One million users on day one 😯

The lights dim, the crowd roars, and millions hold their breath. 

It's the grand finale of Eurovision Latinoamérica.

Everything hinges on the next 60 seconds - not just on stage, but in the palm of every viewer's hand.

And, as the performers take their final bow, another (slightly less exciting) show is just beginning. 

Behind the scenes, our team watches with bated breath as our latest project gets its debut: the official Eurovision Latinoamérica app.

You see, Eurovision tasked our team with translating that electric atmosphere of live voting and fan interaction into a digital experience for a whole new continent of viewers.

With over a million users expected on day one, we had our work cut out for us 😅

So, how did we make it work? 

The Art of Effortless Engagement

Imagine you're settling in to watch your favorite reality TV competition.

But wait - when does voting open again? And wasn't there a trivia game you wanted to play? 

Suddenly, engaging with the app feels like work.

The app is just a companion to the main event. Success for us meant that viewers could actually focus on enjoying the show.

So, we designed and built features like:

1. Just-in-time information: Instead of burying important details in a settings menu, the app proactively showed users when voting windows would open and close.
   

2. Smart countdowns: A countdown to airtime eliminated the need for users to track episode schedules themselves.
   

3. Contextual guidance: The app anticipated user needs at every step, giving the right information without requiring the user to search for it.

The best user experience is the one that feels effortless.

Seamless Interruptions

And what about notifications?

Sure, in an app centered around live events, timely notifications are important - but how do you balance urgency with user experience?

Any interruptions to user flow would need to be as seamless as possible. To accomplish this, we designed:

1. A heads-up display: Instead of traditional push notifications, we built a subtle heads-up display of voting-round timers. This kept users informed without pulling them out of the app experience.
   

2. Smart returns: If a user was outside the app during a key moment, the next time they opened it, they were taken directly to the relevant action. No searching, no frustration.
   

3. Contextual re-engagement: Rather than generic "come back!" messages, the app provided specific, timely reasons for users to re-engage, tied directly to the live show.

True engagement doesn't come from annoying pop-ups.

It comes from understanding your users' needs and designing an experience that feels natural, effortless, and perfectly timed.

If you’re looking to build your own app or digital experience, remember that, often, less really is more. 

Consider:

• How can you reduce the cognitive load on your users?

• Where can you provide proactive guidance instead of requiring user input?

• How can you make necessary interruptions feel like natural parts of the user journey?

The goal isn't just to create an app that people use - it's to create an experience they look forward to.

Now, turning these insights to reality is where the real challenge begins.

Building an app that truly resonates with users requires more than just technical know-how. It demands a deep understanding of human behavior and a keen eye for design.

That's where we come in 👋

At AE Studio, we've honed our skills building digital experiences that delight users and drive revenue.

From brainstorming to launch (and every step in between), we're more than just developers. We're your partners in bringing your vision to life.

Our full-service approach means we can:

• Act as your CTO, guiding your project with seasoned expertise

• Drive end-to-end product creation, from design to development

• And deliver clean, efficient code that performs

Looking to create an app your users will love?

👉 Book a 15-minute discovery call with our team

Let's turn your idea into the next success story.

And keep reading AE Studio Bytes for more stories and insights!