Ultimate

ASO Checklist
Content App Store Optimization (ASO) is crucial for any app looking to succeed in
today’s competitive app marketplace. By improving your app’s visibility,
01
Product-Market Fit search rankings, and conversion rates, ASO directly impacts your app’s
02 App Value Communication growth and long-term success. We created this checklist to help app
03
Competitor Analysis marketers navigate the complexities of ASO and provide a structured
approach to optimizing every aspect of their app store presence.
04
Keyword Research
05
Keyword Prioritization The Ultimate ASO Checklist serves as a practical guide, offering key

06
Keyword Targeting questions that lead you through each stage of your ASO process, from
understanding product-market fit to keyword optimization and competitor
07
Measuring App and Keyword Performance
analysis.
08
Working on App Featuring
09
Pushing Additional Visibility Outside of Store Search Use these questions to refine your app’s visibility, improve conversions,
and assess your app competitiveness. The checklist also helps streamline
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App Visuals
your ASO efforts, enabling you to achieve more rankings, acquire more
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A/B Testing users, and enhance your app’s performance.
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Localization and Seasonality
13
Ratings and Reviews
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Leverage App Store Tools
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ASO and Relevant Tools
16 App Management
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01 Product-Market Fit
Product-market fit refers to how well an app meets the needs Is the market you are targeting well-defined and existing?
and expectations of its target users. In the ASO world, apps with
strong product fit tend to have higher conversion rates, better If you manage a mobile game, does it fit into a category or genre
user retention, more positive ratings and reviews, and improved already existing and familiar to people?
keyword relevance - all of which boost visibility and performance
in the app stores. 
Do you have a good understanding of your target audience
demographics?
A well-defined product fit allows you to differentiate your app
from competitors and highlight your unique value proposition Is there a clear value you can communicate to potential audiences
in your store listing. Focusing on product fit creates a virtuous that aligns with user motivations?
cycle where better fit leads to improved ASO performance,
bringing more satisfied users to your app.
Did you define your app’s key differentiators?
Can you list the main app features? Do they add value to potential
users?

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Analyze app reviews in seconds
01 Product-Market Fit with App Radar's AI Review
Pro Tip
Summaries.
Get instant insights to refine your product-market fit!
App reviews are a great way to gauge product-market fit by offering direct
user feedback. Positive reviews highlight features users love, while negative
ones point to areas needing improvement. Common themes in reviews can Learn more
reveal which features resonate most with users and where the app may be
falling short. Reviews also help uncover hidden issues like bugs or UX
problems. Analyzing competitor reviews can further guide improvements,
giving insight into what the market values most.

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02 App Value Communication

App value communication refers to how effectively an app Can people see your app value proposition early on in app stores 

conveys its core benefits and unique value proposition through 
 (first or second screenshot)?
its store listing elements. It's crucial for ASO because clear value
communication attracts the right users, improving conversion Do you emphasize your app's key differentiators on screenshots 

rates and retention, which positively impacts visibility. and meta?

Effective communication of key features and benefits in metadata Do your screenshots contain popular and category keywords that 

and creatives helps an app rank for relevant keywords and stand real users use?
out from competitors. If you can clearly convey your app's unique
value, you will have better chances at improving the app's Do people consistently see your key messages during the search and
discoverability and conversion potential in the app stores. before installing your app?

Can people see use cases of your app in your app creatives in app stores?

Do your app descriptions contain all necessary information for the users?

Do you communicate awards, certifications or acknowledgments 


in your app descriptions and creatives?

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02 App Value Communication

Pro Tips
Ensure your app icon and screenshots convey the app’s value within seconds.
Use bold designs that highlight key benefits to capture users' attention quickly

Always run A/B tests on icons, screenshots, and app previews before applying
new creatives. This helps identify which visuals resonate best, keeping your
marketing fresh and effective

Explore how leading apps in your category showcase their value through visuals.
With tools like App Radar's App Creative Library, you can access screenshots,
videos, and in-app events from top apps in the App Store across various
categories and countries. Use this resource to gather inspiration for refining 

your graphics and enhancing user engagement.

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03 Competitor Analysis
Competitor analysis in app store optimization involves Have you researched your top 5-7 competitors based on app 

examining the strategies and performance of similar apps and category similarity?
to identify opportunities for improvement and
differentiation. It includes identifying direct and indirect Did you check the main markets of your competitors and the
competitors, analyzing their metadata (titles, descriptions, approach they take?
keywords), creatives (icons, screenshots, videos), and
Did you analyze the visibility your competitors have in app stores
promotional strategies.
and the downloads they might be receiving?
Understanding competitors' strengths and weaknesses Did you analyze your competitors' traffic sources?
helps refining your own strategies - selecting the right
keywords, optimizing metadata and creatives, and Do you regularly track and research your competitors' top
leveraging insights from competitors' reviews and ratings - keywords, their rankings and ranking distribution?
to enhance your app's visibility and conversion rates.
Have you developed an app marketing strategy to deal with your
competitors?

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03 Competitor Analysis Monitor competitors’ updates

with App Timeline
Pro Tips
Test it now
Investigate not only direct competitors but also relevant apps in adjacent
categories to track strategy activity.

Monitor key changes in competitor listings regularly. 


Use a Timeline to stay ahead by tracking updates.

Analyze competitors' strengths and weaknesses to refine your strategy

and improve in-app features using AI Review Analysis.

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Ultimate ASO Checklist 2024
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04 App Keyword Research your app?
Did you research the main keywords your competitors rank for?
App keyword research is a critical component of ASO that Did you check the app store suggest/auto-fill features to get
involves identifying most relevant and high-impact additional ideas?
keywords to include in app's metadata. This process helps
increase an app's visibility in search results by aligning its
Do you use Apple Search Ads Keywords and Google Keyword
Planner for the research?
metadata with the search terms users are likely to use.
Have you tried out Google keyword planner?
Effective keyword research starts with analyzing user
search behaviors, identifying gaps in the market, and then Are you considering shuffle keywords and long tail keywords to
continues with selecting keywords that have a high search check different combination possibilities?
volume and low competition. Incorporating these keywords Are you scanning app reviews to see which phrases your target
later into your app's title, subtitle, and keyword field will help audience uses when talking about your and competitor apps?
you improve the app's ranking for specific search terms and
attract more organic downloads Have you checked free ranking keywords in the Apple's App Store 

(e.g. free, misspellings, plurals)
Is your app relevant for the keywords you research, and can it rank
for them as well?
Are you paying attention to the ranking strength of your app for
target keywords?
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04 App Keyword Research Use AI keyword suggestions

to discover relevant keywords
Pro Tips
See how it works
Regularly check Google Play analytics to discover search terms that
users are already using to find your app. These terms can help you
identify new, relevant keywords to incorporate into your metadata,
improving your app’s search visibility

Don’t overlook long-tail keywords — phrases that are more specific

and have lower competition. These keywords can significantly boost
your app’s visibility, especially during the initial stages of optimization,
by helping you target a more niche audience that is more likely to
convert.

Suggested reading:
→ How to Research App Keywords for App Store Optimization (ASO)

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05 Keyword Prioritization

App keyword prioritization is the process of selecting and Have you checked the search popularity and volumes of potential
ranking the most relevant and high-impact keywords to keywords?
include in the app's metadata, such as its title, subtitle, and
keyword field. This involves analyzing keyword search Have you prioritized your target keywords based on their
volumes, competition, and relevance to the app's content
relevance?
and target audience.
Do you have a good understanding of your main competitors for
Prioritizing the right keywords means pushing those
each keyword?
keywords that are a better match for user search queries,
Do you track your current keyword rankings and positions?
with the goal of higher conversion rates and improved ASO
performance.

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05 Keyword Prioritization Prioritize keywords that will drive

organic downloads
Pro Tips
Try now
When prioritizing, consider both the popularity and competitiveness 

of the keyword. Opt for mid to high-volume keywords that have low
competition and are relevant to your app.

Track how many combinations a keyword generates and their total

search volume. Focus on keywords that offer multiple combinations 

with a high overall search volume to boost your app's discoverability.

Suggested reading:
→ What is App Keyword Search Volume?

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06 Keyword Targeting Is your app title properly written, reflecting your brand and focus
keywords for each locale?
App keyword targeting involves strategically selecting and
incorporating relevant keywords into an app's metadata to Does your app subtitle provide relevant info with your target
keywords for each locale?
increase its visibility in search results. This process includes
identifying the most relevant and high-impact keywords Have you added all target keywords to the keyword field for each
through keyword research and prioritization, and then locale, considering Apple's multi-index options?
incorporating these keywords into the app's title, subtitle,
and keyword field. Have you added optimized and short and long descriptions to your
Google Play listing?
Effective keyword targeting helps apps rank higher for
specific search terms, making them more discoverable to If you use in-app purchases, have you optimized their metadata?
potential users.

If you use in-app events (App Store) or Google Play's Promotion

content, did you ensure that they have optimized elements?
Are you ensuring your app metadata targets the right search intent,
following app store guidance?

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06 Keyword Targeting
Pro Tips
Incorporate season keywords to boost app visibility during peak events.

In the App Store, use keywords from different localizations to increase

Suggested reading:
reach. → How to Optimize Keywords on Google Play for a Mobile App or Game

Balance your metadata for visibility and conversion: focus on visibility


for smaller brands, and on conversion for larger ones.

Localize keywords: choose mid to high-volume keywords specific to

each region, optimizing for different markets.

Use long descriptions for iOS apps. While not part of ranking, keywords

in long descriptions help users find your app online.

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07 Measuring App and

Keyword Performance
Measuring app and keyword performance involves tracking Do you have a keyword tracking system in place?
and analyzing various metrics to understand how an app 

is performing in the app stores and how its keyword Are you monitoring the progress of your target keywords?
strategy is impacting visibility and conversions. Key metrics
to measure include keyword rankings, search volume, Do you have a good control of your keyword rankings?
download volume, conversion rates, and retention rates.
This ongoing analysis helps to refine the ASO strategy, Are you able to monitor your app visibility improvements based 

ensuring that the app remains competitive and visible in 
 on the keyword performance?
the app stores
Do you have a list of KPIs that you monitor regularly?

Do you have a good understanding of how different keywords

impact CTR?

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07 Measuring App and Keyword Performance

Pro Tips
Regularly monitor your app's keyword performance to spot high-impact terms and
fine-tune your ASO strategy for ongoing growth
Identify and use trending keywords before and during seasonal events to maximize
visibility and capitalize on peak interest.

Key app metrics to track and measure

Explore our comprehensive guide on ASO KPIs to learn more about 

the key metrics you should be tracking for optimal app performance.

Explore

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Ultimate ASO Checklist 2024
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08 Working on App Featuring

Getting featured in app stores is a strategic way to increase Are you actively applying for app featuring?
an app's visibility and drive organic downloads beyond app
store search. This involves being selected by the app store's Have you examined Apple and Google requirements for app
editorial team to be showcased in various sections such as featuring?
the Today tab, App of the Day, or category-specific
features. 
Do you track if your app is being featured and what its effects are?

To increase the chances of getting featured, you should

focus on creating high-quality, engaging, and unique apps
that align with the store's editorial guidelines and submitting
your app to the editorial teams. This includes having a
compelling app description, visually appealing screenshots
and videos, and a strong brand identity.

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08 Working on App Featuring Discover when and where your

app is featured with App Radar
Pro Tips
Create and promote in-app events or promotional content to boost your
chances of being featured. Share them with editorial teams for more
visibility. You can submit featuring requests via App Store Connect
through Featuring Nominations.
Use ASO tools to track competitors’ in-app events and promotional
strategies, gaining insights to enhance your own chances of being
featured.

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09 Pushing Additional
Visibility Outside of Store
Search
Pushing additional visibility outside of store search involves Have you checked if your app category is correct? 

leveraging various tactics within the app stores to increase Choose the right category to improve chance of ending in top
an app's visibility beyond search results. This includes charts
strategies such as getting featured on the App Store or
Google Play, which can significantly boost visibility and drive Have you implemented Google tags with your Android apps?
organic downloads.
Have you checked if switching your app category could bring you
Other tactics include optimizing for top chart rankings, using more Browse/Explore traffic?
burst campaigns to increase visibility in Browse sections,
and sometimes even leveraging category switching to reach
a broader audience. Additionally, apps can benefit from
being listed in the "Similar Apps" section, which can help
attract users who are already interested in similar apps.

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09 Pushing Additional Visibility Outside of Store Search

Pro Tips
Suggested reading:
Apply for app store features like "App of the Day" or category highlights to boost
your app's visibility beyond search results. 

→ How to Optimize Keywords on Google Play for a Mobile App or Game

Ensure your app metadata and visuals align with popular apps in your category, → What is Google Play Explore and How Important is it for ASO?
increasing the likelihood of being featured in the "Similar Apps" section.

Explore switching to a broader or less competitive category to gain more

Browse/Explore traffic and improve rankings.

Enhance Your ASO with 15% Off App Radar!

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Ultimate ASO Checklist 2024
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10 App Visuals
Does your app icon leverage your brand's identity?

App visuals refer to the visual elements of an app's store

Does your app icon explain your app’s value proposition 

listing, including its icon, screenshots, and videos. These in a simple and intuitive way?
elements play a crucial role in ASO as they directly impact
an app's conversion rate by influencing users' first Does the flow of your screenshots tell the story?
impressions and decision to download.
Do your screenshots focus on the most popular features or user
Effective app visuals should be visually appealing, clearly experiences?
communicate the app's value proposition, and align with the
app's brand identity. Do you regularly test your screenshots to find the winning
combinations

Are the most important app features and messages mentioned

early in your app video?

Does your video have captions for better accessibility?

Is your feature graphic supporting your app messages?

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10 App Visuals Keep your hands on the pulse

of the App Store trends
Pro Tips
See how it works
Apple now supports 6.5" and 6.9" screenshot sizes by default — 5.5" 

is no longer mandatory

Use bold, contrasting colors and clear typography to ensure your visuals
are eye-catching and readable, even on small screens

Explore the category to find design inspiration and learn from the visual
strategies of top-performing apps.

Pay special attention to your app icon in Google Play, since it has more
impact on conversion rate than in App Store. When designing your icon,
try to balance between your brand elements, visual explanation of your
app’s purpose and try to stand out from your competitors.

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11 A/B Testing
A/B testing, sometimes known as split testing, is another Are you regularly testing your app elements for additional
crucial component of ASO that involves comparing two improvements?
versions of an app's store listing elements to determine
Does it make sense for your app to have video - have you used
which one performs better. This process helps identify tools like product page optimization in the App Store to test it?
changes that can improve conversion rates, such as
optimizing icons, screenshots, videos, and text metadata. 
Do you use the Store listing experiments feature in Google Play
Console to test app metadata and visuals?
By randomly directing users to either the original version (A)
or the modified version (B), ASO practitioners can measure Do you use the Product Page Optimizations feature in the App
the impact of specific changes on key metrics like download Store to test app visuals (screenshots, app preview, icons)?
rates and conversion rates.
Are you leveraging external tools to other app elements?

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11 A/B Testing Uncover competitor A/B test

data in App Radar
Pro Tips
Run your tests for at least 7 days to ensure significant results and reliable
dat

On iOS, you can only run one test at a time, while Google Play allows up
to five. Use Custom Store Listings (CSLs) on Google Play to maximize
your testing potential

Start testing creatives for seasonal events at least four weeks in

advance. Implement successful designs early to maximize their impact

App Radar’s App Timeline tool can help you to track your competitors’
testing strategies and gain insights from their past and current visual
tests.

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12 Localization and Seasonality

Is your store listing metadata translated to the languages of your
Localization and seasonality often require advanced ASO target markets?
skills, but they significantly help apps reach a broader
audience and capitalize on timely opportunities. Are your screenshots adapted to different target market's
audiences and nationalities, with local elements?
Localization involves adapting an app's metadata, including Do you translate app contents to the target languages to improve
its title, description, and keywords, to different languages customer experience of local users?
and cultural contexts to increase its visibility in various
markets. Seasonality, on the other hand, refers to leveraging Have you checked in Apple's App Store territories with cross-
timely events, holidays, and trends to make an app more localization opportunities?
relevant and appealing to users during specific periods. Do you use store localization tools such as Custom store listings 

in Google Play and Custom product pages in the App Store?
Is your app market impacted by seasonal events? 

If so, do you know how much?
Do you actively change your store listing assets to reflect important
seasonal events or holidays relevant to your app’s market
category?

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12 Localization and Seasonality

Pro Tips
Adapt your app's content and marketing materials to fit local cultures and
languages, ensuring that features, visuals, and descriptions resonate with
Suggested reading:
regional preferences.
→ What is App Localization & Why It’s Important for App Growth
Continuously monitor seasonal trends and user behavior data to guide
your app updates and marketing efforts, enabling you to create timely
content and promotions that align with peak usage periods.

Highlight holiday symbols and themes in your screenshots to enhance

appeal and increase conversion rates.

Add relevant seasonal keywords to your app metadata to boost visibility

during specific events.

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13 Ratings and Reviews

Is the average rating of your app at least 4.0?
Ratings and reviews are a big part of ASO as they
significantly influence an app's visibility and conversion Do you personalize the replies and offer solutions to user issues?
rates. Positive ratings and reviews not only improve an app's
credibility but also play a key role in the app store Do you refer to social proof elements (e.g. amount of downloads,
algorithms, which consider these factors when ranking reviews, active users) in your app store listing?
apps.

Do you have an app review strategy in place (where, when and how
High ratings and a large number of reviews indicate to users to ask for a review)?
and the app stores that an app is of high quality and relevant
to search queries, leading to better visibility and higher Do you understand different app triggers and how they can help
conversion rates. you with getting more reviews?

Have you tried optimizing your review reply process with pre-made
templates and AI replies?

Do you leverage tools to analyze user feedback of your and

competitor apps?

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13 Ratings and Reviews Get insights from App Review

Summaries in App Radar
Curious how it will work for your app?
Pro Tips
Reply to all reviews, both positive and negative, to show users you value Try it now
their input

Ask users for ratings through pop-ups during positive moments in the
app to encourage favorable feedback.

Regularly analyze user feedback for common themes and pain points

to prioritize updates that enhance satisfaction and ratings

Use AI-powered App Review Summaries tool to quickly understand user

sentiments and identify areas for improvement.

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14 Leverage App Store Tools If you plan launching new apps, have you considered using App
Store pre-order pages or Google Play pre-registration campaigns

to promote the app prior to official launch?

Leveraging app store tools involves utilizing the various
features and functionalities provided by the app stores to Have you thought about providing a limited version of your app or
enhance an app's visibility and conversion rates. This game through Google Play Instant?
includes tools such as native A/B testing, custom store
listings, custom product pages, Google Play Console's Have you tested App Clips as app samples for App Store users?
organic keyword insights, and promotional tools like pre-
registration pages and in-app events Have you tried out Promotional content for in-app events in Google
Play and App Store's in-app events?
And the best thing is that the majority of these tools are free
and don’t require a lot of learning to start using them. If you use in-app purchases in the App Store, have you tried
promoting them to push user acquisition?
If your main users are Android users, have you tried Google Play
Points loyalty program or Google Play Pass for more exposure in
Play Store?
If you run a mobile game, have you applied for Apple Arcade for iOS
users?

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14 Leverage App Store Tools

Pro Tips
Take advantage of the new keyword-based Custom Store Listings
introduced at Google I/O to create a more personalized and targeted user Suggested reading:
experience
→ What Are Custom Product Pages in App Store and How Do They Work?
Implement Promotional Content and In-App Events aligned with seasonal
trends and high-performing keywords to maximize engagement → What Are Custom Store Listings in Google Play and How Do They Work?

Tailor your app’s visibility with Custom Product Pages on the App Store
and Custom Store Listings on Google Play to better appeal to different
user segments.

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15 ASO and Relevant Tools

ASO and relevant tools include a variety of software and Do you use data analytics from Google Play Console and App Store
platforms designed to streamline and optimize app store Connect?
optimization efforts. These tools help in keyword research,
metadata optimization, competitor analysis, app review Have you chosen the right ASO tool?
management, and general app management and
performance tracking. Do you support your ASO and app growth with paid ads and A/B
testing using tools like SplitMetrics?

One of these tools is App Radar that provides insights into

Do you track market data with tools like Sensor Tower or Apptopia?
keyword rankings, search volumes, and competitor analysis.
Additionally, tools like SplitMetrics help with A/B testing and
Do you have design teams that manage store listing visuals
Apple Search Ads optimization for those app marketers that management or do you use ready-made templates from tools such
are looking for a way to speed up app growth with paid user as Canva?
acquisition.

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15 ASO and Relevant Tools Edit metadata across all locales

with a few clicks with Bulk Editor
Pro Tips
Use the Optimize tool to analyze user behavior on your app page, Try it now
including which screenshots users engage with, when they download the
app, and how long they watch your videos. This data helps you refine
your creatives for better performance

Boost your efficiency by updating all localizations simultaneously with the

Store Listing Bulk Editor in App Radar. Edit your metadata easily in one
interface and push changes to the app stores with a single click.

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16 App Management
App management in the context of ASO involves overseeing Do you regularly check app crash rates and bugs and if they impact
and coordinating the various elements and strategies that your ASO?
contribute to an app's visibility and conversion rates in the
app stores. This includes managing the app's metadata, its Do you update your app store listings manually or do you use tools
visual assets, managing different localizations and testing like App Radar to cut down store listing update times?
different ASO strategies.

Do you update your app regularly and share the updates with your
audience in the “What’s new” section?
Effective app management also entails monitoring and
analyzing performance metrics, such as download rates,
retention rates, and user reviews, to identify areas for
improvement and optimize the app's store presence
accordingly.

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16 App Management Get regular reports on your store

listing performance
Pro Tips
Set up custom reports for real-time updates on your app's performance,
including category ranking changes and spikes in positive or negative
reviews. App Radar allows you to configure these alerts to keep you
informed, enabling quick reactions to any issues

Analyze your previous ASO updates to see which keywords you used in
earlier versions, helping you monitor the impact of changes and refine
your strategy. App Radar makes it easy to view the history of your store
listing changes with the App Timeline feature. Top Keywords

Compared to previous period Full Report

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