App ads skill

When the user wants to run app install ads, user acquisition (UA), or promote mobile apps.

by kostja94·MIT license·★ 1,006 Stars on the repo·GitHub ↗

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SKILL.md
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Paid Ads: App Ads

Guides app advertising: app install campaigns, user acquisition (UA), and in-app promotion. Use when promoting mobile apps (iOS, Android); conversion = install or in-app action, not landing page.

When invoking: On first use, if helpful, open with 1–2 sentences on what this skill covers and why it matters, then provide the main output. On subsequent use or when the user asks to skip, go directly to the main output.

Key Platforms

Platform Best for Conversion
Google App Campaigns Android + iOS; automated across Search, YouTube, Display, Play, Discover Install, in-app event
Apple Search Ads (ASA) iOS only; high-intent App Store search Install
Meta App Install Facebook/Instagram; demand gen for apps Install, in-app event
TikTok App Install Younger users; viral creative Install

Google App Campaigns

  • Reach: Search, YouTube, Display, Google Play, Discover
  • Bidding: Maximize Conversions (automated) or Target CPI/CPA (30+ conversions/week)
  • Creative: Provide diverse assets (videos, images, text); algorithm tests combinations
  • iOS: SKAdNetwork; conversion value mapping; Firebase for in-app events
  • Bid–budget ratio: ≥10× for CPI, ≥15× for CPA

Apple Search Ads

  • Placements: App Store search results, Today tab, Search tab, product pages
  • Modes: Basic (automated) or Advanced (keywords, audiences, bids)
  • Audience: High-intent users actively searching in App Store
  • ASO benefit: Can improve keyword rankings as secondary effect

Metrics

Metric Use
CPI Cost per install
CPA Cost per acquisition (in-app action)
LTV Lifetime value; iOS often higher than Android
Retention D1, D7, D30; quality signal

iOS vs Android: iOS typically higher LTV, higher CPI; Android greater scale, lower CPI.

Tracking

  • Firebase: In-app events, audiences, value-based optimization (Google)
  • SKAdNetwork: iOS attribution; configure conversion value mapping
  • UTM: Use utm_medium=app or cpc with utm_source for app campaigns in GA4

Pre-Launch Checklist

  • App Store / Play Store listing optimized (ASO)
  • Firebase or equivalent connected; in-app events defined
  • Creative assets (video, images, text) prepared
  • Conversion events (install, signup, purchase) configured
  • Bid–budget ratio meets minimum (10× CPI, 15× CPA)
  • paid-ads-strategy: Ad formats by medium; when to use app vs web
  • analytics-tracking: In-app events; conversion setup
  • traffic-analysis: UTM for app campaigns; attribution
1---
2name: app-ads
3description: When the user wants to run app install ads, user acquisition (UA), or promote mobile apps. Also use when the user mentions "app ads," "app install ads," "UA," "user acquisition," "Google App Campaigns," "Apple Search Ads," "ASA," "UAC," "App Store ads," "Play Store ads," "CPI," or "app promotion." For store listings, use distribution-channels.
4metadata:
5 version: 1.0.1
6---
7 
8# Paid Ads: App Ads
9 
10Guides app advertising: app install campaigns, user acquisition (UA), and in-app promotion. Use when promoting mobile apps (iOS, Android); conversion = install or in-app action, not landing page.
11 
12**When invoking**: On **first use**, if helpful, open with 1–2 sentences on what this skill covers and why it matters, then provide the main output. On **subsequent use** or when the user asks to skip, go directly to the main output.
13 
14## Key Platforms
15 
16| Platform | Best for | Conversion |
17|----------|----------|------------|
18| **Google App Campaigns** | Android + iOS; automated across Search, YouTube, Display, Play, Discover | Install, in-app event |
19| **Apple Search Ads (ASA)** | iOS only; high-intent App Store search | Install |
20| **Meta App Install** | Facebook/Instagram; demand gen for apps | Install, in-app event |
21| **TikTok App Install** | Younger users; viral creative | Install |
22 
23## Google App Campaigns
24 
25- **Reach**: Search, YouTube, Display, Google Play, Discover
26- **Bidding**: Maximize Conversions (automated) or Target CPI/CPA (30+ conversions/week)
27- **Creative**: Provide diverse assets (videos, images, text); algorithm tests combinations
28- **iOS**: SKAdNetwork; conversion value mapping; Firebase for in-app events
29- **Bid–budget ratio**: ≥10× for CPI, ≥15× for CPA
30 
31## Apple Search Ads
32 
33- **Placements**: App Store search results, Today tab, Search tab, product pages
34- **Modes**: Basic (automated) or Advanced (keywords, audiences, bids)
35- **Audience**: High-intent users actively searching in App Store
36- **ASO benefit**: Can improve keyword rankings as secondary effect
37 
38## Metrics
39 
40| Metric | Use |
41|--------|-----|
42| **CPI** | Cost per install |
43| **CPA** | Cost per acquisition (in-app action) |
44| **LTV** | Lifetime value; iOS often higher than Android |
45| **Retention** | D1, D7, D30; quality signal |
46 
47**iOS vs Android**: iOS typically higher LTV, higher CPI; Android greater scale, lower CPI.
48 
49## Tracking
50 
51- **Firebase**: In-app events, audiences, value-based optimization (Google)
52- **SKAdNetwork**: iOS attribution; configure conversion value mapping
53- **UTM**: Use `utm_medium=app` or `cpc` with `utm_source` for app campaigns in GA4
54 
55## Pre-Launch Checklist
56 
57- [ ] App Store / Play Store listing optimized (ASO)
58- [ ] Firebase or equivalent connected; in-app events defined
59- [ ] Creative assets (video, images, text) prepared
60- [ ] Conversion events (install, signup, purchase) configured
61- [ ] Bid–budget ratio meets minimum (10× CPI, 15× CPA)
62 
63## Related Skills
64 
65- **paid-ads-strategy**: Ad formats by medium; when to use app vs web
66- **analytics-tracking**: In-app events; conversion setup
67- **traffic-analysis**: UTM for app campaigns; attribution
68 

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