Do you know what App store optimization is? This technique will make your app appear first in the App Store and on Google Play.
On July 7, 2008, the first mobile app store, Apple's App Store, was launched.
Since then, apps have ceased to be new and have become common features of our routine life.
With this scenario, creating an app has also become attractive to companies of all kinds, who have found a new way to engage, educate and retain customers.
In such a competitive market, competing against millions of other apps of various kinds that compete for attention and space on users' devices is a big challenge.
That's where the app store optimization comes in, the best way is to get your app to appear first and reach as many downloads as possible.
What is app store optimization?
App store optimization (ASO) is the process of improving the visibility of a mobile app in an app store. The main intention behind ASO is to make your application appear on the top in the App stores and, moreover, to win the attention of the users among so many other applications in similar categories.
Just like search engine optimization (SEO) is for websites, app store optimization is for mobile apps. Specifically, app store optimization includes the process of ranking highly in an app store's search results.
Top 10 tips to increase your App rankings
Optimizing your application to generate downloads requires care and attention to several factors that directly influence the choice of users.
It must be remembered that our choices are motivated, at various times, by criteria that seem secondary to principle.
Several points are analyzed in a matter of seconds, and apps optimized according to the following tips have a much better chance of getting downloads. Check what they are:
1. Name of the App:
Choosing the name seems to have nothing to do with putting your app into app store rankings, right? But you have, yes, a lot!
The truth is that a well-chosen name can get a good feeling in the user.
Whether it describes well the function that the application plays or simply because it is easy to remember and pleasant to pronounce, a good name helps in the following ways:
- Your app is found more easily by direct searches, which represent about 63{e7d47c856744df2248f2195fd30fbdddbceff01679799ef4d661e6a47ab6faaa} of downloads;
- It is easier for a user to recommend the app to others, which can result in new downloads.
2. Attractive logo:
The logo plays an important role just as the name because it is used to identify your application and separate it from others.
How many times have you seen someone describe an app by taking their icon as a reference? This happens for 3 reasons:
- Many users pay more attention to logo than name;
- It is possible that the person forgets the name and only remembers the forms that he observed in the logo;
- There are many similar names in the app stores, and definitively the logo serves in differentiating the app from others.
3. Keywords:
In terms of keywords, it's worth remembering the two top app stores, Google Play and Apple's App Store, which have different rules and features that need to be taken into account.
Incidentally, if you plan to put your app on other platforms, such as the Microsoft Store, it is worth to see what the rules.
In summary, the difference from Google to Apple is as follows:
- Google Play: Offers 4,000 characters so you can make a user-friendly description. In the middle of this description, the keyword must appear a few times;
- App Store: 100 characters available, which should be availed to include the most relevant keywords to rank your app.
4. Category:
Choosing the category will directly impact the placement of your app in the app store, mainly because some are more competitive than others.
In addition, you need to think like your users and choose the category that is most relevant to them. Otherwise, you will lose many downloads simply because people are searching for one category and your app is in another category.
The Apple App Store also has subcategories that allow you to choose deeper into the niche, something that can help reduce your app's competition, especially if it's for a specific activity.
5. Describing your app:
What does your app do? What is your value proposition? Why is it worth downloading instead of hundreds of other options available? If it is getting paid, why invest money in your solution?
This questions can be answered in the description of your application. This is the space you have to convince users and present themselves as the best solution for them.
Considering that the decision time of the person is less, be as clear as possible.
Do not invent with difficult words or fancy phrases. First, be direct and speak in a simple way.
6. Using high-quality videos and images:
Part of the process outlined above, in which you have room to convince your audience about the value of your app and make as many people as possible to download it, which involves using images and videos.
Take photos of your application screen, preferably in the order they appear to the user during use. This will help you understand how the app works before you even download it.
Also, use a short video to more dynamically explain everything about the words and pictures which already say. Just be sure to use high-quality images and video footage!
7. App promotion:
There are many strategies you can use to advertise an app outside of the app store and generate traffic to the download page. The main ones are:
- Content marketing: You can produce content on your blog as well as on blogging partners with links and should know where to include your CTAs to improve conversion.
- Sponsored links: Google Adwords is already well known when it comes to online ads, but today there are many social networks with various formats to explore;
- Social media: Investing in marketing through social networks and even channels like WhatsApp can be a powerful way to generate traffic to your app.
8. User ratings:
The user evaluations have a huge weight on the decisions of the users, as they serve as social proof and indicate how effective the application is in accomplishing what is proposed.
So encourage your regular users, those who have already downloaded your app and make use of it on a day to day basis, evaluate the experience, and recommend it to others.
The easiest and most practical way to do this is by asking for an appraisal while users are in the app, preferably after asking if they are enjoying the experiment.
This allows if there is a problem, any suggestion or criticism to be made privately, not publicly.
9. Refresh the application frequently:
Updated apps often give a positive impression to app stores rankings algorithms because they understand that their desire is always to enhance the user experience.
It also makes a good impression on users, who realize if it's a product that's taken care of all the time, it's not an abandoned app.
Another good thing about updating the app is that it helps get more reviews, as many users take the time to leave their comments on each update.
10. Analyze your performance:
Evaluating your app's performance by tracking its evolution in app store rankings, observing user ratings, and tracking the progress of off-store strategies is critical.
With data coming from all of these important sources, you'll be able to determine the real effectiveness of your ASO strategy and know what you need to improve over time.
The rule is simple: analyze the data, draw plans based on them and put them into action. Only then you will get better consistent results.
It is not enough to have a quality product that delivers value to your audience, it needs to be found and get more attention than others. That's why app store optimization or ASO is very important for your application to succeed in today's busy application market.
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