App store optimization guide: how to rank your app on Google Play and the App Store.

App store optimization (ASO) is the work of making your app rank higher in Google Play and the Apple App Store searches, and convert more of the people who see it into installs. Most installs start with a search inside the store, so ASO is often the cheapest way to grow an app.

This guide explains how app store search works and the steps we follow when we run app store optimization for apps in Bangladesh.

How app store search works

Both stores rank apps for a search using two broad groups of signals:

• Relevance: do the words in your listing match the search? On Google Play the title, short description and full description are read; on the App Store the title, subtitle and hidden keyword field matter most.
• Quality and popularity: install volume and speed, ratings and reviews, uninstalls, crashes and engagement.

You control relevance directly through your listing. You influence quality through the product itself and how you ask for reviews.

Step 1: Find the right keywords

Start with the words your users actually type. Brainstorm from your features and your users’ problems, check the store’s own search suggestions, study competitor titles, and include Bangla or mixed-language terms where your audience uses them. Prefer phrases with clear intent — “bus ticket booking” beats “travel” — and pick a few you can realistically rank for.

Step 2: Write a listing that ranks and converts

Write for people first: lead with the main benefit, use your keywords naturally, and never repeat them unnaturally.

Step 3: Improve icons, screenshots and video

Ranking brings people to your listing; visuals decide whether they install. Use a simple, recognisable icon, show the main benefit in the first two screenshots with short captions, and keep the design consistent. Test one change at a time using Google Play store listing experiments or App Store product page optimization.

Step 4: Earn better ratings and reviews

• Ask for a rating at a happy moment, such as after a completed order — not on first launch.
• Use the official in-app review prompts.
• Reply to reviews, especially negative ones, and fix the problems they mention.
• Watch crash rates: stability affects both ratings and ranking.

Step 5: Measure and repeat

Track store impressions, listing page views, conversion rate and installs, ideally per keyword. Change one element at a time, wait a few weeks, and compare. ASO is ongoing: competitors change, stores change, and your app changes with every release.

Planning a new app? Read how to plan and build a mobile app in Bangladesh — ASO works best when it is planned before launch.

Common questions

How long does ASO take to show results?

Listing changes are usually indexed within days, but ranking and install trends need a few weeks to settle. Judge a change after three to four weeks of data.

Is ASO different for Google Play and the App Store?

Yes. Google Play reads your full description for ranking; the App Store uses a hidden keyword field instead. Visual and rating best practices are similar on both.

Can I use Bangla keywords in my app listing?

Yes. If your users search in Bangla or mixed language, include those terms naturally, and consider a localized Bangla listing where the store supports it.

Does paid advertising help ASO?

Paid installs can increase visibility and install velocity, which may help ranking, but they work best on top of a well-optimised listing.

Final thoughts

ASO is a simple loop: find the searches your users make, write a listing that matches them, make the page convincing, earn good ratings and measure everything. Done consistently, it grows installs month after month without paying for every user.

Need help? Our app store optimization service covers research, listings and testing, and our SEO agency in Bangladesh can align your app with your website search.