[KEY INSIGHTS] ASO Decoded: How to Consistently Get 5 Star Ratings

Seamless Feedback Loop + Timely Ask + Customizable Rating Prompt = Guaranteed 5 Star Ratings and Reviews
Keywords: Do Your Research!
- Use keyword ranking tools like App Annie to navigate through the app ecosystem and establish benchmarks.
- Surround yourself with potential users and conduct surveys to uncover overlooked keywords.
- Keyword analytics are not available in real-time. Keep researching, testing, and iterating keywords from update to update.
Title + Taglines Matter
- Aim for a short title with a simple tagline. This is your chance to attract potential customers with a snapshot of your app’s value.
- Musi Example:
- Title Iteration #1: ‘Musi’ → Base title and no tagline to create curiosity among users. Only saw 30 downloads per day.
- Title Iteration #2: ‘Musi- Song Streaming for YouTube & Downloader for SoundCloud ‘ → Introduction of tagline increased installs 6x. Give people context.
- Title Iteration #3: ‘Musi- Unlimited Free Music’ → Optimize for discoverability. 10x install increase from Title Iteration #2, and even 15x install increase from the first title iteration.
Screenshots
- Tailor screenshots to your target demographic and match that to the app’s brand.
- Musi Tip: Onset screenshots to an iPhone with a description of the primary action. Although not encouraged, Apple still accepts these submissions.
Bonus: Optimal Times to Submit to the App Store
- Test release times and monitor performance to drive installs. Musi submits updates on Fridays and weekends.
- Musi experienced rapid growth after re-strategizing how and when to ask users to rate the app.
- Rating frameworks designed to ask users to rate the prompt immediately after start of app disrupts your user’s experience and converts poorly. In Musi’s case, less than 1% would actually rate the app.
- Create a rating prompt that caters to specific user actions within the app.
- 46% of negative reviews are actually product feedback.
- Make it as easy as humanly possible for unhappy users to connect with you and quickly resolve their issues (before they hit the App Store with a 1 star review).
Questions to Ask
- What is the best time to ask people to rate the app?
- At what point will users be the happiest using the app?
- How can we build the least intrusive rating prompt?