Guide

How to improve your App Store rankings: nine things that actually move rank

Rankings respond to two things: how relevant the store thinks your app is to a search, and how well the app performs when people see it. Everything below improves one or both.

Updated

Relevance

  1. Target reachable keywords

    Prefer relevant terms where you can reach the top 10 over head terms where you will sit at #80.

  2. Use every indexed character

    Fill the title, subtitle and keyword field (App Store) or short and full description (Google Play) without repetition.

  3. Localize for each storefront

    Each country has its own searches. Track and write metadata per market instead of translating once.

Performance

  1. Raise conversion

    The first three screenshots and the first lines of text decide whether a search visit installs.

  2. Grow ratings steadily

    Ask for a rating right after a moment of success, use the platform's in-app review prompt, and reply to reviews.

  3. Keep quality high

    Crashes, uninstalls and poor retention pull rankings down over time, especially on Google Play.

  4. Add search-driven installs where you are close

    Installs that come from a specific search signal relevance for that keyword. A sized keyword campaign helps most when you already rank near the top.

Measurement

  1. Track daily, per country

    Weekly or global averages hide the changes you need to see.

  2. Change one thing at a time

    Ship metadata changes in a separate update from big feature releases so you can attribute the effect.

Frequently asked questions

Why did my app's ranking drop suddenly?
Common causes are a competitor's metadata change, a seasonal shift in searches, a drop in install velocity or a metadata update that removed a keyword. Daily tracking per keyword shows which one.
Do ratings affect App Store ranking?
Ratings mainly affect conversion, which in turn affects ranking. A higher, fresher rating usually means more installs per search impression.

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