming studios over the last few years including EA, Rovio, Gameloft, DoubleDown, Netflix Games, and TutoToons. All of that means: she’s seen a few things. And fixed a few things. We hear about the biggest blockers for growth for games both big and small ... and a little about Sara's journey to becoming an internationally renowned UA consultant. 00:00 The Growth Dilemma 00:33 Introducing Sarah El Bachri 01:27 Mobile Game Growth: Strategies and Insights 11:44 Bridging the Gap: Communication and Creativity in Game Studios 18:10 Unlocking Organic Growth: The Power of Testing and Education 21:49 The Importance of Internal Education and Collaboration 27:12 The Complexity of User Acquisition

Where is IAP spend going in 2024? It’s tough out there: inflation is still high, ad revenue is underpacing GDP, and GDP growth is softening in key countries including the USA. So what can we expect from in-app payers in 2024? In this episode of Growth Masterminds, host John Koetsier delves into the future of in-app spend and gamer loyalty with guest Jason Heller, CEO of Mistplay. The conversation covers the expected decrease and concentration of in-app spending in fewer games, the importance of understanding consumer spending motivation, and the use of data to drive personalization and engagement. Insights reveal a shift towards more thoughtful spending among gamers, potentially leading to a landscape with fewer winners among game publishers. The discussion also explores loyalty and monetization strategies, user acquisition challenges, and the rising interest in the loyalty and engagement space for mobile gaming. 00:00 The Future of In-App Spending: Winners and Losers 00:32 Diving Deep into the Spend Report with Jason Heller 01:58 Analyzing Spending Trends and Predictions for 2024 08:59 The Importance of Personalization in Gaming Offers 13:07 Exploring Loyalty and Incentives in Mobile Gaming 30:43 The Rise of Loyalty Platforms in the Gaming Industry