The Complete Beginner's Guide To iOS App Store Optimization

We have written quite a few posts on this blog already and it continues to grow every week. However, because there are so many posts, it may be difficult for beginners to sort through all of them and understand exactly how to get started with iOS App Store Optimization. So we wanted to provide one place that you can refer to as a resource to get all the information you need when it comes to iOS App Store Optimization.

There are many different aspects of app marketing, but this guide will only deal with optimizing your app for the Apple App Store. As we build content in other areas, we will create guides for them too.

Be sure to bookmark this post because we will be updating it with the most recent information, as soon as it becomes available. If you find it useful, feel free to pass it on to other app developers who would benefit from this guide.

There are basically eight components to iOS App Store Optimization. Localization is the process of translating an app into other languages. It may not work for all apps, but it can expand your user base significantly.

Keyword Optimization

How To Choose The Very Best Keywords For Your App - This post goes through the three step process that you should use to choose keywords. It also shows you how to avoid common keyword optimization mistakes.

The Easy Way To Track Your Keyword Rankings - In order for you to improve the number of downloads that you get from App Store search, you need to know exactly how you rank for all of your keywords. Luckily, it is easy to setup.

How To Find New Keyword Ideas - After you have been working with your app for awhile, it can be easy to get stuck in a rut when it comes to thinking up new keywords. This post will give you specific strategies to help you brainstorm new ideas.

Research Keywords For An Unpublished App - Some developers think that you cannot research keywords for an app that has not been published yet. Not true. This post will show you how to do it.

Title Optimization

Your App Name Matters In Search - Adding keywords to the name of your app will help you rank better for those keywords. Learn how to gain an unfair advantage over apps that don't do this.

Screenshot Optimization

Why Excellent Screenshots Matter - If you are planning to just throw up any old screenshot from your app, then you are going to lose out on a lot of potential downloads. Learn how to make screenshots that will help you get more downloads.

How To A/B Test Screenshots - It is not possible to A/B test screenshots directly on the App Store. But this trick can still help you do some testing outside the App Store, so you can get a better idea of which screenshots give you the best shot at getting more downloads.

Example Screenshots - This post will show you screenshot examples of the top apps in the Health and Fitness Category. Comparing all of them on one page will allow you to quickly see what looks appealing and what doesn't.

Icon Optimization

Why Your App Icon Has To Be Amazing - Your icon may seem like something that doesn't matter much. The reality is that it plays a big role in helping people decide if they will download your app or not.

Description Optimization

The Psychology Behind A Great Description - Your app description doesn't factor into your search results and most people don't read it. So it isn't that important in App Store Optimization. However, there will be a few people who do read it and you must be ready to convince them that your app is worth downloading. This post will show you how to write your description in a way that will present your app in the best possible light.

Pricing Optimization

How To Price Your iOS App To Sell) - Pricing your app correctly to maximize your downloads and revenue can be a tricky thing to figure out. This post will help you figure out what will work best for your app.

How To Promote Your App With A Price Drop - Find out the hidden benefits of dropping the price of your app from time-to-time.

Review Optimization

How To Get Your First 5-Star Reviews - This method so simple, yet it is often overlooked. We almost feel embarrassed telling you about it, but there are still so many apps that ignore it, so we have to mention it. Are you forgetting this?

3 Tools That Can Help You Get More Reviews - These three tools can help you get more reviews and even prevent bad reviews from ever appearing on the App Store. The best part is that two of these tools are free.

Localization

How Localization Can Double Your Downloads - If it is possible to translate your app into different languages, you should consider doing it because it can greatly increase your downloads. There is also a way to easily test your app in another App Store country without doing a complete localization. Learn more in this post.

Translate All Of Your Keywords Into 21 Languages With 1 Click - This super easy-to-use tool can get you on the track to keyword translation very quickly.

How To Create Localized Screenshot Templates - This tutorial will show you a simple way of creating screenshot templates that will allow you to easily change the language of any screenshot without starting from scratch each time.

Discover Localization Opportunities - This tool can help you to easily see how your app is doing in other countries and also uncover what your competition is doing.

Links To Related Information

How To Add People To Your Account - We have made it super simple for people to help you with your App Store Keyword Optimization. Just enter their email address and they are added. This tutorial will show you how to do it.

The Keyword Research Workflow Guide - This guide is something that you can pass on to people who are helping you do App Store Keyword Optimization. You should learn how keyword optimization works first, but after you understand it, you can get other to help you do it.

Find Out Which Categories Your App Ranks In - One good way to see if your optimization efforts are working is to see how many categories your app ranks in. It is almost impossible to check every category manually. This tool makes it much easier.

Stalk Your Competitors - Make sure that you are one of the first people to find out what your competitors are up to. This post will show you a simple way to track them.

How To Increase User Retention - User retention and engagement are already factors that contribute to search rankings, but they may start to play a bigger role in the future. Regardless of how much of an influence it has, figuring out ways to retain users just makes good business sense.

Is there something that we missed? Let us know in the comments below.