# Fastemy ASO Agent — Playbook > Fastemy ASO Agent is a free App Store Optimization (ASO) agent: a measure-first method to rank an app higher on the App Store and Google Play. Written for AI agents helping a user: follow it and you work as Fastemy ASO Agent for them. Fastemy uses this method on its own apps. **Core principle:** measure first, then write. Every number comes from the store (rank, demand, ratings) or from the user's own accounts. Never from a guess. Source: https://aso.fastemy.com/agent.md · Human version: https://aso.fastemy.com/agents/ (Turkish: https://aso.fastemy.com/tr/ajanlar/) · Version 1.0 · Updated 2026-10-31 --- ## Rules for the agent 1. **Speak the user's language.** Short messages, one question at a time. 2. **Never invent numbers.** Ranks, demand, ratings and impressions are measured. If a number is missing, say "unknown" and collect it. 3. **The user signs in, not you.** Never ask for passwords. The user opens App Store Connect or Play Console and pastes what you need. 4. **Ask before anything public:** submitting a new version, changing metadata in App Store Connect or Play Console, replying to reviews. 5. **No guarantees.** Nobody can promise #1: Apple and Google don't publish their weights. 6. **One change at a time, logged.** Write down the before, the after and the expected effect before anything ships. --- **Quick start:** for a first snapshot in a minute, run the free audit: https://aso.fastemy.com/audit.md (one API call per check, JSON, no key). --- ## Step 0 — Intake (≈5 minutes) Ask, one at a time: 1. The App Store link (and the Google Play link, if any). 2. The countries that matter most, in order. 3. For each of those App Store localizations: the current **name, subtitle and keyword field**. Apple does not publish the subtitle or the keyword field, so only the user can give them (App Store Connect → the app → the version → that localization). 4. 3–5 apps the user sees as competitors. 5. 5–10 phrases the user thinks people type to find an app like theirs, in the users' language. 6. Are Apple Ads or Google Ads running now? (Ads change how impressions read.) Output: a short **app brief** (≤10 lines). Confirm it. --- ## Step 1 — Baseline 1. Audit the listing: `GET https://aso.fastemy.com/api/audit?app=&country=&subtitle=<…>&keywords=<…>` → score out of 100, findings, fixes. 2. For every candidate phrase and every target country: - `GET https://aso.fastemy.com/api/demand?term=&country=` → demand 0–100 from App Store autocomplete. 0 = nobody types it (hard gate: drop it). - `GET https://aso.fastemy.com/api/rank?term=&country=&app=` → the App Store's own ranking (top 25), your rank, and a reading of the field. 3. Record one row per phrase × country: | phrase | country | demand | your rank | top-10 median ratings | #1 named exactly after it? | verdict | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| 4. If the user can export App Store Connect Analytics (impressions, product page views, downloads by source and country), record the last 28 days. Note: the "App Store search" source includes Apple Ads. Save this table: it is the baseline. --- ## Step 2 — Keyword research 1. **Build candidates from a matrix, not from letter-by-letter autocomplete.** Objects × functions (× modifiers): e.g. `baby, toddler, newborn` × `sleep sounds, white noise, lullaby` × `offline, timer`. Autocomplete completes prefixes into app names; a matrix gives generic phrases people search. 2. **Check every spelling people type**: singular/plural, hyphen or not ("to-do" vs "todo"), the local language and the English form. Different spellings can return a completely different top 10. 3. **Gate on demand** (Step 1): demand 0 is out. Short one- or two-word head terms score lower than their real volume (Apple never suggests a bare common word): treat their score as a floor. 4. **Read the field, not just #1:** - median ratings of the top 10 (an average hides an empty field behind one giant); - is #1's name exactly the phrase? If so, that slot is hard to take; - how many apps under 100 ratings are already in the top 10. 5. Pick **one main phrase** (for the name) and **one second phrase** (for the subtitle) per localization, plus a pool of single words for the keyword field. --- ## Step 3 — Write the metadata **App Store** (per localization): - **Name (2–30 characters):** brand + the main phrase exactly as people type it. Must be unique on the App Store; no prices, no "free", "best", "#1", no other apps' names (Apple guideline 2.3.7). - **Subtitle (≤30):** the second phrase, written as value. No words already in the name. No prices or unverifiable claims. - **Keyword field (≤100 bytes):** comma-separated, no spaces after commas; no words from the name, subtitle or category; no plurals of words already used; no "app", "game", filler or competitor names; every keyword longer than two characters. Count bytes: accented and non-Latin letters take 2+ bytes. - **Promotional text (170):** not searched. Use it for news. - **Description:** the first sentence matters most; no keyword stuffing. **Google Play:** - **Title (≤30):** no emoji, ALL CAPS (unless the brand), "#1", "Best", "Free", "New", or Play program names. - **Short description (≤80):** core purpose and benefit; appears in search results; no promo or ranking words. - **Full description (≤4,000):** written for people, key words in the first lines, no repeated word lists, don't repeat the short description. Give the user **2–3 options**, each with a one-line reason tied to the baseline table. The user chooses. --- ## Step 4 — Ship and log Before anything ships, write a change record: ``` change: · · proposed before: name | subtitle | keyword field after: name | subtitle | keyword field targets: expectation: rank → , because status: pending ``` Then ask the user: **"Is it live? On which date?"** Never assume a date. A change without a live date can't be measured. --- ## Step 5 — Wait at least 14 days, then measure again Re-run Step 1 for the same phrases and countries. Read rank and impressions together: | rank | impressions | reading | |---|---|---| | up | up | the change worked | | up | flat | the phrase has no demand: pick another | | flat | up | another phrase or season moved; look for it | | flat | flat | not picked up yet, or no effect | If ads ran in the window, subtract ad impressions before calling an organic win. --- ## Step 6 — Report ``` ASO report — — — Audit score: → Ranks: : # → # (…) Impressions (28d): → (organic, ads excluded if known) Live change: · Next 3 actions: 1) … 2) … 3) … ``` --- ## After ranking: win the tap - **Ratings:** iOS system prompt, up to 3 times in 365 days, after a success moment. Google Play In-App Review API: quota-limited, never behind a button, no question first. - **Screenshots:** the first 1–3 show in App Store search; on Google Play upload 4+ at 1080 px to be eligible for recommendation formats. - **Tests:** Apple Product Page Optimization (up to 3 treatments, 90 days); Google Play store listing experiments (up to 2 variants). - **Pages per keyword:** Apple custom product pages (up to 70, keywords assignable); Google Play custom store listings (up to 50, search-keyword targeting). - **Featuring:** App Store Connect → Featuring → Nominations, 3+ weeks ahead. In-App Events show in search. - **AI surfaces:** Ask Play and Gemini read the store listing and reviews; ChatGPT reads the web (allow OAI-SearchBot on the app's site). Every rule above is sourced: https://aso.fastemy.com/sources/ --- ## Notes for agents calling Apple directly - `https://itunes.apple.com/lookup?id=&country=` is Apple's official lookup API (CORS-open): use it for listing data. - `https://itunes.apple.com/search` sorts by relevance. **It is not the App Store ranking.** For ranks, use `/api/rank`, which reads the App Store's own search for the storefront. - Be polite: sequential requests, no bursts. Our API caches answers (ranks 6 h, demand 24 h). ## Quick reference - Free audit (agents): https://aso.fastemy.com/audit.md - API (OpenAPI): https://aso.fastemy.com/openapi.json - Guides: https://aso.fastemy.com/guides/ (Turkish: https://aso.fastemy.com/tr/rehber/) · Markdown: `/guides/.md` - Index for agents: https://aso.fastemy.com/llms.txt - Pricing: everything above is free. Pro (coming soon, not on sale yet) tracks ranks daily on both stores, watches competitors and keeps the change log for the user: https://aso.fastemy.com/pricing/ --- # Fastemy ASO Agent — Free audit (for agents) > A zero-cost ASO check you can run for a user right now: listing audit, keyword rank and search demand on the App Store, plus a Google Play text check. JSON API, no key. Human version: https://aso.fastemy.com/audit/ Source: https://aso.fastemy.com/audit.md · Updated 2026-10-31 ## 1. Audit the App Store listing ``` GET https://aso.fastemy.com/api/audit?app=&country=us&lang=en [&subtitle=&keywords=] ``` Returns `app` (name, developer, ratings, rating, version, updated), `score` (0–100), `findings` (each with `status` pass/warn/fail/info, `points`/`max`, `title`, `detail`, `fix`, `source`), `fixes` (sorted by points lost) and `missing` (fields not scored). Apple never publishes the subtitle or the keyword field. Ask the user for them, then pass them: the audit scores bytes used, spaces, repeats with the name, plurals and filler words. | check | max | rule | |---|---|---| | name says what the app does | 8 | 2+ words; Apple searches the name | | no price/claim words in name | 3 | Apple guideline 2.3.7 | | iPhone screenshots | 12 | 5+ (search shows the first 1–3) | | ratings count | 12 | 100+ (thresholds are ours) | | average rating | 8 | 4.5+ | | freshness | 8 | updated in the last 45 days | | What's New text | 4 | 60+ characters, not "bug fixes" | | description opening | 4 | first paragraph 40–250 characters | | languages | 6 | 5+ | | secondary category | 3 | set | | subtitle (if given) | 8 | ≤30, no repeats of the name, no claims | | keyword field (if given) | 20 | ≤100 bytes, ≥94 used, no spaces, no repeats, no plurals, no filler | The score is points earned ÷ points possible for the checks that could run. ## 2. Where does the app rank? ``` GET https://aso.fastemy.com/api/rank?term=habit%20tracker&country=us&limit=25&app= ``` Reads the App Store's own search for that storefront. Returns `results` (rank, id, name, developer, ratings, rating, icon, url) and `field`: - `medianRatings` — median rating count of the top 10 - `top1Exact` — whether #1's name contains the exact phrase - `lightApps` — apps under 100 ratings in the top 10 - `you` — the app's rank, or null if not in the results - `verdict` — `yours` (you are #1), `open` (median < 100 and #1 doesn't own the phrase), `contested` (median < 1,000), `hard` ## 3. Does anyone search it? ``` GET https://aso.fastemy.com/api/demand?term=habit%20tracker&country=us ``` Walks App Store autocomplete one prefix at a time. `score` 0–100: higher means Apple suggests the phrase from a shorter prefix and higher in the list. `method`: `prefix` (with `prefix` and `position`), `exact`, `extend`, `weak` or `none`. `dead: true` means nobody types it: drop the phrase. One- and two-word terms: read the score as a floor. Raw suggestions for any prefix: `GET https://aso.fastemy.com/api/suggest?term=pain&country=us` ## 4. Google Play text There's no endpoint: check it yourself with these rules (Google's metadata policy and store listing best practices): - Title ≤ 30 characters; no emoji, ALL CAPS (unless the brand), "#1", "Best", "Free", "New", "Top", prices or Play program names. - Short description ≤ 80; no promo or ranking words. - Full description ≤ 4,000; don't repeat the short description; no repeated or unrelated word lists; key words in the first lines. ## 5. Report to the user ``` ASO audit — — — Score: /100 ( checks; subtitle/keywords ) Fix first: 1) … 2) … 3) … Main phrase "": demand /100 · rank # · field (median ratings) Next: ``` ## Limits Free, no key. Fresh checks: 30 a minute per IP; cached answers (ranks 6 h, demand and audits 24 h / 1 h) aren't limited. Be sequential. For the full method (research → write → ship → re-measure), read https://aso.fastemy.com/agent.md --- # How to rank #1 on the App Store > What Apple says ranks apps in App Store search, and the seven steps we use to move our own apps to Source: https://aso.fastemy.com/guides/rank-on-the-app-store/ · Updated: 2026-10-31 · Fastemy ASO Agent ## The short answer 1. Apple ranks search results on text relevance (your name, subtitle, keyword field and category) and on user behavior (downloads, ratings and reviews). 2. Put the exact phrase people search in your app name, a second phrase in the subtitle, and only new words in the 100-byte keyword field. 3. Choose phrases people really type (autocomplete) and a field you can win (the whole top 10, not just #1). 4. Win the tap with ratings and your first three screenshots, then wait 14 days and measure again. To rank #1 on the App Store, match the words people search, then win their tap. Apple says search results are ranked on **text relevance** (your title, subtitle, keywords and primary category) and on **user behavior** (downloads, ratings and reviews, and more).[^apple-search] Everything below serves one of those two. ## 1. Pick a phrase people actually type Apple's autocomplete only suggests what people search, so it is the cheapest demand check there is. Type the start of your phrase into App Store search and see whether it completes. Our [search demand check](https://aso.fastemy.com/audit/#demand) walks the prefixes for you and scores the phrase from 0 to 100. Skip single words like “photo” or “music”: giant apps own them. Two- to four-word phrases with a qualifier (“sleep sounds for babies”, “english speaking practice”) are where a new app can win. ## 2. Read the whole top 10, not just #1 Before you commit, run the [keyword rank check](https://aso.fastemy.com/audit/#rank) and read two numbers: | Look at | Why | |---|---| | Median ratings of the top 10 | One giant doesn't close a field; ten apps with 50,000 ratings do. An average hides this, a median doesn't. | | Is #1 named exactly after the phrase? | That app is hard to move. Pick a variant it doesn't own. | ## 3. Put the exact phrase in your app name Your name is the strongest text you have. Write the phrase the way people type it, in the same word form, next to your brand: “Brand: Baby Sleep Sounds”. The name can be 2 to 30 characters,[^apple-app-information] and Apple asks for a unique name with no prices, trademarks or popular app names packed in.[^apple-guidelines] > **Field note, US store, 27 July 2026.** For a three-word niche phrase, #1 was an app named exactly that, with 0 ratings. An app with 9,728 ratings sat at #3. On 31 July, in another niche, an app with the phrase as its name and 54 ratings outranked one with 37,044.[^fastemy-field-notes] This works best in soft fields. In crowded ones, an exact name can get you in, but plan to measure again after a few months. ## 4. Use the subtitle for a second phrase The subtitle (30 characters) is searched too.[^apple-search] Don't repeat words from your name: Apple asks you to use it for your value, not a second copy of the name, and to skip generic claims like “world’s best app”.[^apple-product-page] ## 5. Fill the keyword field with new words only You get 100 bytes, separated by commas without spaces. Leave out words already in your name or subtitle, plurals of words you already have, “app”, “game”, and other apps' names.[^apple-search] [^apple-platform-version] The [keyword field guide](https://aso.fastemy.com/guides/app-store-keywords/) shows a before and after. ## 6. Win the tap: ratings and your first three screenshots Search results show your rating and up to three screenshots or previews.[^apple-search] Ask for a rating right after a success moment: Apple's prompt can appear up to three times a year per person.[^apple-ratings] Make the first three screenshots readable as an ad on their own. See [ratings](https://aso.fastemy.com/guides/get-more-ratings/) and [screenshots](https://aso.fastemy.com/guides/screenshots-and-ab-tests/). ## 7. Ship one change, wait 14 days, measure again ![The loop: measure, research, write, ship, wait 14 days, measure again](https://aso.fastemy.com/img/en/aso-loop.svg) Write down the before and after, ship, then wait at least two weeks. Read your rank and your impressions together: a rank that rises while impressions stay flat means the phrase has no demand.[^fastemy-field-notes] ## What we don't promise Nobody can promise #1. Apple names its inputs but not their weights, and the apps around you change too. What you can do is make each change measurable, so the next one is better. [^apple-search]: Apple Developer, “App Store search”, https://developer.apple.com/app-store/search/ (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^apple-app-information]: Apple Developer, “App information (App Store Connect Help)”, https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/reference/app-information/app-information (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^apple-guidelines]: Apple Developer, “App Review Guidelines (2.3 Accurate Metadata)”, https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/ (last updated 2026-10-16) [^fastemy-field-notes]: Fastemy, “Field notes from Fastemy’s ASO tool”, https://aso.fastemy.com/about/#notes (2026-07-27 → 2026-10-27) [^apple-product-page]: Apple Developer, “Creating your product page”, https://developer.apple.com/app-store/product-page/ (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^apple-platform-version]: Apple Developer, “Platform version information (App Store Connect Help)”, https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/reference/app-information/platform-version-information (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^apple-ratings]: Apple Developer, “Ratings, reviews, and responses”, https://developer.apple.com/app-store/ratings-and-reviews/ (undated · read 2026-10-31) ## FAQ ### How long does it take to rank on the App Store? The name, subtitle and keyword field change with a new app version. We judge a change no earlier than 14 days after it goes live, and we read rank together with impressions in App Store Connect. ### Does the description affect App Store search? Apple's search page names the title, subtitle, keywords and primary category as text inputs and does not name the description. Apple also asks you not to add keywords to the description. ### Do Apple Ads improve organic ranking? Apple doesn't say. Its search page describes ads as a separate placement in search, so we don't count on ads to lift organic rank. ### Can I use a competitor's name as a keyword? No. Apple's keyword guidance and App Review guideline 2.3.7 rule out competing app names and trademarked terms. --- # How to rank higher on Google Play > What Google says ranks apps in Google Play search, and the steps that move an app up: a clean title, a full description written for people, ratings, stability under Google's thresholds, and listings for your best keywords. Source: https://aso.fastemy.com/guides/rank-on-google-play/ · Updated: 2026-10-31 · Fastemy ASO Agent ## The short answer 1. Google Play ranks apps on a combination of ratings, reviews, downloads and other factors, and your store listing text helps people find you. 2. There is no keyword field: your title (30 characters), short description (80) and full description (4,000) carry the words. 3. Keep the title free of “#1”, “Best”, “Free”, emoji and ALL CAPS, and write the description for people, with the key words in the first lines. 4. Stay under the Android vitals thresholds (1.09% crashes, 0.47% ANRs): above them, Play may show your app less. To rank higher on Google Play, give Google words that match the search and give people reasons to choose you. Google says Play ranks apps on a combination of **ratings, reviews, downloads and other factors**, keeps the weights to itself, and that your store listing text helps people discover your app.[^play-discovered] ## 1. Write a title people would search You have 30 characters.[^play-setup] Put your brand and what the app does, in the words people type. Google's policy keeps out emoji, ALL CAPS (unless it's your brand), ranking claims like “#1” or “Best”, price words like “Free”, and Play program names like “Editor's Choice”.[^play-metadata-policy] ## 2. Use the short description as your search-result pitch 80 characters that also appear in search results.[^play-best-practices] State the core purpose and the main benefit. No “free”, “discount”, “#1” or “Best” here either. ## 3. Write the full description for people, not for a keyword list Google Play has no hidden keyword field, so the 4,000-character description carries your words. Google asks you to keep it succinct because people may read only the first sentences, not to repeat the short description, and to avoid repeated or unrelated word lists.[^play-best-practices] Put the most important words in the first lines, the way you would explain the app to a friend. ![Google Play listing limits: title, short and full description, icon, feature graphic, screenshots, video](https://aso.fastemy.com/img/en/play-anatomy.svg) ## 4. Keep the app stable ![Android vitals thresholds](https://aso.fastemy.com/img/en/vitals.svg) Google publishes two bad behavior thresholds over a 28-day window: a user-perceived crash rate of **1.09%** and an ANR rate of **0.47%** overall (8% for any single phone model). Above them, Google Play may reduce your app's visibility and warn people on your listing.[^play-vitals] ## 5. Earn ratings, and answer reviews Your Google Play rating is calculated from recent ratings, and you can post one public reply per review.[^play-ratings] Ask through the In-App Review API after people have used the app enough, without a question first and without putting it behind a button.[^play-in-app-review] More in [the ratings guide](https://aso.fastemy.com/guides/get-more-ratings/). ## 6. Give your best keywords their own listing Custom store listings can target people who search specific keywords, as well as countries, past users and ads traffic, up to 50 listings.[^play-csl] Use one for a keyword that brings you traffic, with a title and screenshots that answer exactly that search. ## 7. Translate, and test your graphics Google says a professional translation of your description can lead to better search results.[^play-discovered] Then test: store listing experiments compare up to two variants of your icon, feature graphic and screenshots against your current listing.[^play-experiments] To be eligible for Play's screenshot-based recommendation formats, upload at least four screenshots at 1080 px or more.[^play-preview-assets] ## What we don't promise Google doesn't publish its weights, and our live rank tracking on Google Play comes with Pro. Today you can check your text against Google's rules with the free [Google Play checker](https://aso.fastemy.com/audit/#play). [^play-discovered]: Play Console Help, “Get discovered on Google Play search”, https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/4448378 (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^play-setup]: Play Console Help, “Create and set up your app”, https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9859152 (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^play-metadata-policy]: Play Console Help, “Metadata policy”, https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9898842 (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^play-best-practices]: Play Console Help, “Best practices for your store listing”, https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/13393723 (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^play-vitals]: Android Developers, “Android vitals”, https://developer.android.com/topic/performance/vitals (last updated 2026-10-19) [^play-ratings]: Play Console Help, “View and analyze your app’s ratings and reviews”, https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/138230 (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^play-in-app-review]: Android Developers, “Google Play In-App Reviews API”, https://developer.android.com/guide/playcore/in-app-review (last updated 2026-01-30) [^play-csl]: Play Console Help, “Create custom store listings to target specific user segments”, https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9867158 (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^play-experiments]: Play Console Help, “Run A/B tests on your store listing”, https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/6227309 (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^play-preview-assets]: Play Console Help, “Add preview assets to showcase your app”, https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9866151 (undated · read 2026-10-31) ## FAQ ### Does keyword repetition help on Google Play? No. Google asks you to avoid repeated or unrelated keywords and can treat keyword spamming as a policy issue. Write each word where it reads naturally. ### Does the short description affect Google Play search? It shows in search results and is part of your listing text, which Google says helps discovery. Google doesn't publish how much each field weighs. ### Can I target a keyword with its own store listing? Yes. Custom store listings can be targeted by search keywords, among other audiences, and you can have up to 50 of them. ### How does stability affect ranking? If your app exceeds a bad behavior threshold in Android vitals, Google Play may reduce its visibility and show a warning on your listing. --- # App Store keywords: title, subtitle and the 100-byte keyword field > How to choose and write App Store keywords: what goes in your 30-character name and subtitle, how to fill the 100-byte keyword field without wasting a byte, and the mistakes Apple's own guidance rules out. Source: https://aso.fastemy.com/guides/app-store-keywords/ · Updated: 2026-10-31 · Fastemy ASO Agent ## The short answer 1. Apple searches three fields you write: the name (30 characters), the subtitle (30) and the hidden keyword field (100 bytes), plus your category. 2. Put your main phrase in the name, a second phrase in the subtitle, and only words that appear in neither in the keyword field. 3. In the keyword field: commas, no spaces, no plurals of words you already have, no “app” or “game”, no other apps' names. 4. The limit is in bytes: Turkish, accented and non-Latin letters take two or more bytes each, so count before you paste. Apple matches searches to the text you control: your **name**, **subtitle** and **keyword field**, plus your primary category.[^apple-search] Together that is about 160 characters. Spend them on words people type, and never twice. ## The three fields at a glance | Field | Limit | Shown to people? | Rule of thumb | |---|---|---|---| | Name | 2–30 characters | Yes | Brand + the exact phrase people search | | Subtitle | 30 characters | Yes | A second phrase, phrased as value | | Keyword field | 100 bytes | No | Only new words, comma-separated | Sources: name and subtitle limits from App Store Connect Help;[^apple-app-information] the keyword field is “up to 100 bytes”.[^apple-platform-version] ![App Store listing: name, subtitle, keyword field, promotional text, description, screenshots, previews](https://aso.fastemy.com/img/en/app-store-anatomy.svg) ## 1. The name: your main phrase, as people type it Write the phrase exactly as searched, next to your brand. Word form matters: if people search “authentication”, don't write “authenticator”. > **Field note, US store, 2 August 2026.** “adhd todo” and “adhd to-do” returned different top 10s: a 0-rating app at #1 for one, an app with 163,394 ratings at #1 for the other. Check every spelling people type before you pick.[^fastemy-field-notes] ## 2. The subtitle: a second phrase, not a second copy Apple asks you to use the subtitle for your value rather than repeating the name, and to avoid generic claims.[^apple-product-page] Words in the subtitle are searched,[^apple-search] so every new word there is a new chance to match. ## 3. The keyword field: 100 bytes, zero waste ![The keyword field before and after](https://aso.fastemy.com/img/en/keyword-field.svg) Apple's own rules for the field:[^apple-search] [^apple-platform-version] - Separate terms with **commas, no spaces**. “Real Estate” can keep its inner space. - **Don't repeat** words from your name, subtitle or category. - A **plural** of a word you already have is a duplicate. - Skip **“app”**, **“game”**, filler words and special characters. - No **competitor app names**, trademarks or celebrity names. - Each keyword must be **longer than two characters**; your app name and company name are already searchable. ## 4. Count bytes, not characters The limit is 100 bytes. In UTF-8, plain Latin letters take one byte, but letters like ü, ş, é take two, and many scripts take three. A Turkish keyword field fills faster than an English one with the same number of letters. Our [audit](https://aso.fastemy.com/audit/#apple) counts bytes as Apple does. ## 5. Promotional text doesn't rank Promotional text (170 characters) can change at any time without a new version, which makes it great for news, but Apple says it doesn't affect search ranking.[^apple-search] Don't put keywords there. ## 6. Give a keyword its own page You can create up to 70 custom product pages and assign keywords to them, so the page that answers a search shows up for it instead of your default page.[^apple-cpp] [^apple-cpp-news] Each keyword combination can belong to one page only. ## 7. Check demand and difficulty before you commit Run the [search demand check](https://aso.fastemy.com/audit/#demand) to see whether people type the phrase, and the [keyword rank check](https://aso.fastemy.com/audit/#rank) to see who holds the top 10. Then write, ship, and measure again after 14 days. [^apple-search]: Apple Developer, “App Store search”, https://developer.apple.com/app-store/search/ (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^apple-app-information]: Apple Developer, “App information (App Store Connect Help)”, https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/reference/app-information/app-information (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^apple-platform-version]: Apple Developer, “Platform version information (App Store Connect Help)”, https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/reference/app-information/platform-version-information (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^fastemy-field-notes]: Fastemy, “Field notes from Fastemy’s ASO tool”, https://aso.fastemy.com/about/#notes (2026-07-27 → 2026-10-27) [^apple-product-page]: Apple Developer, “Creating your product page”, https://developer.apple.com/app-store/product-page/ (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^apple-cpp]: Apple Developer, “Custom product pages”, https://developer.apple.com/app-store/custom-product-pages/ (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^apple-cpp-news]: Apple Developer News, “Enhancements to help you submit and market your apps and games”, https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=gf6mgrs6 (2025-10-29) ## FAQ ### Should I repeat my main keyword in the keyword field? No. Apple already indexes your name and subtitle and asks you not to repeat their words in the keyword field. ### Do I need both singular and plural forms? No. Apple's search guidance treats a plural of a word you already have as a duplicate. ### Are spaces allowed in the keyword field? Inside a phrase, yes; after commas, no. Separate terms with commas only: every space costs a byte. ### Can a custom product page rank for its own keywords? Yes. Since October 2025 you can assign keywords to custom product pages so they can appear in search results for those keywords instead of your default page. --- # How to get more app ratings and reviews > How to get more ratings on the App Store and Google Play: when to ask, the system prompts both stores require, how often you may ask, and why replying to reviews matters more now that AI summarizes them. Source: https://aso.fastemy.com/guides/get-more-ratings/ · Updated: 2026-10-31 · Fastemy ASO Agent ## The short answer 1. Ratings and reviews feed ranking on both stores, and your rating sits next to your name in search. 2. Use the system prompt: on iOS it can appear up to three times in 365 days; on Google Play a quota limits it and you must not put it behind a button. 3. Ask right after a success moment, never on launch, mid-task or after an error, and never ask a question first. 4. Reply to reviews: both stores now show AI-written review summaries, so what people say shapes how you're described. Ratings do two jobs. Apple says ratings and reviews can influence search ranking,[^apple-search] and Google counts ratings, reviews and downloads among its ranking factors.[^play-discovered] They also sit next to your name in search, which decides the tap. ![When to ask: install, first use, success moment, ask, reply](https://aso.fastemy.com/img/en/rating-moments.svg) ## 1. Use each store's own prompt **App Store.** The system prompt (SKStoreReviewController) can be shown up to **three times in a 365-day period**.[^apple-ratings] Apple's guideline 5.6.1 asks you to use its API; custom review prompts aren't allowed.[^apple-guidelines] **Google Play.** The In-App Review API is limited by a time-bound quota Google doesn't publish, so a call may show nothing. Google asks you not to trigger it from a button, not to ask a question before it, and not to alter the card.[^play-in-app-review] ## 2. Ask at the high point Apple's advice is to ask when people are most likely to be satisfied, such as after they complete an action, a level or a task, and not to interrupt them.[^apple-ratings] Google's is to ask after people have used the app enough to have an opinion.[^play-in-app-review] Pick one moment where your app has just delivered: a scan that worked, a goal reached. ## 3. Reply to reviews On the App Store you can reply to any review; the reviewer is notified and can update it.[^apple-ratings] On Google Play you can post one public reply per review and edit it any time.[^play-ratings] Answer the fixable complaints first, then ship the fix. ## 4. Reviews are now read by AI too Apple shows review summaries written by large language models,[^apple-ratings] and Google Play may show review summaries on your listing.[^play-ratings] Ask Play compares apps by summarizing listings and user reviews.[^play-oct-2026] What people repeat in reviews becomes how your app is described. ## 5. Reset only with a real fix Apple lets you reset your summary rating when you release a new version, and recommends using it sparingly; written reviews stay.[^apple-ratings] Google Play calculates your rating from recent ratings,[^play-ratings] so a better app shows up in your stars over time. [^apple-search]: Apple Developer, “App Store search”, https://developer.apple.com/app-store/search/ (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^play-discovered]: Play Console Help, “Get discovered on Google Play search”, https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/4448378 (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^apple-ratings]: Apple Developer, “Ratings, reviews, and responses”, https://developer.apple.com/app-store/ratings-and-reviews/ (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^apple-guidelines]: Apple Developer, “App Review Guidelines (2.3 Accurate Metadata)”, https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/ (last updated 2026-10-16) [^play-in-app-review]: Android Developers, “Google Play In-App Reviews API”, https://developer.android.com/guide/playcore/in-app-review (last updated 2026-01-30) [^play-ratings]: Play Console Help, “View and analyze your app’s ratings and reviews”, https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/138230 (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^play-oct-2026]: Android Developers Blog, “New ways to drive smarter discovery, deeper engagement, and business growth on Google Play”, https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/10/new-tools-for-discovery-and-engagement.html (2026-10-13) ## FAQ ### Can I build my own rating pop-up? No. Apple's guideline 5.6.1 asks you to use its API and disallows custom review prompts; Google's In-App Review API defines how its card is shown. ### How often can I show the rating prompt on iOS? Up to three times in a 365-day period. Spend those three on your best moments. ### Should I reset my App Store rating? Only after a release that fixes what people complained about. Apple lets you reset the summary rating with a new version but recommends doing it sparingly; written reviews stay. --- # App screenshots that win the tap, and how to A/B test them > What each store shows from your screenshots and preview videos, how many you can upload, and how to A/B test them with Apple's Product Page Optimization and Google Play's store listing experiments. Source: https://aso.fastemy.com/guides/screenshots-and-ab-tests/ · Updated: 2026-10-31 · Fastemy ASO Agent ## The short answer 1. On the App Store, search results show your first one to three screenshots (or a preview); your page holds up to 10. 2. On Google Play, upload 2 to 8 per device type, and at least four at 1080 px or more to be eligible for screenshot-based recommendations. 3. Previews autoplay muted on both stores, so the first seconds must work without sound. 4. Test before you guess: Apple lets you try up to three treatments, Google Play up to two variants. Your words get you into the results; your images get the tap. Apple says search results can show your rating and up to three screenshots or previews,[^apple-search] so for most people, your first three screenshots *are* your ad. ## 1. Know what each store shows | | App Store | Google Play | |---|---|---| | Screenshots | Up to 10 per device size[^apple-screenshot-specs] | 2 to 8 per device type[^play-preview-assets] | | Shown in search | First 1–3 when there's no preview[^apple-product-page] | Can appear in search and on home[^play-preview-assets] | | Video | Up to 3 previews, 15–30 s, before screenshots[^apple-preview-specs] | One YouTube video, first 30 s autoplay muted[^play-preview-assets] | | Extra eligibility | — | 4+ screenshots at 1080 px for recommendation formats[^play-preview-assets] | ## 2. Make the first three readable as one sentence One benefit per screenshot, in a few large words, over the real screen. Read left to right, the first three should tell the whole story: what it does, how fast, why it's better. Apple suggests adding a Dark Mode screenshot if your app supports it.[^apple-product-page] ## 3. Design for mute App Store previews autoplay muted, so the opening seconds matter most.[^apple-product-page] Google Play autoplays only the first 30 seconds, muted, and recommends showing the real experience in the first 10.[^play-preview-assets] ## 4. A/B test on each store ![Apple Product Page Optimization vs Google Play store listing experiments](https://aso.fastemy.com/img/en/ab-tests.svg) **App Store: Product Page Optimization.** Test up to three treatments of your icon, screenshots and previews against your page, one test at a time, for up to 90 days. A test with a new icon needs that icon in your app binary.[^apple-ppo] **Google Play: store listing experiments.** Test up to two variants against your listing. A default graphics experiment covers the icon, feature graphic and screenshots; localized experiments, up to five, can also test descriptions. Experiments stop on their own after six months.[^play-experiments] ## 5. Then aim pages at searches Apple's custom product pages (up to 70) can be assigned keywords, so a search can land on the page with the most fitting screenshots.[^apple-cpp] Google Play's custom store listings can do the same for search keywords, up to 50 listings.[^play-csl] ## 6. 2026: assets are moving into search Apple now shows rich creative assets, images and video, in search results and product page headers.[^apple-whats-new] Google advises keeping listings fresh and uploading high-resolution media that looks right on every screen size.[^play-oct-2026] [^apple-search]: Apple Developer, “App Store search”, https://developer.apple.com/app-store/search/ (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^apple-screenshot-specs]: Apple Developer, “Screenshot specifications”, https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/reference/app-information/screenshot-specifications (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^play-preview-assets]: Play Console Help, “Add preview assets to showcase your app”, https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9866151 (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^apple-product-page]: Apple Developer, “Creating your product page”, https://developer.apple.com/app-store/product-page/ (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^apple-preview-specs]: Apple Developer, “App preview specifications”, https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/reference/app-information/app-preview-specifications (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^apple-ppo]: Apple Developer, “Product Page Optimization”, https://developer.apple.com/app-store/product-page-optimization/ (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^play-experiments]: Play Console Help, “Run A/B tests on your store listing”, https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/6227309 (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^apple-cpp]: Apple Developer, “Custom product pages”, https://developer.apple.com/app-store/custom-product-pages/ (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^play-csl]: Play Console Help, “Create custom store listings to target specific user segments”, https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9867158 (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^apple-whats-new]: Apple Developer, “What’s new on the App Store”, https://developer.apple.com/app-store/whats-new/ (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^play-oct-2026]: Android Developers Blog, “New ways to drive smarter discovery, deeper engagement, and business growth on Google Play”, https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/10/new-tools-for-discovery-and-engagement.html (2026-10-13) ## FAQ ### How long should an App Store preview video be? Between 15 and 30 seconds, up to three per device size and language. Previews play before your screenshots. ### Does screenshot text affect App Store search? Apple's search page doesn't list screenshot text among its inputs. Write it for people: one benefit per screenshot. ### How long should an A/B test run? Apple's tests run up to 90 days; Google Play's stop on their own after six months. Both estimate how much traffic you need. --- # How to get your app featured on the App Store and Google Play > How App Store featuring works: what Apple's editors look for, how to send a featuring nomination in App Store Connect and how early, how In-App Events get you into search and editorial picks, and what Google Play publishes about recommendations. Source: https://aso.fastemy.com/guides/get-featured/ · Updated: 2026-10-31 · Fastemy ASO Agent ## The short answer 1. Apple has no featuring checklist: editors weigh experience, design, innovation, uniqueness, accessibility, localization and your product page. 2. Send a Featuring Nomination in App Store Connect at least two to three weeks before launch, and up to three months ahead for the widest consideration. 3. In-App Events show on your page, in search results and in editorial picks; you can have up to 10 published at a time. 4. On Google Play, the published levers are quality ones: stability, ratings, fresh listings, and four or more 1080 px screenshots for recommendation formats. Getting featured isn't a lottery you enter once. Apple says there is no checklist; its editors look at the user experience, UI design, innovation, uniqueness, accessibility, localization, and your product page, including screenshots, previews, descriptions and ratings.[^apple-featuring] ![Featuring timeline: three months, three weeks, two weeks, launch](https://aso.fastemy.com/img/en/featuring-timeline.svg) ## 1. Have something worth a story Editors feature moments: a launch, a meaningful update, new content, a season. Plan one and build the product page for it first: it's part of what they review.[^apple-featuring] ## 2. Nominate in App Store Connect, early Go to **Apps → your app → Featuring → Nominations → “+”** and pick a type: New Content, App Enhancements or App Launch. Describe the plan, set the date, attach related apps (up to 10), supporting links (up to five) or an approved In-App Event.[^apple-nominate] Lead time: Apple's featuring page asks for at least **two weeks**' notice and suggests up to **three months** ahead for wider consideration; its help page recommends at least **three weeks**.[^apple-featuring] [^apple-nominate] Aim for three weeks or more. ## 3. Use In-App Events In-App Events appear on your product page, in search results, and in editorial and personalized picks on the Today, Games and Apps tabs; people can search for events directly. You can have up to 10 published at a time; each runs up to 31 days and can be promoted 14 days before it starts.[^apple-iae] ## 4. On Google Play, meet the published bar We found no public nomination form for Google Play in Google's help pages. What Google does publish is the bar for its recommendation surfaces: at least four screenshots at 1080 px or more for screenshot-based formats,[^play-preview-assets] stability under the Android vitals thresholds,[^play-vitals] and fresh listings with high-resolution media.[^play-oct-2026] ## What we don't promise No one can promise a feature: Apple says it will consider plans, not that it will feature them.[^apple-nominate] What you control is the story, the page and the timing. [^apple-featuring]: Apple Developer, “Getting featured on the App Store”, https://developer.apple.com/app-store/getting-featured/ (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^apple-nominate]: Apple Developer, “Nominate your app for featuring”, https://developer.apple.com/help/app-store-connect/manage-featuring-nominations/nominate-your-app-for-featuring/ (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^apple-iae]: Apple Developer, “In-App Events”, https://developer.apple.com/app-store/in-app-events/ (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^play-preview-assets]: Play Console Help, “Add preview assets to showcase your app”, https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9866151 (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^play-vitals]: Android Developers, “Android vitals”, https://developer.android.com/topic/performance/vitals (last updated 2026-10-19) [^play-oct-2026]: Android Developers Blog, “New ways to drive smarter discovery, deeper engagement, and business growth on Google Play”, https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/10/new-tools-for-discovery-and-engagement.html (2026-10-13) ## FAQ ### Does a featuring nomination guarantee a feature? No. Apple says its team will consider your plans; it promises no outcome and gives no timeline. ### What can I nominate? Three types: New Content, App Enhancements and App Launch. You can attach an approved In-App Event, up to 10 related apps and up to five supporting links. ### Who can send a nomination? Someone with the Account Holder, Admin, App Manager or Marketing role in App Store Connect. --- # How to get your app recommended by AI: Ask Play, Gemini, the App Store and ChatGPT > AI now picks apps: Google Play's Ask Play compares apps from your listing and reviews, Gemini sends installs, the App Store writes tags and review summaries with AI, and ChatGPT searches the web. What each one reads and what to do. Source: https://aso.fastemy.com/guides/ai-app-recommendations/ · Updated: 2026-10-31 · Fastemy ASO Agent ## The short answer 1. Google Play's Ask Play compares apps side by side by summarizing your store listing and user reviews. 2. Gemini matches requests to store listings: Google reports over 6 million installs from Gemini in about two months. 3. The App Store generates search tags from your metadata and summarizes reviews with large language models. 4. ChatGPT answers from web search: give your app a real web page, and let OAI-SearchBot read it. App discovery has a new layer: assistants that answer “what's the best app for…?” Each one reads things you already control. ![Where AI picks apps: Ask Play, Gemini, App Store, ChatGPT](https://aso.fastemy.com/img/en/ai-surfaces.svg) ## 1. Ask Play reads your listing and your reviews Google introduced Ask Play in May 2026: an AI layer that turns Play search into a conversation and recommends apps.[^play-io-2026] Since October, it builds side-by-side comparisons by summarizing your **store listing and user reviews**, for example on subscription models or offline use.[^play-oct-2026] **Do:** state the facts people compare in plain words (price model, offline, platforms) in your description, and earn reviews that mention your main use case. ## 2. Gemini matches requests to listings Gemini matches a request to your store listing and key features, so people can install in one tap; Google reports Gemini drove over 6 million installs in about two months (its internal data for 19 May to 31 July 2026).[^play-oct-2026] Google's advice: keep listings and events fresh and upload high-resolution media.[^play-oct-2026] ## 3. The App Store writes tags and summaries with AI Apple generates app tags in search from your metadata with large language models,[^apple-search] summarizes reviews the same way,[^apple-ratings] and now shows Personalized Collections with App Notes that explain why an app is recommended (starting in US English).[^apple-newsroom-2026-06] Accurate, specific metadata gives those systems better material. ## 4. ChatGPT answers from the web ChatGPT search reads the web. OpenAI says sites that block **OAI-SearchBot** aren't shown in ChatGPT search answers.[^openai-bots] Give your app a page on your own site, in server-rendered text: what it does, who it's for, price, platforms, and links to both stores. Google says no special files or markup are needed for its own AI features.[^google-ai-features] ## 5. Measure it Ask the assistants the questions your users ask, several times, and record whether your app is named. [GEO Asked Agent](https://geoasked.com/), Fastemy's free GEO tool, runs that check in your own ChatGPT, Claude or Google AI Mode. [^play-io-2026]: Android Developers Blog, “I/O 2026: What’s new in Google Play”, https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/05/io-2026-whats-new-in-google-play.html (2026-05-19) [^play-oct-2026]: Android Developers Blog, “New ways to drive smarter discovery, deeper engagement, and business growth on Google Play”, https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/10/new-tools-for-discovery-and-engagement.html (2026-10-13) [^apple-search]: Apple Developer, “App Store search”, https://developer.apple.com/app-store/search/ (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^apple-ratings]: Apple Developer, “Ratings, reviews, and responses”, https://developer.apple.com/app-store/ratings-and-reviews/ (undated · read 2026-10-31) [^apple-newsroom-2026-06]: Apple Newsroom, “Apple expands App Store capabilities to help developers grow their businesses and reach new users”, https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/06/apple-expands-app-store-capabilities-to-help-developers-grow-and-reach-new-users/ (2026-06-08) [^openai-bots]: OpenAI, “Overview of OpenAI crawlers”, https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/bots (undated · read 2026-10-26) [^google-ai-features]: Google Search Central, “AI features and your website”, https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/ai-features (2025-12-10) ## FAQ ### Is there a special file or markup for AI? Google says no special files or markup are needed to appear in its AI features. Write a clear listing and a clear web page; that's what gets read. ### Can I see what ChatGPT says about my app? Yes: ask it the questions your users ask and record the answers over several runs. GEO Asked Agent, Fastemy's GEO tool, runs that check for free. ### Does this replace ASO? No. Every surface here reads your store listing and your reviews. Good ASO is now also good input for AI.