2. MatthäusMichalik
• With AKM3 GmbH for 4 years
• Senior Consultant
• Key-Account Management
• Technical & Strategic Search Engine
Optimization
• App Store Optimization
• Former Positions:
• Hitmeister – Online market place
• SoQuero – Performance agency Frankfurt
• Speaker at national and international
conferences
Matthäus Michalik
Senior SEO Consultant
AKM3 GmbH
Paul-Lincke-Ufer 39-40
10999 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0)30-30364728
Fax: +49 (0)30-69088174
@MichalikMatt
How to generate more organic traffic when marketing channels are rare 2
3. Agenda
• Targets and Significance of AppStore Optimization
• Keyword Strategy
• Description
• App Title
• Screenshots
• Reviews
• Next to Google Play
• Synergies between a website and an app
How to generate more organic traffic when marketing channels are rare 3
4. Targets and Significance of ASO
How to generate more organic traffic when marketing channels are rare 4
6. TheTargetsofASO
• Improved access to an app within the AppStores
• Better rankings/positions within the search
• Improving the rankings of an AppStore page within the Google SERPs
• Increasing the conversion rate
Primary target: Enhancing the Ø of organic downloads
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7. ASOCanBeDividedintoTwoCoreSectors
On-page Factors
• App name
• App icon
• Publisher’s name
• Description / keyword field
• Screenshots / Video
Off-page Factors
• Reviews
• Downloads/Installs
• Backlinks to Google Play
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10. TheCorrectKeywordsDecideHowWellanAppCanBe
Found
• Keyword strategies are crucial for the success of an app
• There is no exact keyword data for apps (just estimations)
• Many tools offer a tendency of keywords rather than exact data
Every new app should follow a clear keyword strategy:
• Who is my target audience?
• What exactly are they looking for?
• Are there synonyms?
• Singular vs plural?
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11. ThereAreMultiple ToolsforGeneratingKeywordIdeas
Possibilities & tools for keyword
research:
• Brainstorming
• Analysis of competitors
• Google Trends
• Google Keyword Planner
• Keyword Tool IO
• Google Play “Suggest”
• SimilarWeb
• ASO tools:
• AppAnnie, AppTweak, Sensor
Tower, SearchMan, etc.
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15. LocalizationLeadstoBetterRankingsaswellasMore
DownloadsandConversions
• Separate keyword strategy per
country!
• Adjustment of
• App name
• Description
• Icon
• Screenshots & video
• Usage of localized “Google Play
Badges”
How to generate more organic traffic when marketing channels are rare
Google Play Number
Number Rankings before Update (31.07.2014) 48
Number Rankings after Update (21.10.2014) 61 27%
iTunes Number
Number Rankings before Update (31.07.2014) 77
Number Rankings after Update (21.10.2014) 154 100%
15
16. App Title
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17. TheAppTitleis OneoftheMostImportantRankingCriteria
• Short & concise
• Focus on brand
• Main keyword should be included
• Limitation:
• 30 characters
Recommendation:
[App Name] – [Main keyword]
74,3 % of the apps ranking on position 1
have the keyword in their app title
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19. A GoodDescriptionShouldEncouragethe UsertoDownload
andTrytheApp
Possible Content:
• Functionality
• Advantages
• Specific features
• Distinguishing features compared to competitors
• Corporate communications (Website, Social media, support, forum)
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20. DescriptioninGooglePlayIsCrucialfortheRankingwithin
theSearch
Description should primarily be easy to read:
• Descriptions should also be unique
• Google Play: Description should always be keyword optimized (Keyword stuffing is
currently still possible)
• Mention important keywords at least 5x in the description
• HTML formatting is possible (only Google Play)
• Limit length to 4.000 characters
• The most important information should be placed into the first three lines
• Create lists and bullet point lists to enhance readability
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23. UpdateText& FooterCanHelpwithGeneratingMore
Attention
Update text:
• Optomized for your target group
• Explain bug fixes instead of using “bug fixes”
• Include Call-To-Action:
• “Test new functions”
• “Now with even more functions”
• “Bug XY eliminated”
• Point out promotions
Footer text:
• Refer to homepage
• Refer to social media channels
• Refer to support (forum/Zendesk)
How to generate more organic traffic when marketing channels are rare
✘
✔
23
24. App Icon
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25. TheAppIconIsthe FirstPoint ofContactBetweentheApp
andaPotentialUser
• Keep it simple
• Avoid words
• Do not use “gloss”
• Consistency with the app design
Increase recognition value
• Be distinguishable from the
competition and the market
• Special icons for holidays
• Black Friday
• Christmas
• etc.
Google: http://developer.android.com/design/style/iconography.html
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26. A/B TestingoftheApp IconsCanResultinConversion
Growths
A/B Testing can result in improving the
conversion of an app
Increase of
• DAU (Daily active user)
• Installations
• Click Through Rates (Ads)
Simple adjustments can already result in
improvements:
• Colors
• Arrangement of the elements
• Character
How to generate more organic traffic when marketing channels are rare 26
Source: sparkpage.com
28. AllPossibilitiesforScreenshotsShould BeUsedand
Harnessed
Screenshots should give the user the best impression of an app:
• 1st screenshot is the most important! (Presentation graphic)
• Keep it as simple as possible
• Display most important functionalities Storytelling
• Avoid device frames
• Avoid marketing slogans
• Use maximum amount of possible screenshots
• Use different screenshots for smartphone and tablet
• !! No iPhone screenshots for Google Play or the other way around
• Amount:
• Google Play - 8 per device: Smartphone, 7 inch, 10 inch and Android TV
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34. ReviewsAreaProxyfortheFeedbackofUsers
• Number of reviews influences the
ranking
• Average review ratings influence the
ranking: Ideally between 4 and 5
• Reduce amount of negative rankings
to a minimum
• Review monitoring can identify new
bugs (directly after the release of a
new version)
• Identify the users’ demands for new
features
• Ask users about review (in App)
Don‘t harass users. Good Timing!
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35. StudyRevealsthatReviewsareVeryImportantforthe
RankingofanApp iniTunes
• An evaluation of 162.727 iOS apps in
the top 20 apps revealed:
• 600 ratings on average for the
current version
• An average rating between 4.0
and 5.0
The number of ratings influences the
ranking
An average rating influences the
ranking
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39. AlternativeApp StoresCanIncreasetheOutreachaswellas
NewInstallations
Relevant alternatives for app stores in
Germany (e.g.):
• Amazon App Store
• Getjar
• Samsung Apps
• SlideME
Advantages of alternative stores:
• Fewer apps fewer competition
• Higher probability of being featured
• In some parts paid campaigns are
possible
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43. App indexinggivesyoutheopportunitytogetyouruser
directlyintoyourappinsteadofyourwebsite
• Currently available only for Google
Android 4.1 and higher
• Linking directly into the app from the
Google result pages
Recruitment: App is installed
Benefits:
• Better User Retention
• Possibly better conversion rate
• Better User Experience
How to generate more organic traffic when marketing channels are rare 43
45. ThankYouVeryMuch ForYourAttention!
Matthäus Michalik
Senior SEO Consultant
AKM3 GmbH
Paul-Lincke-Ufer 39-40
10999 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0)30-30364728
Fax: +49 (0)30-69088174
@MichalikMatt
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