In the app store, survival isn’t just for the fittest—it’s for those who know how to be found. With millions of apps out there, getting noticed can feel like trying to be seen in a sea of apps. The secret weapon? Keyword research. When done right, it’s the difference between being lost in the app store crowd and standing proudly in the spotlight.

Keyword research is the backbone of App Store Optimization (ASO), helping you tap into the words your potential users are typing into the search bar. It’s more than a strategy; it’s your app’s voice in a crowded room. Ready to get heard? Let’s dive into how to make keyword research work for you, unlocking the potential for more visibility, traffic, and, most importantly, downloads.

Step 1: Understand Your App and Your Audience

First and foremost, keyword research starts with understanding your app's core and how users interact with it. You need to get to know your app inside and out and think the way the user would. How are they looking for apps like yours? They do not just search for "XYZ Fitness Tracker," but will search for phrases such as "best calorie counter" or "home workout app."

How to approach this:

• List Key Features: Understand what your app does best. Is it tracking fitness goals, offering meditation exercises, or language learning? You now know the key strengths of your app and how they guide you in keyword research.
  
  
• Check Competitors: See what other apps in your category are doing. What keywords are they ranking for? It's a good starting point.
  
  
• Think User Intent: Users on the app store might search differently than they do on the web. Think in terms of phrases that solve a specific need or problem for the user.

Step 2: Brainstorm and Build a Master List of Keywords

By now, you have gained a user-centric understanding of your app. Now, brainstorm some potential keywords. You should build a comprehensive list but avoid being overly selective.

Where to source keywords:

• App Store Auto-Suggestions: Type in one relevant keyword in the App Store's search bar. Fresh auto-suggestions will appear, listing popular, relevant search terms. These are gold because they represent what users are actively searching for.
  
  
• Competitor Analysis: Identify the keywords employed in the titles, descriptions, and subtitles of the best-ranked applications in your niche. Sometimes these keywords can be incredibly useful for you to use within your application title, description, or subtitle.
  
  
• Synonyms and Variations: Use a thesaurus to find words that may be more attractive to an audience. If your app is workout-focused, use terms such as "exercise," "fitness," or "training."

At this stage, Newton’s AI-powered multilingual keyword recommendation tool becomes your best friend. It suggests highly relevant keywords in a different language and region. This is highly perfect for international growth since it includes over 20 languages across 61 countries​. Leverage Newton to go beyond manual brainstorming of keywords for finding search terms that fit unique, global markets.

Step 3: Analyze and Prioritize Keywords

Once you have your list of keywords, it is time to narrow them down and pick those with the highest utility. You accomplish this by filtering keywords using three main criteria: relevance, search volume, and competition.

• Relevance: How closely does the keyword relate to the core features of your app? A high degree of relevance means that the users who will be searching for that keyword have a high possibility of downloading your app.
  
  
• Search Volume: You are likely to find more traffic with popular keywords but, frequently, they have a ton of competition. Balance high-, middle-, and low-volume keywords.
  
  
• Competition: To get early success for new apps, targeting lower-competition keywords may mean the difference between failing or succeeding. These are often combed through the algorithm by bigger apps that give leeway to a newer app to find its niche.

Newton’s real-time keyword performance tracking feature shines here. It allows you to monitor the competitiveness and performance of your chosen keywords, helping you prioritize those with the best potential to drive downloads while keeping an eye on high-intent terms

Step 4: Competitor Keyword Research—Find the Gaps

Competitor’s keyword analysis means more than just copying what is working for them- it finds untapped opportunities. Wherever competitors do great with popular keywords, one can make use of these niches or long-tail keywords that may have been overlooked by them.

Pro tips:

• Spot Under-Served Niches: Identify keywords where your competitors don’t have a strong presence. This helps you carve out a space in the market.
• Leverage User Reviews: Competitor reviews often contain insights into user pain points. These can lead to keyword opportunities like “meditation app without ads” or “easy home workout app.”

Step 5: Incorporate Keywords Into Your App’s Metadata

Now it gets tactical: incorporating all those thoughtful keywords into your app's metadata. That means the title, subtitle, and description of the app. Be careful though, keyword stuffing is not good.

How to do it effectively:

• App Title: Have your main keyword appear close to the beginning. "Fit Life - Best Home Workout & Calorie Counter" is a good app title because it's clear and full of keywords.
  
  
• Subtitle: Use this to help include your secondary keywords, for example, "Track Your Fitness Goals & Stay Healthy."
  
  
• Description: As the description of an app is quite crucial to iOS apps, make sure that you include your primary and secondary keywords in the body of your text while keeping the copy informative. 
  
  
• Keyword Field: Optimizing the iOS keyword field is essential for improving app visibility and search rankings. By using relevant, high-intent keywords, you boost organic traffic and ensure your app reaches the right audience effectively.

Newton’s multilingual capabilities make this step easier for global apps, allowing you to seamlessly localize your keywords and app metadata for different regions, ensuring better visibility across the board​

Step 6: Monitor, Optimize, and Repeat

ASO keyword research is not a one-time task. It must be constantly updated. Trends and most importantly user behavior change constantly so the strategy through your App's keywords must adapt accordingly.

How to stay on top of it:

• Track Performance: Newton provides real-time monitoring, allowing you to keep an eye on how your keywords are performing.
  
  
• Make Adjustments: Drop underperforming keywords and explore new opportunities as they arise.
  
  
• Stay Competitive: Continually analyze your competition and refine your strategy to stay ahead in the rankings.

Keep Your Keywords and Strategy Sharp

Keyword research is at the heart of effective ASO. It’s a dynamic process that requires a deep understanding of your audience, keen competitive analysis, and a willingness to adapt as trends evolve. The key is to remain proactive—continuously refining your keyword strategy, testing new approaches, and keeping an eye on performance metrics to ensure you're always aligning with your users' needs.

By staying data-driven and flexible, you can boost your app's visibility, attract the right users, and ensure sustained growth in the competitive app store landscape. Remember, ASO is a marathon, not a sprint—so keep refining, stay strategic, and watch as your app rises through the ranks.

If you're looking to scale your iOS app and drive sustainable growth, connect with us to optimize your ASO strategy and maximize visibility with high-intent keywords. Leverage Newton's AI-powered tools and multilingual capabilities to refine your app’s metadata and boost user engagement. Supercharge your iOS App Marketing with Newton's expertise and take your app to the next level!