High-quality content that is well-optimized through the use of keywords stands out in search engines and improves a site’s ranking.
Traditional SEO works well for content because, in most cases, the content is a means to an end.
Most content creators are not attempting to sell the content itself, but are instead using it to encourage site visitors to buy a related product or service.
Improving ranking in an app store requires the use of strategies that differ from those that involve traditional SEO.
Apps Versus Content in Search Engine Rankings
Rather than using the content as a middleman, app store ranking optimization uses application and visitor data to improve search engine placement.
The goal is to draw visitors directly to the app, using interactive techniques and a minimum of distractions.
User experience, scalability, and a bug-free app environment improve search engine ranking in much the same way that keyword optimization improves search results placement.
Keywords and content are carefully matched to app specifications if they are to remain relevant to the user experience.
The pre-launch phase is indispensable for the proper introduction of your mobile app. You can set up a landing page featuring interactive elements to unveil your app to the world.
A clickable banner ad, an email sign-up page or an information box can help to highlight the upcoming launch and the unique features of your app.
After the launch, be sure to collect app data and to request user feedback.
Making yourself available to provide tech support resolves the problem quickly and allows you to build a solid base of loyal followers.
Five Hacks That Can Change Your (App Store) Life
The hacks that are discussed in this article are intended to improve app store ranking.
Using the application and visitor data, interactive elements of the user interface, strategic placement of keywords and tags, app-relevant content and elements of social media can converge to improve search engine ranking and to create consistent search engine results across users and platforms.
#1 App and User Data
You can collect data on general user experience or on issues that pertain to specific app features.
You might choose to beta test your app and to gather feedback about design and usability issues.
Beta testing makes it possible to gather a sufficient amount of data to allow drawing conclusions.
This method is especially useful if you are developing a multi-platform app because it lets you gather data about the cross-platform functioning of your app.
You can also carry out long-term testing, which facilitates multi-version comparisons.
Tools like AppTrace and SensorTower can help you gather tracking and keyword analysis information from beta testing and user feedback.
You can use this information to fix bugs, create patches and update app features that are not functioning optimally.
#2 User Interaction
The average app loses up to 77 percent of its users within the first 3 days after the install.
Usability issues and platform glitches account for a significant portion of customer dissatisfaction but are often fixable or even preventable.
You can use Survey Monkey or Google Forms to conduct simple data collection and to elicit customer feedback about app functioning.
Here are some areas to assess that can help you determine which app features are problematic enough to prevent download and consistent use.
- How easy (fast) was it to download the app?
- Does every feature of the app work as expected?
- Are all the features useful, or are there features that do not seem to add value?
- How difficult was it to learn to use this app?
- Are all the screens and menus easy to navigate and easy to read?
- Are there any features that seem to be missing?
#3 Tag Placement
Tags and keywords are instrumental in helping users to locate your app among dozens of choices.
You will want to make all keywords and tags relevant to specific features rather than to the app itself.
If you are attempting to market a document sharing and editing app, using the tags version control and DRCM is much more powerful than using the keyword phrase document sharing app.
Consider inserting tags that speak to features that are important but uncommon. For example, document creation apps compatible with Word are ubiquitous, but those that can open OpenOffice documents are less common.
Rarer still is an app that opens all the above and that also reads legacy document formats.
#4 App-relevant Content
When users can easily remember your app and can readily recognize your brand, they are much more likely to direct others to its app download page.
Include content that is directly relevant to the features of your app, closely tying these to the potential benefits.
A website that has an uncluttered design leaves plenty of room to showcase your app and to include interactive elements that might help to clarify usability questions.
If users can roll over screenshots or click on, that’s an excellent way to get them to interact with your app so they can become familiar with its features.
#5 Social Media
People talk to each other and satisfied customers share their recommendations.
This is the reason 92 percent of all marketing professionals cite social media as the most important promotional channel in the business world.
Allowing users to post comments, write reviews and share app screenshots enhances brand recognition and helps to build an active community of users who will become your biggest product advocates.
Conclusion
Methods that improve store rankings use app data, metadata and visitor information much more extensively than does traditional SEO driven content creation and promotion.
An interactive user interface and elements of social media can blend with app-relevant content to deliver a user experience that is scalable and bug-free.
Well-chosen tags can make your app easy to find and satisfied visitors who use social media will help to increase the number of downloads for your app and to improve its search engine ranking.
