5 ways to improve ASO keyword rank for iPhone app

Digital advertising is huge!
Online advertising revenue in the U.S. reached a record of $59.6 billion last year, 2015 according to the Bloomberg.

Google occupy roughly 50% of the revenue.
So SEM is now the biggest pie of online ads.

According to the Biznessapps, roughly 50% of user come from search on Appstore or Playstore.

So naturally search business on Appstore and Playstore is going to be big.

It looks like Apple is developing paid search ad service according to this article.

MEANS ASO ( Appstore search engine optimization ) IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT LIKE SEO.

5 years ago we could manipulate the Appstore rank easily.
All we had to do was just buying so-called boost ads which let many users to install our apps for rewards.
For example, just $5,000 was okay to be featured on the top 10 list and once your app was featured, you app kept featured for months. That means you could get many organic uses after the campaign.

But this was 5 years ago.

I tried boot ads again 1.5 years ago. I put $10,000 this time. My app's rank went up but unfortunately not so many user came organically and my rank went down quickly. In a week all effect form boost ads disappeared.
This was disastrous experience.

What this failure means?

Apple's algorithm evolved and we have to catch up the reality.

Here's a basic tactics to improve ASO rank.
Looks like there is no single how-to that work like magic.


Choose keywords carefully.
I don't think there is long tail keyword which nobody is focusing on because all low hanging fruits were already taken. But we should avoid at least extremely competitive keywords.

1. MOPAPP can help you to analyze the keywords.

2. TUNE ( farmer MobleDevHQ ) can give you more broad picture including the number of installs.

Prepare Reviews.
Reviews/Ratings matters not just for ASO but for user psychology.
So let's prepare reviews before trying boost.

3. Favorr  can  help you to get first 10 reviews for your app launch.
Favorr is a web site for app developers to get free reviews form other developers.

Now boost your app.
Buying user sounds crazy for first. But still buying user have some effect on ASO rank. Since users from boost campaign is almost junk if not fake, the objective of boost is purely manipulating Apple/Google ASO rank.

4. Traialpay is one of many companies which handle boost campaign.

5. Tapjoy is another option.

Since Apple don't like boost campaign, some apps start using incentivized video ads instead.
But I'm not sure how effective video ads is for ASO rank manipulation.

If you are indie developer or part of small team, you are week like...



Be clever!