15+ Ways to Promote Your Apps in the App Store

Unfortunately, having an awesome, unique app is just not enough to stand out in Apple’s crowded App Store.

But this short promotion guide may help.

Apple recently shared 5 ways to make sure your app gains more visibility and gets more downloads.

Let’s go through ‘em:

Table of Contents

How to Promote Your Apps in the App Store

1. Take advantage of custom product pages

The App Store allows you to publish up to 35 custom product pages per app. They can include screenshots, app previews, and promo text. Plus, users can discover them through unique URLs you share.

These pages are a huge opportunity to highlight unique features of your app, as well as create custom product pages for specific segments of your audience.

2. Create custom links and assets

Use the App Store Marketing Tools to generate a content link, short link, or QR code.

You can also create “Download on the App Store” badges and embed them in your emails and other marketing channels.

3. Use Smart Apps Banners to promote your app on your website

Smart Apps Banners let you create banners that link to your app on the App Store and embed them on your website.

4. Leverage promo codes

You can give early access to your app and its in-app purchases to users, influencers, or the press.

This page shows you how to request promo codes.

5. Get featured on the App Store

The App Store editorial team is always looking to highlight new apps, games, significant updates, in-app events, and great stories.

So if your app helps people in some way, submit it to the App Store editorial team.

Apple recommends submitting your app six to eight weeks before you launch or update it.

6. Use TestFlight to beta test your app

TestFlight is a free platform that makes it easy to invite users to test your apps and collect valuable feedback before you release them on the App Store.

You can invite up to 2,000 testers using just their email address and let them provide feedback with built-in Feedback Assistant.

7. Implement Search Ads in the App Store

Search Ads is an effective way to help people discover your app at the top of relevant search results on the App Store.

8. Manage your metadata

Your app’s name, subtitle, keywords, description, and screenshots are all pieces of metadata that influence how easily users can find your app. Make sure to update these regularly to ensure that potential customers can easily discover your app.

9. Use App Store Connect to track your performance

App Store Connect is a suite of tools for managing your apps. With it, you can track your app’s performance, monitor user engagement, and more.

10. Take advantage of other Apple services

In addition to the App Store, there are a number of other Apple services that can help you promote your app. These include Apple Music, iTunes Connect, iAd, and Apple News.

Each service has its own set of marketing tools and resources, so be sure to explore them all to find the ones that are right for you.

11. Use keywords to improve your discoverability

Keywords are one of the most important ways to improve your app’s discoverability on the App Store. Make sure to choose relevant and popular keywords that accurately describe your app. You can also use keyword research tools like App Annie to see what keywords are being used to find similar apps.

12. Localize your app to reach new markets

Localization is the process of adapting your app to different languages and cultures. It’s a great way to reach new markets and expand your user base.

When localizing your app, be sure to consider the following:

App name and icon
Screenshots and videos
App Store product page
In-app content

13. Use social media to promote your app

Social media is a great way to connect with potential customers and create buzz around your app. Make sure to create accounts on popular platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and post regularly about your app.

You can also use social media to run promotional campaigns or giveaways. Just be sure to follow the platform’s rules and guidelines so you don’t get banned.

14. Run advertising campaigns

Advertising is a great way to reach potential customers who might not otherwise know about your app. There are a number of different platforms you can use to run ad campaigns, including Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and Instagram Ads.

When creating your ad campaign, be sure to target your audience carefully and create attractive ads that accurately reflect your app.

15. Get coverage from bloggers and influencers

Bloggers and influencers can help generate interest in your app by spreading the word to their audiences.

Why it’s important to promote your app

When you launch an app on the App Store, it’s tempting to “set it and forget it.”

But the truth is, you need to tweak and optimize the metadata to make sure your app stays among the top search results for the relevant keywords… Kind of like SEO, but for apps.

Now, when it comes to App Store Optimization (ASO), most marketers are tracking three signals:

Keywords.
Ratings.
Overall downloads.

Nailing these can definitely help you appear above the competition on the results page.

… But Appfigures found another hidden signal that can accelerate your app’s climb to the top, regardless of the other three parameters:

Trending downloads

In other words, an increase in downloads within a short period of time.

See, when a particular app is currently ranking second on a highly competitive keyword, it has the least number of downloads and rankings.

Maybe it didn’t have the most relevant parameters, but it did have a 75% growth in the number of downloads in the last few days.

Why does this happen?

Simple: App Store’s algorithm likes positive trends.

If it realizes that an app is “blowing up,” that’s a signal that the app should rank higher in search results because it’s relevant and people like it.

So if you want to catapult your app to the top of App Store’s search rankings, you want to design a combination of:

Proper keyword placement + organic and honest rankings + trending downloads.

That’s why a big launch can give you a headstart, especially if you’ve done all the other optimization well.

So make sure you promote the heck out of your app, and watch it climb.

Promote Apps in the App Store – FAQs

What are some other ways to promote my app?

In addition to the App Store, there are a number of other Apple services that can help you promote your app. These include Apple Music, iTunes Connect, iAd, and Apple News.

Can I use Search Ads to promote my app on the App Store?

Yes. Search Ads is an effective way to help people discover your app at the top of relevant search results on the App Store.

How can I track my app’s performance?

App Store Connect is a suite of tools for managing your apps. With it, you can track your app’s performance, monitor user engagement, and more.

How often should I update my app’s metadata?

Apple recommends submitting your app six to eight weeks before you launch or update it. This gives the App Store editorial team time to review your app and determine if it is a good fit for featured placement.

What is TestFlight?

TestFlight is a free platform that makes it easy to invite users to test your apps and collect valuable feedback before you release them on the App Store.

You can invite up to 2,000 testers using just their email address and let them provide feedback with built-in Feedback Assistant.

Summary – Promote Apps in the App Store

We hope these tips will help you get started promoting your app in the App Store. For more information on marketing your app, check out App Store Connect.

And remember, the best way to promote your app is to make sure it’s high quality and offers value to users. If your app is well-designed and provides a great user experience, people will be more likely to recommend it to others.

App Store Optimization (ASO) Tools

15+ Ways to Promote Your Apps in the App Store

How to Promote Your Apps in the App Store