App Store Optimization (ASO) is the process of enhancing the visibility and discoverability of a mobile application on app stores such as the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The goal of ASO is to optimize various elements of an app listing, including the app title, keywords, description, screenshots, and ratings, to improve its ranking in search results and attract more users. In this blog, we’ll discuss Google Play store app optimization, which is critical for success in the Android ecosystem. You won’t need an app store optimization agency or tool after this post – you’ll be equipped to manage it yourself.
Effective Google Play ASO helps developers navigate the competitive landscape of an app store and maximize their app’s reach and impact.
In its most basic sense, Google Play App store optimization is like SEO for your mobile apps. Let’s explore how:
Google Play Store Optimization is like SEO for Mobile Apps
SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, involves enhancing search engine result rankings to boost visibility and increase the click-through rate on a website. Similarly, app optimization on Google Play Store aims to maximize visibility in app stores and elevate conversion rates by encouraging potential users to download the app.
Despite their similarities, there are notable differences between Google Play ASO (Android App Store Optimization) and SEO.
SEO is multifaceted, involving optimization for factors like:
- keyword selection,
- page speed,
- no follow links, on-page and off-page backlinks,
- page title, and
- website credibility.
Google Play ASO, while incorporating keyword optimization, places emphasis on visual elements such as the app icon, screenshots, and video. In contrast, text carries more weight in SEO due to the display format of search results.
The list of elements influencing Google app store optimization from a keyword ranking perspective includes:
- the number of downloads,
- keywords used for downloads,
- download velocity,
- ratings,
- star ratings,
- user reviews,
- conversion rates for downloaded apps, and
- app performance during user interaction.
Both Google Play ASO and SEO share commonalities, particularly in the use of backlinks. Backlinks play an important role in Google Play ASO influencing the optimization of apps and user conversion through best practices.
Backlinks are important in Google Play store app optimization, but their impact is less pronounced on the Apple App Store. Here are differences between these two:
App Store Optimization For Google Play vs Apple App Store
Executing the best practices for Google Play store app optimization is quite different from doing ASO for the Apple App Store, especially in terms of increasing visibility.
One of the most significant differences is seen in keyword optimization. Unlike the Apple App Store, you cannot find a dedicated Keyword Field to put your keywords in while doing app store optimization for Google Play.
Instead, for Google Play ASO, publishers need to study and rank some of the keywords in the Long Description. The Long Description plays a crucial role in your Google Play store optimization strategy as it is directly indexed for keywords.
As the Long Description can be as long as 4000 characters, Google cannot rank the apps accurately and fairly for every keyword used in their Long Description texts. This is why they are ranked on Keyword Density, which is also a common term in SEO. Keyword Density refers to the number of times a keyword is repeated in a body of text. When doing Google Play store optimization, one will encounter this term very often.
When a publisher is going to target some keywords for their Google Play ASO strategy, it is imperative to have a good keyword density for those keywords in your description. This shows the Google Play app store which keywords are the most relevant to your app.
It is claimed that it is easier to do Google Play ASO than for ASO for Apple App Store. On some analysis, we find that it is easier because there are fewer factors that affect your rankings on the Google Play Store and you are not limited to a 100 character long Keyword List.
On the other hand, it could be tougher because most keywords you target should be distributed across your Long Description in a way that it’s still readable.
Now, without further ado, now let’s learn how to do Google Play App store optimization:
How To Do App Store Optimization For Google Play
Here is a detailed guide on how to implement ASO or Google Play Store Optimization:
1. Google Play Ranking Factors
Google Play employs various elements to determine app rankings, with a primary focus on user-generated keywords for app discovery. The algorithm assesses the relevance of these keywords, considering factors such as app title, short and long descriptions, developer name, package name, and user reviews.
Despite the familiarity with most Google Play ranking factors, securing top positions in the Play Store remains challenging. Successful app marketers engage in ongoing keyword research, prioritize the most pertinent keywords, target them, and continually evaluate their performance.
Google Play store optimization is a protracted process demanding strategic planning, dedicated resources, patience, and rigorous testing. Establishing a robust keyword optimization strategy contributes to sustained app visibility and success over the long term.
2. App Title
The app title within Google Play stands out as the most crucial element in Google Play Store optimization. Particularly due to the substantial impact that the keywords incorporated into the title can have on keyword eligibility and relevance.
To elaborate, the initial step for Google is to associate your app with a specific keyword and then assess its relevance to that keyword. In the past, app titles had a generous character limit, allowing individuals to fill them with keywords aimed at improving their rankings.
However, Google has steadily reduced this limit, and currently, you can include a maximum of 30 characters. Strategically planning is essential to maximize its effectiveness.
On one hand, it’s important to emphasize branded keywords to enhance brand recognition. Targeting generic keywords relevant to specific Google Play categories is crucial too. Despite the limited character count, your choice of keywords in the app title can impact your ASO efforts.
It’s also important to test different localizations for your app titles and update them as needed. Even within the confines of 30 characters, these titles play a pivotal role in influencing your Google app store optimization strategy.
3. Short and long description
Within the Google Play Console, short and long descriptions are integral components of metadata, offering you an opportunity to further acquaint your audience with your app.
Once you’ve handled the app title, allocate time to optimize both the short and long descriptions.
The short description is confined to 80 characters, serving as a tool to provide additional context to visitors on the Play Store listing. While its visibility may not be universal among users, Google Play utilizes the keywords embedded in the short description to enhance its understanding of your app’s purpose.
Should your app title center around brand emphasis, the short description field becomes a strategic space to incorporate keywords relevant to your category. It also allows for strategic maneuvers. For instance, introducing mature keywords that you currently don’t rank for or conducting A/B testing to assess conversion rates through Google Play’s Store listing experiments.
The long description boasts a generous limit of 4000 characters. You can use it to provide a detailed account of your app and reasons to install it. Not all users delve deeply into the long description. Go for a blend of feature explanations and a compelling call to action.
The long description serves as a promotional platform for your app. Organize your text thoughtfully, positioning crucial keywords at the beginning to enhance conversion rates. Reiterate your targeted keywords strategically to aid Google in comprehending your app without resorting to excessive repetition.
Don’t engage in keyword stuffing. Google’s guidelines on disallowed keywords for app metadata and descriptions are increasingly stringent.
4. App Icon
The app icon serves as the initial point of contact between your app and users browsing the Google Play Store. It shapes the first impression, appearing in search results, on the app listing page, and across various display areas.
Obviously then, optimizing your app icon is a fundamental aspect of Android App Store Optimization (ASO). Work with a skilled designer to craft a compelling visual identity for your app.
An effective app icon is characterized by simplicity and recognizability. The goal is to leave a lasting impression, making it easy for users to associate the icon with your app. A clean design is key, ensuring that the icon stands out and remains memorable over time. Avoid incorporating text into the App Icon, as this can complicate the visual impact and diminish its effectiveness.
5. Feature Graphic
Feature Graphic on Google Play is a visual element positioned at the top of your app page or store listing. Given its substantial space and prominent placement, the feature graphic holds significant sway over both visitor impressions and installation rates.
The feature graphic’s primary objective is to entice visitors to engage with your promotional video. It also effectively conveys your key message in alignment with your app’s purpose. Google Play automatically situates the feature graphic atop your video, complete with a built-in play button. In cases where a promo video is absent, the provided feature graphic remains unseen in the store listing.
The feature graphic plays a crucial role in various scenarios:
- Brand searches: Displayed during brand searches.
- App recommendations: Shown when Google recommends other apps, featuring their respective graphics.
- Google Ads: Utilized by Google Ads in Google app campaigns.
Given its prominence preceding app screenshots, investing time in crafting an effective feature graphic is essential. Alignment with your brand, app creatives, and identity is paramount. Google Play, being a platform that can significantly promote your app, provides guidelines for designing feature graphics.
Adhere to the following best practices for your feature graphic:
- Consistency: Ensure consistency with your other visual elements.
- Key message: Clearly display your key message in the feature graphic.
- Centralized text elements: As Google may crop outer parts, position text elements towards the center.
- Avoid information overload: Refrain from overwhelming it with excessive information.
- A/B Testing: Employ A/B testing in Google Play to identify the most effective version.
- Localization: Consider localization for multiple store listings, a practice often overlooked by app marketers.
6. App Screenshots
Screenshots are also an integral part of how Android apps are displayed on the Google Play store product page. It’s why Google Play store optimization requires you to show screenshots that capture the most important functions of your app.
Arrange screenshots based on their importance, as only 3 of them will be visible by default. Make the first 3 screenshots the most attractive ones, as most users check only the first few.
Since most users check only the first few screenshots, it makes sense to make the first 3 screenshots the most attractive ones. The rest can be added for greater detail.
7. App Promo Video
The promo video preview plays a relatively smaller role for Google Play ASO optimization in terms of increasing your conversion rates. It’s not shown directly to the Google Play Store users as it is in the Apple App Store. Instead, it’s on your product page just like the screenshots.
However, if people decide to watch the preview video it can be quite effective in convincing people to download your app. However, one should skip a video altogether in case the video is not informative or impressive.
8. Google Play Ratings and Reviews
Google Play ratings and reviews wield a direct influence on your app’s Play Store standings. Higher ratings not only contribute positively to your app’s overall rating but also help in increasing conversion rates, particularly in the crucial early stages post-launch.
Prospective users exploring new store listings often employ high app ratings as a decisive criterion for selection or filtering. The likelihood of users installing an app significantly increases when it boasts a higher rating. This user behavior sends a signal to Google, indicating that the app aligns well with user intent, reinforcing its suitability and appeal in the competitive app marketplace.
9. Google Play Android Vitals
Android vitals are very important while designing strategy for Android app store optimization. For a successful Google Play App Store optimization plan, extensively test your apps for the core vitals (ANR rate, crash rate, Stuck partial wake locks, and Excessive wakeups), app stability issues, start-up and loading times, rendering issues and battery problems. The core app vitals can directly impact the app’s visibility and rankings on the Play Store.
Google Play gives more value to apps and games that provide excellent user experience measured by health Android vitals. Many different mobile devices use Android. So as an Android app developer, you need to ensure that the app is completely supported, bug-free and optimized for issues like battery consumption.
10. Google Play Pre-Registration
The Pre-registration feature on Google Play is for app publishers who are yet to release their apps. By leveraging pre-registration campaigns, app marketers can engage in pre-launch activities, building hype ahead of official release.
These pre-registration initiatives have a maximum duration of 90 days, after which the app must be launched on the Play Store. To qualify for pre-registration, app publishers must provide detailed information about the app’s content and ensure compliance with Google Play policies and legal requirements.
Google allows developers to only have a maximum of two apps simultaneously in the pre-registration status on the Google Play Store. App publishers can make an app exclusive to specific devices. As a promotional incentive, app publishers can offer a free app product to users who pre-register.
Upon the official app launch, pre-registered users receive push notifications prompting them to download the app. Automatic downloads are also an option, contingent on factors like user age group, account type, and app size.
The Google Play Console provides data on pre-registration campaigns, indicating the number of pre-registered users and the conversion rate—users who downloaded the app as a result of pre-registration.
From a marketing perspective, optimizing the Google Play listing is crucial, even during the pre-registration phase when the app isn’t available for download. Users decide whether to pre-register based on the quality of app screenshots or promo videos. The keywords included in metadata impact search result rankings, even in the pre-registration status.
For global reach, localizing the store listing, such as translating it into the language of the target audience (e.g., German), is advisable if planning pre-registration in specific regions.
Lastly, strategizing pre-launch promotion is essential. Utilize social media and website channels to generate buzz, and consider a Google app campaign for pre-registration if budget allows. This comprehensive approach ensures maximum visibility and engagement before the official app launch.
11. Getting Featured In The Play Store
Securing a featured spot in Google Play holds substantial potential for increasing your app’s downloads. There are various areas within Google Play where your app may receive prominence:
- Editor’s Choice: Apps or games personally selected by the editorial team at Google Play.
- Hero Banner: A graphic showcasing key features of the app.
- New/Updated/Games We Love: Showcasing a curated selection of apps or games.
- Collections: Featuring apps that share a common theme.
- New and Recently Updated Apps: Highlighting fresh content.
- Featured Popular Apps: Displaying top games/apps, top grossing, trending, or top-selling.
Being featured aligns with Google Play’s goal of delivering users exceptional content that stands out among the rest. To increase your chances of securing a featured position, consider the following elements:
- Engage with Google Play representatives: Reach out to Google Play representatives, as the editorial team plays a pivotal role in selecting featured apps.
- Algorithm considerations: The algorithm considers your category, keywords, and metadata, make sure to work on them.
- App quality metrics: Apps with high ratings, robust Android vitals, and adherence to Google Play guidelines are more likely to be featured.
- App store optimization (ASO): Optimize your store listing page, including landscape screenshots and localization for target markets.
- Pitch your app: Actively present your app and its concept to Google Play. Provide concise documentation explaining why your app stands out.
- User engagement: Greater user engagement = higher chances of a feature
In short, a Play Store feature significantly boosts app visibility, enhances brand awareness, and communicates your app’s quality. Therefore, getting features becomes very important for conducting app store optimization for Google Play.
Users often download featured apps directly from dedicated tabs, streamlining the user journey. Upon securing a featured spot, you can expect an immediate spike in “Browse” impressions, “Explore” store listing visitors, and downloads in your Google Play Console. Remember to measure the effects of your app getting featured.
12. Google Play Console
The Google Play Console serves as the reporting hub for Play Store applications and Android devices. It provides app publishers and marketers with valuable first-party data and analytics, helping in Google Play optimization.
App developers utilize this platform for testing, publishing, and monitoring their app’s performance. App marketers leverage it to refine store listings and enhance quality elements, ultimately improving conversion rates.
Within the Google Play Console, app marketers and ASO teams can optimize various elements crucial for app success:
- Main Store Listing Tab: Manages app metadata and creative assets for each localization. Allows updates to the app title, short and long descriptions, app icon, feature graphic, app screenshots, and promo video.
- Custom Store Listings: Enables the targeting of specific countries with customized pages.
- Store Listing Experiments: Facilitates A/B testing directly within the Play Store, providing valuable and reliable data.
All the data and analytics generated by Play Store listings are consolidated under the Store and Conversion Analysis tabs. Users can apply multiple filters to dissect the data and focus on app-specific priorities, contributing to improved app store optimization.
Additionally, Google Play Console is instrumental in managing the quality aspects of an app. It furnishes comprehensive information on app ratings, reviews, basic sentiment analysis, and the technical status of Android vitals.
Despite its importance in Google Play optimization, navigating through numerous tabs on Google Play Console can be overwhelming, especially when improving each app element demands time, and specific data points are challenging to locate.
Best practices for Google Play Store Optimization
To effectively complete Google Play optimization, several elements require attention. Forming a comprehensive android app store optimization strategy that encompasses various facets of your app’s evolution is important. Let’s see how it can be done:
- Start by adhering to the Google app store optimization practices outlined in this article. Delve into the factors influencing the performance of competitors and top apps in your category to gain a comprehensive understanding. Then, focus on optimizing your metadata and assets.
- As your app gains traction, introduce testing loops and concentrate on enhancing conversion rates. Utilize in-store promotions, such as app features, to boost Explore traffic and augment download numbers.
- Vigilance toward the quality aspects of your app is paramount while carrying out app store optimization for google play. App ratings and reviews serve as feedback, providing insight into user satisfaction levels. Maintain technical elements within the prescribed thresholds of Android vitals to ensure success in the Play Store.
Google Play Store Optimization: The Bottomline
Preparing and implementing app store optimization for Google Play can be a long process. As long as the planning and conceptualization process in app development.
Clearly, there are many factors in Google Play Optimization to work on if you want to stand out. Your product strategy needs to reflect everything around your app and how it evolves.
A good practice is to conduct A/B tests for various design elements and choices. These tests can give you data-backed conclusions on how a certain feature in the app can change your apps’ reputation and performance in the app store. Clearly, Google Play optimization is crucial to elevate your app’s visibility, ranking, and conversion rate.