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Can You Use SEO in the iTunes App Store to Boost Your App's Ranking?

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By Samantha Berkhead

There may be an app for your company—but is it getting the attention and exposure it deserves?

If your company's app—whether it's a game, an online banking app or any other type of smartphone app—isn't getting as many downloads as you might like, there's a way to boost its popularity that you might not have realized yet.

Believe it or not, you can actually use some of the same SEO strategies you'd use for Google's search engine to help give your app a boost in the App Store rankings as well.

According to an August 23 VentureBeat.com article, adopting a search engine optimization strategy in the iTunes App Store is an effective way to help an app rise to the top of a search for a related query. It just might be the most innovative new form of mobile marketing out there.

You might be surprised at how simple some of these App Store SEO tactics can be:

  • Create a clever, inventive yet practical name: Think of some of the most popular apps out there right now—from Snapchat and Instagram to Evernote and Dropbox. What do they all have in common? They're all short, sweet and convey the essence of what the app does for its users. Rather than bogging down the name of your app with too many words, keep it simple and intriguing, and users will be drawn to it.
  • Use keywords: As is the case with traditional SEO, you should use keywords and search terms to your advantage. Incorporate any relevant keywords into the app's description that accurately describe the app's purpose and function, but be sure to keep keyword density low—users won't want to download an app that seems like it's fallen victim to keyword stuffing, as it makes the app appear spammy and useless.
  • Maintain clean, appealing design: You'd be surprised at how much an app's design factors into whether or not a user will download it or not. An attractive app logo as well as a clean, easy-to-use interface will draw users in, as these are the images that show up in the app preview section. So just as web design factors into your website's SEO success, so does the design of your app.

What are your thoughts on using SEO to improve the rankings of an app in the App Store? Share with us in the comments section below.