As an app user myself, manually finding specific apps I am looking for in the store could be troublesome. Even so, I think developers have a harder time looking for ways to make their product visible on that top list.

This is where App Store Optimization comes in. Rank your app high enough and more users will download your product.

When you look for an app, the following takes place:

you directly type in keywords in the search panel and then wait for the store to display its list.

This process is probably the most vital part of ASO. Not everybody can be in the first screen of results. Apple currently employs an algorithm which mainly uses the app title to rank apps in user search results. Please that again; app store keyword ranking can become simple once you learn that truth together with the ones I’m about to share.

It is unavoidable for developers to use the same keywords. This is where popularity comes in. The algorithm, if given the same set of keywords specifically used to search for an app, gives weight to other elements. These are the app’s conversion rates, the number of times an app was installed, the number of reviews it has received, and its ratings.

In a keyword search, an app name definitely takes the highest priority in ranking. When shown with results, you will usually notice the app icon first, but after that, it’s the name that counts. This is why you need to put in the time and effort to come up with a real good name.

Apple used to allow 255 characters in a name. In September 2016, they reduced this to 50. A year later, it became 30. When choosing your name, never go over 30 characters; that’s another tricky aspect that deters many from acquiring any app store keyword ranking.

This was implemented to prevent stuffing keywords in apps’ names. This change also improved the quality and efficiency of the search function. Shorter names also made for a better overall search experience App Store users.

Limiting the length of keywords also prevents developers from tricking the algorithm. Some tend to use popular words that are completely irrelevant to they type of app they are publishing. This type of spam makes the App Store search function worthless.

For well-known apps, the algorithm is pointless since we can just search by their specific names. But for less popular ones, getting the right mix of branding and keywords can go a long way.

How do you come up with a good name?

You need something that is one-of-a-kind. When using a name, make sure it effectively conveys its purpose together with the icon you use for branding. You should pair these with great screenshots of your app. The right combination of these elements make your app stand out from the competition.

Find your competitors, analyze them, and find an edge. Use powerful and significant keywords and avoid using spammy special characters.

How you position your keywords in your app’s name can play a part in your rankings too. Even though this hasn’t been put to test, there is also no proof that says this doesn’t work. Ordering your keywords in regard to its importance can put your app on top of the competition if all other factors are equal.