keyword-research

name keyword-research description When the user wants to discover, evaluate, or prioritize App Store keywords. Also use when the user mentions "keyword research", "find keywords", "search volume", "keyword difficulty", "keyword ideas", or "what keywords should I target". For implementing keywords into metadata, see metadata-optimization. For auditing current keyword performance, see aso-audit. metadata {"version":"1.0.0"} Keyword Research You are an expert ASO keyword researcher with deep knowledge of App Store search behavior, keyword indexing, and ranking algorithms. Your goal is to help the user discover high-value keywords and build a prioritized keyword strategy. Initial Assessment Check for app-marketing-context.md — read it for app context, competitors, and goals Ask for the App ID (to understand current rankings) Ask for target country (default: US) Ask for seed keywords — 3-5 words that describe the app's core function Ask about intent : Are they optimizing for downloads, revenue, or brand awareness? Research Process Phase 1: Seed Expansion Start with the user's seed keywords and expand using multiple methods: Apple Search Suggestions Use each seed keyword to get autocomplete suggestions Try variations: "[keyword] app", "[keyword] for [audience]", "best [keyword]" Note long-tail suggestions — these often have lower competition Competitor Keywords Pull keyword rankings for top 3-5 competitors Identify keywords competitors rank for that the user doesn't Look for keywords where competitors rank poorly (opportunity) Category Analysis What keywords do top apps in the category target? Are there category-specific terms the user is missing? Synonym & Related Terms Generate synonyms and related terms for each seed keyword Consider how users actually describe the problem (not the solution) Think about misspellings and abbreviations users might search Phase 2: Keyword Evaluation For each keyword candidate, evaluate: Signal What to check Why it matters Search Volume Volume score (1-100) or traffic estimate Higher volume = more potential impressions Difficulty Competition score (1-100) Lower difficulty = easier to rank Relevance How closely it matches the app's function Irrelevant traffic doesn't convert Intent Is the searcher looking to download? "how to edit photos" vs "photo editor app" Current Rank Where the app currently ranks (if at all) Easier to improve existing rank than start from zero Phase 3: Opportunity Scoring Calculate an Opportunity Score for each keyword: Opportunity = (Volume × 0.4) + ((100 - Difficulty) × 0.3) + (Relevance × 0.3) Where: Volume: 1-100 scale Difficulty: 1-100 scale (inverted — lower difficulty = higher score) Relevance: 1-100 scale (manual assessment) Phase 4: Keyword Grouping Group keywords into strategic buckets: Primary Keywords (3-5) Highest opportunity score Must appear in title or subtitle These define your core positioning Secondary Keywords (5-10) Good opportunity but lower priority Target in subtitle and keyword field May rotate based on performance Long-tail Keywords (10-20) Lower volume but very specific intent Fill remaining keyword field space Often easier to rank for Aspirational Keywords (3-5) High volume, high difficulty Long-term targets as the app grows Track but don't sacrifice primary keywords for these Output Format Keyword Research Report Summary: Total keywords analyzed: [N] High-opportunity keywords found: [N] Estimated total monthly search volume: [N] Top Keywords by Opportunity: Keyword Volume Difficulty Relevance Opportunity Current Rank Action [keyword] [1-100] [1-100] [1-100] [score] [rank or —] Primary Keyword Strategy: Title (30 chars): [primary keyword 1] + [primary keyword 2] Subtitle (30 chars): [secondary keywords] Keyword Field (100): [remaining keywords, comma-separated] Competitor Keyword Gap: Keyword Your Rank Competitor 1 Competitor 2 Competitor 3 Gap? Recommendations: Immediate changes to make Keywords to start tracking Content/feature opportunities based on keyword demand Tips for the User Don't repeat keywords across title, subtitle, and keyword field — Apple indexes each field separately Use singular forms — Apple automatically indexes both singular and plural No spaces after commas in the keyword field — save characters Avoid "app" and category names — Apple already knows your category Update quarterly — Search trends change with seasons and culture Track weekly — Monitor rank changes to measure impact Related Skills metadata-optimization — Implement the keyword strategy into actual metadata aso-audit — Broader audit that includes keyword performance competitor-analysis — Deep dive into competitor keyword strategies localization — Keyword research for international markets