21 IOS app store optimization tips to improve Your App’s Rank

There are more than 2 million apps on Apple App Store. Thousands of these are battling each other for a single keyword. So with this much competition, why will someone want to download your app?

That being said, IOS app development is a business. More and more developers are now publishing their own apps and starting small companies just through apple app store and google play store. Some of them succeed in app marketing, but most of them get stuck. This bundle of IOS app optimization tips is for all those people. It helps them start afresh and do mobile app marketing the right way.

Below is a list of 20 mobile app seo optimization secrets that will help you increase your app rank in no time.
1. Add Keywords to Titles

Just like Google Play Store, IOS apps are also ranked through keywords. These keywords help the apple app store search engine know what the app is about. To make the app more relevant for the keyword, we need to add it in the title. By adding the keyword in the title, search engine thinks that the app is of importance. And it ranks it higher for that keyword.

2. Make your own keywords

Don't go with the keywords provided by Google keyword planner tool. Most of the time the statistics provided by Google adwords keyword planner are inaccurate. Therefore, try to search for the keywords through multiple keywords tool and select the ones that might have low competition. These will be easier to rank. Don't worry if the keywords are low competition, once users start to download the app through this keyword, apple app store will automatically start ranking your app on other keyword positions. This placement is called latent semantic indexing (LSI keyword placement). LSI keywords can be synonyms, same-meaning words or meanings of those words. They are now given more importance by Google.

3. Keep Keywords within 100 Characters

Specific to Apple App Store marketing tips. The 100 character limitation in keywords allow the algorithms to know what the app is about. More keywords can be added in the app of 100 characters each, provided they are not stuffed in the app description and sparingly used where needed. By using them in this way, mobile App store SEO is optimized for more than one keyword search term.

4. Make Your App Title Descriptive Within 50 Characters

Example: Indie Battery Saver App | Boost Battery Life & Performance.

Here I have used two keywords in the app title. The first title is the original one and the second one is added to it. Now, by using two keywords in the app title we can add a description focusing on both. This way the app will be optimized for two main keywords instead of one. The end result is more app installs from both the keywords. In the long-run, IOS app store SEO optimizer can even add more long tail keywords to further solidify the app rankings.

5. Avoid Using Generic Terms or Names Similar to Existing Apps in the Title

You can use a generic term if you really like it. But the generic names are used by many people so the app gets lost in a pool of apps that are competing for that keyword. By using a unique name, your app is easier to identify and it even becomes your brand name. You can use the unique name with the keyword to rank it on the app store.

6. Don’t Use Celebrity Names or Trademarks in Keywords

Not only using a celebrity name against the policies of the app store but the celebrity or the company holding the trademark can sue your app. So, just don’t this kind of mistake. If you really want to use the trademarked or protected names in your app, ask the owners for permission first.

7. App Description User Friendly

Make sure to add complete app description. If it is of 5000 characters then add a description of 2500 characters at least. The more words you add the more are your chances of ranking on relevant keywords. You will also be able to rank on keywords that you did not intentionally add to the app.

Tell users what your app is about. Explain the app features and include information about press coverage.

You can also add information of version updates – but there is already an extra section for that purpose.

8. Target Keywords with Low Competition

Start with the low competition keywords because they are easier to rank. Add details of your app and target LSI keywords. This way you will rank much easily. Once your app is credible, target high competition keywords because now it will be easier to rank

9. Target Keywords with Lower Search Volumes First

Increase app installs for Apple App Store by targeting keywords with lower search volume. Once your app installs become consistent for some period then target keywords with higher search volumes.

10. Create First Two Screenshots Which Show off Your Best Feature

According to research, most users do not swipe past the first two screen shots for an app. The Apple App Store IOS app Optimization guide by top experts suggest that you only have the first two to make your app count.

Here are some suggestions:

• Make the screen shots high resolution
• Overlay text for better explanation
• Show the best features of your app
• Use simple background for enhanced readability

11. Localize, Localize, Localize

If you have an app that is targeted towards the local market of a country then this is the best option for you. Just click on translations and localize your app. Many users are searching in their local languages and by using this feature your app will rank on the keywords they are searching. And the result is more downloads.

12. Update Your App Regularly

If you are really serious about making big revenue from your apps then you need to update them regularly. Add analytics code to your app and monitor the rankings every week. This will allow you to make somewhat accurate predictions. Based on these predictions update your app and change the old keywords if they are not working.

13. Humans to Find Unique Keywords

If you keep on using tools you will miss out on the keywords that are not yet made. I made around $1000 from a simple app that I made targeting a keyword that was not even made. I saw in google trends that a keyword is rising and I made the app. If I had searched on other tools and used the old ones I would already be dealt with too much competition and my app wouldn’t have ranked. By choosing this keyword not only I ranked my app, but I app started to appear on prominent keywords, where ranking was hardest.

So, use your brain and start thinking out keywords by yourself for IOS app Optimization tips and you will be ready in no time.

14. Monitor Keyword Ranking Regularly

Of course you need to monitor your keywords, if you are thinking of ranking on them higher. On IOS app store the apps start to move up the rankings when they get more downloads and ratings. The more ratings your app has and the better it is optimized for a certain keyword, the more it will rank higher.

So, just keep an eye on your apps and how they are doing. If you see that an app is going down the graph then alter that keyword.

15. Ask For Ratings and Reviews From Users

Don’t be shy to ask for ratings and reviews. Not all users may give you the desired rating but a few of them will surely do so. Now think if three to four users are rating your app each day, how fast will you rise to the top of the IOS App Store?

But just be sure that your app is worthy of getting a good rating. If you think it is not then improve it by asking users for the feedback.

16. Run Ads in the App Store and on Google Search

Your best bet to get more downloads on IOS app store, given that you are just starting out, is to run ads. I know that running ads is not the best option and is costly. But running a few ads in the very start will give your app a much-needed boost. This will also provide you the desired feedback to make app better for the other users.

You can easily run search ads on IOS App Store.

17. Running Ads on Google Search

Another place to get potential installers for your app is Google search. Just run a few ads on Google search console and you will see an improvement in your app rankings [provided users download your app].

18. Trending Topics as Keywords

Another good idea is to use trends as keywords. But this is of course not a long term strategy. You can go for trends and those trends that come every year. For example, Halloween. Now Halloween comes every year and your app will see a harsh rise in installs throughout that trend.

A few tools you can use to track trends are Twitter Trends, App Radar, Google Trends and Facebook Events.

19. A/B Test Everything on Your App Listing

A single color can make all the difference in an apps ranking on IOS app store. If your app is not getting engagement and you think people should engage because it has everything they need [for a said purpose] then you need to alter its user interface. May be a button is placed a different angle, or may be the users are not getting to the end of the funnel [if it is being used for conversion]. Whatever the reason is, you have tons of options to try. Do A/B tests and go with better results.

Even do the same on App Store. Try adding a video or replacing the first screenshot. May be what you think will work is not the best choice after all.

20. App Preview Video in Your Description with an Attention Grabbing Poster Frame

You must have heard that video affects rankings. They do not actually affect the ranking but if the video leads to app installs and those app installs lead to better rankings then the statement holds true.

If you are not using a video for your app then start doing it as soon as possible. A video will help the viewers to get a better understanding of your app.

21. Select the right app category for ranking on IOS

A good way to rank for some low competition keywords is to select the right category for the app. IOS app store tells about the latest apps in a category. It will also show your app in that category if you have selected the right category and have provided a complete description, added a video and provided screenshots.