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Uncovering top-ranking factors for mobile apps through a multimethod approach

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  • Picoto, Winnie Ng
  • Duarte, Ricardo
  • Pinto, Inês

Abstract

The increasing computational power of mobile devices and the advancements in network communications are enabling the emergence of new mobile services. Developers have created many mobile applications (mobile apps) to fulfill a wide range of personal and professional user needs. The present study aims to answer the following research question: what are the factors that influence an app's ranking and success? To answer this question, we define a set of antecedents that may explain the top rank of an app. We use a sample of 500 of Apple's top grossing apps to analyze the top 50 and bottom 50 apps. We then use a multivariate logistic regression to examine if factors such as user rating, category popularity, diversity as measured by the number of languages supported, package size, and release date are determinants of an app's success. We also apply a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to find the existence of more causal paths for the mobile app's success. Multivariate results indicate that category popularity, diversity (number of languages supported), package size, and app release date are all factors that increase the probability that an app will be ranked inside the top 50. Nevertheless, contrary to our prediction, a high user rating is negatively associated with an app's success. The results of the fsQCA show that the importance of an app's attributes, functionalities, and longevity surpasses the importance of the user rating in explaining the app's success.

Suggested Citation

  • Picoto, Winnie Ng & Duarte, Ricardo & Pinto, Inês, 2019. "Uncovering top-ranking factors for mobile apps through a multimethod approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 668-674.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:101:y:2019:i:c:p:668-674
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.01.038
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Kim, Jong Min & Lee, Eunkyung & Mariani, Marcello M., 2021. "The influence of launching mobile channels on online customer reviews," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 366-378.
    2. Davazdahemami, Behrooz & Kalgotra, Pankush & Zolbanin, Hamed M. & Delen, Dursun, 2023. "A developer-oriented recommender model for the app store: A predictive network analytics approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    3. Rey-Moreno, Manuel & Medina-Molina, Cayetano, 2020. "Dual models and technological platforms for efficient management of water consumption," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    4. Lo, Fang-Yi & Yu, Tiffany Hui-Kuang & Chen, Hsin-Hao, 2020. "Purchasing intention and behavior in the sharing economy: Mediating effects of APP assessments," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 93-102.
    5. Henrik Sällberg & Shujun Wang & Emil Numminen, 2023. "The combinatory role of online ratings and reviews in mobile app downloads: an empirical investigation of gaming and productivity apps from their initial app store launch," Journal of Marketing Analytics, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(3), pages 426-442, September.
    6. Lara Stocchi & Naser Pourazad & Nina Michaelidou & Arry Tanusondjaja & Paul Harrigan, 2022. "Marketing research on Mobile apps: past, present and future," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 50(2), pages 195-225, March.
    7. Stephanie Schwipper & Severine Peche & Gertrud Schmitz, 2020. "Mobile Location-Based Services’ Value-in-Use in Inner Cities: Do a Customer’s Shopping Patterns, Prior User Experience, and Sales Promotions Matter?," Schmalenbach Business Review, Springer;Schmalenbach-Gesellschaft, vol. 72(4), pages 511-564, October.
    8. Wondwesen Tafesse, 2023. "The differential effects of developers’ app store strategy on the performance of niche and popular mobile apps," Journal of Marketing Analytics, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(3), pages 317-330, September.
    9. Patel, Vipul & Das, Kallol & Chatterjee, Ravi & Shukla, Yupal, 2020. "Does the interface quality of mobile shopping apps affect purchase intention? An empirical study," Australasian marketing journal, Elsevier, vol. 28(4), pages 300-309.
    10. Lee, Young-Jin & Ghasemkhani, Hossein & Xie, Karen & Tan, Yong, 2021. "Switching decision, timing, and app performance: An empirical analysis of mobile app developers’ switching behavior between monetization strategies," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 332-345.

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