Business
Singular
Growth Masterminds is smart user acquisition and mobile growth pros sharing their best insights on UA, retention, mobile measurement, privacy, mobile marketing data, and much more. Hosted by John Koetsier, we chat with brands like IMVU, DraftKings, and Mixtiles. We interrogate ad networks like Fyber, Kidoz, AppLike, Vungle, Bluestacks, and more. And we feature global experts like Eric Seufert and Jayne Peressini. Along the way, we hit topics like pLTV, creative optimization, incrementality, granularity, fraud, privacy, success in China ... and much, much more.
Total 141 episodes
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27/11/2024

Went viral on TikTok Shop ... sold out in 3 days!

Imagine going viral on TikTok and getting millions of views. Then imagine you have a product attached to those views and you sell out in 3 days. In this episode of Growth Masterminds, host John Koetsier chats with Vivian Chang, the VP of e-commerce at GNC, about retail subscriptions. We chat about GNC's experimental success on TikTok Shop where a women's Stress Vita Pack went viral and sold out in three days, and Vivian breaks down strategies to succeed in subscription retail, touching upon the significance of pricing promotions, the importance of innovative convenience, and effective marketing techniques such as surround sound marketing. We also dive into the dynamics of on-platform commerce at platforms like TikTok and Facebook ... should you do this, or should you always try to bring customers straight on to your owned platforms? Finally, we talk about the balance between online and physical retail channels for consumer brands. Whether you're interested in the nuances of e-commerce or looking for creative ways to enhance customer loyalty, this episode offers invaluable insights. 00:00 Introduction to GNC's Success on TikTok 01:32 Black Friday and Consumer Sentiment 02:22 Understanding Subscription Retail 08:48 Key Growth Levers in Subscription Retail 10:53 The Role of Key Channels in Subscription Retail 15:14 On-Platform Commerce: TikTok and Beyond 23:17 Balancing E-Commerce and Physical Stores 27:23 Final Thoughts and Hidden Keys to Success
30m
18/06/2024

What's hot in mobile gaming right now?

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
19m
10/06/2024

WWDC 2024 and the end of SKAN (maybe)

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
33m
13/05/2024

5 Jedi mind tricks for insane retention

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
29m
12/04/2024

Unified Measurement for iOS mobile attribution

In this episode of Growth Mastermind, host John Koetsier discusses the challenges of iOS mobile measurement in the era of privacy updates, focusing on the difficulty of distinguishing between organic and paid acquisition and the fragmentation of measurement across different methods: SKAN, IDFA, IDFV, MMP, and more. Guests Evyatar Ram and Kelsey Lee, product and marketing managers, introduce Singular's solution to these challenges: unified measurement. This innovative approach combines SKAdNetwork and tracker data to provide marketers with a single, de-duplicated, and accurate view of user acquisition (UA) activity on iOS, tackling issues like over/under counting and data fragmentation. The solution enhances decision-making by offering comprehensive insights into installs, revenue cohorts, and event tracking without the typical delays or inaccuracies stemming from data fragmentation. Beta testers report significant improvements in campaign performance and attribution accuracy thanks to unified measurement, indicating a strong step forward in resolving iOS attribution woes. 00:00 Navigating the Chaos of iOS Mobile Measurement 01:32 The Fragmentation Problem in iOS Attribution 04:37 Unified Measurement: A Revolutionary Solution 07:18 Beta Testers Validate Unified Measurement's Impact 11:12 Differentiating Unified Measurement from Other Solutions 13:54 The Future of Unified Measurement and Its Evolution 17:29 Closing Thoughts and Future Directions
17m
02/04/2024

Women in growth: 5 extraordinary women

This special episode of Growth Masterminds features an all-women panel discussing their experiences and challenges in the growth industry. The guests share their career paths, biggest triumphs, and the key challenges they've faced, offering advice for women considering a career in growth. The panel comprises of five accomplished women from various companies who delve into topics such as the importance of self-advocacy, the value of mentorship, and the need to be adaptable and data literate in a fast-evolving field. The conversation also highlights the significance of community and support among women in tech and growth sectors. Guests include: Adrienne Rice, Performance Media Director, M&C Saatchi Performance Dr. Matina Thomaidou, VP data science, Dataseat Tamanda Itaye, Senior Global Performance Marketing Manager, WFP - ShareTheMeal Saadi Muslu, VP Marketing, Singular Susan Kuo, Chief Operating Officer, Singular 00:00 Welcome to the Women in Growth Special Episode 00:32 Introducing the Panel: Leaders in Growth 02:26 Journey into Growth: Panelists Share Their Stories 12:50 Biggest Career Triumphs: Stories of Success 22:53 Overcoming Challenges: Insights from the Panel 25:53 Cross-Functional Collaboration in Data Science 27:07 Navigating Leadership and Personal Growth 31:30 Challenges of Balancing Professional and Personal Life 36:47 Empowering Women in the Workplace 45:21 Advice for Women Considering the Growth Space 52:45 Closing Remarks and Appreciation
53m
25/03/2024

Getting more data from your ad networks than they offer

How do you get more data from ad platforms than they offer? Simple: use Singular. No, we're not talking about anything underhanded or tricky. We're simply getting multiple dimensions and breakdowns that are individually available but not generally visible together. That lack of visibility has a cost: complexity, time, and your ability to see optimization or targeting capability. In this Growth Masterminds, host John Koetsier chats with Singular product manager Maayan Shor about the companies' new feature to bring as much data into your BI system as possible, allowing marketers to make the smartest optimization and allocation decisions. Multiple Breakdowns helps marketers by enabling access to a broader range of data breakdowns without the need to switch views constantly. This capability allows marketers to uncover hidden trends, fine-tune targeting strategies, and make more informed decisions by providing a more comprehensive view of campaign data across platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Snapchat. We also chat about how specific breakdowns, such as age and gender, can lead to more precise targeting and identification of unexpected audience segments. 00:00 Navigating Data Challenges in Ad Platforms 00:28 The Struggle for More Data: Challenges and Solutions 03:15 Introducing Multiple Breakdowns: A Game-Changer for Marketers 04:55 Unlocking New Marketing Strategies with Enhanced Data 06:21 Optimizing Creative Strategies with Targeted Insights 07:11 Frequency and Impact of Data Analysis in Marketing 09:09 Exploring New Dimensions: DMA Breakdowns and Their Impact 11:07 Selecting the Right Data Breakdowns for Your Marketing Goals 12:37 Closing Thoughts and Appreciation
12m
20/03/2024

The best ad networks on the planet

Welcome to a podcast crosspost from SplitMetrics' App Growth Talks. Host Lina Danilchik chats with usual Growth Masterminds host John Koetsier as they talk about Singular's ROI Index for 2024 highlighting the best ad networks on the planet. I chat about the significance of Singular's ROI Index, detailing the best mobile ad networks across various geographies and verticals. Lina asks me about my background in mobile ad tech and my path from journalist to VP of Insights at Singular, plus my philosophy on app growth and user acquisition. Key topics include the effectiveness of various ad networks like Google Ads, Meta, TikTok, and ironSource, the surprising success of smaller networks like Moloco, the potential of Apple Search Ads, and the strategic use of artificial intelligence in marketing. We also talk about future innovations in the mobile industry, including multiple app stores and ads personalized through generative AI. See a full transcript on SplitMetrics' website:https://splitmetrics.com/blog/category/app-growth-series/ 00:00 Welcome to a Special Crossover Episode! 00:43 Introducing John Koetsier 03:58 Unveiling the ROI Index: A Deep Dive into Mobile Ad Networks 05:21 The Golden Six: Top Ad Networks Uncovered 08:40 Exploring Apple's Search Ads Performance 15:08 Reddit's Unique Position in the Ad Space 19:10 Exploring AI's Impact and Future in Tech 21:15 The Evolution of Advertising with AI 24:49 Emerging Technologies and Innovations in the Industry 28:47 Insights from the ROI Index Report 30:55 Advice for Small and Growing Mobile Businesses 36:09 Concluding Thoughts and Future Sessions
37m
05/03/2024

Gaming DNA shows why players like specific games

Why do gamers like certain games and not others? GameTree is a LFG (looking for group) app that connects gamers to play together. To do that, GameTree leverages psychology to build Gaming DNA, which analyzes why certain players like specific games. Gaming DNA shows what kinds of gamers there are, who likes which games, and who might enjoy playing with others. In this Growth Masterminds, host John Koetsier chats with GameTree founders Dana Sydorenko and John Uke. Their conversation reveals insights into how gaming preferences differ across genders, ages, and platforms, touching on the social dynamics of gaming, the role of gamer psychology, and the implications for game design and marketing. Key topics include the surprising patterns of gaming among men and women, the importance of social connections in gaming, and how GameTree's technology is pioneering personalized gaming experiences. Additionally, the discussion delves into the potential of mobile gaming, the impact of VR and Web3 on the gaming landscape, and the significance of supporting diversity in gaming, particularly the inclusion of women in gaming communities and development. 00:00 Introduction to Gamer Psychology 00:59 Introducing GameTree and its Founders 01:34 Gender Differences in Gaming 03:22 Platform Preferences and Gaming Patterns 04:58 The Importance of Gaming DNA 06:21 The Social Aspect of Gaming 15:30 The Role of Mobile Gaming 22:38 The Future of Gaming: VR and Blockchain 26:39 Women in Gaming 31:51 Conclusion
32m
15/02/2024

Privacy safe post-ATT behavioral targeting?!?

How can you get pre-ATT levels of behavioral targeting in a privacy-safe way? Can you? In this Growth Masterminds we’re chatting with the co-founder of an AI-powered tool that says it analyzes game play and user behavior to understand gamers and what they do. Then it recommends games that they’ll like, while rewarding them for playing recommended games. Our guest is a co-founder of Gamelight, Gunay Aliyeva. Host John Koetsier interviews her about Gamelight, an AI-powered tool that analyzes user behavior and gameplay for targeted recommendations. The tool utilizes AI algorithms and a user's data (with given permission) to suggest games based on their preferences. Gamelight endeavors to minimize game downloads and maximize user retention through personalized recommendations. They also discuss Gamelight's arbitrage strategy of acquiring users at a generalized level, then offering highly targeted advertising opportunities to their partners, focusing on long-term user quality and satisfaction. They also touch on the company's expansion into non-gaming apps, the use of a consumer rewards system, and their global reach. 00:00 Introduction 01:15 Exploring the Functionality of Gamelight 03:02 Discussing the Privacy Aspect of Gamelight 04:32 Understanding the User Acquisition Strategy 05:12 Challenging the Traditional Ad Network Model 06:14 The Long-Term Vision of Gamelight 07:08 Understanding User Behavior and Gamelight's Approach 10:03 Discussing the Pricing and Value Proposition of Gamelight 11:08 Expansion into Non-Gaming Apps 15:14 Understanding the Loyalty Program of Gamelight 16:56 Discussing the Global Reach of Gamelight 18:35 Wrapping Up the Discussion
18m
14/02/2024

Making mobile games work (yeah, someone wrote the book on it)

Ever wish somebody had written the book on making mobile app businesses work? Wish no more: the job has been done. In this Growth Masterminds host John Koetsier chats with Russell Ovans, game OG, prof, brewery owner, entrepreneur, data scientist, and current Director of Analytics at East Side Games. Russell discusses his journey from social gaming through to mobile gaming. We delve into a range of topics such as the importance of understanding game analytics and monetization in mobile games, challenges in HR, managing company growth, the impact of pricing strategies on a global scale, the value of A/B testing and player retention. But the big story in this podcast is Russell Ovans' book 'Game Analytics, Retention, and Monetization in Free Play Mobile Games' which is a comprehensive guide to the mechanics of mobile game businesses. 00:00 Introduction and Background 00:00 The Challenges of Running a Mobile App Business 00:44 Introduction to the Guest Speaker: Russell Os 01:17 The Journey into Mobile Gaming 05:26 The Evolution of Facebook as a Gaming Platform 07:48 The Transition from Facebook to Mobile Gaming 09:59 The Importance of Analytics in Mobile Gaming 10:41 The Decision to Write a Book on Mobile Gaming 15:09 The Power of Building an Abstract Schema on Top of Your Data Warehouse 19:32 Understanding the Big Mac Index and AB Testing 20:01 Applying Purchasing Power Parity and Exchange Rates 20:34 Testing Market Response in Mexico 21:11 Adjusting Pricing for Different Markets 22:14 The Challenges of AB Testing 22:46 The Importance of Proper AB Testing 28:53 The Role of Retention in Gaming 33:52 The Complexity of ROAS 36:58 Final Thoughts and Conclusion
38m
08/02/2024

RTB vs manual: BOTH needed for max admon $$$

In this intriguing episode of Growth Mastermind, host John Koetsier chats with industry veteran Farhan Haq, founder of independent growth agency Hyper HQ. They explore crucial strategies to enhance CPMs, discussing the importance of manual calls and real-time bidding in optimizing ad ops within a real-time bidding world. Farhan provides an in-depth look at how games developers and publishers can navigate these processes for effective growth in the mobile gaming landscape. He further delves into ad placements, A/B testing, market strategy, and innovative methods like adjusting in-game rewards based on real-time user worth. The conversation wraps up with an exploration of emerging trends and projections for the future of in-app purchase, subscription, and ad monetization models. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Presentation 01:05 Understanding Ad Operations in an RTB World 01:57 The Importance of Manual Calls and Realtime Bidding 03:46 Optimizing Networks and Running AB Tests 04:05 The Role of Competition in Ad Monetization 04:27 Understanding the Fundamentals of AB Testing 05:53 The Impact of Ad Placement and Pricing on Monetization 06:02 The Importance of Ad Units in Monetization 07:27 The Impact of Automation on Ad Monetization 07:27 The Importance of Hands-On Approach in Ad Monetization 08:48 The Role of Google Ad Manager in Monetization 10:17 The Role of User Acquisition in Monetization 20:23 The Impact of Geographical Location on Monetization 26:59 The Future of Ad Monetization 32:13 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
32m