Chapter 1 – App Store Optimization Introduction

The secret to developing a successful mobile app is not only in building it.

You’ve done all the hard work in developing your app, but the real challenge lies in getting the app to surface way above hundreds of competitors in the app store/app market…

Chapter 2 – The Challenge behind ASO

So what’s the challenge? Seriously, how difficult can this be?

Well to start with, there are more than half a million iOS applications and almost the same number of Android apps that you have to compete with…

Chapter 3 – ASO conditions

By now you have a clear idea that ranking your app is a critical aspect in your strategy to generate downloads, traffic and revenue.

So, let’s look at the different types of rankings and ways to optimize apps in different markets…

Chapter 4 – App Store vs. Google Play

Want to rank? Then get ready to adapt, to compete and to face your competition in different markets and arenas.

In this ASO game, you need to deal with different rules and variables depending on where you want to promote your app…

Chapter 5 – ASO: The basics

OK so no more about “algorithms” or hypothetical stuff; let’s take it step by step, shall we?

Before we go too deep into specific cases of ASO, let’s quickly move onto the ASO basics…

Chapter 5.1 – APP Name/Title

As discussed earlier, your app name plays an important role in ranking, but even more important than ranking your App, the name plays a huge role in your branding and success.

When thinking about an App name, you want to come up with a catchy name that includes what your app does…

Chapter 5.2 – Keywords

We can’t have SEO without keywords. One of the most important aspects of ASO is also keywords.

In SEO terms, a keyword is: A word used by a search engine in its search for relevant Web pages. In ASO the concept is pretty much the same…

Chapter 5.3 – Keywords Considerations

Bring your SEO skills to the forefront and experiment with different combinations of keywords. This is a great way to determine ways to boost your search ranking and increase the number of downloads.

Unless you constantly monitor keywords and their effect on your ranking…

Chapter 5.4 – KEYWORD TOOLS

To do keyword research and come up with ideas, you can use many different types of tools. In reality, many tools will use the same source of data to display your information and suggestions for potential keywords.

I’m a true believer in empirical keyword research…

Chapter 5.5 – The App Description

Unless you have very precise app titles, the App description is the only way (after the screenshots) for the user to understand what your app really does.

Therefore, one of your objectives needs to be creating a description that is as engaging as possible…

Chapter 6 – ASO Recap

Now that you are familiar with the tools discussed earlier, your task of finding the most relevant keywords just got easier.

The objective is not to rank for all the keywords relevant to your app, but to at least rank for some valuable keywords that can bring you traffic and users…

Chapter 7 – Icons

Along with the title, your app icon is going to be what makes the first impression on users.

A descriptive and aesthetically appealing icon can boost your app store visibility significantly…

Chapter 8 – Screen Shots

You’ve got your app name and description right. You have your keywords in mind, you have the icon app ready… you are ready to rock! So what’s next?

The next step is to convince users to download your app with the help of visually appealing screenshots…

Chapter 9 – Videos, Trailers and Demos

For this chapter, I had to look for help, seriously. This was mainly because in all the materials I found about ASO, I couldn’t find a lot of serious information about the way to create videos and demos for Apps. So I contacted some companies that are professionals in this area…

Chapter 10 – Reviews and Ratings

It’s not rocket science, knowing that user reviews and ratings can do a great deal to boost the popularity of your app.

The higher your rating, the more probable it is that new users are likely to download your app and share their reviews as well…

Chapter 11 – Popularity Ranking Factors

By now you have a clear idea of how your app ranking in the app stores can have an impact on the number of times your app is downloaded.

So, let’s look at the different types of rankings you can achieve in the App Store…

Chapter 12 – Tracking and Improving Rankings

Now that we know the variables and basics of ASO, let’s look at the challenge of ranking an App.

Optimizing your rankings isn’t a difficult task as long as you take the right approach. Call it an art, a system, a science, whatever…

Chapter 13 – Launching Your App

Launching an App could be compared with the launch of a new TV show.

After just a few weeks, producers (developers) can start to tell if the TV show will be a success or not…

Chapter 14 – Conventional SEO

With all the talk about ASO and optimizing apps, it’s strange that many times app developers forget that the key player in town is still Google and SEO still rules the jungle regarding organic traffic…

Chapter 15 – Quick Reflections about the Future of ASO

A search Algorithm can’t exist without having flaws.

The first flaw of any search algorithm is the fact that once the algorithm is in place, it will be manipulated…

Chapter 16 – A different perspective

I decided to interview some cool ASO in the ASO and app marketing world. Steven Bielau, Sylvain Gauchet and Len Wright and Matthew Lütz…

Click here for Interview with Stefan Bielau

Click here for Interview with Sylvain Gauchet

Click here for Interview with Len Wright and Matthew Lütz

Chapter 17 – Final Words

ASO will be the next SEO as the next SEO gets ready for a lot of dramas, hype, tears and arguments.

From visually appealing app icons to screenshots and keyword-rich descriptions to link building, there is so much to learn about ASO…