With friends like App Annie and a new suite of software tools to gain useful insights, Facebook isn't about to make too many enemies among mobile developers.
The social networking giant recently launched label cohorts, a way to better measure the performance of apps among specific groups of people, and app event charts, which are designed to better track retention of people using an app. At the same time, Facebook announced a partnership with mobile analytics firm App Annie to measure the effectiveness of Facebook app install ads.
There was no question based on app developer feedback on Twitter that all the activity around measurement was welcomed with open arms.
Facebook is getting serious about app analytics. https://t.co/DgxwMN9FQP
— appgurus (@appgurus) September 17, 2014
Using Facebook-login for your app just got more interesting "@appgurus Facebook is getting serious in app analytics. https://t.co/v1LMwe9JDi
— Matias Kiviniemi (@ShopMyApp) September 17, 2014
Facebook expands analytics, exciting new data to digest for app devs http://t.co/X0ZRxlnC5s
— Eric Dmouse (@thedmouse) September 17, 2014
Some even saw the new tools as a way to offer value beyond just the developer crowd.
Sweet 4 marketers, growth hackers & developers "Facebook adds label cohorts and retention charts to app analytics http://t.co/JBYrKrHeMG
— Adam Carver (@adamcarv) September 17, 2014
The App Annie partnership didn't get the same level of commentary among developers, though at least it got them thinking.
Hmmm... App Annie Now Tells Publishers How Well Facebook's App Install Ads Work http://t.co/MGZYX6f02d
— Hillel Fuld (@HilzFuld) September 16, 2014
For others in the mobile ad install space, though, App Annie's involvement with Facebook was significant.
Building its arsenal of #app tools @appannie now tells publishers how well @Facebook's app install ads work - http://t.co/jNbdDCjxLc
— Trevor Cornwell (@trevorcornwell) September 16, 2014
Smartmove @appannie ! http://t.co/PNRmNQYHXY
— Martin Vialle (@viallem) September 16, 2014
Overall, though, given how tough it is to be a mobile app developer on Facebook (or anywhere else), people are glad to get whatever useful information they can.
Thanks for rocking some new insights for us, Facebook. https://t.co/9YEd51UxD8
— Garrison Snell (@GarrisonSnell) September 17, 2014