You have spent months designing and building your app. You have done your research, tested your app on users, and fixed bugs endlessly. And now, finally, your app is ready for the market—or in this case, the app stores! Hoorah! But now what? Well, not to be a Debbie Downer, but now comes the hardest part of launching a new app! Now you have to boost your mobile app ranking so that it gets full downloads.
And let me tell you, it’s not as simple as it seems. But it’s not that hard, either! So, in today’s article, let’s explore some ways in which to improve your mobile app store ranking and boost your app downloads!
Also, did you know that there are more than 8 million apps across various app stores now? Yes! You heard that right! The app market is a crowded one. You’re bound to face some competition no matter what niche you’re in.
But don’t worry. You can make your app soar above the competition simply by getting a few things right. And that’s what we’re going to talk about today!
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Now, you must be wondering, “But why do we need to think about app store ranking at all?” Well it’s because your app’s ranking will determine the number of downloads you get.
Simple.
See, the higher your app ranks in the search results of the app stores, the more visible it will be to users.
And of course, this will help more and more people to discover your app. Which in turn will drive your app downloads, reviews, and recommendations, and build your app’s brand awareness.
I told you, it is worthwhile to focus on app store rankings!
Top 6 ways to boost your mobile app rankings
In order to move up the app store ranks, you need to know how the store works. Here are a few TheCodeWork expert-approved methods to navigate the app store and improve your mobile app ranking in no time!
➡ Recognize app store optimization (ASO)
According to studies, the majority of people discover new apps through app store browsing.
And hey, that’s good news.
Because it means that individuals are actively searching for apps on the store. You just have to make sure that they find yourapp and not your competitors. Simple enough, right?
Now comes the real question: How will you make your app stand out from the rest?
The answer is: through App Store Optimization (ASO)!
App Store Optimization (ASO) is the process of optimizing mobile applications in order for them to rank higher in Apple’s App Store or Google Play Store. Once you’ve got your ASO basics down, it will catapult your app’s visibility and give you more downloads.
That makes sense, right?
In short, ASO is the trump card for ranking your app at the top of search results. Moving forward, let’s discuss some of the best ways to leverage ASO tactics to enhance your app’s performance across the app stores.
Pay attention, folks! You don’t want to miss any of these!
➡ Understand your Customer and Market Competition:
What’s step number two in improving your mobile app ranking, you ask? Well, it’s gaining a thorough knowledge of the following three things:
Customers need?
What your competition is already providing them?
Your market niche?
Needless to say, you have to do some rigorous market research to get a better understanding of all these.
You can also try asking yourself the following questions:
How do you want your users to describe your app?
The language that your customers use?
Does your app solve customer needs?
What distinguishes your mobile app from the competition?
What keywords are your customers looking for?
Can you use these keywords to set your app apart from that of your competition?
I know, I know, that’s a lot of questions.
But my two cents? You can easily get the answers to all these questions by first launching an MVP ( minimum viable product) of your app.
The MVP will only contain the most basic, core features–the very essence of your app. And trust me, it will give you massive returns:
Customer feedback
Real-time app usage data
Information about your app’s best (and worst) features
Identifying areas for modification
You can then add (or subtract) features from your app as you see fit. Easy-peasy, isn’t it?
If you want your app to ace the app store rankings, MVP is the name of the game. In fact, the most popular apps–Instagram, DropBox, Airbnb, you name it–started out as MVPs. Tell me, how’s that for a good track record?
Well, if the name belongs to your app, then I’d say A LOT is riding on it.
Your app’s name is the first thing anyone will see on the store, so it’s important to get it just right. What’s more, the right app name and title will also play a crucial role in improving your ASO results.
So here are some tips on nailing that app name before the launch:
Keep your app name short and sweet– both Google and Apple have a 30-character limit. You know that, don’t you?
Make sure your app’s name reflects its main functions and features
Ensure it is easy to pronounce and easy to remember
Base your app title on searchable keywords. Since most users discover apps by putting in keywords, it’s a smart move to choose a name that relates to these keywords. (More on this later!)
Try to come up with a name that can turn into an action word too. If you want, you can also “Google it!”
See what I did there? *wink wink*
Once you have got the name sorted, it’s time to focus on the app description and relevant keywords.
Read on to know how to fine-tune them for the stores!
➡ Track your App Store Keyword Rankings
Most users discover apps by using some relevant keywords. For example, if they’re looking for a health and fitness app, they’ll most likely type “Health app” in the search bar.
Now, the key is to rank first among the search results. And the best way to do so is by finessing your app store keyword rankings.
What’s that, you ask? Well in ASO, keyword ranking indicates the position of an app in the search results obtained for a particular keyword. For example, if the health app appears first in the search results, you can say that its rank is #1 for the keyword “Health app.”
Simple enough, right? So how will you go about improving your keyword ranking in the app store? Let’s find out:
Use relevant keywords
Make sure your app keywords (in the app title and description) are relevant to your app’s features. Apple and Google can in fact lower your app store rankings if your keywords don’t align with what your app performs!
And you definitely do not want that to happen!
Pro tip: avoid cramming the same keywords more than 5 times in your app description.
This will likely backfire as both App Store and Play Store penalizes keyword stuffing.
Simple yet valid rules you see?
Optimum keyword search volume:
Keywords with a higher search volume will drive greater traffic to your app. However, don’t just go for the highest search volume word. It might get lost among the dozens of similar keyword search results. Makes sense?
My advice: Begin with combination keywords or lesser search volume keywords. Once you start ranking well for these, you can replace them with the higher search volume words.
Slow and steady!
Need help with app development and app store ranking? Brainstorm and build with top experts in the field at TheCodeWork’s Startup Ecosystem!
Consider the following stats: 59% users will look at an app’s ratings before downloading it. Furthermore, research by Apptentive shows that 50% of mobile users will only download an app if it has 4-star ratings or higher. And about 77% of users go through at least one review before installing a free app.
Obviously, user ratings and reviews play a significant role in convincing people to download your app. Ratings and app reviews also have a significant impact on your ASO, and, in turn, on your app store ranking.
For example, Google and Apple both favor apps with more positive ratings and reviews. Isn’t that obvious?
Here’s what you can do to make sure your app has higher rating and reviews:
Ensure your customers can contact you with any requests, complaints, or questions. Get an email address for the same!
Create a support website
Update your app regularly.
Try to fix any bugs
Once you’ve resolved your customers’ issues, request a second review
Want to climb the ranks at the app store? Consult with experts at TheCodeWork’s Startup Ecosystem to learn the best way to boost your mobile app ranking!
The more traffic you drive to your app listing, the higher it will rank in search results. I mean, that’s just common sense, right? To get more people to download your app, you need to build a presence outside of the app stores as well!
Add captivating screenshots or promotional videos of your app on the app storefront. This will create added visual appeal that will draw in more downloaders
Translate/customize your app’s title, description, or screenshots to suit your user’s location. This will also help you bring in a wider range of users, and that’s always a plus, right?
Not sure how to go about building a global presence for your app? TheCodeWork’s Startup Ecosystem has just the solution for you! Reach out to our marketing/branding team and build your very own brand in a flash!
Your mobile app ranking influences the number of downloads you get, and vice-versa. The more downloads you receive, the higher your ranking. And the good news is, you can improve your mobile app store ranking by following the above steps. I do hope you found these useful though.
So no more dreary days with no app downloads!
And if you find it difficult to navigate the ASO strategies at any point– they can get quite confusing, I know – don’t hesitate to reach out to TheCodeWork team for assistance!
Remember, we’re here to help! Book a free consultation with our team for expert assistance now!
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