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How to double your app's downloads with keyword optimization

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Re: How to double your app's downloads with keyword optimization

#31
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks! I am not sure, but I don't think so, for the same reason as you. However, I have heard your overall ratings (and I suspect comments too) will affect your rankings for keywords in general. One of the best way of climbing the keyword ranks is by getting great ratings.

I spent a ton of time testing the Apple's search algorithm for AppCodes.com - didn't find any relationship between ratings and keyword ranks. Here's a summary of what I found out: http://www.slideshare.net/kolinko/new-rules-in-app-store-sea... Basically - neither downloads, nor ratings, nor description counts.

Thats interesting. How do you think they rank them then?

Re: How to double your app's downloads with keyword optimization

#33
post #12

Thanks for a great article. Do you know if the keywords used in reviews have any impact on rating? I assume not since it's the first thing to be gamed.

We did a writeup after a whole bunch of statistical analysis of various factors that are correlated with higher ranking.

http://blog.sensortower.com/blog/2014/09/07/why-162727-apps-...

Of course, some of these things (like # of ratings, how long ago the app was released, etc) are likely correlated with other factors that are more difficult to measure in the app store.

Re: How to double your app's downloads with keyword optimization

#34
post #3

Appstore optimization makes sense when you have 50 daily downloads but want to have 100. Relying on search results only wont make you lot of money there. Anyway in most cases you can start with buggy SensorTower to find out what keywords will bring you more relevant traffic at lower competition. After than just keep tracking things with a free AppAnnie ASO tool.

We would love to fix the bugs that you have seen in Sensor Tower. What were the issues that you ran into?

Re: How to double your app's downloads with keyword optimization

#35
post #3

Appstore optimization makes sense when you have 50 daily downloads but want to have 100. Relying on search results only wont make you lot of money there. Anyway in most cases you can start with buggy SensorTower to find out what keywords will bring you more relevant traffic at lower competition. After than just keep tracking things with a free AppAnnie ASO tool.

SensorTower is buggy and annoying, I much prefer AppAnnie & MobileDevHq. I compared[1] them a while back and ended up concluding that the free tiers of AppAnnie/MobileDevHQ are enough to do some basic ASO. [1] http://www.androidb.com/2014/07/10-tools-to-help-with-google...

We would love to fix the bugs. Would you mind sharing your experience and what you found annoying?

Re: How to double your app's downloads with keyword optimization

#36
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It really depends - there's been some posts on HN criticising the freemium approach: - http://www.tylernichols.com/web-development/i-am-done-with-t... - http://blog.rapportive.com/is-freemium-right-for-you When building AppCodes I decided to sacrifice the learning curve for the ease of use once the tool is understood. This kinds of products don't work well when published with freemimum plans - people don't try to und…

I see your point. Especially about the retention part. It's not really a prouct which people use for years. Though I wonder; could it be? What if you included daily downloads stats too? I use AppFigures for that, but I really with they would include keywords intelligence to, so that I didn't have to use so many services. The thing is though, when I don't even get to see the interface before I pay, I would really need…

Thanks for the feedback. As for the daily downloads - as you said - we'd have to compete with AppFigures.

As for seeing the interface - did you see the demo? ( http://www.appcodes.com/demologin/ ). Not trying to make a sale here, just curious.

Thanks for the feedback regarding the front page. Can you be a bit more specific here? What seems too messy for you? (btw. e-mail support@appcodes.com if you'd like a free account as a "thank you")

Re: How to double your app's downloads with keyword optimization

#37
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I spent a ton of time testing the Apple's search algorithm for AppCodes.com - didn't find any relationship between ratings and keyword ranks. Here's a summary of what I found out: http://www.slideshare.net/kolinko/new-rules-in-app-store-sea... Basically - neither downloads, nor ratings, nor description counts.

Thats interesting. How do you think they rank them then?

No idea - whatever we did, we never managed to move apps' positions one way or another.

I've also seen apps that have few downloads, few rankings and lousy reviews, but get positioned higher than competitors that are more popular and have better rankings. Although popularity seems to have some influence.

What I'm telling people is to see if they rank high. If they do - keep the words/phrases. If they don't - forget them, and look for some other ones.

Re: How to double your app's downloads with keyword optimization

#38
post #7
post #6

How about localisation?

That's extremely important, yes, and we do that too. We'll write an article about that later on. In general, you should localize both keywords and screenshots (and maybe even title, but that depends) for the following languages: - Spanish - Portuguese - French - Italian - Russian We also do it for Chinise and Japanese. The key here is to find translators who understand the game, which can be difficult if you are talk…

What's worth noting is that in U.S. Apple seems to position apps both for american and spanish keywords.

In other words: if you have spanish words in your keyword list, Apple will consider them in the U.S. search.

Re: How to double your app's downloads with keyword optimization

#39
post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thats interesting. How do you think they rank them then?

No idea - whatever we did, we never managed to move apps' positions one way or another. I've also seen apps that have few downloads, few rankings and lousy reviews, but get positioned higher than competitors that are more popular and have better rankings. Although popularity seems to have some influence. What I'm telling people is to see if they rank high. If they do - keep the words/phrases. If they don't - forget t…

That last sentence pretty much sums up ASO :)

Re: How to double your app's downloads with keyword optimization

#40
post #38
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's extremely important, yes, and we do that too. We'll write an article about that later on. In general, you should localize both keywords and screenshots (and maybe even title, but that depends) for the following languages: - Spanish - Portuguese - French - Italian - Russian We also do it for Chinise and Japanese. The key here is to find translators who understand the game, which can be difficult if you are talk…

What's worth noting is that in U.S. Apple seems to position apps both for american and spanish keywords. In other words: if you have spanish words in your keyword list, Apple will consider them in the U.S. search.

I know, thats a nice little "secret". What do you think would happen if you added a bunch of engligh words in the spanish localisation?
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