![Gaming App: use SEO so everyone can find you on internet [SEO checklist]](http://onlineyougrow.com/cdn/shop/articles/cov-seo-checklist-2_108e0d0e-fce6-479f-a6a7-cc0424d4f4c6.png?v=1715867392&width=1100)
SEO isn't just for tech giants and e-commerce sites—it's a game-changer that the top gaming apps use strategically to attract more players.
We understand that you're busy developing and managing your gaming app, and the idea of optimizing your app store listing might feel like an extra hassle.
But here's the thing: you don't need to be an SEO guru or invest a ton of money to see results. Just a few simple steps can significantly boost your app's visibility and bring more players to your game.
To assist you, we've created a free SEO checklist - and for a comprehensive action plan, please check out our pack of marketing tactics and strategies for gaming app developers.
Get the SEO checklist made for gaming app developers
The best gaming apps rank first on Google. Here is a free tool to to get you started.
What is SEO for gaming apps exactly?
Simply put, SEO is all about making your gaming app more attractive to search engines like Google.
When someone searches for "best puzzle games" or "top multiplayer games," SEO helps your app show up in the results. The goal is to get your app higher up on the search results page so more people can find and download it.
Why is SEO Important for Gaming Apps?
SEO is incredibly important for gaming apps, and here’s why:
- Increased Online Visibility:
The higher your app ranks on search engines, the more people will see it. This means more potential players discovering your game online, especially when they're looking for new games to try.
- Higher Rankings on Search Engines:
Most people don’t look past the first page of search results. By optimizing your app's page, you can climb those rankings and beat out the competition. Imagine someone searching for "best strategy games" and finding your app right at the top!
- Attracting More Targeted Users:
SEO isn't just about getting anyone to your app—it's about getting the right players. Local SEO helps ensure that when someone nearby searches for a game, your app pops up. This means more downloads and more engaged players.
Key Components of SEO
Now, let’s break down the main parts of SEO specifically for your gaming app:
On-Page SEO
This involves making sure the content on your app's page is optimized. It includes things like:
- Keywords:
Using the words and phrases people are searching for in your titles, descriptions, and content. For example, if your game is a puzzle game, make sure you use phrases like "best puzzle game" or "challenging puzzles" on your app's page.
- Content Quality:
Providing useful, engaging, and fresh content about your game. Share game features, updates, upcoming events, and stories about your development team.
- Meta Tags:
Using meta titles and descriptions that are relevant and appealing to searchers. For instance, a meta description for your app could be "Experience the ultimate puzzle challenge with [Your Game Name], the top-rated puzzle game on the app store."
Off-Page SEO
This focuses on actions taken outside your app's page to impact your rankings:
- Backlinks:
Getting other reputable websites to link to your app's page, which signals to search engines that your app is trustworthy and relevant. This could be from gaming blogs, review sites, or community forums.
- Social Media:
Being active on social media with your app’s page can drive traffic to your app and improve your online presence. Share game updates, player reviews, and special events to engage with your audience.
Technical SEO
This ensures your app's page meets the technical requirements of search engines:
- Page Speed:
Making sure your app's page loads quickly. No one likes to wait, especially gamers eager to download and start playing!
- Mobile-Friendliness:
Ensuring your app's page looks and works well on mobile devices. Many people search for games on their phones while on the go.
- Secure Website (HTTPS):
Having a secure website that users (and search engines) can trust. This is especially important if you have in-app purchases or user accounts.
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Which keywords should you target for your gaming app?
Game developers, like you, must target specific keywords in SEO because it helps your app appear in search results when potential players look for the type of gaming experience you offer. This increases the chances that people will find and download your game.
For example, if you specialize in puzzle games, targeting keywords like "best puzzle game" or "puzzle games for mobile" helps attract players searching for those terms. This makes it easier for people interested in puzzle gaming to find your app online.
Here are some keyword ideas for you. If you want a more developed strategy with actionable steps, go check out our strategy pack for game developers.
| Keyword | Competitiveness Level | Tips and Initiatives |
|---|---|---|
| Best [Game Genre] game | High | Optimize your app store listing with high-quality screenshots, gather user reviews, and use ASO (App Store Optimization) strategies. |
| Top [Game Genre] games | Medium | Create blog posts or pages on your website highlighting your game, use keywords naturally in content, and engage with gaming bloggers. |
| Fun [Game Genre] games | Medium | Use engaging imagery and videos of your game, gather positive user reviews, and ensure your app store profile is complete. |
| Best [Game Genre] for mobile | Medium | Feature specific game types prominently on your app store page (e.g., puzzle, action), use ASO tactics, and promote updates on social media. |
| [Game Genre] game for Android/iOS | High | Highlight unique aspects of your game, create SEO-friendly content about your gameplay, and engage with the gaming community online. |
| Top-rated [Game Genre] game | High | Encourage satisfied players to leave positive reviews, optimize your app for mobile, and ensure accurate information on app store listings. |
| Free [Game Genre] game | Low | Highlight free features and in-app purchases on your app store page, use keywords related to value, and promote deals on social media. |
| Where to find [Game Genre] games | Medium | Use ASO strategies, create content around popular game features, and ensure your app is optimized for mobile users searching nearby. |
| Popular [Game Genre] games | Medium | Use social media to share popular game features, engage with gaming influencers, and gather user testimonials to build credibility. |
| Best [Game Genre] for families | Low | Create family-friendly content, highlight features for families on your app store page, and host family-themed events to generate buzz. |
What really matters when you do SEO for a gaming app
Actually, we think that SEO often follows the 80/20 rule, meaning that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. For gaming app developers, like you, this means it's crucial to focus on the right strategies to maximize impact without feeling overwhelmed.
| Action / Initiative | Why It Matters / How It Helps Bring New Users |
|---|---|
| Optimize App Store Listing | Ensures your app appears in relevant search results, provides essential information (description, screenshots, ratings), and collects reviews to build trust. |
| Gather and respond to user reviews | Positive reviews build credibility and trust. Responding to reviews shows you value user feedback, encouraging more people to download and play. |
| Create high-quality content with targeted keywords | Helps your app rank higher in search results for relevant queries, attracting users looking for specific types of games or features. |
| Optimize for local SEO | Ensures your app shows up in local searches (e.g., "games near me"), driving downloads from nearby potential users. |
| Ensure app is mobile-friendly | Most users search for and download apps on their phones. A mobile-friendly app provides a better user experience, leading to higher engagement and retention. |
| Use high-quality images and videos of gameplay | Attractive visuals entice potential users, showcasing your game's graphics and features, which can significantly influence their decision to download. |
| Include a detailed app description with keywords | Allows search engines to index your app, helping you appear in searches for specific game genres or features, and makes it easy for users to understand what you offer. |
| List your app on gaming directories | Increases your online presence and backlinks, improving your search engine ranking and making it easier for users to find you. |
| Engage with gaming bloggers and influencers | Generates buzz and word-of-mouth, reaching a wider audience and attracting users who trust these gaming voices. |
| Promote special events and in-game offers | Creates a sense of urgency and excitement, encouraging potential users to download your app for unique experiences. |
| Utilize social media to share updates and engage with users | Builds a community around your app, keeps users informed about new features, and drives traffic to your app store listing. |
| Ensure accurate and consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information across all platforms | Prevents confusion, helps search engines trust your app information, and improves your local SEO ranking. |
| Offer in-app purchases and rewards | Makes it convenient for users to enhance their gaming experience, leading to increased engagement and revenue. |
| Create blog posts about your game and user experience | Attracts visitors to your site through informative and engaging content, improving SEO and showcasing what makes your game unique. |
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What is always useless when you do SEO for a gaming app
We have studied a lot of gaming apps when we built our strategy pack and we saw a lot of SEO-related initiatives that don't help attract new users. We explain here why they might be a waste of time or even counterproductive.
| Action / Initiative | Why It Doesn't Matter / How It Doesn't Help Bring New Users |
|---|---|
| Using meta keyword tags | Search engines no longer use meta keyword tags to rank pages, so focusing on them doesn't improve SEO for your gaming app. |
| Keyword stuffing in app descriptions | Overusing keywords in app descriptions makes them hard to read and can be penalized by search engines, turning away potential users. |
| Paying for backlinks from unrelated websites | Backlinks from non-gaming related or low-quality websites don't improve your SEO and can even hurt your ranking if considered spammy by search engines. |
| Using exact match domains like bestgamingapp.com | Having an exact match domain has minimal impact on SEO and can appear spammy, especially if it doesn't reflect your brand well. |
| Creating multiple pages for the same game features | Duplicate content confuses search engines and can dilute your SEO efforts. Focus on one high-quality page for each unique feature or topic. |
| Using Flash for game previews or tutorials | Flash is outdated, not supported by many devices, and negatively impacts SEO. Modern alternatives like HTML5 should be used instead. |
| Focusing only on desktop optimization | Many users search for gaming apps on mobile devices. Ignoring mobile optimization leads to poor user experience and lower search rankings. |
| Using automated link-building tools | These tools often create low-quality or spammy links that can be penalized by search engines, hurting your gaming app's SEO efforts. |
| Ignoring structured data for app features | Structured data helps search engines understand your app better. Ignoring it means missing out on potential SEO benefits like rich snippets. |
| Not updating your app content regularly | Outdated content can frustrate users and harm your SEO. Regular updates keep content relevant and maintain search rankings. |
| Using irrelevant stock photos on your site | Low-quality or irrelevant images can negatively impact user experience and SEO. Use high-quality screenshots and visuals of your actual game. |
| Over-optimizing anchor text in links | Using exact match keywords for every link appears unnatural and can be penalized by search engines. Use varied, natural anchor text instead. |
| Ignoring page load speed for your website | Slow-loading pages frustrate users and can lead to higher bounce rates, negatively impacting your gaming app's SEO. Ensure your site loads quickly. |
| Using too many ads above the fold on your homepage | Too many ads at the top of the page can be off-putting for users and may be penalized by search engines, impacting your SEO negatively. |
Should you pay someone for the SEO of your gaming app?
Well, we will be transparent. Here’s the thing: SEO can get pretty complex, and having some support can really make a difference. Imagine trying to juggle developing your gaming app, managing updates, keeping users engaged, and then on top of that, diving into the world of search engine optimization. It’s a lot, right?
Having someone handle your SEO means you can focus on what you do best—creating and improving your gaming app. SEO experts know the ins and outs of getting your app to rank higher on search engines and app stores. They stay updated on the latest trends and algorithms, which means your app will be optimized correctly and consistently. This can lead to more people finding your app online, and ultimately, more downloads and active users.
- But here’s the kicker: there are a lot of low-hanging fruits in SEO that you can tackle on your own, even if you don’t know much about it.
You will find a lot of low-hanging fruits that cost nothing, are quick to implement, and will make your gaming app much more visible in strategy pack for app developers.
Simple actions like optimizing your app store listing, ensuring your app is mobile-friendly, and using relevant keywords can significantly improve your online presence. These tasks don't require deep technical knowledge but can make a big impact.
So, should you increase the marketing budget of your gaming app and pay someone to manage your SEO? If you can do it, it’s a worthwhile investment. But don't underestimate what you can achieve on your own. Start with the basics, see the results, and then decide if you need more specialized help.
Make your gaming app more profitable
We have studied the strategies of the best gaming apps in the world. All their tactics are explained in our pack!
Useful tools gaming app developers can use for their SEO
Here are some essential tools that our team has collected and listed, to help you enhance your gaming app's online presence and SEO.
| Tool | How It's Useful |
|---|---|
| Google My Business | Ensures your gaming app appears in local search results and Google Maps, provides essential information (hours, location, app details), and collects user reviews. |
| SEMrush | Helps identify the best keywords for your gaming app, analyze competitors, and track your search rankings. Provides insights to improve your content and visibility. |
| Yext | Manages your gaming app's listings across multiple directories, ensuring consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information to boost local SEO. |
| Google Search Console | Monitors your gaming app's website performance, identifies issues, and provides data on search traffic and keywords to optimize your SEO strategy. |
| Yelp | Collects user reviews and ratings, which improve your gaming app's online reputation and visibility in local search results. |
| BrightLocal | Offers tools for local SEO audits, citation building, and review management, helping your gaming app improve its local search presence. |
| Moz | Provides keyword research, link building, and site audit tools to enhance your gaming app's SEO efforts and improve search engine rankings. |
| Ahrefs | Analyzes your gaming app's backlink profile, identifies top-performing content, and tracks keyword rankings to boost your SEO strategy. |
| Screaming Frog SEO Spider | Crawls your gaming app's website to identify technical SEO issues, such as broken links and duplicate content, helping improve site health and rankings. |
| AnswerThePublic | Generates content ideas by showing what people are searching for related to your gaming app, helping you create relevant and engaging blog posts and pages. |
| Canva | Helps create visually appealing social media posts and graphics for your website, which can improve user engagement and indirectly boost SEO. |
| Hotjar | Provides insights into user behavior on your gaming app's website through heatmaps and session recordings, helping you optimize user experience and reduce bounce rates. |
Copy the SEO tactics of the best gaming app developers
We understand why many game developers might shy away from SEO and marketing.
Developing a game is already a full-time job, and the concept of SEO can seem vague and foreign. The terminology can be confusing, and it often feels like marketing is a luxury only big corporations can afford.
Plus, there's the constant worry about costs and whether any marketing efforts will actually pay off. We get that you prefer to focus on immediate, tangible improvements to your game rather than dive into something that seems complicated and uncertain. No need to deteriorate your game's budget here.
That's why we've created a "marketing pack" specifically for game developers like you.
Our pack is designed to address all these concerns head-on. It includes easy-to-follow guides that break down SEO and marketing into simple steps, so you don't need to be a tech expert to understand. We offer cost-effective strategies that fit within tight budgets, and our step-by-step plans ensure that you can implement a good marketing strategy for your game without feeling overwhelmed.
Plus, we've included real-life examples and tips that have worked for other indie game developers, so you can see the tangible benefits before you even start.
Our goal is to make marketing accessible and practical, helping your game thrive without adding extra stress to your already busy life.
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