With over 6 million mobile apps available across major stores today, app publishers face a significant challenge of discovering their apps. This emphasizes how crucial it is to understand the concept of app store optimization (ASO). ASO is an important strategy, but what does it require and how can it increase the visibility of your app?
This article will help you to make the most of it and get your app ranked highly.
Table of Contents
What is App Store Optimization (ASO)?
App Store Optimization (ASO) is the process of making mobile apps more search engine friendly to rank them higher in app stores. The higher the app’s position the greater its visibility to potential users leading to increased traffic to its store page.
ASO aims to increase website traffic to the app, which in turn encourages users to download it. This process depends on understanding your target audience and the keywords they employ while searching for apps like yours.
You can choose the best keywords for optimization by researching these terms to learn more about the language used by your target audience.
Key Elements for Effective App Store Optimization (ASO) Involve
- App name and title
- Keywords
- Description
- Subtitle
- Total download count
- Ratings and reviews
We’ll delve into enhancing each of these aspects but before that, let’s discuss the significance of ASO.
Why Does ASO Matter?
Google reports that 40% of app discoveries arise from searches within app stores making it the primary method for finding and downloading new apps.
Neglecting ASO means neglecting the most significant channel for your app’s visibility and downloads.
With numerous apps competing for top positions, many publishers overlook app store optimization. Dedicate weekly efforts to enhance your ASO and watch how it significantly improves your app’s ranking and success.
Read More: 20 Mobile App Ideas For Startups In 2024
Main ASO Factors
These crucial elements wield the greatest influence on your app’s ranking demanding focused attention:
1. App Name/Title
The keyword placed in the title should match the one drawing the highest search traffic. Extensive research is vital here as frequent title changes may affect your app’s visibility. As your app ascends in rankings and gathers more reviews word-of-mouth promotion naturally follows. Changing the title could impede this organic spread of awareness about your app.
2. Keywords
Understanding the most relevant and frequently used keywords among your target users is essential for enhancing search rankings. Monitoring competitors offers valuable insights into your comparative performance week after week.
While the title and keywords stand as paramount ASO factors they are also easily modifiable. Therefore, regular optimization is necessary for sustained app visibility and performance.
Although first impressions are important, there are a lot of other factors that have a significant impact on users’ decision to click the download button. These include:
3. Download Count
The total number of downloads holds significance in ASO although it’s not entirely within your control.
4. Ratings and Reviews
Equally important yet challenging to manage. However, strategies exist to encourage satisfied users to leave ratings and reviews. A comprehensive understanding of these factors is necessary when aiming to optimize your app for improved rankings.
5. App Title
The first impression that an app makes online is important. It’s what drew your eye in this particular situation and what draws users to your application. Boosting with a keyword in the title can improve its search ranking by 10.3%. But there are constraints; Apple limits titles to just 30 characters & stuffing keywords risks a ban due to store regulations. Users are cautious preferring polished titles over suspicious ones for privacy reasons.
6. App Description
While the App Store’s algorithm overlooks descriptions users don’t. Focus on showcasing your product’s features and benefits rather than SEO optimization. Keep it concise! Only 252 characters appear on the product page so make every word count. A/B test to find what works best.
7. Keyword Metadata
In the world of Apple’s app descriptions, you’ve got 100 characters to input keywords each separated by commas. These serve as the pathway for users to discover your app both through search queries and related content. Be strategic avoid repetition from your title and diversify your keywords.
For a deeper dive into keyword analytics Apple Search Ads provides valuable insights besides being exclusively accessible to iOS app developers. It’s a necessary tool for any project seeking visibility. Additionally, employing resources like Ubersuggest helps in identifying prevalent keywords and testing their effectiveness.
8. App Subtitle
In search results, a subtitle appears beneath the title. There is a 30-character limit on this as well. Subtitles in search results provide space for descriptive keywords. Take cues from TypeShift’s use of space for search words, it’s a clean & effective approach. While titles might be restricted, subtitles offer a workaround for essential keywords.
9. App Reviews and Ratings
For users exploring new apps, customer reviews and ratings hold significance. They serve as a compass guiding decisions amidst a sea of unfamiliar app brands.
There’s a dilemma in the app world. While higher ratings boost an app’s visibility the fear of negative feedback can make developers apprehensive about seeking reviews. Striking a balance is key, providing a platform within the app for users to voice concerns directly to the developers is crucial.
On the brighter side, encouraging satisfied users to share their positive experiences can enhance an app’s status.
For example, the top 100 free apps in the App Store boast an average rating of 4 stars. This emphasizes the importance of quality and it greatly influences consumer perception. Think about your own app choices. When was the last time you willingly downloaded a one-star-rated app? The app had a much higher rating when you initially installed it.
Furthermore, ratings impact conversions significantly. Maintaining a high rating is far easier than trying to uplift a poor one from two or four stars. This is why it’s imperative to prompt reviews from users within the app itself. Timing is important because 77% of users make their decisions about an app during the first 72 hours of use.
But try not to be too persistent. Opt for strategic moments like after completing a game level or after a user sends their first encrypted message. Time-based prompts are not as effective as timely suggestions.
Remember an app’s performance can directly affect its ratings, so ensure its functionality remains excellent.
The ultimate goal? A page adorned with positive reviews. However, bad reviews don’t spell disaster. Responding politely to criticism offers a chance to rectify issues and express gratitude for user input. Embrace this opportunity as it’s your gateway to collecting invaluable user insights.
10. App Downloads
Ultimately, the important metric is the number of downloads an app gathers. App preview videos and screenshots play a major role in persuading users who are on the fence. App Store and Google Play utilize download counts to gauge an app’s ranking specifically emphasizing the current download rate.
For example, while one app might boast a total of one million downloads a newer competitor can outpace it by getting more downloads within a month. This emphasizes the significance of engaging preview videos and images in this race for visibility. Notably, most top-ranking apps in the App Store benefit from app previews to drive customer conversions.
But getting users is only the first step. Keeping them around is a bigger problem that Apple is closely monitoring. To bolster app downloads, focusing on optimizing your app is a fundamental starting point. Furthermore, make your brand and app more recognizable, more appealing, and more aware of the world. This involves refining your app store description, perfecting images, managing ratings & reviews, and establishing a strong presence on social media platforms.
How Does ASO Affect Retention?
The impact of retention on App Store Optimization (ASO) is significant. While retention rates matter for mobile rankings they are typically set at low standards. On average an app tends to retain only 29 % of its users after 90 days. Looking more closely, we find that different industries have different three-month retention rates, with the top three categories being Media/Entertainment, Lifestyle/Travel, and e-commerce/Retail apps.
Since there are so many apps available users may download more than they need. Studies indicate that among the approximately 90 apps installed Americans only use about 30 each month. Consequently, even if your app gets downloaded its usage often doesn’t extend beyond the initial 72 hours.
The duration an app remains installed and its frequency of use significantly influence its App Store search rankings. Understanding this mechanism paves the way to explore best practices for app publishing, ensuring visibility & encouraging downloads.
Conclusion
Similar to SEO, ASO necessitates ongoing monitoring and continual adjustments over time. The initial set of keywords you choose for the app store is rarely the optimal one.
Before submitting an app, keyword searches are frequently the subject of little to no research, which leaves many apps hidden and significantly lowers their chances of being found.
Time and effort must be dedicated if one is to benefit from ASO genuinely. On the other hand, this investment will create a dependable channel that regularly drives users to your app. Mobile apps face a lot of challenges when it comes to discoverability, but these challenges can be actively overcome with the help of the aforementioned tips.
Looking for the best mobile app development solutions? Look no further than HashStudioz Technologies. Get in touch today to turn your ideas into exceptional apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What stands as paramount for enhancing my app store listing?
Choosing the right keywords to target the people who are most likely to use your app is an essential initial phase in optimizing your app store listing.
2. How do I increase downloads of my app organically?
Enhance your listing by researching relevant keywords, craft compelling titles, and prioritize fast download speeds and exceptional user experience. Engage in social media campaigns that spark conversations about your app to generate interest and awareness.
3. How much can you earn with an app?
The potential earnings from an app depend on multiple factors like pricing, quality, competition, advertising strategies, and more.
Shivam Rathore 
Yatin Gupta