App Store Review Engagement Rate
What is App Store Review Engagement Rate?
The App Store Review Engagement Rate is calculated by considering the number of reviews and further interactions over a specific period relative to the number of app downloads.
It is ratio of total number reviews & review replies for the app in App store or Play store to the total number of app install for the given period.
For example for a period of 30 days, if the app generated 10,000 install and received 350 new reviews and review replies in that period, then the app store review engagement rate is 3.5%.
This rate is indicative of two things:
How actively users are providing feedback &
How the app developers are engaging with it.
Higher engagement rates lead to have better App Store visibility, higher app store conversion rate and an increased likelihood of higher overall ratings. Hence App Store Review Engagement Rate is an important factor in App store optimization.
Strategies to increase Engagement rate of App Store Reviews
These are some tried-and-tested strategies to enhance your App Store Review engagement:
Incentivize Reviews: Without violating App Store and play store policies, encourage users to leave a review through in-app incentives that add value to the experience of the store visitors. In the ride hailing app I have worked, we used to prompt the user to review the app after every five state rated ride. This helped improving our apps overall rating and review engagement rate.
Prompt and Personalized Responses: Engage with users by responding to their reviews promptly. Personalize your messages to show genuine care for their feedback.
Assign a dedicated Customer service associate: One of the most common type review we receive in the store is complaints about the app. We tend to leave them as it required addition effort from our end to resolve this. However it very important to resolve this as soon as possible. Hence assign a dedicated CS team member for review response.
Impact of Engagement on App Store Rating
The correlation between engagement and App Store rating is significant. Statistics reveal that apps with active review engagement strategies see a notable uplift in their ratings. This improvement is largely because users feel valued when developers acknowledge their feedback, often leading to a positive shift in their rating.
Success Stories of High Review Engagement
Numerous apps have witnessed the transformational impact of high review engagement rates. For instance, a popular productivity app reported a 0.3 increase in their App Store average rating within three months of implementing a focused review engagement plan.
Another app in the entertainment sector saw a 25% increase in daily downloads as their average rating crossed the 4.5 stars mark, attributed largely to improved review engagement.
The Algorithm Behind App Store Ratings
Understanding how App Store algorithms work is crucial for any developer aiming to increase their app's visibility. While the specifics of the algorithm are not public, it's widely accepted that the following factors play a key role:
Frequency and Recency of Reviews: Recent reviews carry more weight, encouraging continuous engagement and lead to high app store conversion rate.
Volume of Ratings and Reviews: A higher number of ratings and reviews can improve the credibility and ranking of the app.
Incorporating these aspects into your review engagement strategy can help in enhancing your App Store rating.
Approach to App Store Reviews for ASO
Leverage Keywords: Naturally integrate keywords like into responses to reviews. This helps in improve the playstore organic ranking for those keywords
Response Time: The speed at which you respond to reviews can influence future engagement.
Sentiment Analysis: Gauge the tone of reviews and address any widespread concerns highlighted by users.
By harnessing the power of data analytics, you can refine your engagement strategies to meet user expectations and boost your overall rating.