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Product Management Root Cause Analysis Question: Investigating mobile app ad impression decline for a news publication
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Nextsprints

Updated Jan 22, 2025

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What caused the 30% decrease in ad impressions on The Sun's mobile app last month?

Data Analysis Problem Solving Technical Understanding Digital Media Advertising Technology Mobile Apps
User Engagement Root Cause Analysis Mobile Advertising App Performance Media Tech

Introduction

A 30% decrease in ad impressions on The Sun's mobile app last month is a significant issue that demands immediate attention and thorough analysis. This problem directly impacts revenue and user experience, making it crucial to identify and address the root cause promptly. I'll approach this systematically, examining various factors that could contribute to this decline, from technical issues to user behavior changes.

Framework overview

This analysis follows a structured approach covering issue identification, hypothesis generation, validation, and solution development.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

  • Considering the timing, I'm wondering if there were any recent app updates. Have there been any significant changes to the app's functionality or UI in the past 1-2 months?

Why it matters: App changes can significantly impact user behavior and ad display. Expected answer: Yes, a major UI overhaul was implemented. Impact on approach: If confirmed, we'd focus on UI-related hypotheses and user experience analysis.

  • Given the specificity of the 30% decrease, I'm curious about the baseline. What was the average daily ad impression count before this decline?

Why it matters: Understanding the scale helps prioritize the issue and potential solutions. Expected answer: Around 1 million daily ad impressions. Impact on approach: A higher baseline would indicate a more severe problem, potentially requiring more urgent and comprehensive measures.

  • Thinking about user segments, I'm wondering if this decrease is uniform across all user groups. Have you noticed any particular user segments more affected than others?

Why it matters: Identifying specific affected groups can narrow down potential causes. Expected answer: The decrease is more pronounced among iOS users. Impact on approach: If confirmed, we'd focus on iOS-specific issues and potentially compare with Android performance.

  • Considering potential external factors, has there been any significant change in content strategy or types of content published on the app recently?

Why it matters: Content changes can affect user engagement and time spent on the app, directly impacting ad impressions. Expected answer: No major content strategy changes. Impact on approach: If confirmed, we'd shift focus to technical or user behavior issues rather than content-related causes.

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