April 25, 2023
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ASO (App Store Optimisation) Best Practices To Follow

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Do you want your app to stand out in the crowded app store landscape with ASO best practices? Look no further than app store optimisation (ASO)! Even the more simple elements of ASO can support the performance of your app and who it is shown to, as it's essential for driving downloads and user engagement.

What is ASO (App Store Optimisation)?

App Store Optimisation (ASO) is the process of improving the visibility of a mobile app in an app store, such as Google Play or the App Store. The goal of ASO is to increase the number of downloads and user engagement for an app.

There are several factors that can impact an app's ranking in app store search results, including the app's title, keywords, ratings and reviews, and download numbers. By optimising these elements, app developers and marketers can improve the visibility of their app and increase its chances of being discovered by potential users.

What does ASO Best Practice actually mean?

ASO best practices are basically the tricks of the trade for getting your app noticed in app stores. The idea is to make your app stand out and get downloaded more often.

There are a few key things you can do to improve your chances as you'll find out later, like doing keyword research, making your app title and description super enticing, using cool screenshots and videos to show off your app, getting people to leave positive reviews, keeping your ASO updated, using app indexing and deep linking, and making sure your app is available in different languages. Doing these things will give your app the best shot at being seen and downloaded by the masses.

Why do I need ASO?

Firstly, why should you optimise your app for the app store and follow ASO best practice? There are several reasons:

  1. Increased visibility: Optimising your app's listing can help it rank higher in search results, making it more visible to potential users.
  2. More downloads: A higher ranking in search results can lead to more downloads of your app.
  3. Improved user experience: By optimising your app's listing and ensuring that it accurately reflects the app's content and functionality, you can improve the user experience and increase the likelihood that users will keep your app installed.
  4. Increased revenue: More downloads can lead to increased revenue through in-app purchases or ads.
  5. Competitive advantage: Optimising your app's listing can help it stand out from similar apps and give you a competitive advantage.

ASO Best Practices

But with millions of apps out there, how do you make yours stand out? Follow these best practices for ASO success:

Nail your app's name: This is the first thing users see, so choose a short, simple, and memorable name that accurately reflects your app's content. Skip the abbreviations and acronyms.

Stuff your title and description with relevant keywords: These are the words and phrases users search for, so include them in your app's title and description to increase the chances of showing up in search results.

ASO Best Practice Example:

  • Compelling app title and description: A weather app might have a title like "Weather Plus - Accurate Forecasts & Alerts" and a description that includes the keywords "weather," "forecasts," and "alerts," while also providing a clear and concise overview of what the app does.

Pick the right category: Choose the category that best fits your app's content and purpose. This will help ensure that your app is shown to users who are most likely to be interested in downloading it.

Create a killer app icon: This small image represents your app in the app store, so make it visually appealing and easily recognisable. No text, please - it's hard to read at small sizes.

Write a clear and concise app description: Give users a good understanding of what your app does and why they should download it. Use bullet points to highlight key features and benefits, and avoid jargon or technical language.

Show off your app with high-quality screenshots and videos: These are great for showcasing the app's user interface and features. Make sure they're clear and demonstrate the app's benefits.

Encourage user ratings and reviews: These can help improve your app's visibility in the app store. In-app prompts and post-use emails are good ways to get users to rate and review your app. And make sure to respond to both positive and negative reviews - it shows you value feedback and are working to improve the app.

ASO Best Practice Example:

  • A productivity app might encourage users to rate and review the app by providing in-app prompts and messages. Positive ratings and reviews can help the app rank higher and attract more downloads.

Use app store analytics: Both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store offer analytics tools to track your app's performance and user engagement. Use them to identify areas for improvement and track the effectiveness of your ASO efforts.

Update your app regularly: This shows users you're actively working to improve the app and address any issues. And when you release a new update, don't forget to update the app's metadata (including the title, description, and keywords) to boost your app's ranking in the app store.

Consider paid app store advertising: While ASO can help improve your app's visibility organically, paid advertising can give you a quick boost. Both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store offer search ads and banner ads to drive more traffic to your app.

It's also a good idea to regularly review and update your app's keywords to ensure that they are still relevant and effective. And remember to use keywords not only in the app title and description, but also in the app's metadata, such as the title and tags of any videos or images you use to promote the app.

By following these best practices, you'll give your app the best chance of standing out in the app store and driving downloads and user engagement. And remember to track your ASO efforts and continually optimise and update your app to keep it relevant and meeting the needs of your users.

How to measure your ASO

There are several tools that can be used to measure the effectiveness of an App Store Optimisation (ASO) strategy with best practices. There are tons of tools out there to help you track your progress and identify areas for improvement. Here are a few of our favourites with some including free trials:

  • App store analytics platforms: These bad boys (like Sensor Tower, Data.ai, and Mobile Action) give you the lowdown on your app's downloads, rankings, and reviews.
  • Google Analytics: This trusty free tool helps you track key performance indicators (KPIs) like user acquisition, retention, and revenue.
  • A/B testing tools: Want to see which version of your app's listing performs best? Splitmetrics and StoreMaven have your back.
  • User feedback tools: Apptentive and UserTesting let you get insights from real users about your app.
  • Keyword research tools: Sensor Tower's Keyword Insights and Mobile Action's ASO Tool (FREE) can help you identify the best keywords to use in your app's listing.

With these tools in your arsenal and following the above best practices, you'll be well on your way to ASO domination!

Thinking about optimising your mobile app on the App Store, or need a powerful marketing campaign to increase installs and app purchases? Chat with our experts today on our contact page.

ASO (App Store Optimisation) Best Practices To Follow