The number of times you send out your resume doesn’t necessarily increase your chance of success, as the climax of a movie should not measure the success of the plot. Similarly, the number of downloads a mobile app has should not be the sole factor in measuring the success of a mobile app. Sure, it’s a very important metric and it is easy to fall into the lure of hits charts, but try to focus and avoid being shallow when gauging the caliber of your app.

Some of the 5 W’s and the H should be investigated:

Who is downloading your app, and when? Do they open it and how do they use it? How often? Are people talking about your app, and referring friends to it? Is your app a good candidate for mobile advertising? What about in-app purchases? How much time does an average user spend on your app, and how long do they use it?

Knowing the answers to these questions is vital and there are a lot of analytics tools out there that can help you come to a conclusion.

What Makes Your App Successful?

Much like a company or an organism, a successful app is an evolving app. After its initial launch, you will want to use analytics to answer the above questions. Downloads reflect superficial quantity but may not accurately reflect its quality. When downloads drop off, will you know why? You can't rely solely on reviews to answer that question. This is where analytic tools come into play. There are a variety of tools available, many of them free. It's a good idea to begin using them from the get go, so that you can consistently improve your app, increase downloads, and potentially monetize your app in new ways. The following is a list of popular analytic tools that can help you learn more about your app and how it is being used.

What's amazing about these tools is that many of them are free, or use the "freemium" model, which allows you to choose which features you want to pay for.

Flurry Analytics

Flurry is a comprehensive toolkit that allows app creators to measure the performance of their app using a thorough list of metrics. Just like Facebook is the social networking giant of the web and Skype is the dominant form of long distance communication, Flurry holds its own ground in app analytics. It bears a treasure of features and according to their website, it is the "industry standard" for app analytics. Also like Facebook and Skype, it is free. Flurry is available for iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows phone and mobile web. Using three simple lines of code, you can get started and begin receiving tons of valuable data from your app users.

Flurry is customizable, allowing you to measure the metrics that matter to you. There is a great deal of value in being able to see exactly what actions your users take with your app. You can also get tons of demographic information about users, and there is a feature that allows you to create buyer personas, as well as segment your user lists. These are all valuable tools that can ultimately help you generate more sales.

Google Mobile App Analytics

Many people are familiar with Google Analytics for websites, but they cover the mobile side as well. It also has features that allow you to see user actions, measure in-app purchase activity and garner information about demographics and more. For Android and Google Play apps, this is a good tool to have in your arsenal. If you are planning on monetizing your app with AdMob, Google Mobile is a must-have tool. It is available for both Android and iOS platforms. Google started out as a simple search engine. Now it is an ambitious empire bent on drawing customers to its multitude of services. Because of its long-standing reputation for service precision, users should expect the same professionalism and expertise in web management mirrored in their mobile expedition.

Appsee

This is a unique analytics product that performs many of the typical analytic functions, but also records user app usage so that you can see firsthand how people interact with your app. It will record a sampling of users interacting with your app to give you real, firsthand knowledge of what is going on. Some things you will discover are:

•     What will cause a user to abandon your app at the registration screen?
•     What features do customers use most?
•     At what point in the app do customers stop using it?

To put the icing on the cake, Appsee is a tool that you can get your hands on free of charge.

Mixpanel

Mixpanel is a paid analytic tool that offers in-depth information such as how your user arrived at your app, where they live, how often they use your app, and for how long. It utilizes A/B tests and user surveys to generate results. The data amassed is devoted to custom reports and user engagement and retention. The specific information that you glean from this app allows you to determine if your advertising dollars are driving sales, if and how customers are sharing your app, and more. The app title lives up to its name, as Mixpanel combines mobile integrity with rich diversity. With so many free apps on the market driving up the stakes, this app gives you the most bang for your buck.

Which Mobile Analytics Tool Is Right For You?

How steep your wallet is and your taste for apps may ultimately decide what tool you partner with, but what your enterprise demands should also be valued. You will want a tool that is user-friendly and feature-rich at a reasonable price, but the scope, array, and reach of your business should be thoroughly considered before you make your move.

Any of these analytic tools can help you grow your app business. It is important that you be able to identify the goals you are most interested in, who your target audience is, how well your app works for them, and what advertising efforts give you the best ROI. A good analytic tool can give you this information and more. Whether you are in the process of creating your first app, or are a veteran at it, analytics should be a part of your business.