You have surely heard about SEO (Search Engine Optimization) which is necessary to gain a top rank in Google search results. Did you know, however, that app stores use a similar tool to decide which mobile app should be more visible? Try our 7 brilliant tips that will help you to optimize your app in app stores and prepare for a sharp increase in downloads and revenue.
1. CHOOSE THE APP’S NAME WELL
Your app’s name is what people will use to talk about your app. That’s why you should think it through well. To help users clearly identify the app and your brand, keep the actual name short and sweet. However, as the title counts a lot to the ASO results, put some keywords after the name to associate your app with selected keywords.
2. ADD KEYWORDS
When it comes to keywords, Apple’s App Store and Google Play differ a lot. The App Store allows you to type in some keywords which your app should be optimized for. However, you only have up to 100 characters to use so choose them wisely. Google Play takes a different approach and lets you to write up to 4,000 characters in order to describe the app in a natural language that is appealing to customers, not search engines.
3. DESIGN AN UNIQUE ICON
App stores are full of great apps with awful logo icons. What a pity! As your potential customers browse the long list of apps, the feature they care the most are not apps’ names but their icons. A well-designed icon should be capable of breaking through the clutter. Make it simple, of best quality and somehow connected with what your app does. It should stand out!
4. WRITE A COMPELLING DESCRIPTION
Although it won’t boost your app store search results, it will indefinitely boost your downloads. The description is what users see when they open your app’s page and decide whether to download the app. That’s why this part should focus on customers’ needs. Describe what your product does, list the unique benefits and include call-to-action. customers. Keep it short and simple – the first three lines should grab your reader’s attention.
5. INCLUDE SCREENSHOTS
No user likes to buy a pig in a poke. So don’t be surprised that apps with screenshots are more often downloaded that the ones without pics. You can upload up to 5 screenshots in the App Store and up to 8 in Google Play, but remember that only the 2-3 screenshots will be firs visible on your apps’ page. Make these pictures sell! Show app’s benefits and good design to ensure that the user won’t feel discouraged.
6. UPDATE FREQUENTLY
If you don’t remember about your users, they tend to forget about you too. Remember that the 500 top-ranked apps update as frequently as every 30 to 40 days (source: moz.com) so take advantage of their experience and give users something new from time to time. Don’t forget to promote your new update too – prepare the What’s New field, add new screenshots and advertise the new version of your app.
7. ENCOURAGE FEEDBACK
Last not least, encourage your users to give you feedback. As the number of 5-star-reviews and ranks in app stores are strictly correlated, you may be sure that your rank will boost when you master the process of getting feedback. Remember though that usually only delighted and disappointed customers write comments so you need to find a way to encourage the other users too. Try in-app pop-ups and buttons to make sure you’ll get more good reviews.
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