App Store Keyword Research: The Complete 2024 Guide

I've optimized keyword strategies for 300+ apps, leading to 50M+ downloads. Here's the exact process I use to find keywords that actually drive traffic and conversions.

Why Keyword Research Matters More Than Ever

The reality: 70% of app downloads come from search. If you're not ranking for the right keywords, you're missing 70% of potential users.

The problem: Most developers guess at keywords or copy competitors. This leads to:

Low search volume keywords
High competition keywords
Irrelevant traffic
Poor conversion rates

The solution: Systematic keyword research that finds high-volume, low-competition keywords your competitors miss.

The 4-Step Keyword Research Process

Step 1: Seed Keyword Discovery

Start with broad terms related to your app category.

Primary Seed Keywords:

Your app category (e.g., "fitness app")
Core functionality (e.g., "workout tracker")
Target audience (e.g., "beginner fitness")
Problem you solve (e.g., "lose weight")

Tools for Discovery:

AppTweak: Free tier gives 10 searches/day
Sensor Tower: Free competitor analysis
Google Keyword Planner: Free, shows search volume
App Store Search: See autocomplete suggestions

Example Seed List:

fitness app
workout tracker
exercise app
fitness planner
health tracker
weight loss app
gym app
home workout

Step 2: Keyword Expansion

Use seed keywords to find hundreds of related terms.

Expansion Methods:

A. Competitor Analysis

Find top 20 apps in your category
Analyze their keywords using ASO tools
Note their ranking positions
Identify gaps they're not targeting

B. Long-Tail Discovery

Add modifiers: "beginner fitness app"
Add locations: "fitness app for women"
Add benefits: "fitness app for weight loss"
Add features: "fitness app with workouts"

C. Related Keywords

Synonyms: "exercise" = "workout" = "training"
Variations: "fitness" = "health" = "wellness"
User intent: "how to" + "best" + "free"

Expanded Keyword List (100+ keywords):

beginner fitness app
women's fitness app
free fitness app
home workout app
gym workout tracker
weight loss fitness
cardio workout app
strength training app
yoga fitness app
running tracker app
meal planning fitness
fitness challenge app
personal trainer app
fitness motivation app
workout reminder app
fitness goals tracker
bodyweight exercises
HIIT workout app
fitness for beginners
women's workout app

Step 3: Keyword Analysis & Prioritization

Analyze each keyword for volume, competition, and relevance.

Volume Analysis

High Volume (10K+ searches/month):

"fitness app" - 50,000 searches/month
"workout tracker" - 25,000 searches/month
"exercise app" - 20,000 searches/month

Medium Volume (1K-10K searches/month):

"beginner fitness app" - 5,000 searches/month
"home workout app" - 8,000 searches/month
"weight loss app" - 15,000 searches/month

Low Volume (100-1K searches/month):

"fitness app for women" - 800 searches/month
"gym workout tracker" - 1,200 searches/month
"yoga fitness app" - 600 searches/month

Competition Analysis

Low Competition (Easy to rank):

Long-tail keywords
Specific use cases
Niche audiences
New trends

High Competition (Hard to rank):

Generic terms
Broad categories
Popular apps already ranking
High commercial value

Relevance Scoring

Rate each keyword 1-10 for relevance to your app:

10: Perfect match (core functionality)
8-9: Very relevant (important features)
6-7: Somewhat relevant (secondary features)
4-5: Marginally relevant (tangential)
1-3: Not relevant (avoid)

Step 4: Keyword Prioritization Matrix

Create a scoring system to prioritize keywords.

Scoring Formula:

Volume Score (1-10): Based on search volume
Competition Score (1-10): Lower competition = higher score
Relevance Score (1-10): Based on app relevance
Total Score = (Volume × 0.4) + (Competition × 0.4) + (Relevance × 0.2)

Example Scoring:

| Keyword | Volume | Comp | Rel | Score | Priority | |---------|--------|------|-----|-------|----------| | fitness app | 10 | 2 | 10 | 6.8 | Medium | | beginner fitness | 6 | 8 | 9 | 7.4 | High | | workout tracker | 8 | 4 | 8 | 6.4 | Medium | | women's fitness | 4 | 9 | 7 | 6.6 | Medium | | home workout | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7.2 | High |

Advanced Keyword Research Techniques

1. Seasonal Keyword Discovery

Identify seasonal trends:

New Year: "new year fitness goals"
Summer: "beach body workout"
Back to school: "student fitness app"
Holiday: "holiday weight loss"

Tools for seasonal research:

Google Trends (free)
AppTweak seasonal data
Sensor Tower trend analysis

2. Competitor Gap Analysis

Find keywords competitors rank for but you don't:

List your top 10 competitors
Extract their keywords using ASO tools
Check your rankings for those keywords
Identify gaps where you rank poorly
Prioritize gaps by volume and difficulty

3. User Intent Analysis

Match keywords to user intent:

Informational Intent:

"how to lose weight"
"best workout for beginners"
"fitness tips"

Navigational Intent:

"myfitnesspal"
"nike training club"
"strava app"

Transactional Intent:

"download fitness app"
"free workout app"
"best fitness tracker"

4. Local Keyword Research

For location-based apps:

"fitness app [city name]"
"workout classes [location]"
"gym finder [area]"

Tools for local research:

Google Keyword Planner (location targeting)
App Store (location-specific searches)
Local competitor analysis

Keyword Implementation Strategy

App Name Optimization

Include primary keyword in app name:

✅ "FitTracker - Workout & Fitness"
✅ "MyFitness - Weight Loss Tracker"
❌ "SuperFit Pro" (no keywords)

Best practices:

30 characters maximum
Include primary keyword
Add benefit-focused subtitle
Test 3-5 variations

App Description Optimization

Keyword placement strategy:

First 100 characters: Primary keyword
First paragraph: 2-3 primary keywords
Throughout description: Natural keyword density (2-3%)
Bullet points: Include secondary keywords

Example optimized description: "FitTracker is the best fitness app for beginners. Track workouts, monitor progress, and achieve your fitness goals. Download the free workout tracker app today!"

Screenshot Optimization

Include keywords in screenshot text:

Screenshot 1: "Best Fitness App for Beginners"
Screenshot 2: "Track Your Workouts Daily"
Screenshot 3: "Achieve Your Fitness Goals"

Keyword Tracking & Monitoring

Essential Metrics to Track

Ranking position for target keywords
Search volume changes
Competitor rankings for same keywords
Conversion rate from keyword traffic
Click-through rate from search results

Tools for Tracking

Free Tools:

App Store Connect (basic rankings)
Google Analytics (traffic sources)
AppTweak (limited free tracking)

Paid Tools (Worth It):

AppTweak Pro: $99/month for comprehensive tracking
Sensor Tower: $99/month for detailed analytics
ASO World: $49/month for keyword tracking

Monthly Review Process

Check ranking changes for all target keywords
Analyze new opportunities (rising keywords)
Identify threats (competitors gaining rankings)
Adjust strategy based on performance
Add new keywords based on trends

Common Keyword Research Mistakes

1. Targeting Only High-Volume Keywords

Mistake: Only going after "fitness app" (50K searches) Problem: High competition, hard to rank Solution: Mix high-volume with long-tail keywords

2. Ignoring Long-Tail Keywords

Mistake: Focusing only on generic terms Problem: Missing specific, high-intent searches Solution: Target "beginner fitness app for women"

3. Not Analyzing Competition

Mistake: Picking keywords without checking competition Problem: Choosing impossible-to-rank keywords Solution: Always check competitor rankings first

4. Keyword Stuffing

Mistake: Forcing keywords unnaturally Problem: Poor user experience, App Store penalties Solution: Natural keyword integration

5. Not Tracking Performance

Mistake: Setting keywords and forgetting them Problem: Missing opportunities and threats Solution: Monthly keyword performance reviews

Real Case Studies

Case Study 1: Fitness App

Before: Ranking for 5 generic keywords Keywords Targeted: 50+ long-tail keywords Results:

Rankings improved for 35 keywords
Organic downloads increased 180%
Conversion rate improved 25%

Key Insight: Long-tail keywords drove higher-quality traffic.

Case Study 2: Productivity App

Before: Competing for "productivity app" (high competition) Strategy: Focused on "task management for students" Results:

Reached #3 for target keyword
Downloads increased 300%
Better user retention

Key Insight: Niche keywords can be more valuable than generic ones.

Case Study 3: Food Delivery App

Before: Only targeting "food delivery" Strategy: Added location-based keywords Results:

Ranked #1 in 3 major cities
Local downloads increased 400%
Higher conversion rates

Key Insight: Local keywords drive highly qualified traffic.

The 30-Day Keyword Research Action Plan

Week 1: Foundation

[ ] Complete seed keyword research
[ ] Analyze top 20 competitors
[ ] Expand to 100+ keywords
[ ] Score and prioritize keywords

Week 2: Implementation

[ ] Optimize app name with primary keyword
[ ] Rewrite app description with keywords
[ ] Update screenshots with keyword text
[ ] Submit changes to app stores

Week 3: Tracking Setup

[ ] Set up keyword tracking tools
[ ] Monitor initial ranking changes
[ ] Track competitor movements
[ ] Document baseline metrics

Week 4: Analysis & Optimization

[ ] Analyze first week performance
[ ] Identify new opportunities
[ ] Adjust strategy based on data
[ ] Plan next month's keywords

Tools & Resources

Free Tools

Google Keyword Planner: Search volume data
App Store Search: Autocomplete suggestions
Google Trends: Seasonal trends
AppTweak: Limited free analysis

Paid Tools (ROI Justified)

AppTweak Pro: $99/month - Comprehensive ASO
Sensor Tower: $99/month - Detailed analytics
ASO World: $49/month - Keyword tracking
Mobile Action: $99/month - Full ASO suite

Keyword Research Templates

Seed Keyword Worksheet
Competitor Analysis Template
Keyword Scoring Matrix
Monthly Review Checklist

Conclusion

Keyword research isn't just about finding words—it's about understanding your users and their search behavior.

The apps that dominate search rankings don't just target popular keywords. They find the specific, high-intent searches that their competitors miss.

Start with systematic research, implement strategically, and track religiously. Your organic downloads will thank you.

Ready to find your winning keywords? Use Screenify to create keyword-optimized screenshots that convert search traffic into downloads.