Chances are you have Uber or Lyft on your phone. These ridesharing apps have skyrocketed in users over the last few years due to their mastering of viral loops.

What is a viral loop?

Viral loops involve delighting customers with your product, incentivizing them to share it with their friends, those friends become new users and the loop begins again.

Simple right?

How to build viral loops:

To achieve a viral loop you need a few things in place for your app to grow.

1. Optimize your app page:

You need a fully optimized app store page to capture new users attention and get them to download and install your app.

Your icon, screenshots, preview videos and header images need to be eye-catching and deliver your app’s unique selling points in a concise and enticing way.

For an app store page health checklist, check out our ASO Checklist Challenge here.

2. Build your incentive program:

Uber and Lyft were able to achieve growth utilizing simple referral codes. Users shared them with friends and family for free or discounted rides for quick user adoption.

Why have your friend pay for the ride when they can give you a code and you can get a new ride for free?

Another recent app that has risen to meteoric fame with the assistance of incentive loops is HQ Trivia. This app gives money away twice a day through live trivia games. The catch? As you play, the questions get really damn hard. The best way to keep playing? Get an extra life!

How did HQ allow users to get an extra life?

A referral code 😉.