Optimizing for App Store Search https://developer.apple.com/app-store/search/ Search plays a huge role in how users discover apps, with search queries accounting for 65% of downloads from the App Store. Learn how you can impact where your app ranks in search results to help users more easily find your app. How to Impact Your Ranking Choose accurate keywords. Keywords are limited to 100 characters total, with words separated by commas and no spaces, so it’s important to make the most of the space available. Choose keywords based on words you think users would use to find an app like yours. Use key descriptors about what your app does so that the App Store search algorithm can extract your app’s function. Consider the trade-off between ranking well for less common terms versus ranking lower for popular terms. Popular, functional terms such as “jobs”, “text”, or “social” may drive a lot of traffic, but are highly competitive in the rankings. Less common terms drive lower traffic, but are less competitive. New apps are at a disadvantage for competitive keywords because they typically have low brand awareness and there’s no download history to indicate whether the apps are in high demand. The unauthorized use of trademarked terms, celebrity names, or other protected words and phrases has a negative impact on an app’s ranking and is a common reason for App Store rejection. The use of terms that are not relevant to the app and the use of competing app names are similarly prohibited. Avoid special characters — for example, #, or @ — unless they are part of your brand identity. Special characters don’t carry extra weight in search rankings. If you use a term in your keyword field, don’t repeat it in your title, and vice versa. While you can repeat words in your app description, take care to avoid keyword stuffing throughout your metadata. Make good use of your app name and App Store description. Your app’s name and App Store description play a critical role in how users discover and download your app. Choose a simple, memorable name that is easy to spell and suggests what your app does. Be distinctive — avoid names that use generic terms or are substantially similar to existing app names. Every word counts, so focus your App Store description on your app’s unique features and functionality. Begin with a concise statement of what the app does, and follow that with a short list of the app’s main features. Assign the right primary category. Categories on the App Store help users discover new apps to meet their needs. The primary category you select is particularly important for your app’s discoverability on the App Store, as this will be the category in which the app appears in search results. Be sure to select the category that best describes the main function of your app. Make sure that the primary category you choose accurately reflects your app’s core experience. Assigning categories that are not appropriate for your app is grounds for App Store rejection. Find out more about choosing the most accurate and effective categories for your app in Choosing a Category. Create the opportunity for positive ratings. Ratings and reviews influence how your app ranks in search, so focus on providing a great app experience that motivates users to leave positive reviews. Ask users to rate your app on the App Store, but don’t ask for a rating too soon — wait until they have enjoyed a few sessions before prompting. Ensure that the app is stable before you ask, and choose an appropriate time in the session to make the request. Look for moments when users are most likely to feel satisfaction with your app, such as when they’ve completed an action, level, or task. Make your support channels and contact information easy to find in your app and on your App Store product page, so that if users encounter difficulties they are able to discuss them with you directly and resolve negative experiences that may lead to poor reviews.
Wow! helpful~ I would like to complement more tips about App Store Optimization. Descriptive introduction From the first two sentences, the app description should obviously show insight into exactly what your app is, what it does and why they should install your app instead of another. There is no need for you to show all your app features. But in the first line, your app description should be direct and showcase the power of your app. And you should make the reader want to click. This is the basis to attract users to discover more about your app and install it. Learn how to write a good app description in this guide. Select the suitable keywords Keywords can be a word or a phrase. Like the description, it will tell users what is your app about and encourage them to download it. It is better if the keywords contain app name. Besides, it must be shown in app description. Users most likely search something in Store search bar. Therefore, keywords that are: less common localization language, within 100 characters, no brand or company name, etc. Need some help to find the best keywords? Please check our previous blog post on How to choose App Keywords. Email direct marketing Email marketing is the more direct way to approach the users or marketers who will help you promote your app. When there is new product launching or new version releasing, it is necessary for publishers to inform users. But for potential users, it is hard to get the contact information. Publishers only can look for some agencies for help, such as online forums and media. Please pay attention that the email subject should be valuable. Also, the email receipt would be directed to the right person. Advertise online Advertisement is good experience for apps. Showing ads on social networks is becoming treading. You can create ads on social media like Facebook, as it is a kind of way to get more users. Also, try ads on some special forums related to your app, such as iOS forum and Android marketing forum. Ask for reviews & higher ratings It is also a way to increase app visibility. Users will install the app and then, they will leave a review for it. Many users will have no interest to review or rate an app even they like it very much. At this moment, publishers may feel annoyed the app can not get high ratings and positive reviews. Review providers BestReviewApp dot com can show up now. It will solve the problem for publishers to get higher app ratings and reviews. Generate installs Higher ranking is extremely helpful for app visibility. App can get installs from users directly via download link. Or drive install via keyword search. The former method is straight forward install amounts singly. While latter one aims at helping app ranking in App Store search results. Like us, professional ASO service- ASOtop1 dot com will guide real users to install the app via targeted keywords relevant to your app.
Hi there! With the new changes on the search algorithm, thing will not work the same as before. We're still trying to understand more about this, but meanwhile, here's a blog post of our findings.
