was wondering how significant is backlinking when it comes to ASO, does that help the ranking or just visibility and exposure?
Backlinking can significantly influence App Store Optimization (ASO), though its impact differs slightly from SEO (Search Engine Optimization) in web contexts. Here's how backlinking plays a role in ASO:
1. Rankings on Search Engines (Web ASO)
Backlinks contribute more directly to app rankings on search engines (Google, Bing, etc.) rather than app store rankings. Here's why:
When high-quality websites link to your app's download page or app store listing, it boosts your app’s domain authority in search engines.
This helps your app appear higher in web search results, potentially driving more organic traffic to your app store page.
2. Visibility and Exposure (Indirect ASO Impact)
While backlinks don't directly influence in-app search rankings (like keywords, reviews, and downloads), they contribute to visibility by:
Increasing the chances of users discovering your app via external links on blogs, social media, or relevant articles.
Improving referral traffic to your app store page, potentially increasing downloads — which directly improves app store rankings.
3. Backlink Quality Matters
For backlinks to positively impact ASO, they must be:
Relevant: Links from sites within your app’s niche or industry are more valuable.
Authoritative: Links from high DA (domain authority) sites carry more weight than spammy or low-quality links.
Diverse: A mix of backlinks from blogs, app review websites, and social media platforms shows a natural link-building pattern.
4. Impact on Keyword Optimization
Backlinks can also help boost your app's ranking for specific keywords, especially if the anchor text used in the backlinks includes relevant keywords for your app.
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Conclusion
Backlinking helps with visibility and exposure, which indirectly boosts ASO performance by driving traffic and downloads. However, it doesn't directly affect rankings within app stores like Google Play or the Apple App Store, where factors like keyword optimization, downloads, reviews, and user engagement have more weight.
For a well-rounded ASO strategy, use backlinking as a supplementary effort to drive external traffic while focusing on core ASO metrics within the app store.
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