A new report from analytics firm Localytics finds that users who make an in-app purchase the first time they use an app make an average of 2.8 purchases. However, those who make in-app purchases on subsequent visits make an average of 3.5 purchases. In addition, while only 22 percent of users make a purchase during their first session with an app, 33 percent make their first purchase on sessions 2 through 9, while 44 percent make their first purchase after 10 or more sessions. On average, it takes twelve days between the day someone first downloads an app and the day they make their first in-app purchase.
The takeaway for mobile developers is that they may make more money if they focus on building customer loyalty and engagement rather than trying to get in-app purchases right away.
