The App store and Google play store are overrun by tons and millions of apps, many of which are advancing with the best App store optimization strategies. Apps account for more than 80% of the mobile time which makes app marketing a lucrative business. If you’re not doing it right, you’re losing out on so many benefits.
Nearly half of the smartphone users run searches on stores to download an app. Moreover, the top 10 apps on search results are more likely to get discovered and one among them earns its space in the users’ phone.
This makes App Store Optimization more important since your app has to climb up to get found when competing with the related apps. Now, take a dive and win at App Store Optimization with some powerful tips, tricks, and strategies.
Image by Techcrunch
The above data indicates how the majority of the US mobile users land the apps by searching on the store. This explains how App Store Optimization will help you to cut through the searches and make way into the users’ mobile downloads.
The next 5 minutes are valuable. So, stick with us.
What actually is App Store Optimization?
Simply put, App Store Optimization or ASO is the process of fine-tuning apps to increase the chances of discovery in the app store. ASO is employed to heighten the app traffic and to push the users to download your app or make a purchase. Everything, organically.
ASO enhances the app visibility which in turn leads to increased app downloads. The app downloads or purchase rates are dependent mostly on how you strategize your apps on Google play store or Apple app store.
What are the App Store Optimization tools?
Some essential App Store Optimization tools can be readily used to place your app right on top of the search results. This is to ensure that the users reach you with ease, ultimately, pumping the conversion rates.
1. Use the perfect App Icon
Your app icon, which is the first thing the users see, has to stand out among the competing apps and needs to clearly symbolize its use. The visual impression plays a meaningful role in earning attention from your target audience.
Design it in a way that it connects, catches attention, and tempts the users to open. You can use two to three icons and test which works the best. (Using A/B testing)
Look how Spotify has designed a bold icon that gives a cool idea about what that app stands for.
2. Pick an App Title wisely
Come up with a brand name that perfectly signifies the purpose of the app. Also, the brand name should entice the users and have a recognition factor.
Following the brand name, add keywords to the app title to maximize your chances of getting found by the users who type the same words. (Just as the SEO works for websites).
Your app title has to express its purpose in 50 characters (for Google Play store) and 30 characters ( for Apple App store). This requires to be wisely designed since the keywords used here to hold the highest-ranking weight.
Here is how Calm has smartly used keywords to direct the right audience towards their app. They have mentioned what the app can be used for using optimum keywords.
3. Optimize the Short Description + App description
Your app description is an essential aspect that demands to be carefully planned out. Why?
For mobile apps, especially those available on Google Play store, the keywords in the description are scanned by Google for ranking. So, this means that you’re not going to optimize the description for users alone, but also to match the algorithm for ranking.
However, things are different for the iOS app descriptions where this algorithm doesn’t work.
Your app has to describe the following—
- About the app
- The benefits and values
- The key features
- Additional information
Remember, the short description is restricted to 80 characters and the long one is limited to 4000 characters (for both stores). You can use bullet points to help the users perceive better.
Your app should have a clearly framed, well structured, and informative app description.
4. Mention the App developer name
For Google Play store apps, app developer names are on-metadata factors to improve the search rankings.
Google records top developer names which add to ranking and visibility. Use a single keyword in the App Developer name and you’re done!
Here is how Adobe Lightroom has added Adobe as the developer’s name.
5. Use URLs and build backlinks
URLs are another ranking factor that cannot be missed. You can use a single keyword in your app’s URL to boost the installs.
It isn’t clear how backlinks work or more precisely if they even work. But there is no loss in trying every way around. You can link your apps to high ranking pages or websites on Google.
Remember to link your apps only to authorized pages, otherwise, there is no point at all.
6. Incorporate App videos & Screenshots
Now that the users click on your app, they must be welcomed by high-quality screenshots and compelling preview videos that highly determine the conversion rates, at least if not directly helping with ASO.
Apparently, 50% of users download the apps after judging the screenshots and videos. Fair enough, isn’t it? Your game becomes easier as you design the visuals.
You can select portraits or landscape layouts depending on what picturizes your app better.
7. Select the right category for your app
This is yet another significant aspect of App store optimization to place your app under the ‘best matching’ category.
This not only gets you the users who search for apps by categories but also helps you with good ranking. Yes!
If your app falls under “action game” you’ve already got the keywords “action” and “game” for your app.
Powerful App store optimization tips & hacks
Market Research
Thorough research of the market is undeniably the most crucial aspect of App Store Optimization. Prior to launching the app, carry out an intense study on the app niche and tactics used by the competitor apps.
App market research rewards you with specific keywords to target your audience.
Keyword Optimization
For all the good reasons and profitable benefits, keywords are the first thing that pops up when you think of “ranking”. App Store Optimization involves the use of the right set of keywords after comprehensive research.
You can work on the keywords in the course of time since ASO, my friend, takes time. You’ll eventually come up with the best keyword set for your app. It is recommended to use mid and long-tail keywords that best specify the users’ needs.
A/B App Testing
If you are launching an app (on Google Play), you can employ A/B testing to understand what can drive quality traffic and outshoot conversion rates.
Image by invespcro
This involves setting up two versions of your app side to side and analyzing the traffic each version pulls. This is an experiment to analyze which traffic (and version) performs better.
The app listings types used for the experiment—
- On metadata factors: These are the elements of an app that you can modify and control (every ASO tool that we discussed above).
- Off-metadata factors: These are reviews, ratings, and downloads that are not under your control. You can work on these factors indirectly.
Click-Through Rate (CTR) Optimization
CTR for apps = Uniqueness + Keywords
Maximize CTR by picking an appealing app name or title and incorporating keywords for the name, URL, description, and everywhere required. Note, this has to look as natural as possible.
How does App Store Optimization Work?
Ratings, Reviews & Updates
Smartphone users tend to judge and evaluate apps on the basis of ratings and reviews gained so far. Moreover, 80% of users read at least a single review before tapping “install”. That is clearly reasonable.
The more the ratings and positive reviews, the higher your apps rank on the stores. You can, however, deal with negative reviews and encourage happy users to leave positive remarks.
The Downloads
App downloads play a great role in the app installs. Apps having a high number of downloads win a positive impression and promise considerable traffic.
Apps with more installs rank higher on Google Play. Yes, they do.
Keynotes of App Store Optimization:
- ASO is a constant process. Ranking happens in the course of time. The results depend on how well you build, analyze, and optimize your app over time. Configure your app using the best ASO strategies and gain sharp traffic.
- Track your app performance. Once you’re done with optimizing and launching your app, your job is to track the app performance time and again. This is to see if the optimization is meeting the right results or needs restructuring.
- Use apps for keyword analysis and A/B testing. There are many apps in the market that will guide you through market & keyword research to yield the maximum benefits. You can use websites like Optimizely for A/B testing that serves in drawing the best performing traffic.
- High visibility = more downloads. This goes without saying. High visibility brings more traffic and more traffic yields better conversions.
The App Store Optimization strategies and hacks are no secret to you anymore. We are sure we have covered everything that defines and affects ASO.
We at Wespod know what works and what doesn’t to get you the best results in lesser time. We will help you track, analyze, troubleshoot, and repeat the process until you are there.
App Store Optimization is a strategized process that involves proper tuning and regular tracking. Get your consultation now to win it.
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