Founders launching a new app
A pre-launch or just-launched app has no ranking history. We research keywords and write the title, subtitle and description so the listing targets realistic search terms from day one.
For app owners who want fixed-scope app store optimization for the Apple App Store and Google Play, with monthly reporting on what changed and what moved.
Quick answer
The best app store optimization services cover keyword research, title and subtitle copy, screenshot and icon recommendations, and regular reporting for the Apple App Store and Google Play. Pugmarks Media offers ASO packages with a written scope agreed before listing changes go live, and monthly reporting on what changed.
01Overview
An ASO package is a fixed-scope bundle of app store optimization work, covering keyword research, listing copy, visuals and reporting, so more of the people who search the Apple App Store or Google Play find your app and install it. Choosing the best app store optimization services mostly means choosing a scope that fits your app, stores and markets.
ASO stands for app store optimization. It is to app stores what SEO is to web search: you change what the listing says and shows so the store understands the app and users choose it.
A package sets out the work in advance. Instead of open-ended hours, you agree which stores, which locales and which deliverables are covered, and what you will receive each month.
Here is a concrete example. A budgeting app is titled only with its brand name. Keyword research shows people search for phrases like "expense tracker" and "monthly budget planner." The package would test a title and subtitle that include those terms, rewrite the Google Play short description, and suggest screenshots that show the tracking screen first.
Each store works differently. Apple has a dedicated keyword field and limits on title and subtitle length. Google Play reads the long description for relevance. Our guide on App Store vs Play Store ASO explains the differences in more detail.
Packages suit teams that want a defined scope and regular reporting. If you first want to see where your listing stands, an ASO audit is a common starting point.
02Fit
A pre-launch or just-launched app has no ranking history. We research keywords and write the title, subtitle and description so the listing targets realistic search terms from day one.
Product and growth teams whose downloads have stalled get an audit of metadata, visuals and ratings, then a prioritized fix list for the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Marketers paying for traffic or earning impressions see few installs. We review icon, screenshots and preview video and suggest tests to improve listing conversion.
Companies entering new countries or languages need locale-specific keywords and copy. Packages cover the stores and markets you name in the written scope.
Small teams with developers but no store specialist get keyword research, listing updates and monthly reporting without hiring a full-time role.
Brands with a website and an app can have web SEO and app store work handled by one team, so keywords and messaging stay consistent.
03Scope
04Process
6 steps. You always know what's next.
The same path for every engagement.
11 day (estimate)
We talk through your app, target markets, stores and goals. You share store account access, current listings and any analytics. You receive a short summary of scope and open questions. Timings are estimates.
2About 1 week (estimate)
We review metadata, icon, screenshots, ratings and competitors on the Apple App Store and Google Play. You provide read access to store consoles. You receive a prioritized list of gaps and quick fixes.
31-2 weeks (estimate)
We build keyword sets for each store, grouped by relevance and intent, and check them against your category. You confirm brand terms and exclusions. You receive a keyword map for each listing.
42-3 days (estimate)
We turn findings into a work plan covering metadata, creative recommendations and tests. You review and approve it. You receive the signed-off scope, so no listing change goes live without your agreement.
52-4 weeks (estimate)
We rewrite titles, subtitles or short descriptions, keyword fields and long descriptions, and brief your designers on icon and screenshot changes. You approve copy and supply assets. You receive final, store-ready text.
6Monthly, ongoing
We run listing tests where the store supports them, track keyword positions and installs, and adjust. You receive a monthly report on what changed and what moved, plus recommended next actions.
05Deliverables
| Deliverable | What it is | Cadence | Starts in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery call summary | Short written scope covering app, stores, markets, goals and open questions | One-time | Day 1 (estimate) |
| Listing audit | Review of metadata, icon, screenshots, ratings and competitors, with a prioritized fix list | One-time | Week 1 (estimate) |
| Keyword research | Keyword sets per store, grouped by relevance and intent | Quarterly refresh | Weeks 1-2 (estimate) |
| Metadata rewrite | Title, subtitle or short description, keyword field and long description for each store | One-time, then as needed | After scope approval |
| Creative recommendations | Notes on icon, screenshots and preview video, plus test ideas | Quarterly | After audit |
| Ratings and review guidance | Advice on prompting reviews and replying to them | Monthly | After scope approval |
| Competitor tracking | Check of how comparable apps change their listings and keywords | Monthly | After keyword research |
| Performance report | Summary of changes made and how impressions and installs moved | Monthly | First full month after changes |
| Strategy review | Call to review results and agree the next work plan | Quarterly | End of first quarter |
06Compare
Swipe to compare →
| Criteria | In-house | Typical agency | Pugmarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time to start | Depends on hiring and training | Depends on contract and onboarding queue | Discovery call, then audit, then agreed work plan |
| Specialisation | One or few generalists across channels | Varies by agency and account team | ASO work backed by a team of 25+ SEO specialists |
| Reporting | Set by your own internal process | Varies; often monthly or quarterly | Monthly reporting on changes made and results |
| Cost model | Salaries, tools and management time | Retainer or project fee | Fixed-scope package; see pricing page |
| Risk | Single-person dependency; knowledge loss if they leave | Scope can be vague without a written plan | Written scope agreed before listing changes go live |
| Flexibility | High control, limited capacity | Depends on contract terms | Scope set by stores, locales and apps covered |
07Cost
The cost of an ASO package depends on scope: how many apps and stores are covered, how many languages or locales are optimized, and how competitive your category is. A single app in one market needs less work than several apps across many markets. To get a quote, share your app, stores and target markets through our contact page, or see the pricing page for how we structure fees.
Package prices are published so you can compare before you call.
See all packages08Proof
Only results our clients have approved for publication. No made-up logos or numbers.
FAQ
Ask us directly. We reply with honest next steps, even if that means we're not the right fit.
Ask our teamThe best app store optimization services include keyword research per store, metadata rewrites, creative recommendations for icon and screenshots, and regular reporting. Scope should be written down before any listing changes go live. Ask any provider to show how they separate Apple App Store work from Google Play work, because the two stores rank apps differently.
Choose by scope clarity, reporting and store-specific experience rather than by promises. Ask what is delivered each month, who does the work, and how changes are measured. Review case studies and client reviews where available. A vague scope or a guaranteed ranking is a warning sign.
An agency can handle ASO without you buying a tool, because keyword tracking and listing analysis are part of the service. Tools help track rankings and competitors, but they do not write copy or decide priorities. If you already use one, share access so our team can work from your existing data.
Listing changes can be live within a few weeks, but their effect on installs usually takes longer to read. Store algorithms need time to re-index metadata, and conversion changes need enough traffic to judge. Timings are estimates and results are not guaranteed. Monthly reporting shows what changed and what moved.
ASO package cost depends on scope: the number of apps, stores, languages or locales, and how competitive your category is. One app in one market needs less work than several apps across many markets. Tell us about your app through the contact page, or see the pricing page for how fees are structured.
No, ASO and SEO are related but separate. SEO improves how a website appears in web search, while ASO improves how an app appears and converts inside app stores. Both rely on keyword research and clear copy. Companies offering both, like ours, can align web and app search terms.
Yes, keyword handling differs by store. Apple uses the title, subtitle and a hidden keyword field, while Google Play reads the title, short description and long description. Each listing therefore needs its own keyword set. Our guide to App Store vs Play Store ASO explains the differences.
Yes, a pilot is available. It is a short, fixed-scope project with scope, deliverables and timeline agreed in writing up front, and no obligation to continue afterward. An ASO audit is another low-commitment way to see how we work before choosing a package.
Get in touch
Share your app, stores and target markets, and we will walk you through a written scope after a discovery call. No listing changes go live until you have approved the plan.