App Store SEO: Writing Descriptions that Convert
Understand intent and keywords before you write
Collect phrasing from App Store Search suggestions, Apple Search Ads reports, support tickets, and reviews. Notice the verbs users choose, like track, learn, relax, or budget, then reflect those intents in your opening lines. Share your top sources with us.
Hook readers in the first three lines
Lead with the outcome
Open with a crisp promise tied to a common task or pain, not a vague slogan. State who it is for and the primary win in one breath. Share your first-line hook; we will feature great examples in future posts.
Use specific numbers and social proof
Where appropriate, anchor claims in truthful numbers like minutes saved, tasks completed, or countries supported. Reference awards or press briefly. Ask readers which proof points they trust most so we can refine future guidance.
Clarify the next step
Close your snippet with a gentle call to action that fits the moment, such as Try the guided setup in minutes or Start your first habit today. Tell us which CTAs feel natural for your audience.
Use Apple metadata to amplify your message
Subtitle synergy (up to 30 characters)
Condense your core benefit into a tight, scannable subtitle that complements the first line of your description. Avoid repeating the app name. Post your favorite subtitle drafts and we will analyze them together.
Promotional text agility (up to 170 characters)
Use promotional text to highlight time-sensitive value, seasonal use cases, or newly launched features without a full update. Rotate messages and watch their impact. Share your rotation ideas with the community.
Keywords field discipline (up to 100 characters)
Treat the keywords field as a compact, curated set of terms, separated by commas, that match how people search. Keep the description reader-first, not a keyword dump. Ask for a peer review of your current set.
Tell a compact, credible story that sells
Mini user story
An indie developer shared that after rewriting their first paragraph as a story about commuting stress, installs rose steadily for weeks. The copy shifted from features to calm mornings. Tell us your before-and-after framing.
Localize for intent, not just language
Transcreate the hook
Rebuild the opening lines for each market using local idioms and relevant outcomes. A literal translation often loses urgency or warmth. Share a hook in English and your localized version for peer feedback.
Local proof and norms
Reference regional partners, payment methods, or regulations where it reassures users. Maintain privacy transparency across locales. Tell us one local trust signal you added and how users responded.
Measure by locale
Use App Store Connect to compare product page views, conversion rate, and retention by territory after copy updates. Discuss surprising differences you have seen so we can explore them together.
Measure and iterate responsibly
Monitor impressions, product page views, conversion rate, and redownloads in App Analytics. Correlate shifts with copy changes and seasonality. Share one metric you want help interpreting and we will discuss it next.
