Gaming apps are filled with ads for more gaming apps. The insular world of app downloads is incredibly good at what it does, and AppLovin is the leader of the pack.
But the mobile app download specialist is now branching out. The idea is to make its performance machine work for a broader array of ecommerce players and non-gaming apps. AppLovin’s SDK means that the ads are still largely served in gaming apps, but the marketers running these ads have more diverse goals.
AdExchanger Senior Editor James Hercher wrote a deep analysis of AppLovin’s pursuit of customers beyond gaming-app developers. Still not widely known, this emerging consumer ads business is AppLovin’s play to attract marketers who aren’t looking for game downloads but other marketing goals.
On the podcast, we debate the virtues of being a specialist with a niche or branching out to pursue growth – as AppLovin is doing with its nascent ecommerce business.
We also talk through the broader backdrop of news about AppLovin this year. Its stock price was cut in half this year, as its business was battered by short sellers and an SEC investigation into its business practices.
Meanwhile, AppLovin’s competition is a harrowing mix of Big Tech Goliaths: Google, Meta and Amazon on the advertising side, with an SDK that must slot into mobile app ecosystems controlled by Apple (with iOS) and Google (with Android).
