Understanding Application Store Optimization

By Author: Susan Smith
Total Articles: 132
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There is a lot of hard work and effort that goes into developing an app. But the real challenge is to get it noticed, increase visibility and become profitable. ASO or app store optimization is the new trend for app developers, which continues to work towards improving rankings.

What is ASO?
Application store optimization is the technique of getting your mobile application more visible in searches and rankings on the application stores. ASO is for mobile apps just like SEO is for websites. For developers to get their applications noticed by their potential users, it is very important that they invest time and effort in app store optimization, or they risk their creation being lost in the sea of competing products.

Why app store optimization is important?
In order to achieve better visibility and rankings, ASO is very crucial. If you don’t optimize your apps at the right time, chances are that all the time and money that has gone in developing an app could just go down the drain.

What are the factors that optimize apps?
Keywords - This goes without saying that keywords play a very important ...
... role for better App store optimization. So, it does make a lot of sense to use relevant keywords when deciding the name of an app. Also, think of the keywords that the users search for as this would improve your visibility which will further enhance your ranking.

App name - The name of your app needs be relevant and descriptive enough. There are various effective ways to keep your name unique and creative at the same time having relevant keywords in the title.

Promotions - To make your app successful, having a marketing plan is a must. For example, create a webpage or blog even before your app is launched. Have them incorporated in your email signature. Your website should be updated and must contain all the description, features of an app. Also, allow for comments and feedback from people. Stay active on platforms like Facebook, twitter etc and keep the users engaged. This will keep the excitement going. Build relationship with the Journalists and bloggers who can cover your field.

Images - High quality screenshots showcasing the best features of your application are as important as a good description, if not more. The users want to see what they are going to get once they install the product. The images help them qualify the functions of the same. It is also important to add informative but short footnotes to the images, containing the important keywords that you potential users would be searching for.

The 3 R’s - The three R’s that decide on the success or failure of any online product, more so the mobile applications are reviews, ratings, and rankings. What your customers feel about your product is important to those looking to use it in future. The challenge is that the quality of a digital product like mobile software cannot be gauged without trying it. Unlike a physical product that can be touched, examined, and validated before purchase at a store, their digital counterparts need to be purchased, downloaded and installed before you can form an opinion.

That is why people look for reviews and ratings by current users before they invest in software, and that is why the reviews are critical to success factors in the digital world. So motivate your users to post feedback, and give ratings. Let them try the app before buying. Good reviews and ratings help improve rankings, which in turn get you noticed.

The author is associated with one of the top enterprise apps development companies, mobile application development Dallas TX and android development companies in Delhi NCR