From Install to Transaction: Inside a High-Performance Fintech UA Campaign in France
France is a complex yet opportunity-rich market for mobile fintech. Regulatory structure, user trust, and a growing appetite for digital financial tools mean that while adoption is high, competition is higher.
The key campaign goals included:
– Acquiring engaged French users through installs that convert to app usage. – Driving wallet sign-ups and successful KYC completion. – Prompting early in-app behavior, including mobile top-ups, bill payments, and money transfers. – Achieving all this while maintaining a low cost per install (CPI) and continuously optimizing for return on ad spend (ROAS).
đ Strategy & Execution: Building a Full-Funnel UA Machine
To meet the performance and scale objectives, Xamp Media deployed a diverse media mix, targeting users through both unique and traditional mobile advertising channels.
⢠OEM Inventory Access
In partnership with Xiaomi, OPPO, and Vivo, Xamp leveraged exclusive ad placements unavailable through traditional networks. These placements included lock screen recommendations, smart app folder suggestions, and promotions via native app stores like GetApps.
These OEM sources proved particularly effective in France, where Android device penetration is high among budget- and mid-tier usersâmany of whom rely on mobile finance apps for daily needs.
⢠Programmatic In-App Advertising
Using GDPR-compliant DSPs and SSPs, Xamp tapped into premium in-app inventory to reach users while they browsed lifestyle, finance, and communication apps.
⢠Native Ads in Vertical Apps
Contextual placements within shopping, news, and fintech-related apps helped present the product in relevant and familiar environments, driving better user consideration.
Creatives That Spoke the Language
Localization wasnât an afterthoughtâit was central to the campaign. Xamp Media crafted French-language creatives tailored to highlight real-world app use cases like âPayer vos factures instantanĂŠmentâ (Pay bills instantly), âEnvoyez de lâargent facilementâ (Send money easily), and âRechargez votre mobile en un clicâ (Top up your mobile in one click).
A mix of ad formats was used including rewarded videos, vertical interstitials, square videos, banner ads, and OEM splash ads.
Smart Targeting Filters
Precision targeting was essential to ensure app installs came from users most likely to convert. Filters included age (25â45), regions like Ăle-de-France and Lyon, mid- to high-end Android devices, French language, and users of banking, utility, and e-commerce apps.
đ Campaign Results: Quality Over Quantity
Over the six-month duration of the campaign, the results clearly demonstrated that strategic planning and targeted execution can deliver meaningful impactâeven at a moderate scale. The campaign successfully drove over 180,000 installs from French users, with a strong wallet registration rate of 68%, resulting in 123,000 activated accounts. Of these activated users, nearly 55,200 completed their first transaction, achieving a 44.8% install-to-transaction conversion rateâwell above typical industry benchmarks for fintech apps in similar markets.
Financial efficiency remained a consistent focus throughout. The campaign maintained an average cost per install (CPI) of âŹ0.89, while the cost per registration (CPR) settled at a very healthy âŹ1.31, making the campaign both sustainable and scalable. From a retention standpoint, the campaign yielded a Day 7 retention rate of 27%, which further validated the quality and intent of the users acquired. Among all regions, Ăle-de-France emerged as the top-performing geography, contributing the highest volume of active users and transactions. In terms of creatives, rewarded video ads paired with localized French call-to-actions stood out as the highest performing format, driving the best engagement and install-to-activation ratios.
These results, though delivered at a medium scale, exemplify how the right combination of channel selection, localized content, and iterative optimization can lead to strong acquisition and revenue outcomesâeven without massive media spend.
đ Campaign Highlights: Impact Beyond the Numbers
The campaign achieved several key milestones including a Top 30 ranking in Google Playâs Finance category (France) within two months, a 16% uplift in re-engagement via OEM deep-linked notifications, and the highest ROAS from Xiaomi-acquired users. The download-to-registration conversion rate exceeded 68%, validating the effectiveness of targeting and creatives.
đ§ Optimization Insights: Learning, Adapting, Growing
Xamp Media deployed an iterative optimization framework, adjusting campaign variables based on weekly performance feedback. A/B testing improved CTR by 19%, geo-budget redistribution enhanced transaction rates by 13%, and LTV prediction based on Adjust cohort data enabled better budget allocation.
đ Attribution, Analytics & Data Handling
Using Adjust as the campaignâs MMP, Xamp tracked key post-install events such as wallet sign-up, KYC, money addition, and transactions. Real-time API integrations with Xampâs optimization engine allowed dynamic adjustments, while strict GDPR compliance and fraud filters ensured clean, accurate data.
â What Made Xamp Mediaâs Approach Work
Several factors contributed to the campaignâs success: exclusive OEM media access, GDPR-compliant strategy, localized creatives, real-time analytics through Adjust, and flexible pricing models (CPI, CPR, CPA).
đŹ Client Feedback
âWith Xamp, we didn’t just get installsâwe got users. The OEM access, the localized creatives, and the performance-led mindset helped us break into France faster than expected.â â Growth Marketing Lead, Confidential Fintech App
Final Takeaway
This case study shows that medium-scale campaigns can still deliver big results when executed with the right mix of creativity, technology, and strategic media buying. For fintech brands aiming to grow in mature markets like France, the key isnât always volumeâitâs user quality, funnel efficiency, and long-term value.
Xamp Media Group continues to empower fin-techs and digital-first brands across Europe and beyond with performance-driven user acquisition strategies tailored to each marketâs unique challenges and opportunities.