We all know the importance of app store page for the success of any mobile app. A crucial element for catching users’ attention is app name. Let’s see some of the best practices that can help you in your effort to make your app visible.
App Store And Google Play
Apple App Store and Google Play Store offer detailed guidelines with their different requirements when it comes to choose the most appropriate app name for your creation. We will expand these ideas for you to see the right path when you need to select a name for your application.
Image Source: https://developer.apple.com/app-store/product-page/
Image Source: https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/113469?hl=en
App Store’s Recent Update
We announced you when Apple changed some important rules and the effects of these decisions for iOS developers. Besides the commitment that all low – quality apps will be removed, a major modification was the limitation for app name to 50 characters. This fact was determined by the useless, long app names which were created just to trick the system without following users’ interest.
Even if Google and Apple have different limitations for app name, 30 characters for Android apps and 50 characters for iOS apps, the goal is the same: to offer users helpful and relevant information about the app hidden behind that title. Moreover, Apple specifies that app name should be optimized to 23 characters for a better aspect on all devices. As you can see a shorter name for your app will help you meet the requirements, whether you upload it on App Store or Google Play.
1. Evoke The Right Emotion
By sending the right message for your users you increase the chances to win their hearts. Your app title should be the introduction to the story of your app which is the app description. If you intrigue them with an interesting and relevant name, they will look further to see what your app offers.
In order to win their hearts, you need to pay attention to who are your potential customers first, then find out how you will connect your app with target audience. Try to understand what their expectations are and create the proper feeling which will bring them closer to your app. Offering them the right perception according to the app category will influence their decision in downloading your app.
Image Source: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/turbotax-tax-return-app-file/id940247939?mt=8&v0=WWW-NAUS-ITSTOP100-FREEAPPS&l=en&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Let’s take a look at Apple’s top free apps. As you can see, besides the most popular apps in the world, there is Wish, a shopping app which gathered the most important rules of creating a title. Its short name draws your attention and the word “wish” creates the impression that “your wishes will come true”. You almost forget that you must pay for the products you order. If you click on the app you will discover its entire title: “Wish – Shopping made fun”. The shopping keyword shows the reason why you should download the app and the final term “fun” induces a joyful emotion. This is a proof of smart choices.
Going further, you can see TurboTax, a financial app which helps you with taxes. For every person the word “tax” is synonym with “stress”. The special touch is considered the word “turbo” which creates the feeling that our entire burden disappears with the speed of light if we use this app. In the end we remain without any pressure on our shoulders. Good thinking!
Relevancy
Title should mirror the general theme of the app along with its main features. By just reading the title people must understand what your app is all about. Avoid misleading users with general names that don’t transmit any information related to your app. Observe the main reasons that caused app rejections on Apple App Store almost two months ago.
Image Source: https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/rejections/
In the same time try to express only positive ideas, even if you promote a game full of battles.
Image Source: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kr.pe.kingori.ihatecolor&hl=en
2. Easy To Pronounce
If you choose a name that catches the spirit of your app it is more effective if you take care about the effects caused by its pronunciation. It is very tricky to find a good balance between vowels and consonant sounds, but the right name will be on everybody lips.
3. Short And Recognizable
Let’s take a look to top weather apps on Google Play, for example. On Apple App Store it’s the same situation. As you can see, most of the apps have short names that describe exactly what they provide.
Image Source: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=weather%20apps&c=apps&hl=en
If you choose a simple, yet relevant name you will help users to tell everybody about your app. If you select a complicated name, no matter how good your app is, you will create a wall in front of their intentions of sharing it.
Furthermore, as you can see in the previous image, many of the apps added their brand inside app title. Even more, if you observe The Weather Channel app, it has the same words inside the app icon, app title and developer’s name. If your brand is already famous, it is a good chance to let people know that they will find the same professionalism inside the app.
4. The ASO Effect Beyond Evoking Emotions
When you choose the right terms for your app name you must consider your users’ point of view. What words do you think they will use when searching for an app like yours?
Find The Right Keyword (Relevance, Competition And Searches)
You need to choose a few appropriate keywords that match the features offered by your app. Remember to follow the trends and to change them according to users’ preferences. When selecting those words keep your eye on three attributes:
- Relevance – It is better to aspire for more specific terms related to your app. For example if you own an app which offers cooking lessons, it is better to target keywords like “cooking lessons” not just “lessons”.
- Competition – It is more important to try ranking higher for words with medium popularity than to choose the most searched words and to rank somewhere in the middle.
- Searches – Check the number of searches for every word you consider appropriate for your app
Image Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2016/10/04/winning-mobile-first-you-have-to-win-app-store-and-google-play-search/#359588c377d7
Repeating And Pluralizing Won’t Help!
We always advice that repeating and pluralizing keywords are bad practices for everything you try when you want to impress your viewers. It is a shame to promote your high – quality app through these methods which will backfire eventually.
5. Don’t Resemble
The goal of presenting your app on app page is to show its uniqueness and the reasons why users should download it. If you submit your app as a cheap copy of others in the same list, then what will be the results of your actions?
Check Your Competitors For Similarities
It is a good solution to keep your eyes on your competitors and understand how they attract users. Be creative and select smart ways to choose a more interesting title than those and show them that you are a worthy opponent which created a remarkable app.
When you steal a name or part of it from app store you do more harm than good. That says all about your development skills. It is clear that the entire code of the app belongs to others in the same category. Be inventive and express your true value by highlighting your originality.
6. Share Around And Gather Reactions
If you understood our points so far, make a list with the names you think will describe perfectly your app and organize a meeting with your family and friends. An objective approach will help you to make the best decision in the moment you need to write your app name on store listing.
7. Stick With It!
After receiving the feedback from people you know and you decide a specific name for your app then keep it for life. If you keep changing it, you will create confusion and users won’t know the actual name of the amazing app that helps them so much. Namely, focus on these topics above and be patient to picking the right one rather than testing names too much on app stores.
Final Thoughts
Picking an app name is a very important step when submitting your app to the market. While Apple and Google have different rules, their main purpose is the same. They want to help users making the best decisions when they arrive in their app stores. A wise decision for naming your app will have a long term effect and it will convince more and more users to try your creation.
