In today’s mobile age, both established and emerging brands are busy enhancing their online presence through mobile apps in order to strategically connect and reach users on the go.
However, to retain business growth and get noticed by potential customers, your app must have better rankings. Since people’s opinions drive your app’s visibility in crowded app stores, you need more positive reviews.
But such good reviews don’t happen automatically. In fact, people tend to visit app stores often to share bad reviews. To expect people swarming in the app store for your app, you must optimize it for better rankings. Here are a few good tips to help you improve your mobile app ranking:
1) Understand the App Stores Thoroughly
First things first, before you set off executing a strategy to increase your app’s visibility, you should know that there is certain difference between iTunes app store and Google Play.
Both have their own set of terms and elements that are vital to app store optimization. For instance, while Google Play puts massive emphasis on the description of the app, iTunes app store relies greatly on keywords to categorize and display your app.
Gaining full insight into how app stores actually work can help you pull off the app optimization.
2) Prefer a Reliable App Review Plug-in
Rankings are highly sensitive to reviews. One of the best ways to draw better rankings is to ask users to consider sharing their experience. For this, there are handy plug-ins that fit in your iOS and Android apps and simplify prompting the users for reviews.
- Helpshift is one vital option for encouraging customers to drop reviews after they have explored the app for a while
- Appirater is another popular plug-in that integrates quickly with your mobile app and prompts users to review the app after set time period. Once they choose to rate, users are redirected to the app store to share their views
Make sure you use these plugins wisely while setting prompt timing.
3) Incentives For Reviews
The fact is, even if you try app review popups, users will not appreciate the idea of writing it. You need more than popups to make them take the action. Here is where incentivized encouragement seems to work. You can think of having:
- Free In-game rewards
- Virtual gifts
- Redeemable Bonus points
- Coupons
Offer them the promise of such rewards as this is the easiest way to have them review your app. People love free stuff and like to be surprised.
You can wait for them to complete specific actions in your app and then prompt them gently for reviews. Remember that original and decent popups are more effective than generic ones.
4) High Density of Active Users and Traffic
Soon after you have launched the app, you will need to see good amount of downloads. As number of active users and traffic volume soars, your app goes towards increasing its rank in app stores.
Too fetch more traffic to your mobile app, you will need to leverage a thoughtful marketing strategy and online campaigns that are trending in the market.
Efforts like SEO, influencer marketing, email campaigns, PPC and social media create great awareness for your app, creating a substantial flow of traffic to your app.
5) Expressive Screenshots
As they rightly say, pictures roar louder than words. Your app screen shots can play epic role in attracting users and boos their curiosity around your mobile app.
Design images best sustains the description content and represents your app’s purpose. Make your images speak to the audience and explain what it actually contains for them.
You should be able to capture the entire essence of your app and its major inner functioning in at least 3 vivid images.
6) Establish an Exemplary Customer Support
Providing an easy, quick support is a key to retaining existing customers in any business. Exceptional customer service also helps earn good reviews for your app.
Instead of guiding users to email communications for customer support, it would be rewarding to have an in-built chat system inside the app.
There are many plug-ins that provide intuitive dashboard to control, manage and conduct two-way interactions with users. Such direct customer assistance via messages can create a huge array of happy customers.
You can ask them to review your app after they are satisfied with your support. This not only minimizes negative feedback but also improves app ranking.
7) Get More Social
Social media channels are the best modern way to interact and engage with your potential customers. Make a solid social media strategy to interest rich active online community. Such platforms play a momentous role as a part of:
- Sophisticated online marketing
- Business Presence and promotion
- High-quality Brand engagement
- Rich relationship and interactions
It is apparent that famous online platforms offer an undeniable ground and a mighty opportunity to build lasting relationships with users, influencers and stakeholders alike.
Such powered engagements eventually boost your app’s ranking. Some of effective online platforms are: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Quora, Google plus.
8) Create Impactful Content
Be it app description, social media marketing, video or email promotions, whatever you write should have single central purpose: explaining how your app can bring value and create significant difference in the life of customers.
Highlight major benefits and features your app includes. Make your content appear organic and convincing, and avoid pushing it to the extent of looking too promotional.
Your genuine effort will develop trust and consistency among users, contributing to the improved app ranking.
9) App Maintenance and Updates
App users expect newness and innovations as the time progresses and unforeseen trends roll in. To make user experience trendy and engaging, you must maintain your app to the most exceptional standard possible.
Update your apps regularly, which also helps improve its performance and security. Additionally, constant updates go to show your dedication and commitment towards app users and have undeniable part in pushing the ranking.
Remember that app stores prefer to feature those apps that are regularly maintained or frequently updated.
10) Aesthetic Design and Look
User’s idea of your app has much to do with its visual appeal, and it begins with the app icon. Today’s many top ranking apps have eye-catching look and feel.
The icon should represent your app’s real content and its core purpose. With that said, it should not appear too obscure or perplexing.
As user quickly build the perception from the first look at app visuals, it is important to focus on simplicity with convincing use of colours and shape. You can opt for:
- Bold colours with convincing style
- Less flashy icon
- Simple yet attractive in-app visuals
- Easy-to-use User Interface
- Fluid navigation
- Easy-to-understand functionality
11) Description
The first thing you need to incorporate while preparing the app description is the idea of whether or not users will connect with it.
Dig deep into popular trends and understand how your app will complement users before finalizing any description. Any ideal app description should have following attributes:
- Primary features and core objectives
- Concise length
- Integration of most relevant keywords
- Trendy style of writing
- Simple, easy-to-understand words
Use precise keywords as used by your target audience when searching for similar apps. Do your thorough research to scoop up right keywords for your app.
Last words
In the world of mobile app development, there is a lot we can do. You can implement almost any idea with the help of strategic use of technology. As for mobile app ranking, you cannot rely on just one single approach.
Increasing the rank of any mobile app is a cohesive process that encompasses a range of efforts. Some of them are discussed here in this blog. Hopefully, it will lead you to push your brand new or existing app to a top spot in app stores.