The Evolution of Advertising: Why Mobile Solutions Are the Future

After countless hours perfecting every pixel and every interaction, your masterpiece is finally complete. But what is the next step? How do you get your app discovered by the crowd? That’s where teaming up with DoMedia Asia digital marketing agency partner can transform the trajectory of your mobile app advertising success.

Why is Mobile Marketing Important?

Mobile marketing is critical in today’s digital landscape, particularly in countries such as Malaysia where smartphone usage is common. According to GSMA research, 90% of Malaysians have used smartphones since 2021, making mobile devices the primary means of communication and information. Advertising via mobile phones dramatically increases publicity since it reaches audiences wherever they are, providing highly targeted and immediate interaction. With people constantly checking their phones, mobile advertisements provide maximum visibility, allowing businesses to communicate with potential customers effectively and in real-time. This makes mobile programmatic Asia play a critical tactic in increasing brand exposure and sales.

What is In-App Advertising?

In-app advertising is advertisements where placed directly in mobile applications, resulting in a highly engaging platform for reaching app users. The app developers are reimbursed for displaying these advertisements, making it an important cash source for app producers. The approach is based on sophisticated ad networks that analyze user behavior, algorithms, and preferences to guarantee that ads reach their intended audience. This precision targeting improves user engagement and click-through rates, making in-app advertising an effective marketing approach that also benefits app developers through monetization.

Benefits of In-App Advertising

In-app advertising has emerged as a valuable tool for both app developers and organizations. This tool not only provides constant revenue for each other but also enhances the user experience on the application. Here are some key benefits of in-app advertising:

• Earn Profit From User Clicks

This ad method will bring an abundant monetization approach that allows app developers to earn profit each time a user clicks through the ad. Especially paired with in-app purchases, it provides an extra source of revenue; hence, the app’s profit will rise too. Certain ad units can generate extremely high eCPMs, increasing the app’s earning potential.

• Improve User Engagement and Retention

Well-placed and relevant advertisements may dramatically increase user engagement and retention. For example, a mini-game rewarded adverts deliver value to users while keeping them interested. This results in a win-win situation, as users feel rewarded while developers gain from higher ad views and app usage at the same time.

• Increase In-App Purchases

In-app advertising can highlight special offers or premium features, leading to increased sales. Highlighting value-driven incentives encourages users to look into premium alternatives.  Furthermore, advertising personalized to user preferences can urge potential purchasers of the app users, this method is effectively integrating marketing into the app experience.

• Improve User Experience

Contrary to popular belief, in-app advertising may improve the user experience when done properly. Ads that match users’ interests or offer rewards enhance their app experience. Furthermore, native advertising that mixes in with the app’s design provides a non-intrusive experience, promoting a good view of both the app and the corporate organization.

Difference Between Mobile and In-App Advertising

Although there are some similarities between mobile and in-app advertising, there are two different strategies for reaching users through mobile devices. Here is a breakdown of these 2 strategies differences:

1. Advertising Platform

Mobile advertising includes a wide range of ads displayed on mobile devices’ browsers and applications. These ads target general internet viewers and allow them to appear on websites accessed via smartphones. On the other hand, in-app advertising specifically refers to ads integrated into mobile applications, targeting users who have downloaded the ads.

2. Data Collection

The type of data collected also distinguishes these two approaches. Mobile advertising often relies on cookies to gather information about the users’ shopping history, shopping habits, and frequently visited websites. In contrast, in-app advertising collects more precise data, such as app users’ GPS location, device type, and demographic details. These data have a good assist for advertisers in better targeting the right audience.

3. Ad Formats

Both mobile and in-app advertising support a variety of media. It had text, graphics, audio, and other formats. This versatility enables organizations to build engaging ad campaigns that are tailored to their specific objectives. However, the environment in which different forms are exhibited varies, which influences their impact on users.

4. Ad-Blocking System

Ad-blocking systems have a big impact on mobile advertising. Most of the mobile devices’ browsers had built-in ad blockers. This will lead to mobile device user ease in blocking ads and reduce their appearance. However, in-app advertising is less likely to be stopped because it is built into the app’s framework, assuring continuous delivery to consumers.

5. Target audiences

Mobile advertising is targeting general internet users who browse websites through their devices. In another way, in-app advertising focuses on app users only; this method allows advertisers to engage with audiences who have already invested in the app’s ecosystem. Therefore, it often leads to higher engagement and conversion rates.

DoMedia Asia, The Solution of Mobile In-App Marketing Approach

DoMedia Asia is a programmatic advertising Malaysia that brings extensive experience executing app install campaigns, working closely with development partners to identify goals and execute strategies that achieve them. Some of the key objectives we’ve helped app builder clients accomplish include:

• Lowering cost per install (CPI) to efficiently scale new user acquisition.
• Boosting in-app engagement through sessions, clicks, and transactions.
• Improving conversion at each step of the post-install user journey to hit key business goals.
• Accelerating user signups & purchases to generate revenue and growth.

Cost per Install (CPI) is a mobile advertising metric used to measure the cost incurred to acquire a new app install through a paid campaign. It represents the amount of money spent on advertising divided by the number of installs generated from that advertising campaign.

With advanced targeting capabilities, we connect your app with users who will not only download but thoroughly enjoy using it and stay actively engaged over the long term. And also, continuous optimizing post-install to convert first-time visitors into devoted users who keep coming back.

But growing an app takes more than just targeting install ads to the broad masses. True success requires guiding users through the complete journey—from initial discovery to loyal brand advocacy. DoMedia Asia takes a more comprehensive funnel methodology tailored to your app’s long-term success:

• Optimizing the Full Funnel: Many online marketing agencies focus narrowly on driving installs through generic targeting and maxing out budgets. A shotgun spray-and-pray approach.

• Awareness Stage: Get your app on promising users’ radars through brand-building ads that communicate your value proposition.

• Consideration Stage: Showcase your app’s standout benefits and features to target users who are likely to take an interest in your app category.

• Evaluation Stage: Strategic retargeting reminds interested users why your app stands out from competitors.

• Conversion Stage: Refined creative and retargeting optimized for conversion pushes targeted users over the edge to hit that download button.

• Experience Stage: In-app messaging immediately engages fresh installs, getting the relationship off on the right foot.

• Loyalty Stage: Ongoing retargeting, push messaging, and exclusive offers bring users back again.

Carefully guiding users through each stage of the journey allows us to drive not just installs, but satisfied loyal users who engage with your app for the long haul.

5 Steps of Mobile App Solution Marketing Process

When you partner with DoMedia Asia, a programmatic ad solution Malaysia for optimized user acquisition and retention, here is the proven process we’ll follow to promote growth:

1. Deep Dive Discovery

We’ll thoroughly research your app, business model, ideal users, and objectives through calls, meetings, and information exchanges with our strategy team.

2. Goal Setting and KPI Alignment

Together we’ll identify the key performance indicators that define marketing success for your mobile app advertising—whether that’s cost per install, time in the app, sales, or other growth drivers.

3. Audience Targeting and Creative Strategy

Leveraging insights from discovery, our team will analyze and identify your ideal target users. We’ll develop tailored mobile app advertising creative and messaging strategies engineered to resonate strongly with your audience and motivate action.

4. Media Buying and Multi-Channel Optimization

We will leverage paid campaigns across channels such as Facebook, Google, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn—based on our expertise to reach your target. We will push the campaign algorithms to the top, while making changes and decisions based on real-time performance data, to improve results for your business. 

5. In-Depth Reporting and Analysis

You will also get precise dashboards and analytics for full transparency regarding campaign metrics, with weekly calls to review progress and iterate creatives, targeting, and strategies on the go based on findings.

Who is DoMedia Asia and How Can They Help You?

DoMedia Asia is a leading programmatic marketing agency located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. For over a decade, we’ve specialized in growing brands across Asia through data-driven digital advertising strategies tuned for real business impact.

Our team brings deep expertise in delivering tangible outcomes for clients while keeping costs efficient. We’ve promoted hundreds of mobile apps, partnering closely with developers to accelerate user acquisition and engagement.

Unlike mobile development companies, DoMedia Asia focuses 100% on marketing already-built apps through strategic ad campaigns. We don’t build apps—we drive installs and in-app action.

Let DoMedia Asia Boost Your App Store Charts

Don’t let your blood, sweat, and tears go to waste! Our experts are ready to help your app succeed. We’ll work tirelessly until you achieve the results you envisioned when you started on this journey. Want to chat? Reach out now for a free consultation on igniting your app’s growth through strategic marketing!

Mobile App Solutions FAQ

1. What is The Average Cost Per Install (CPI) For a Mobile App Campaign?

The average CPI can shift pretty drastically based on factors like your app type, target audience, and how competitive your niche is. For big broad categories like gaming apps marketed to the masses, CPIs often fall on the lower end of the spectrum, in the $1 to $5 range.

When you first launch a campaign, plan for CPIs to start higher while the platform takes time to optimize and find the most valuable users. With a sufficient budget and run time, CPIs typically decrease thanks to the platform’s optimization algorithms learning what works. Running disciplined A/B creative testing also helps drive down CPIs over time by improving conversion rates from clicks and impressions to full installs.

2. How Long Does It Take To Start Seeing Initial Results From a Mobile App Install Campaign?

You can expect to see at least some preliminary results within the first 24–48 hours of your mobile app install campaign going live. However, it takes a full 7–14 days for a new campaign to accumulate enough data and optimization learning for the platform’s algorithms to fully find their groove.

During those critical first few weeks, continually test out new ad variations and target audience approaches. Let the programmatic advertising solutions campaign run wide open and see what emerges as the winners based on actual performance data. After 2–3 weeks of learning and optimization, you’ll have identified your most effective creative and targeting combinations. Those then become the foundation you can scale up for driving consistent install volume over the long haul. Patience pays off – don’t rush to conclusions or make drastic optimization calls too early on limited data.

3. What Metrics Beyond Installs Should You Track in a Mobile App Campaign?

Though raw installs are the primary goal of user acquisition campaigns, savvy digital marketers pay attention to a holistic set of metrics to understand campaign performance at a deeper level. Some other key performance indicators worth monitoring closely include:

• Cost per install (lowering average CPI over time)
• Install-to-signup conversion rate (% that create accounts)
• Daily/monthly active users (measures sticky engagement)
• Session length, pages/screens per session (shows engagement depth)
• Retention at Day 1, Week 1, Month 1 (reducing early user churn)
• In-app purchases, overall revenue (evaluate revenue potential)

Tracking these supplementary metrics beyond the initial install gives crucial insight into whether you’re acquiring users who engage and bring value vs. one-off downloaders who quickly disappear.

4. Progress of DoMedia Test Different Creatives in a Mobile App Install Campaign

​​Thorough creative testing is crucial for reducing CPIs and increasing conversions in app install campaigns. By testing 3–5 ad variations with different visuals, copy, and calls-to-action within the same ad set targeting identical audiences, advertisers ensure fair competition and optimal algorithmic performance. After 5–7 days, top-performing ads can guide future strategies.