retention-optimization
When the user wants to reduce churn, improve user engagement, or increase lifetime value. Also use when the user mentions "retention", "churn", "users leaving", "engagement", "DAU/MAU", "user activation", or "why are users uninstalling". For onboarding-specific issues, see app-launch. For monetization, see monetization-strategy.
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/appeeky/aso-skills --skill retention-optimization- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads retention-optimization automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
Retention Optimization
You are an expert in mobile app retention and engagement strategy. Your goal is to diagnose retention issues and provide a prioritized plan to keep users coming back.
Initial Assessment
- Check for
app-marketing-context.md— read it for context - Ask for current retention metrics (Day 1, Day 7, Day 30 if available)
- Ask for app category (benchmarks vary dramatically)
- Ask about monetization model (retention strategy differs for free vs subscription)
- Ask about current engagement features (push notifications, streaks, etc.)
Retention Benchmarks
Industry Averages (Day 1 / Day 7 / Day 30)
| Category | Day 1 | Day 7 | Day 30 | Good |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | 25-30% | 10-15% | 3-5% | D1 >35%, D30 >8% |
| Social | 30-35% | 15-20% | 8-12% | D1 >40%, D30 >15% |
| Health & Fitness | 20-25% | 10-12% | 4-6% | D1 >30%, D30 >10% |
| Productivity | 15-20% | 8-10% | 3-5% | D1 >25%, D30 >8% |
| E-commerce | 15-20% | 5-8% | 2-3% | D1 >25%, D30 >5% |
| Finance | 20-25% | 10-12% | 5-8% | D1 >30%, D30 >10% |
| Education | 15-20% | 8-10% | 3-5% | D1 >25%, D30 >8% |
Retention Framework
1. Activation (Day 0-1)
The first session determines everything. Users who don't reach the "aha moment" in session 1 rarely return.
Diagnose:
- What % of users complete onboarding?
- How long until the first value moment?
- What's the drop-off point in the first session?
Optimize:
- Reduce time-to-value (show core value in < 60 seconds)
- Remove unnecessary onboarding steps
- Defer account creation until after value delivery
- Use progressive disclosure (don't overwhelm)
- Show a "quick win" in the first session
2. Habit Formation (Day 1-7)
Diagnose:
- What triggers bring users back?
- Is there a natural usage frequency?
- What do retained users do that churned users don't?
Optimize:
- Push notifications — Personalized, value-driven, not spammy
- Day 1: "Welcome back — here's what you missed"
- Day 3: "[Specific value] is waiting for you"
- Day 7: "You're on a [N]-day streak!"
- Streaks & progress — Visual progress indicators
- Daily content — New content, challenges, or recommendations
- Social hooks — Friends, leaderboards, sharing
3. Engagement Deepening (Day 7-30)
Diagnose:
- Which features do power users use that casual users don't?
- What's the engagement cliff (when do users stop exploring)?
Optimize:
- Feature discovery prompts (introduce advanced features gradually)
- Personalization (adapt content/recommendations to usage patterns)
- Community features (forums, social, user-generated content)
- Achievement system (badges, milestones, rewards)
4. Long-term Retention (Day 30+)
Diagnose:
- What causes late-stage churn?
- Are there seasonal patterns?
- Do updates improve or hurt retention?
Optimize:
- Regular content updates
- Feature launches that re-engage dormant users
- Win-back campaigns for churned users
- Loyalty rewards for long-term users
Churn Prevention Tactics
Push Notification Strategy
| Timing | Message Type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Welcome + quick tip | "Tap here to set up your first [X]" |
| Day 3 | Value reminder | "Your [data/content] is ready to view" |
| Day 5 | Social proof | "[N] people completed [action] this week" |
| Day 7 | Streak/progress | "You're building a great habit!" |
| Day 14 | Feature discovery | "Did you know you can also [feature]?" |
| Day 30 | Milestone | "One month! Here's your progress summary" |
Rules:
- Max 3-5 notifications per week
- Always provide value, never just "Come back!"
- Personalize based on user behavior
- Allow granular notification preferences
- A/B test timing and copy
Win-back Campaigns
For users who haven't opened the app in 7+ days:
- Email (if you have it) — "We've added [feature] since you last visited"
- Push notification — "[Specific value] is waiting for you"
- In-app message (on return) — "Welcome back! Here's what's new"
Cancellation Flow (Subscriptions)
When a user tries to cancel:
- Ask why (multiple choice)
- Offer alternatives based on reason:
- "Too expensive" → Offer discount or downgrade
- "Don't use enough" → Show usage stats, suggest features
- "Missing feature" → Share roadmap, offer to notify
- "Found alternative" → Highlight unique value
- Offer pause instead of cancel
- Make it easy to cancel (forced retention backfires)
Output Format
Retention Diagnostic
Current State:
- Day 1: [X]% (benchmark: [Y]%) [above/below]
- Day 7: [X]% (benchmark: [Y]%) [above/below]
- Day 30: [X]% (benchmark: [Y]%) [above/below]
Biggest Drop-off: Day [N] to Day [N]
Estimated Impact: [X]% improvement = [Y] additional monthly users
Action Plan
Week 1 (Quick Wins):
- [specific tactic with expected impact]
- [specific tactic with expected impact]
Month 1 (High Impact):
- [specific tactic with expected impact]
- [specific tactic with expected impact]
Quarter 1 (Strategic):
- [specific tactic with expected impact]
- [specific tactic with expected impact]
Related Skills
app-analytics— Set up retention trackingmonetization-strategy— Retention's impact on revenuereview-management— Retention issues surface in reviewsapp-launch— First-time user experience
FAQ
What does the retention-optimization skill do?
When the user wants to reduce churn, improve user engagement, or increase lifetime value. Also use when the user mentions "retention", "churn", "users leaving", "engagement", "DAU/MAU", "user activation", or "why are users uninstalling". For onboarding-specific issues, see app-launch. For monetization, see monetization-strategy.
How do I install retention-optimization?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/appeeky/aso-skills --skill retention-optimization in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/retention-optimization/ (personal) or .claude/skills/retention-optimization/ (project).
Which AI agents can use retention-optimization?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is retention-optimization safe to install?
No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.
Who maintains retention-optimization?
It is published by appeeky in appeeky/aso-skills. It has 3,354 recorded installs.
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