According to a research, the app store is the crucial point of the app marketing funnel because all the visitors through different channels ultimately land on the app store, and make the decision to install.”
It indicates app optimization for the app store holds a great significance in acquiring new users. Going ahead, testing the first impression of your app on the app store is also important which maximizes the install rates, increase discoverability rates and convince more users to install the app.
Consider the facts:
- A good first impression will increase conversions by 35%
- 60% of your visitors won’t scroll beyond your first impression
- 50% of your installers make their decision based on the first impression only
This is certain, that saying what’s there in the app title is wrong. There is plenty. It can create wonders or raise the confusion; make the app irrelevant or communicate the value; make the app lost amidst the sea of apps or stand out on the global stage.
When app title is vital, then why not give it a stellar name and push the visitors over the edge to download the app. Let’s do it.
Take an overview of the points which needs to be considered when creating the app title that makesa positive impact on the ASO:
Do the necessary homework
Finally, you have zeroed down the choice to a unique name that’s original, trendy and different. But, this is what you think, perhaps, the app name might have been already used in the app store. You cannot guarantee yourself when entering the crowded app store this says a lot about the hoe dense the competition is today. It’s good to search if there are apps that have used the same or similar name. When it’s found, it’s considered as duplicate.
It not only deters the users from downloading your app, while the app store will be rejecting it on the accounts of duplication. Apple rejects the apps outright if their name is too similar to existing apps and Google play store warns the developers to not name the app against something that confusingly akin to other apps.
In order to keep the app topping the charts, replicate the competitors’ app features that are successful, but not their app name. Therefore, it’s better to do a general search and study how the similar apps named and the emotions they evoke, else you are up against the chances of reputable brands taking it for using their trademarked app name idea.
Appeal the users
The anatomy of the app title clearly states that app name should be unique, clear and easy-to-understand. It represents the main message of the app that describes what the app is about. It’s an extension of the brand, so it should not mislead the user or confuse them with a fancy name, while it must be holding the value that users remember your brand with an app’s name.
Well, this is a challenge. On the flip side, just creative app title won’t improve the app’s visibility. The addition of 1-3 important keywords in the title is important as app title is a metadata for the app store ranking algorithms in App Store ranking.
According to a research, “The inclusion of 1-2 keyword in the app title can boost the app’s ranking 10% higher than those that have not included.”
Make sure the app title should not be stuffed with keywords to improve the app store visibility because it impacts the title’s appeal. In addition, the titles must not be long, else they may get truncated on small screens. Be creative and think like an end-user while designing the app title to stay prominent in the app market.
Localize the app title
When you are launching the app for a global audience, then localizing the app store listing is necessary. History has witnessed many examples of such marketing blunders where the lack of due diligence in translating the app content or the app title has resulted in the app failure in increasing the outreach. You should not commit the same mistake by keeping a global view of the app language.
It can be achieved when you target the keywords in the app title according to geographical region and translating the title language in the local language. The efforts for the localization really paid off in terms of indexing of the app high on the app store’s local listing and maximizing the chances of the app being found by local users, which in turn broaden the market base.
Understand the difference between Apple App Store and Google Play Store
Every app store has its own norms and the requirements for app title, which are essential to be fulfilled. For both Apple app store and Google play store, the meaning of app title is different.
For iOS apps, staying specific, choosing the words carefully and including the keywords in the title is necessary because Apple scans the title searching for keywords. Since 2017, the character limitation for the title is reduced from 50 characters to 30 characters. Besides, a keyword field as an extension to app title is added where the space of 100 characters is provided to improve the app’s discoverability with relevant keywords. However, in the keyword field, it’s clearly described that the keywords already included in the title should not be repeated, and their variations are also not allowed.
In regards to Android apps, the character limit for the app title is increased to 50 characters which was earlier just 30. Unlike Apple, there is no keyword field, so, the app store listing is scanned to find the keywords. This way, the important keywords must be included in the title and rest of low priority keywords can be added in the app description.
Maintain the right update frequency
The app updates are no exception to keep up with the changing trends, user behavior, and competition. The changing ecosystem is also transforming how the apps are searched and ranked. The same thing goes with the ASO and app metadata, which needs to be updated on a regular basis. Well, it’s a thoughtful strategy where the mistakes made earlier can be avoided and results can be improved.
The best practice to update ASO is updating it at the time of releasing the in-app updates or new feature addition. In the ASO update, testing and optimizing the app title (when necessary) is the best way out for the metadata optimization that advances the app ranking. The keyword performance in the app title can be monitored using intelligent keyword monitoring tools to make the updates when required.
Note: In the attempt of title optimization, don’t change your brand as it confuses the users and massive business drift can be seen.
Concluding Note
“The app title is the most important piece of metadata used by Google Play’s ranking algorithm. Therefore, app developers and marketers should not underestimate the importance of app titles.”
This is stated by Ankit Jain, former Head of Search & Discovery for Google Play store at an I/O conference in San Francisco.
The statement is true in every sense for every app store where increasing the App Store visibility is the part and parcel of app marketing strategy. This is where the app title that’s taken too lightly takes the center stage. The app title is the focal point of every app that creates the first impression and convey the global meaning of the app to the users. However, there is no secret recipe for crafting an app title that pockets you million dollars.
Do the general research to avoid title cloning, comprehend the Apple and Google play store basic requirements for app title, go for localization to impress the local users and keep updating the title as per the trends to keep the app name at the mountain top that shouts what your app is and sets it apart on the app store with improved ranking.
Your app has the potential for success and you just need to tap it with an ideal name. Don’t let it an afterthought. Instead, use the tips to create and narrow down the name, that’s a masterpiece.