Drops
Marketing
User Acquisition

40x surge in non-organic user acquisition in 3 month

Marketing
User Acquisition

From resolving technical measurement challenges to implementing a scalable creative testing framework, Applica helped Drops unlock profitable growth quickly and sustainably.

Client

Drops

Website

Services

Marketing

The Challenge

<p>Drops makes language learning fun, efficient, and accessible — turning vocab, grammar, and pronunciation into part of your daily routine.<p>

<p>Main challenges at Drops were:<p>

<p> — Absence of performance-oriented User Acquisition strategy;<p>

<p> — Absence of standardized creative production & testing process;<p>

<p> — Highly competitive niche requiring strong SKAN measurement, CPA/ROI discipline, and technical fixes for attribution and MMP setup.<p>

Applica have made significant strategic and tactical contributions, enhancing and optimizing our campaign performance across all channels with a keen focus on maximizing ROAS.
Frederik Cordes
GM & CPO at Drops

The Solution

<step-l>1<step-l><case-h3>Improved SKAN accuracy<case-h3>

<p>To futureproof Drops’ growth, Applica “picked apart” the legacy SKAN model left over from Appsflyer and configured a new one with the help of Singular, which provided Drops with richer iOS campaign data.<p>

<step-margin>—————<step-margin>

<step-l>2<step-l><case-h3>Resolved MMP challenges<case-h3>

<p>Applica team resolved key MMP challenges by unifying marketing data, delivering tailored performance reporting, and enabling cost-efficient measurement and optimization.<p>

<step-margin>—————<step-margin>

<step-l>3<step-l><case-h3>Established a reliable creative testing process<case-h3>

<p>A new cost-effective creative testing process within Facebook Ad Manager was set up. Winning ads were refreshed on a constant basis after launch to avoid fatigue.<p>

<step-margin>—————<step-margin>

<step-l>4<step-l><case-h3>Set clear CPA/ROI targets<case-h3>

<p>Applica team decided to restructure the accounts by pausing the inefficient campaigns and focusing on campaigns that would bring positive ROI. This led to us creating an account structure for Drops with campaigns that consistently achieved an average ROAS of 130% and higher.<p>

<step-margin>—————<step-margin>

<step-l>5<step-l><case-h3>Optimized campaign structure<case-h3>

<p>Applica’s modus operandi was to adapt our strategies based on the ad platform and target markets, tailoring their approach for maximum impact.<p>

<step-margin>—————<step-margin>

<step-l>6<step-l><case-h3> Explored new channels<case-h3>

<p>Applica explored new channels by benchmarking and monitoring rigorously, then allocating resources strategically to maximize ROI and retention.<p>

<step-margin>—————<step-margin>

<step-l>7<step-l><case-h3>Continuous Optimization<case-h3>

<p>Applica team ensured continuous optimization through daily health checks to promptly address measurement or performance issues while fine-tuning well-performing campaigns. At the same time, we drove continuous idea generation to test new hypotheses and refine Drops’ advertising strategies for greater effectiveness. Finally, our global testing approach spanned virtually every ad platform and market worldwide, delivering valuable insights and enabling the acquisition of diverse audience.<p>

<step-margin>—————<step-margin>

<case-h3>User Acquisition details<case-h3>

<p>The case study period spans from March 2022 to the present, with user acquisition efforts focused on Meta, Google, and Apple Ads. Key GEOs targeted included the USA, UK, Germany, Australia, and Canada, with top-performing markets highlighted in the report. Reporting examples are shown in the visuals below.<p>


Top-performing GEOs

Reporting Examples

<case-h3>Creatives approach<case-h3>

<p>Applica built an efficient creative pipeline on Meta, emphasizing UGC and static creatives. This approach enabled consistent testing, iteration, and scaling of the most effective concepts.<p>

The Result

40x

in non-organic users (Q1)

62%

Growth in non-organic ARPU

<p>In the first quarter of our collaboration, non-organic users grew by 40% compared to the previous quarter. During the same period, Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) increased by an impressive 62%. To drive these outcomes, we tested and implemented more than 70 creative concepts, fueling sustainable growth and measurable impact.<p>

CASE STUDIES

Our work speaks
for itself

Product growth
Onboarding optimization
Marketing
ASO

Deep Sleep Sounds

Deep Sleep Sounds is an app that helps people fall asleep by playing soothing sounds. DSS helps its users create healthier sleeping patterns.

+ 46%
conversion to purchase increased
53%
to ARPU
Ready for Results Like This?
Product growth
Web-2-app-funnels
Pricing strategy

Fabulous

Fabulous, a self-care app, is one of the biggest on the market is and helps build better habits and achieve personal goals.

+ 40%
to ARPU
Ready for Results Like This?
Marketing
User Acquisition

Drops

From resolving technical measurement challenges to implementing a scalable creative testing framework, Applica helped Drops unlock profitable growth quickly and sustainably.

40x
in non-organic users
62%
ARPU uplift
Ready for Results Like This?
UI/UX Design
Product Optimisation

Dogo

The challenge was to create a paywall experience that clearly conveyed the app’s value while using persuasive design to drive trial starts and long-term subscriptions.

+9.5%
Conversion Rate
+13%
ARPU
Ready for Results Like This?
Product growth

ASL Bloom

ASL Bloom needed a streamlined onboarding experience that aligns with user needs, clearly communicates the app's value, and increases trial conversion rates.

+15%
Conversion Rate
+12%
ARPU
Ready for Results Like This?
UI/UX Design
Product Optimisation
Research

Employee Link

The combined improvements across onboarding, activation, paywalls, and feature design for Employee Link - a workforce management app designed for business owners, managers, and employees.

+35%
ARPU
+15%
Onboarding completion rate
Ready for Results Like This?
User Acquisition
Creatives Production
Marketing

EF Hello

EF Hello partnered with Applica to bring clarity and structure to their performance marketing efforts. Despite a highly competitive EdTech landscape and major analytics challenges, Applica helped to scale globally and unlock key creative insights for future growth.

350+
Tested creative concepts
2024
Apple App of the Year
Ready for Results Like This?
Product Optimisation

Five Minutes Journal

Onboarding optimization and homepage redesign for Five Minute Journal to enhance user retention and trial conversion by clearly communicating its value and improving the user experience.

+15%
Trial start rate
+23%
LTV
Ready for Results Like This?
Development
UI/UX Design
MVP Design

Invoice Ovaro

Invoice Ovaro is a Invoice Maker App. A business invoice generator for small business owners and freelancers that lets you quickly create a document on the spot while with the customer.

iOS & Android
Release in stores:
5/5
Client satisfaction
Ready for Results Like This?
Product Optimisation
Mobile App Design

7 Minute Workout

A simple fitness app that offers quick, equipment-free workouts with guided instructions and progress tracking to help users stay active in just 7 minutes a day.

201.2%
Total ARPU uplift
50%
ARR growth
Ready for Results Like This?
User Acquisition
Creatives Production
Marketing

Nemo

In the last 5 months of collaboration with Nemo, Applica decreased the cost per first-time deposit (CFD) while scaling by x4 times a 6-digit monthly budget.

x8
Cost per Deposit decreased on Meta
700+
Ad creatives tested
Ready for Results Like This?
Product Optimisation
Onboarding optimization
Product growth

Peech: Text to Speech Reader

A small copy adjustment delivered a big result, showing the importance of regular product optimisation and understanding your audience's needs.

+30%
ARPU Uplift
Ready for Results Like This?
Development
Product growth

Five Minute Journal

App development and maintenance, product growth for Five Minute Journal - a journaling app loved by over 1.8 million people worldwide.

99,5%
Crush Free Rate
131%
LTV increase
Ready for Results Like This?
ASO
Marketing

Mediterranean Diet

How Applica grew a Mediterranean Diet App US search downloads by 167% with ASO cross-localisation.

+167%
Search downloads (US)
+101%
Revenue (US)
Ready for Results Like This?
Product growth
Monetization
Onboarding optimization

FitMind

FitMind faced barriers to the consistency of the A/B testing process and the functioning of in-app events tracking. With Applica, they ran 5 A/B tests and got:

+ 50%
to user LTV
80%
Allowed Notifications
5
A/B tests
Ready for Results Like This?
User Acquisition
Marketing
Creatives Production

Workout for Women

During the first 4 months of our partnership, Applica scaled web2app acquisition and increased subscriptions by 27 times, 5 times while reducing cost per purchase by on Web2Web landings for Workout for Women app.

x27
Subscription Growth
x5
Cost per Acquisition reduction
Ready for Results Like This?
Product growth
Paywalls

Drops

Drops, one of the leaders in the language learning niche, had a request of improving the ARPU. After the needed tests were conducted, Drops achieved:

+ 9%
to ARPU
Ready for Results Like This?
Pricing strategy
Product growth

ShroomID

ShroomID, a mushroom-hunting app, helps its users identify mushrooms, providing AI and human predictions, as well as tons of specific data.

+ 60%
to ARPPU
Ready for Results Like This?

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