App Store Optimization (ASO) is the process of optimizing mobile app marketing (keywords, title, icon, images, descriptions, etc.) in app stores to achieve higher rankings. It's often referred to as app store SEO. If you're a developer trying to get your app noticed in a crowded app store, the right app store optimization tools can play a significant role in your app's marketing, improving its visibility and boosting downloads.
Before listing the best app store optimization tools, this guide explores various aspects of app store optimization to help you rank your app higher. This applies to both Google Play for Android apps and iTunes for iOS apps.
ASO has many facets, from keyword optimization to imagery and review analysis. The companies mentioned in this guide offer a wide range of app store optimization services, including app analytics and reporting, intelligence, and consulting.
What is App Store Optimization (ASO) and what types of companies offer ASO services?
This article includes the following sections:
- App Marketing Copy Optimization
- Keyword Optimization
- Types of ASO Tools
- Our List of ASO Tools
What is App Marketing Copy Optimization?
App marketing optimization relates to app visuals: preview videos and app icons—everything that isn't text. Many users download your app or decide against it based solely on visuals or preview videos. Furthermore, recognizing your brand through the logo increases the likelihood of a download.
Optimization requires ensuring images are appropriately sized for the app store, correctly cropped, and highlight key features. Avoid using outdated images.
Keyword Optimization
Keyword optimization encompasses all text on your app's page, from the title to the description. Keyword visibility is important, but keyword selection is paramount. You need to convince users to download your app by seeing your keywords; therefore, each word is crucial. App store keyword optimization isn't easy; ranking algorithms are becoming more precise, and users give low ratings and write negative reviews when they see irrelevant keywords. Choosing the right keywords is vital for achieving a good app store ranking.
Can we use keywords in the title?
According to some studies, this can boost app store ranking by up to 10%, so if you can do it without creating a negative impression, you should.
Another consideration is text localization. Tailor descriptions to cultural norms. Attention to these details often separates successful from unsuccessful apps in the app market.
Types of ASO Tools
1- App Store Intelligence Platforms
Data fuels the growth of the mobile industry. Robust data and precise analysis allow app marketers to rank apps and engage with users. Several companies offer app and data processing capabilities; the largest and best include: App Annie, Sensor Tower, Apptopia, and PrioriData.
These companies can identify massive datasets from iTunes and Google Play. They're useful for reporting on new apps and how they achieve high rankings, and for tracking user reviews for each app version (to understand how different versions affect user reviews and behavior). Some platforms offer free access to certain features, allowing you to test them before purchasing.
2- Keyword Trackers
Keyword tracking tools in ASO monitor and record data for specific keywords. These tools allow app developers to analyze keywords and offer strategies for optimizing App Marketing Copy Optimization elements, such as titles, keyword sets, and descriptions. They also provide APIs to transfer these changes to apps in the App Store or Google Play.
These keyword trackers also rank keywords using their own AI-based algorithms. Companies offering these tools include App Radar and App Tweak. These companies use their platforms to track app keywords, the pages where these keywords are used, and app performance. Another feature these keyword trackers provide is app store localization to improve app rankings and increase downloads in a specific country.
The image below shows an example of title analysis and optimization of an app image on the App Radar site:
List of ASO Tools
Here's a list of some of the best ASO tools available. This list is not ranked. These sites offer various tools for different functions, aiming to cover all aspects of app store optimization, and all are among the best.
- App Annie
- Gummicube
- App Radar
- Lab Cave
- PreApps
- Tune
- Appfigures
- SensorTower
- StoreMaven
- TheTool
- AppTopia
- PrioriData
- ASODesk
- AppCodes
- Mobile Action
- AppTweak
- SearchMan
- Keyword Tool
- appScatter
- SplitMetrics
- Reflection.io
- RankMyApps
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this article helps you choose the right ASO tools for your app. Remember, software developers may use multiple tools simultaneously for better results—a common practice.
