Secrets to app store success: How to outrank your competitors

Mobile apps are almost an integral part of our lives. They cater for almost every aspect of our life – food, travel, games, education, news, lifestyle, and the list goes on. With more than enough existing solutions for every category, how can you make sure that your app doesn’t drown in all the competition?

Based on Forrester’s survey, apps are most commonly discovered by general browsing in the app store. Some other methods include looking through the “top rated” or “most popular” lists in the store or through internet search engines. Evidently, it is important to optimise your app such that it ranks above your competitors in the app store’s search results.

So, how should App Store Optimization (ASO) be done to make your app easily discoverable?

First impressions

As with most things, a user’s first impression of your product plays a big part in its success. Having an eye-catching app icon will be advantageous. A tip is to avoid using words for this, and ensure that the icon’s design suits the user interface of the app. Paired with a good title, it’ll win you some views.

Having a good user interface will attract downloads as well. The featured screenshots and description of your app should be tailored to pique your user’s interest, and demonstrate clearly its main purpose.

Use the right keywords

Keywords are what your users will input into the search bar. Place yourself in a user’s shoes and think about the terms you would use to find an app like yours. In general, the more popular the keyword, the more frequent your app is going to appear in any search results.

You can further tap on this by integrating keywords in both your app’s title and description. But in order to rank consistently above your competitors, regularly test and experiment with your keywords to ensure that they drive traffic to your download page.

Request for feedback

App icons and keywords are critical for ASO, but ratings and reviews contribute significantly to it too. If your app is rated higher and has more reviews, it will automatically be ranked higher than your competitor’s.

While more ratings and reviews increase your app discovery, you do not want negative reviews that will potentially damage your brand. One way to curtail this is to prompt users to provide feedback within your app. As a bonus, try to reply to the feedback and let them know you have taken that their suggestions into consideration (and be honest about it). It may make them feel more inclined to invest in your app, and could subsequently lead to better reviews.

Promotion

In addition to implementing these ASO techniques, your app still needs to be sufficiently marketed to drive more downloads. Remember, the total number of downloads plays an important role in ASO and your app’s discoverability too!

Introducing your app to your friends and family is a good start to increase awareness. Have them try it out, give you reviews, and tell great stories about your app on social media! Word of mouth is incredibly effective, so make an effort to consistently connect with your users.

Need more tips on how to boost your app’s ranking?

Happening next month, Takahiro Haneda, Senior Director, Asia-Pacific Marketing, App Annie will be sharing top tips on “How to configure your ASO for app store dominance” at Tech in Asia Singapore 2017’s Developer & Product Stage.

Check out the A-list speaker lineup and stage sessions this May 17 & 18. Save 15 percent if you get your tickets using the code “tiasg15” before this Friday, 7 April, 2359 GMT +8.

Just four days left. Score your discounted conference passes now before prices jump after this Friday.

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from Tech in Asia https://www.techinasia.com/secrets-app-store-success-outrank-competitors
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