# App store optimization (ASO) Human Guide

## What This Is For
Use this skill when optimizing app store listings, researching keywords, or tracking mobile app performance on Apple App Store and Google Play Store. It gives the agent a clearer input/output frame for app store optimization (ASO): what context to ask for, what decisions to make, and what usable artifact to return.

Use this as a human-readable version of the App store optimization (ASO) agent skill. It is meant for marketers, operators, founders, and other non-coders who want the workflow without reading agent-specific implementation instructions.

## When To Use This
- Use this when you need a repeatable process for app store optimization (ASO).
- Use this when the task needs judgment, examples, constraints, or a clear output format rather than a one-off prompt.
- Use this when you want to hand an AI assistant enough context to produce a usable marketing artifact.

## When Not To Use This
- Do not use this when you only need a quick factual answer.
- Do not use this when the work depends on private data you cannot share with the assistant.
- Do not use this as a replacement for legal, compliance, financial, or medical review.

## What You Need Before Starting
- The goal or business outcome you want.
- The audience, customer segment, or market context.
- Any source material the assistant should respect, such as notes, briefs, examples, URLs, or brand guidance.
- Constraints such as tone, length, channel, deadline, region, or approval requirements.
- A clear definition of what a good final answer should look like.

## Step-By-Step Workflow
1. State the job clearly: "Use the App store optimization (ASO) guide to help me with..."
2. Add context: audience, goal, offer, channel, source material, and constraints.
3. Ask the assistant to identify missing inputs before producing the final output.
4. Have the assistant follow the skill-specific guidance below.
5. Review the result against the final checklist and ask for revisions where needed.

## Skill-Specific Guidance
- Define target audience and core app functions:
- Primary use case (what problem does the app solve)
- Generate seed keywords from:
- User language (not developer terminology)
- App store autocomplete suggestions
- Modifiers (free, best, simple)
- Actions (create, track, organize)
- Audiences (for students, for teams, for business)
- Search volume (estimated monthly searches)
- Competition (number and quality of ranking apps)
- Relevance (alignment with app function)
- Score and prioritize keywords:

## Decision Points And Nuance
The original skill emphasizes: Workspace Context, Operating Contract, Keyword Research Workflow, Workflow: Conduct Keyword Research, Keyword Evaluation Criteria, Keyword Placement Priority, Metadata Optimization Workflow, Workflow: Optimize App Metadata, Platform Character Limits, Description Structure.

Use these questions to steer the work:
- What is the intended audience or buyer?
- What source material must be preserved?
- What should the assistant optimize for: clarity, persuasion, accuracy, speed, creativity, or conversion?
- What examples represent the desired quality bar?
- What should the assistant avoid?

## Common Mistakes
- | Day of week | Tuesday-Wednesday (avoid weekends) |
- | Competition | Avoid major competitor launch dates |
- Calculate required sample size:
- | Best | "Never Miss a Deadline" | Benefit-focused, emotional |
- Required sample size calculation
- **Plan Ahead**: Use launch checklists and timelines to avoid last-minute rushes
- [Common Mistakes to Avoid](#common-mistakes-to-avoid)
- | Principle | Do | Don't |

## Copy-And-Paste Prompt
```text
Use the App store optimization (ASO) human guide.

My goal:
[Describe the business outcome]

Audience:
[Describe who this is for]

Context and source material:
[Paste notes, examples, links, or existing copy]

Constraints:
[Tone, length, channel, timeline, must-include items, must-avoid items]

Before producing the final output, ask me for any missing information that would materially improve the result.
```

## Final Checklist
- [ ] The output matches the original goal.
- [ ] The audience and context are reflected in the answer.
- [ ] Important constraints and source material were preserved.
- [ ] The assistant made the relevant decisions explicit.
- [ ] The final artifact is ready to use, review, or hand to the next person.

## Source
This guide was generated from the manojbajaj95/claude-gtm-plugin skill entry for `app-store-optimization`.

## Source Skill Notes
These notes preserve the nuance from the original skill. Use them as supporting reference when the workflow above feels too generic.

# App Store Optimization (ASO)

## Workspace Context

Read bootstrap context before asking questions: `strategy/brand.md` for brand, audience, offer, channels, tools, constraints, and metrics; `about/me.md` for personal voice; `content/ideas.md` and `content/calendar.md` for content planning. Use legacy product-marketing context files only as fallback. Save generated drafts to `content/<platform>/drafts/YYYY-MM-DD_short-topic-slug.md`, and route durable learnings back to `strategy/brand.md`, `about/me.md`, or `content/ideas.md`.

## Operating Contract

This skill is self-contained for its frontmatter scope: use its local instructions, references, scripts, and assets as the playbook; ask only for missing task-specific inputs; hand off to adjacent skills instead of expanding scope; and return an actionable artifact, decision, plan, draft, or diagnostic.


ASO tools for researching keywords, optimizing metadata, analyzing competitors, and improving app store visibility on Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

## Keyword Research Workflow

Discover and evaluate keywords that drive app store visibility.

### Workflow: Conduct Keyword Research

1. Define target audience and core app functions:
   - Primary use case (what problem does the app solve)
   - Target user demographics
   - Competitive category
2. Generate seed keywords from:
   - App features and benefits
   - User language (not developer terminology)
   - App store autocomplete suggestions
3. Expand keyword list using:
   - Modifiers (free, best, simple)
   - Actions (create, track, organize)
   - Audiences (for students, for teams, for business)
4. Evaluate each keyword:
   - Search volume (estimated monthly searches)
   - Competition (number and quality of ranking apps)
   - Relevance (alignment with app function)
5. Score and prioritize keywords:
   - Primary: Title and keyword field (iOS)
   - Secondary: Subtitle and short description
   - Tertiary: Full description only
6. Map keywords to metadata locations
7. Document keyword strategy for tracking
8. **Validation:** Keywords scored; placement mapped; no competitor brand names included; no plurals in iOS keyword field

### Keyword Evaluation Criteria

| Factor | Weight | High Score Indicators |
|--------|--------|----------------------|
| Relevance | 35% | Describes core app function |
| Volume | 25% | 10,000+ monthly searches |
| Competition | 25% | Top 10 apps have <4.5 avg rating |
| Conversion | 15% | Transactional intent ("best X app") |

### Keyword Placement Priority

| Location | Search Weight | Character Limit |
|----------|---------------|-----------------|
| App Title | Highest | 30 (iOS) / 50 (Android) |
| Subtitle (iOS) | High | 30 |
| Keyword Field (iOS) | High | 100 |
| Short Description (Android) | High | 80 |
| Full Description | Medium | 4,000 |

See: [references/keyword-research-guide.md](references/keyword-research-guide.md)

---

## Metadata Optimization Workflow

Optimize app store listing elements for search ranking and conversion.

### Workflow: Optimize App Metadata

1. Audit current metadata against platform limits:
   - Title character count and keyword presence
   - Subtitle/short description usage
   - Keyword field efficiency (iOS)
   - Description keyword density
2. Optimize title following formula:
   ```
   [Brand Name] - [Primary Keyword] [Secondary Keyword]