Keeping user retention rate up can be a tough task, especially now, when a sea of apps battle for customer attention. Yet, there are steps that you, as an app owner, can take right now. Our colleagues from Fluid share the tips to help you keep users for a prolonged period of time through a good UX design.

Apart from functions, the overall design of an app usually makes or breaks it for the app users. Keeping the right mix of colors, customer experience, support, and features can go a long way when user retention is in question.

1. Create a Fluid User Experience

Completing actions that have a beginning, a middle and an end is an optimal solution for almost any app type. Linear user flow helps estimate the time needed to conduct an activity and provides a clear view of what your app has to offer.

With a clear direction, users won’t feel “lost” while swiping through screens. One action per screen simplifies the process and keeps unnecessary complexity out of the equation.

2. Offer Attractive “First Sight” UX Design

For users to come back again to your app the next day, you really need a good first impression. Your first few screens should be simple yet appealing, all in one package. The overall UX design in the first few taps should have most of the major functions available and clearly displayed. Be sure to declutter irrelevant information in order to prioritize signals over the noise.

3. Mix in the Animation

Motion design is definitely getting momentum in the app industry, especially after the release of the iPhone X. With gesture-based strategies now becoming important, animated hints can help users understand what the app functions are about. It also helps with the clarification of the UI elements’ relationships while keeping the overall smoothness of the app high.

4. Use HD Images in Correct Order

App users always appreciate relevant content that matches the logical order of UI elements. So, it is important to keep the image’s quality high. However, app owners should also implement enhanced visuals that signify important information and/or certain elements. Contrasting colors, in our experience, work the best at times when users should take desirable actions.

5. Splash Screens for Tips or Announcements

The UI design should have a separate space dedicated for announcements and tips. Help the audience by providing smart notifications, popping out through splash screens, rather than plain boring text.

Paired with animated actions and HD images, splash screens can effectively explain what the design elements are all about. It also helps users navigate through the app, especially if you have numerous functions to offer.

6. Offer Personalized Content

Expressing the content in the language your audience understands immensely helps in keeping them around. App users are exposed to various content each day, with many of them being a bit confusing to navigate through.

Personalize the content with relevant images and emoticons, and provide content that resonates with your audience. Emoticons also offer a good way for users to rate a certain aspect of your app, informing you about the potential improvements for future development.

7. Include Videos where Applicable

Attention spans are decreasing, with users mostly preferring to see most of the relevant content in one place. How-to’s, tutorial and news videos are a great way to meet this particular need. In addition, it saves you space to display other UX design expertise as you need only a single window to showcase a video.

8. Use Chatbots

Although not exactly a complete replacement of GUI assistance, chatbots are still great as in-app assistance. They can answer most of the relevant questions without pulling out the full-blown FAQs, which may drive the user’s attention away from the screen. More importantly, bots help increase the communication between you and your audience, especially now when you can integrate them with social media platforms (like Facebook).

9. Kick Out Forms of Any Kinds

Almost any UX professional will tell you – forms are unnecessary. The app design should be form-free as clients do not like to spend time on monotonous activities. Apps are supposed to be fun and engaging, without chores.

Forms are exactly that. They offer very little to no value for customers. Incase, you have to add a form, make is very simple and easy to understand.

10. Offer Full-Screen Option

Full-screen helps users to experience all the features bringing their focus on the call-to-action buttons. High-quality images can then really resonate within your audience, capturing their attention for a longer time. Also, it offers a lot more space to play with when implementing your overall UX design.

Finalizing Your UX Design Strategy

No matter if your audience uses iOS or Android , a good UX design would keep them on your app. HD graphics, as well as relevant content, are imperative nowadays since the competition is fierce. Innovation is the key here to find the right mix of personalized UI element design.

Lastly, keep an eye on your competition, their recent improvements might inspire you with new ideas that could help you increase your own user retention rate.