Developing an iOS app can be a great way for businesses to expand their reach and grow their audience. But, once you’ve had an app developed, you then must focus on getting that app downloaded by putting it in front of people that will be interested in what the app has to offer.
Although there are many app marketing strategies that can be used to help you do this, perhaps the most simplistic and effective first step is to ensure that your app is effectively optimized for search in the various app stores in which it will be listed. This is where App Store Optimization (ASO) comes in.
The iOS app store looks for basic things within your app listings to determine whether or not your app is relevant for what your users are searching for and this should be taken into account throughout the iOS app development process. ASO involves taking some basic steps in order to optimize your app’s listing in the app store to help improve discoverability so you can increase downloads and conversion rates.
1. Create an Eye Catching Icon
Although an icon isn’t really a good indication of the quality or usefulness of an app, an eye-catching icon might be the most important consideration when optimizing your app within an app store. It is often the first thing that a prospective user will see, and should stand out from the crowd. Your app icon should not only stand out, but should also give some indication as to what the app does. Additionally, you have to consider that once the app is downloaded, you want the icon to be easily visible and easy to find among other apps on the home screen.
2. Use a Descriptive Title
Giving your app a brandable, gimicky title seems to be the trend, but the truth is that a descriptive title actually can be a lot more beneficial in the long-term. Try to give your app a name that accurately describes what users can expect after installing your app. What is it that your app actually does? Who is it for? How will it help your users? These are all relevant questions that you should consider before naming your app and listing it on the app store.
3. Provide Informative Screenshots
Screenshots can go a long way toward convincing a would-be user to download your app. They can say a lot about your features and set the expectations for users that download your app. One of the biggest reasons why negative reviews are left by app users is a failure to properly set expectations and an overselling of the usefulness and features. Resist the temptation to over-sell the features of your app and ensure that your screenshots are informative. Also, make sure you update your app screenshots when you submit app updates that include any UX/UI changes in the app design.
4. Give An In-Depth Description
The description is the most straight-forward aspect of optimizing your app. It is the best chance that you have to accurately describe what it is that your app does and set expectations for your users. Give them a complete overview of what they can expect after downloading your app, include testimonials where it makes sense and detail exactly what your users can expect when using your app.
5. Utilize Keywords
The iOS app store searches for apps based on its title and what you set for its Keywords. You’re allowed 100 characters to include as many relevant keywords as possible, so you need to choose keywords that people will be searching for when looking for an app like yours. There are tools that can help you create the best combination of keywords based on relevance and competition; one that we like is Sensor Tower but there are plenty of other great app store optimization tools out there too.
If you are interested in having an app developed or would like to learn more about how you can improve your app store optimization for maximum return, please contact us today to speak with our app development experts.
