Venkatesh C.R. is the Managing Director and CEO of Dot Com Infoway, one of India’s premier IT services company and Chairman of GMASA.
Here’s what Venkatesh C.R had to say about his company and app SEO:
Please tell us about your organisation and products/services that you offer?
Global Mobile App Summit & Awards (GMASA) is a mobile app summit and awards program that brings together thought leaders and developers of the next generation of the mobile industry.
GMASA brings together various stakeholders from the mobile app industry on to a single platform besides recognizing and awarding the best mobile apps.
According to you, what role does SEO plays in App indexing?
With app indexing giving Google access to an app’s deep content, the competition for apps ranking high in Google mobile SERPs has been blown wide open. Back when Google merely indexed the app landing pages, ASO played the key role in increasing an app’s discovery. However, Google’s newest move has significantly altered app discovery and the onus must be shared by both SEO and ASO.
Currently, Google’s app indexing relies on web parity to index deep content, wherein all deep links on the app should have a corresponding web page. SEOs, therefore, can boost chances of higher rankings for apps by inserting corresponding deep-linked screens in the website schema and XML sitemap.
However, in time, Google will move away from its dependence on web parity, to enable apps that do not have a corresponding website to be indexed as well. The trend has already began to make its way into the SERPs. For now, mobile and traditional SEO are highly important for an app’s position on the mobile SERPs.
What are primary and secondary factors of ASO?
When it comes to App Store Optimization, the title of your app and the relevant keywords are the key factors that can influence your app’s ranking. Marketers and publishers should take the time to thoroughly research a title that will serve a dual purpose of being unique, while also conveying what their app is all about. And once they have found one, they need to make it stick. Constantly altering or modifying a title can seriously set your app’s rankings back.
When it comes to the keywords, keep the app store constraints in mind. The Apple and Google stores have different character constraints for the titles and descriptions. So, due care must be taken in writing titles and descriptions that are concise enough without resorting to keyword stuffing.
The other factors that can influence ASO are the reviews and ratings, and the number of downloads of your app. Having a working app that does exactly what it says on the tin without any errors or bugs means you’re guaranteed to garner the satisfaction of your users. So, the higher the ratings and number of reviews, the higher your ranking.
How are mobile apps revolutionizing the business?
With the latest trends tending towards increasing mobile usage and surges in mobile device sales, businesses are already seeing sharp upsurges of activity and usage on their mobile applications and mobile websites. Thanks to the convenience and efficiency afforded by mobility, businesses can capitalize on it by making their services available anywhere and at any time. Whether it’s through targeted push notifications or improved customer service and support, businesses can keep their customers constantly engaged and interested, maximizing their chances of increased revenue and sales.
Also with the advent of Internet of Things (IoT) and wearables, the mobile landscape is evolving beyond the smartphone. Augmented user dependence on these technologies has provided further opportunities for businesses to explore.
Do you think mobile apps are a replacement for websites?
Not entirely. There are definitely niches where the mobile app will eventually, and has already, overtaken websites. Mobile e-commerce being one such niche. Additionally, with the development of HTML5 applications, we can expect to see a shift in terms of an app’s accessibility to its audience owing to cross-platform compatibility. That being said, websites and web-based applications still have a strong foothold because when it comes to providing shareable content and information resources, websites still win out. On the other hand, when it comes to interactivity for specific purposes, apps seem to be gaining on websites.
What ASO techniques you recommend using and which ones seem to be working better right now?
As stated before, the key techniques in ASO is ensuring that your App title concise enough to fit in your main keyword, while retaining its uniqueness. The title should be your main focus; your description on the other hand need not be long, nor does it need to be stuffed to the brim with keywords. Short descriptions that are readable work best.
But, it should go without saying that, the optimization techniques should be applied during the initial app design and development phases to ensure that your app’s launch is set off at an advantage.
What are the Best Appstore Optimisation (ASO) Tools?
Some of the best app store optimization tools include AppAnnie, Sensor Tower, AppCod.es, MobileDevHQ and Distimo
Please share a few words about GMASA
The Global Mobile App Awards and Summit is a global event that brings the world’s leading minds and thought leaders of the mobile industry under one roof. Our upcoming event, which will be held in Bangalore, India on 6th and 7th July, 2016 is a two-day event packed with keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops. The other focus of the event is the Awards show where the best apps in a total of 19 categories will be felicitated at an Awards show. Submissions are already pouring in and we are truly excited to see who will take the prizes home. Mobile app developers and publishers can submit their apps here.
In addition, the event will also include a Startup Pitch Fest where budding entrepreneurs and innovators can submit their app idea or concept. Shortlisted entries will pitch their app to a panel of judges, and the winners will earn a number of advantages including the opportunity to connect with potential investors.
