Appstore Keywords: A Simple Guide To Better App Store Ranking

Appstore Keywords: Why They Matter

People find apps by searching. When someone types a word like "budget" or "workout", the store shows results based on relevance and performance. This is where appstore keywords matter. They help the store understand what your app does and who it is for. If you pick the right words, more people can discover your app without paid ads.

This blog post explains how to choose keywords in a simple way. You will learn how to do research, how to place keywords in the right areas, and how to track results. You do not need advanced tools to start. You just need a clear process and a habit of testing.

What Are Appstore Keywords?

appstore keywords are the words and short phrases people type in the App Store or Google Play to find apps. They can describe a problem ("track expenses"), a feature ("meal planner"), a category ("photo editor"), or an audience ("kids math"). The store matches searches with text from your app listing and other signals like downloads and ratings.

Good keywords have three traits:

• Relevant: They match what your app truly offers.
• Clear intent: The searcher is likely to want your app.
• Achievable: You can compete for them with your current app strength.

Step 1: Start With Your App's Core Value

Before you collect a long list of terms, write down the main value of your app in one sentence. For example: "A simple habit tracker for busy students" or "A fast scanner to create clean PDF files". This sentence becomes your keyword compass.

Then list:

• The top 5 features
• The top 3 problems you solve
• The main audience types

These notes create your first keyword ideas. At this stage, you are not judging difficulty yet. You are collecting options.

Step 2: Do Simple Keyword Research

Keyword research does not need to be complex. Here are practical ways to find real search terms:

Use Store Search Suggestions

In the App Store or Google Play, start typing a word related to your app. The suggestions that appear are based on real searches. Write them down. For example, typing "scanner" may show "pdf scanner", "document scanner", and "scanner app".

Study Competitor Listings

Look at the top apps that rank for your main terms. Read their titles, subtitles (if applicable), short descriptions, and long descriptions. Notice repeated phrases. Do not copy, but learn the language users see and understand.

Read Reviews for User Language

Reviews often contain the exact words users care about. You may find phrases like "easy to use", "offline", "no ads", or "sync". These can become strong supporting keywords if your app truly provides them.

Use Light Tools (Optional)

If you have access to ASO tools, use them to check estimated volume and difficulty. If not, you can still make progress with suggestions and competitor research.

Step 3: Pick Primary and Secondary Keywords

A common mistake is trying to rank for everything. Instead, pick:

• Primary keywords: 1 to 3 terms that describe your main use case.
• Secondary keywords: 5 to 15 terms that describe features, audiences, and related tasks.

Choose a mix of:

• Head terms (broad, high competition) like "fitness"
• Mid-tail terms like "home workout"
• Long-tail terms like "home workout for beginners"

Long-tail terms often bring fewer searches, but better intent. That can mean higher conversion and more stable growth.

Step 4: Place Keywords in the Right Fields

Each store has different fields that matter for ranking. Use your keywords where they make sense and keep the text natural.

For Apple App Store

• App Name (Title): Strong ranking impact. Keep it clear and readable.
• Subtitle: Great place for secondary terms and benefits.
• Keyword Field: Use comma-separated terms. Avoid repeating words already in your title/subtitle.
• Description: Helps users decide, and can support discovery indirectly.

For Google Play

• Title: Important for ranking. Use your primary keyword if natural.
• Short description: Strong visibility. Make it benefit-driven.
• Long description: Use keywords naturally, avoid stuffing.

As you edit, remember: keyword placement is not only for ranking. It must also convince a human to install.

Step 5: Avoid Common Keyword Mistakes

Here are frequent issues that reduce results:

• Keyword stuffing: Repeating the same phrase too much makes text hard to read and can hurt trust.
• Irrelevant terms: Ranking for the wrong searches leads to low conversion and poor retention.
• Too broad focus: If you only target huge terms, you may never reach page one.
• Ignoring conversion: Great keywords cannot save weak screenshots, icons, or unclear value.

Step 6: Track, Test, and Improve Every Update

ASO is not a one-time task. Build a simple cycle:

1. Pick a change: Update your title, subtitle, or description to better match your target terms.
2. Wait and measure: Track impressions, installs, and ranking for key queries.
3. Learn: Did you gain visibility? Did conversion improve?
4. Repeat: Keep what works, replace what does not.

Also monitor seasonality. For example, "study planner" may rise before school starts, and "fitness" may rise in January.

How to Build a Keyword List (Quick Example)

Imagine you have a sleep sounds app. A simple list could look like:

• Primary: sleep sounds, white noise, sleep music
• Secondary: rain sounds, meditation sleep, baby sleep, relaxing sounds, insomnia help

Then you would place a primary term in the title if it reads well, and support it with secondary terms in subtitles and descriptions.

Final Tips for Strong Appstore Keywords

To get the best results from appstore keywords, keep it simple:

• Match keywords to real user intent.
• Use a mix of competitive and easy-to-rank terms.
• Write for people first, then optimize.
• Test changes over time and track performance.

With steady research and smart placement, you can improve rankings, increase downloads, and grow without relying only on ads. Start with a small list, measure results, and refine with every release.