A recent study by SQMagazine reveals that the Apple App Store now has over 1.93 million apps. With so many apps competing for #1 in each category, standing out and getting downloads can be tough. Many App Store ranking factors decide the ranking positions of your mobile app.
One of the most crucial factors is maintaining strong ratings and reviews. But that is only one part of the whole cluster. Several other App Store ranking factors decide your mobile app’s visibility.
This article will explain all the factors that influence the Apple App Store rankings of your mobile app. It will also share the best App Store optimization practices to rank #1 in the Apple App Store.
Why Is It Important to Understand the App Store Ranking Factors?
Ranking high in the Apple App Store is one of the most taxing tasks of ASO Apple Store optimization. To increase App Store rankings, it is better to understand how the ranking algorithm of the App Store works. A great understanding of the App Store ranking factors also helps you in:
Staying competitive in a saturated market
Optimizing the app to reach a sizeable audience
How Are App Store Rankings Calculated: 14 Major App Store Ranking Factors
An app’s metadata directly influences its App Store rankings. But, indirect factors also affect its position in the App Store. Below are all the major elements that determine the App Store rankings:
App Name
Subtitle
App Description
Screenshots & Preview Video
Downloads & Reinstalls
Reviews & Ratings
Conversion Rate
Retention Rate
Region-Wise Optimization
Uninstall Rate
App Revenue
Regular App Updates
Social Mentions & Shares
Follow the App Store Policies
1. App Metadata
The app metadata is one of the major and direct factors that influence your app’s App Store rankings. It consists of five parts: app name, subtitle, description, screenshots, and the preview video.
1.1 App Title
The first thing the ranking algorithm considers when deciding your app’s ranking is the app title. The algorithm reads the keyword in the title and evaluates its match with the user's search phrase.
1.2 Subtitle
The second most influential App Store ranking factor is your app’s subtitle. The algorithm evaluates the subtitle and looks for relevant keywords in it that match the user’s search intent and query. Based on the evaluation, the algorithm decides the rank of your app in the users’ search results.
1.3 App Description
The app description does not directly affect your App Store rankings. But it increases conversion rates. It enlightens users with your app’s features and functions to let them decide if they want to download your app. You can use an AI App Description Writer tool to write descriptions for your app.
1.4 Screenshots & Preview Video
Your mobile app’s screenshots and preview video directly impact the conversion rate. Thus, it is an important ranking factor that influences your App Store rankings. Because of this, the app's download velocity increases. The algorithm thinks it is an app worth recommending to App Store users.
2. User Engagement
User engagement is another great metric that the App Store’s algorithm considers to rank your app. The engagement is a combination of many factors, like downloads, reinstalls, conversion rates, etc. Let us discuss all the user-engagement-related ASO Apple Store optimization factors below:
2.1 Downloads & Reinstalls
The algorithm uses the total number of downloads to determine the popularity of an app among people. Beyond that, it also tracks your download velocity. Download velocity means the number of installs an app gets within a certain amount of time. If it is high, then the app is worth circulating.
2.2 Reviews & Ratings
Reviews and ratings are an indirect App Store ranking factor that influences people’s decisions to download your app. If the reviews are good, people will download it, and the download velocity will increase. Otherwise, the bad reviews will make them try out your competitor’s app. Moreover, strong ratings help your app get featured in the Editor’s Choice list and get more installs.
2.3 Conversion Rate
A high conversion rate ensures high download velocity, and the ranking algorithm rewards it. As a result, users see your app in one of the top positions in the search results. A lot of factors help increase the app’s conversion rate, such as app title, screenshots, preview video, offers, and more.
2.4 Retention Rate
The same study by SQMagazine says that users will download over 92 billion iOS apps by the 2025 end. But only a small fraction of users will actively use the downloaded app. For this, the algorithm considers an app’s high retention rate an important metric to know its real position among its competitors.
2.5 Region-Wise Optimization
The App Store’s ranking algorithm will consider localization as a factor to decide your app’s ranking. It helps you rank your app in different countries above your competitor with region-wise optimization. Your app will be accessible to people from different languages, cultures, and regions.
2.6 Uninstall Rate
Uninstall rates also negatively affect your app’s ranking. A higher uninstall rate also sends a signal to the algorithm that people are not liking the mobile app. Thus, the algorithm refers to fewer people.
3. Other App Store Ranking Factors
Other App Store ranking factors that determine your app’s ranking on the users’ search are given below:
3.1 App Revenue
If your app is generating a good chunk of revenue through in-app purchases, it shows that people are liking it. Because of this factor, the iOS Store promotes it more. Another reason behind this is Apple's revenue-sharing policies with its developers. Every app shares what it earns.
3.2 Regular App Updates
Offering a seamless experience to users means inviting more users to it. If you offer a good app user experience, users will leave good reviews, and the algorithm will understand them. Fixing bugs, glitches, and stability issues through app updates is a major part of a great user experience.
3.3 Social Mentions & Shares
Apple also includes the number of shares and mentions in its Apple App Store ranking factors list. If users are sharing your mobile app outside the Apple App Store, then it must be helpful to them. Because of this factor, the iOS App Store considers it a worthwhile app and pushes it further.
3.4 Follows App Store’s Policies
It may sound obvious. But it is important to mention it again and again. No matter how well you optimize your app with the best ASO techniques. You would not see results unless you make it follow the Apple App Store’s policies. So, make sure your app follows all the Apple App Store policies.
How to increase app store rankings with App Store optimization (ASO)?
After understanding all the iOS App Store ranking factors, you must now follow the best App Store ranking optimization practices. This way, you will rank higher in the search and get downloads. Below are all the best ASO Apple Store optimization practices you must consider applying:
Mention Your USP
Choose the Right Category
Optimize Your App’s Metadata
Get Positive Ratings & Reviews
Localize Your App Listing
Push Regular App Updates
A/B Tests, Learn & Implement
1. Mention Your App USP
Every best App Store optimization practice starts with clearly defining the app’s USP for the users. It is also an art of understanding the market well. It is your USP that makes you different from other competitors. Thus, boast your USP in the title and description with relevant ASO keywords.
It helps users make the download decision, ultimately boosting your download velocity. You can use an online App USP Generator tool to write high-converting USP descriptions for your mobile apps.
2. Choose the Right Category
Another great app store optimization strategy you can follow is to choose the right category. At times, we choose a category that slightly matches the app. But you must choose the exact category that your app falls into. This way, the right audience will be able to find your app on the right page.
3. Optimize Your App’s Metadata
The app title, app icon, and subtitle are the foundation of any App Store optimization strategy. In fact, it is the very first thing that the ranking system crawls and indexes on the app store and displays.
You must include the right keyword in your app’s metadata to let crawlers know about your app. A tip you can apply here is using keywords with high search volume and less search competition. You can check the rank of your ops’ app, know its top ranking keywords, and use them.
#DroidTip: You can use the get the right keywords for your app with this App Keyword Research tool.
4. Get Positive Ratings & Reviews
A study by Alchemer shows that 59% of people always check app reviews and ratings before downloading them. Ratings also influence your app’s App Store rankings. Thus, it becomes important to bring more reviews to get more installs. You can do so by sharing the app with relevant users. For instance, if your app is about Health Tracking, share it with health-conscious people.
5. Localize Your App Listing
Localised app listing not only impresses the App Store’s search engine. But it also leaves a good impression on the searchers. It makes them feel connected after seeing an app in their language. As a result, more and more people install your applications, leading to high download velocity. So, making your application listing accessible to different countries, cultures, and regions. Below, we have shared an image about how Duolingo has optimized its app listing for English-speaking people as well as Vietnamese.
6. Push Regular App Updates
Both users and ranking systems prefer apps that are regularly updated by their publishers. No one wants a faulty app on their phones. So, regularly pushing new updates is another App Store optimization best practice. This practice holds a notable rank in any App Store optimization technique.
7. A/B Test & Implement
Our experiences are our best learnings. ASO is something you learn with tests and trials, as the algorithm keeps changing. You always find out something new and interesting during the optimization process. Besides our mentioned tips, you must A/B test, learn from differences, and implement them.
Conclusion
To increase App Store rankings, one must get a clear understanding of all the iOS App ranking factors. Understanding the algorithm is not that difficult. But implementing the right ASO techniques is.
You can either learn through experimentation or fast-track your growth by hiring an ASO expert. An expert will provide a detailed Mobile App Marketing (MAM) report and deliver measurable ranking results. We hope this guide has given you a solid foundation of App Store Ranking factors.
FAQs
What Determines App Store Rankings?
Many factors like app metadata, ratings and reviews, conversion rate, and more determine your app store rankings.
How To Increase Ranking on the App Store?
To increase ranking on the app store, optimize your app’s metadata, bring more positive reviews, etc.
How Are App Store Rankings Calculated?
The App Store rankings are calculated based on the app’s metadata, ratings, and some other factors.
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Harshit05
I create advanced website builders made exclusively for web developers.
3 Comments
As a Special Education teacher this resonates so well with me. Fighting with gen ed teachers to flatten for the students with learning disabilities. It also confirms some things for me in my writing.
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Since our attention spans seem to be shrinking by the day — keeping it simple is more important than ever.
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