How to Rank Your App in Google Play Store Using ASO

With the app usage and downloads on the rise, the app ecosystem is becoming more competitive than ever. Chances are, your app may get buried in millions of other apps on the Google Play store. And with so many other app options, even developing the most useful app won’t get you anywhere if your app does not gain exposure to potential users. That is when App Store Optimization, or ASO, becomes useful.

ASO is the practice of correctly positioning various elements of your app listing in order to increase visibility and rankings in app store search results. In this guide, we will describe how to carry out ASO principles correctly in order to increase your app’s ranking and drive more organic downloads through the Google Play Store.

What Is ASO & Why Is It Important?

In mobile, App Store Optimization (ASO) is similar to Search Engine Optimization (SEO) in the web world. App Store Optimization takes elements of optimization and focuses them on ranking your app higher in the Play Store search results and top charts in order to drive more downloads.

Key benefits of ASO:

• Increases your app’s discoverability
• Drives organic (unpaid) downloads
• Enhances brand visibility and trust
• Improves user acquisition at a lower cost

Google’s Play Store algorithm takes into account several factors including keyword relevance, app performance, download velocity, and user engagement when ranking apps.

1. Choose the Right Keywords

The Mistake:

Using irrelevant or low-volume keywords can result in poor discoverability.

Best Practice:

• Use keyword research tools such as Google Keyword Planner, AppTweak, Mobile Action, to find relevant and popular keywords.
• Target long-tail keywords that are representative of user intent (e.g. "Fitness tracker for beginners", instead of "fitness").
• Use your main keyword in the app title, short description, and long description…

Read more: SEO Keywords: What They Are, Best Practices, and How to Rank in 2025

2. Optimize App Title and Subtitle

The Mistake:

A generic app name that lacks keywords reduces search visibility.

Best Practice:

Include your most important keyword in the app title.

For example: `Sleep Tracker: Smart Alarm & Sleep Sounds`

• Keep the title clear, brand-oriented, and within the 30-character limit.
• Avoid keyword stuffing—keep it natural and readable.

3. Craft a Compelling Short Description

The Mistake:

Wasting the 80-character short description with vague statements.

Best Practice:

• Use this space to summarize your app’s key value and highlight benefits.
• Include one or two primary keywords naturally.
• Make the text persuasive to encourage users to read more or install.

Example:

“Track sleep patterns, set smart alarms, and improve your sleep quality naturally.”

4. Optimize the Long Description with Relevant Keywords

The Mistake:

Writing a long description filled with marketing jargon and no keyword strategy.

Best Practice:

• Aim for 200–400 words that explain features, benefits, and use cases.
• Include relevant keywords 2–4 times throughout the text, especially in the first 250 characters.
• Use bullet points and short paragraphs for better readability.

5. Use High-Quality App Icons and Screenshots

The Mistake:

Neglecting the visual elements of your app store listing.

Best Practice:

• Design a clear and unique app icon that represents your brand.
• Upload 5–8 high-resolution screenshots showing your app’s core features.
• Add caption text on screenshots to explain what each one represents.
• Include a promotional video if possible—it increases engagement and install rates.

6. Encourage Positive Ratings and Reviews

The Mistake:

Failing to engage with users post-download or ignoring negative feedback.

Best Practice:

• Ask users for reviews within the app (but don’t be pushy).
• Respond to reviews—especially negative ones—to show your commitment to improvement.
• Use feedback to improve features and fix bugs.

Tip: Apps with consistent positive reviews rank higher and gain user trust faster.

7. Regularly Update Your App

The Mistake:

Letting your app stagnate with outdated features or unresolved bugs.

Best Practice:

• Release regular updates with performance improvements and new features.
• Mention new updates clearly in the “What’s New” section.
• Updated apps are favored by the Play Store algorithm as they show active development and support.

8. Focus on App Performance and Technical Quality

The Mistake:

Ignoring crash rates, slow load times, or bugs.

Best Practice:

• Maintain a crash-free experience—apps with frequent crashes are downranked.
• Ensure fast loading speeds and low battery usage.
• Test across multiple devices and OS versions.

Google uses app performance metrics like ANRs (Application Not Responding) and crash rates as ranking signals.

9. Increase Retention and Engagement

The Mistake:

Focusing only on downloads without measuring retention.

Best Practice:

• Use push notifications, rewards, and personalization to keep users engaged.
• Analyze user behavior using tools like Firebase or Mixpanel.
• Improve onboarding to ensure users understand how to use the app from the start.

Apps with high retention rates tend to rank higher because Google interprets this as a sign of user satisfaction.

10. Localize Your App for Different Markets

The Mistake:

Targeting only English-speaking users.

Best Practice:

• Translate your app store listing and app content into different languages.
• Use culturally relevant images and keywords.
• Google Play allows localization in over 40 languages, helping you tap into global markets.

Bonus Tip: Track and Measure Your ASO Performance

Use analytics tools to track keyword rankings, conversion rates, and user feedback. Tools like Sensor Tower, AppFollow, and Google Play Console provide valuable insights to refine your strategy.

Conclusion

Ranking your app in the Play Store is an ongoing process; optimization can define discoverability, organic downloads and ultimately user retention - however you need to follow best practice methodology in to do ASO.

You should constantly work on every aspect of the listing; keywords, images, user ratings, performance, etc. Remember that ASO is not solely about discovery, it is also about convincing that user to download and then continue using your app.