$npx -y skills add rshankras/claude-code-apple-skills --skill keyword-optimizerOptimize app title, subtitle, and keywords for maximum App Store discoverability. Use when launching a new app, improving search rankings, entering new markets/languages, or safely optimizing ASO for an app with existing traffic.
| 1 | # Keyword Optimizer |
| 2 | |
| 3 | Optimize app title, subtitle, and keywords for maximum App Store discoverability. |
| 4 | |
| 5 | ## When This Skill Activates |
| 6 | |
| 7 | - User is launching a new app |
| 8 | - User wants to improve search rankings |
| 9 | - User asks about ASO (App Store Optimization) |
| 10 | - User is entering new markets/languages |
| 11 | - User wants to analyze keyword opportunities |
| 12 | - User needs safe optimization for existing apps |
| 13 | |
| 14 | ## Reference Files |
| 15 | |
| 16 | Before optimizing, load these reference materials: |
| 17 | |
| 18 | | File | Purpose | |
| 19 | |------|---------| |
| 20 | | **keyword-criteria.md** | Popularity/Difficulty sweet spots, opportunity scoring | |
| 21 | | **advanced-tactics.md** | Cross-localization, screenshot indexing, velocity boost | |
| 22 | | **existing-app-strategy.md** | Safe optimization for apps with existing traffic | |
| 23 | |
| 24 | ## Information Gathering |
| 25 | |
| 26 | Before optimizing, ask about: |
| 27 | |
| 28 | 1. **App Identity** |
| 29 | - What does the app do in one sentence? |
| 30 | - What category is it in? |
| 31 | - What's the current app name (if exists)? |
| 32 | |
| 33 | 2. **Target Keywords** |
| 34 | - What would users search to find this app? |
| 35 | - What problem words would they use? |
| 36 | - Any branded terms to include? |
| 37 | |
| 38 | 3. **Competition** |
| 39 | - Main competitors? |
| 40 | - What keywords do they target? |
| 41 | - Where can you realistically compete? |
| 42 | |
| 43 | 4. **Goals** |
| 44 | - Brand awareness vs. category traffic? |
| 45 | - Specific markets to prioritize? |
| 46 | |
| 47 | ## Keyword Strategy |
| 48 | |
| 49 | ### Where Keywords Count |
| 50 | |
| 51 | | Field | Limit | Weight | Notes | |
| 52 | |-------|-------|--------|-------| |
| 53 | | **App Name** | 30 chars | Highest | Most valuable real estate | |
| 54 | | **Subtitle** | 30 chars | High | Visible in search, below name | |
| 55 | | **Keywords** | 100 chars | Medium | Not visible to users | |
| 56 | | **Description** | 4000 chars | Low* | *Apple says indexed, debated | |
| 57 | |
| 58 | ### Keyword Types |
| 59 | |
| 60 | 1. **Branded** - Your app name, company name |
| 61 | 2. **Category** - Generic terms (e.g., "todo app", "weather") |
| 62 | 3. **Feature** - Specific functionality (e.g., "offline maps") |
| 63 | 4. **Problem** - User pain points (e.g., "forget tasks") |
| 64 | 5. **Long-tail** - Specific phrases (e.g., "minimalist habit tracker") |
| 65 | |
| 66 | ## Optimization Process |
| 67 | |
| 68 | ### Step 1: Keyword Research |
| 69 | |
| 70 | **Generate Initial List:** |
| 71 | ``` |
| 72 | 1. Brainstorm 50+ keywords |
| 73 | 2. What would YOU search for this app? |
| 74 | 3. Check competitor names/subtitles |
| 75 | 4. Use autocomplete suggestions |
| 76 | 5. Consider misspellings users make |
| 77 | ``` |
| 78 | |
| 79 | **Research Tools:** |
| 80 | - App Store Search Autocomplete |
| 81 | - AppFollow, Sensor Tower, AppTweak (paid) |
| 82 | - Google Keyword Planner (related terms) |
| 83 | - Competitor subtitle/keyword analysis |
| 84 | |
| 85 | ### Step 2: Prioritize Keywords |
| 86 | |
| 87 | Rate each keyword on: |
| 88 | |
| 89 | | Factor | Question | |
| 90 | |--------|----------| |
| 91 | | **Relevance** | Does it accurately describe your app? | |
| 92 | | **Volume** | Do people actually search this? | |
| 93 | | **Difficulty** | Can you realistically rank? | |
| 94 | | **Intent** | Will searchers want your app? | |
| 95 | |
| 96 | **Priority Matrix:** |
| 97 | ``` |
| 98 | High Volume + Low Difficulty = 🎯 Target First |
| 99 | High Volume + High Difficulty = 💪 Long-term Goal |
| 100 | Low Volume + Low Difficulty = ✅ Easy Wins |
| 101 | Low Volume + High Difficulty = ❌ Skip |
| 102 | ``` |
| 103 | |
| 104 | ### Step 3: Allocate Keywords |
| 105 | |
| 106 | **App Name (30 characters):** |
| 107 | ``` |
| 108 | [Brand Name] - [Top Keyword Phrase] |
| 109 | or |
| 110 | [Brand Name]: [Value Proposition] |
| 111 | |
| 112 | Examples: |
| 113 | "Notion - Notes & Docs" |
| 114 | "Calm: Sleep & Meditation" |
| 115 | "Fantastical - Calendar & Tasks" |
| 116 | ``` |
| 117 | |
| 118 | **Subtitle (30 characters):** |
| 119 | ``` |
| 120 | [Second Priority Keywords] / [Unique Value] |
| 121 | |
| 122 | Examples: |
| 123 | "Focus Timer & Daily Planner" |
| 124 | "Simple Habit Building" |
| 125 | "Weather Radar & Forecasts" |
| 126 | ``` |
| 127 | |
| 128 | **Keywords Field (100 characters):** |
| 129 | ``` |
| 130 | Rules: |
| 131 | - Comma-separated, NO spaces after commas |
| 132 | - No plurals (Apple handles it) |
| 133 | - No duplicates from name/subtitle |
| 134 | - No category name (already indexed) |
| 135 | - Single words perform better than phrases |
| 136 | |
| 137 | Example: |
| 138 | "timer,pomodoro,focus,concentration,study,productivity,work,session,break,technique" |
| 139 | ``` |
| 140 | |
| 141 | ## Character Optimization |
| 142 | |
| 143 | ### Maximize 100 Characters |
| 144 | |
| 145 | **Bad (wastes characters):** |
| 146 | ``` |
| 147 | task manager, todo list, productivity app, reminder app, checklist |
| 148 | ``` |
| 149 | |
| 150 | **Good (efficient):** |
| 151 | ``` |
| 152 | task,todo,productivity,reminder,checklist,planner,organize,gtd,schedule,daily |
| 153 | ``` |
| 154 | |
| 155 | **Savings:** |
| 156 | - Remove spaces after commas |
| 157 | - Don't repeat words in different forms |
| 158 | - Skip obvious words (app, free, best) |
| 159 | |
| 160 | ### Word Combinations |
| 161 | |
| 162 | Apple combines words from all fields: |
| 163 | |
| 164 | ``` |
| 165 | Name: "Focus Timer" |
| 166 | Subtitle: "Pomodoro Technique" |
| 167 | Keywords: "study,productivity,work,session" |
| 168 | |
| 169 | Searchable combinations: |
| 170 | - "focus timer" |
| 171 | - "pomodoro timer" |
| 172 | - "focus productivity" |
| 173 | - "study timer" |
| 174 | - "work focus" |
| 175 | (and more...) |
| 176 | ``` |
| 177 | |
| 178 | ## Cross-Field Deduplication |
| 179 | |
| 180 | Apple indexes words from **all three fields** for the same locale — a word only needs to appear **once**. If a word appears in Title, don't repeat it in Subtitle or Keywords; |