A Beginners Guide to Google Play Store (Android) App Optimization | PDF Download
What is App Store Optimization or ASO?
App Store Optimization (ASO) is the process of improving app visibility or reach within the app stores and increasing app conversion rates.
Major app stores are Google Play for Android and App Store for iOS. In addition to trying to rank high in the app store search results, ASO also focuses on click-through rate (CTR). This means you have to convince people to click into your app store listing once they find it.
The scope of this blog or downloadable pdf is limited to Google Play Store (Android).
What is the difference between SEO and ASO?
ASO is often referred to as app store SEO (Search Engine Optimization), hence the name ASO. Both processes share similarities like keyword optimization, backlink and conversion optimization. The main differences between App Store Optimization and Search Engine Optimization are the ranking factors. Also, ASO is utilized for mobile apps whereas SEO is for websites.
SEO (On-page and Off-page) factors for a web browser, like Google Search, involves several aspects in the tune of 100 plus and the list keeps expanding. The list of ranking factors for ASO is much shorter.
Why do App Store Optimization?
You are already aware that most users find apps by searching in the app stores, because of this App Store Optimization is a must if you want to get your app in front of the right users. Your business depends on it. Optimizing your app is the most effective marketing strategy for mobile apps and games.
6 benefits from App Store Optimization, you can achieve:
- Improve Visibility & Stand out in the App Stores
People can’t download and use your app if they can’t find it. No matter how great your app is, if it’s not easily discoverable you won’t reach the app success that you deserve. Don’t let all of your hard work go to waste, get started after reading this blog.
2. Cut cost to acquire users in an organic way
Instead of spending money on ads, you can lower your user acquisition costs by focusing on organic growth with ASO. This not only saves you money but also ensures steady growth.
3. Always get discovered by relevant Users
It is not enough that your app is found, it has to be found by the users that are actually on a hunt for an app like yours. App Store Optimization gets you to the right users because it matches your app to relevant keywords.
4. Increase conversion rates
There are various ways to monetize your app. This includes in-app ads, in-app purchases, and subscription models. As a result, many of you may decide to run ads to bring in more users and thus, more revenue. But if your app store listing page isn’t converting, meaning convincing users to download your app, then your ad spend has gone to waste. Remember, App Store Optimization also involves Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO), getting people to click through and download.
5. Increase Organic App Downloads
A good ASO strategy will undoubtedly boost your organic installs and ensure long-term results. That’s because when people search for keywords related to your app, they’ll always find yours. With regular monitoring and fine-tuning, you make sure your efforts are successful.
6. Reach a global audience with your app
By making your app available in other languages through an App Store Optimization process called localization, you can get users from all over the world to discover your app. ASO can help you take your app global.
What are ASO Ranking Factors in Google Play Store (Android)
Google Play Store Ranking Factors:
- App Title
- Short Description (App Subtitle)
- Long Description
- In-App Purchase
- Rating and Reviews
- Updates
- Downloads and Engagement
- Some Hidden factors
How is App Store Optimization done?
- Set up a clear App Store Optimization Strategy
- Right Name for your App
- Do good Keyword Research for your Mobile App
- Keyword Research Tool Google Play Store Keywords (FREE) > ASO Keyword Research
- Write a great description for the App
- Get a unique icon for your App (conduct A/B Testing)
- Best Dimensions for an icon:
- 32-bit PNG, 864 x 864 pixels, 1024K size maximum, Avoid using Text on the icon.
- Remember Android icon should be in PNG format, not JPEG.
- Android recommends your starting app size to be 864×864 pixels because it will make it easier to tweak the design if need be. However, the majority of devices will use 36×36, 48×48, 72×72, or 96×96 pixels.
- Have great graphics (Screenshots & videos)
- Work on App listing and Localisation
- App Reviews and Ratings
Android App Launch Checklist
This checklist brings together the processes you should follow to ensure your app is launched successfully. The tasks are numbered to give you an idea of the normal sequence in which they would be actioned. However, you can handle the tasks in any sequence that works for you and skip steps as appropriate.
- Understand the Developer Program Policies. The Developer Program Policies are designed to ensure that the Play store remains a trusted resource for Android users. Review the policies thoroughly as there are consequences for violations.
- Prepare your developer account. Sign up for a developer account and check your developer account details are accurate. If you’re going to sell products, set up your merchant account.
- Plan for localization. If you plan on including localized copies of your app at launch, start planning early and follow the Localization checklist.
- Plan for simultaneous releases. Releasing your app on multiple platforms and devices maximizes your promotion activities and the number of installs, so include it in your development plans upfront. If you can’t launch your app on all platforms at once, ask for users’ contact details and let them know when your app is ready.
- Test against the quality guidelines. Quality guidelines for all apps plus specific criteria for tablet, TV, and Auto apps provide testing templates. You use these to confirm that your apps offer the basic UI design, features, and functions expected by Android users.
- Target a recent API level. Google Play requires that new apps target at least Android 9.0 (API level 28), and that app updates target at least Android 9.0 starting on November 1, 2019.
- Build your Android App Bundle. When you’re ready to make your app available to users, either for testing or as a final product, build your Android App Bundle in Android Studio. Google Play will use your app bundle to generate, sign and serve optimized APKs for each user’s device, resulting in a smaller app to download and install.
- Run internal tests. Use the internal test track to push your app to up to 100 internal testers to get feedback before making your app available to external users in the closed, open, or production tracks. Use multiple closed test tracks for different versions of your app before pushing them to open test tracks or production.
- Plan your app’s Play store listing. Prepare the descriptions, promotional graphics, screenshots, and videos you’ll add to your app’s Play store page. Make sure you include a link to your privacy policy if required. Localize your store listing in all the languages your app supports and for the countries, you’re targeting.
- Build interest in your app or game with pre-registration and set up a custom pre-registration listing page.
- Upload your Android App Bundle to the closed or an open test track. Closed and open testing tracks can help greatly in discovering issues with your app, allowing you to fix those issues and raise the quality of your initial release. Learn how to upload an Android App Bundle and learn about best practices for open tests.
- Define your app’s device compatibility. Let the Play store know which Android versions and device screen sizes your app is designed to work on.
- Check the pre-launch reports. When you upload an Android App Bundle to the closed or open track, you’ll receive a pre-launch report. With this report, you can identify the issues found after your app is tested automatically on a wide range of real devices running different versions of Android.
- Set up your app’s price and countries of distribution. Once you’ve determined your monetization model, set up your app as free or paid and select the countries in which it will be distributed.
- Opt-in to the right distribution options. From the pricing & distribution page, opt-in to specific devices and programs, such as Wear OS by Google, Android TV, and Designed for families. Google Play can then review your app and, once approved, make it more discoverable for users.
- Set up your in-app products and subscriptions. Confirm the countries you can sell into and currency and tax issues to consider. Then set up your merchant account and add details and prices for your in-app products and subscriptions.
- Determine your app’s content rating. Providing an appropriate rating for your app is a requirement of the Developer Program Policies but, it also ensures your app gets seen by the right age-based audiences.
- Final checks and publishing. First, go back and double-check you’ve done everything on this list. Now you’re ready to publish your app to the production channel. If you’re releasing an app update, use staged rollouts to release your update to progressively more users. This allows you to halt the update if you find an issue, so you can limit the number of users it affects.
- Promote your app. Start promoting your app with the Google Play badge. Check out our other marketing tools and growth best practices to start growing your audience.
- Browse and reply to user reviews. Understand what users think of your app and reply to their reviews to address any issues you might not have spotted in testing.
- Check your vitals. Android vitals shows you important information based on your app running on real devices to help you understand and fix stability and performance issues. Improving your vitals will result in a better user experience, more engaged users, and higher ratings.
Android – Setting-up Your Google Play Developer Account
Before we Begin
Creating a Google Play Developer account requires that you have a traditional Google account available. Make sure you have created a Google account.
How to Set-up Your Google Play Developer Account
1. Go to the Google Play Developer Console <https://play.google.com/apps/publish/signup/> and sign up for an account.
2. Read and agree to the Google Play Developer distribution agreement.
3. Pay the registration fee for your account.
There is a $25 one-time registration fee that you can pay with the following credit or debit cards
- MasterCard
- Visa
- American Express
- Visa Electron (Outside of the U.S. only)
Note: The types of cards accepted may vary by location.
4. Fill out your Google Play Developer Profile.
Once all the details have been filled then click on Complete Registration.
How to Create an App On Play Console
- Open Play Console.
- Select All apps > Create app.
- Select a default language and add the name of your app as you want it to appear on Google Play. You can change this later.
- Specify whether your application is an app or a game. You can change this later.
- Specify whether your application is free or paid.
- Add an email address that Play Store users can use to contact you about this application.
- In the “Declarations” section:
- Acknowledge the “Developer Program Policies” and “US export laws” declarations.
- Accept the Play App Signing Terms of Service.
- Select Create app.
A Few Things to remember
Dashboard and statistics
The first two items are dashboard and statistics. These related reports give you an overview of how your app is performing.
The dashboard answers key questions you have about your app with summaries of installs and uninstalls, top installing countries, active installs, ratings volume and value, crashes, Android vitals, and pre-launch reports. For each summary, click explore or view for more detailed information. You can switch the view between 7 days, 30 days, 1 year, and the app’s lifetime.
Statistics lets you build a view of the app data that matters to you. In addition to seeing data over any date range, you can plot two metrics simultaneously and compare them to a previous period. You can get a full breakdown of statistics by a chosen dimension (such as device, country, language, or app version) in the table below the graph. Some stats offer plots at hourly intervals, for more detailed insights. Events (such as app releases or sales) appear on the graph and in the timeline of the events below it, so you can see how they impacted your stats.
Android vitals
Android vitals is all about your app’s quality, as measured by its performance and stability.
The first two measures — stuck wake locks and excessive wakeups — indicate if the app is adversely affecting battery life. The reports show where the app has asked a device to remain on for long periods (an hour or more) or is frequently asking the device to wake up (more than 10 wakeups per hour since a device was fully charged).
Information on app stability takes the form of the ANR (App Not Responding) and crash rate reports. The summary, as all the summaries in this section do, provides breakdowns by app version, device, and Android version. From the summary, you can drill down into details designed to help developers identify the cause of these issues.
The next two measures — slow rendering and frozen frames — relate to what developers call jank, or an inconsistent frame rate within an app’s UI. When jank occurs, an app’s UI judders and stalls, leading to a poor user experience.
Tips to Increase App Downloads thru ASO
- · Have an Eye-Catching App Icon
- · Make the Most of Your Title Tag
- · Develop a Robust App Description
- · Take Keyword Optimization to the Next Level
- · Use Actionable Graphics
Bonus Tip: Always Track Your Analytics
It’s vitally important to track your app analytics, just like you would for your website. With the use of mobile SDKs, you can implement services like Google Analytics for your app to keep track of important KPIs. You can also maximize your ASO efforts with SDK services for analytics, marketing, and more.
It does well to remember that ASO also serves profit benefits – the more users you have, the more in-app ads and purchases you can use and make. Employing the above app store SEO tips and tracking them via analytics will ensure you get the installs, user base and funds that your app deserves.
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