Jay Leonard
With the rise of the freemium app business model, more and more apps are releasing free versions of their app. But free or not, they still take up some valuable, highly coveted space on the user’s homescreen. So how do you show the value of your app to a perusing user? App Store Optimization, or ASO. By integrating these three tips into your ASO mix, you’ll be well on your way to optimizing your app to capture the most potential downloads.
1. Use Screenshots
Screenshots can be the make-or-break for many users. They’re a quick sneak peek of what to expect when users download your app. Your screenshots should showcase the most important features of your app, and should also be highly visual. But don’t stop there. Take your screenshots to the next level with descriptive captions that explain why these features are essential to the user’s experience.
2. Encourage Active Users to Rate Your App
We’ve all been the recipients of an unwarranted “Rate Our App!” pop-up after not using an app for weeks or even months. That’s why the “active users” part of this tip is so important.
First, people who haven’t used your app for an extended period of time probably aren’t too familiar with it, especially if you’ve made substantial updates. Secondly, do you really want all of your users rating your app? Let’s be honest, not everyone is going to place your app in their “if I could only choose three apps to have on my phone” list (everyone has one of those right?).
Before you go sending a blanket message prompting your users to rate your app, think about who you actually want to be rating it. Active users are a prime target. They’re in your app on a daily or weekly basis, and have a solid idea of what a true experience looks like. But taking that a step further, you also want to give unsatisfied users a chance to express their frustrations. That’s where an NPS survey can be your best option to filter the detractors from the promoters.
3. Frontload Important Keywords
If your app description is an expansive novel, then your app title is a meticulously crafted poem. When deciding how to write your app title, just think of yourself as a modern day Robert Frost. Well, not quite, but you do have to put some serious thought into which words to include, and which to keep out. Those first 25 characters are crucial to grabbing the attention of potential users. It’s your chance to say “Hey, pick me!” without actually saying, “Hey, pick me!”
A Neverending Battle
These three tips are a great start, but they’re only the beginning of a long journey of optimizing your app store listing. Just like SEO on the web, it’s a constant battle to stay ahead of the competition. But equipped with the right tools and know-how, you put yourself in a position to succeed, and stand out above the crowd.
This article was written for Business 2 Community by Jay Leonard.
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Loved the screenshots examples. I totally agree, screenshots are great graphical assets in the ASO world. That is why we decided to offer app marketing graphical templates such as app store screenshots, social covers for apps and install ads:
http://www.appgo2market.com/mobile-app-marketing-graphics/