Here's how you can use app store ratings and reviews to assess a mobile application's success.

To help with App Store Optimization and drive user growth to Mobile Apps App Store Ratings are important and they play a critical role in app discovery. Ratings and reviews appear on app listing page and influence how app ranks in search results. According to Alchemer and other notable App Surveys 75% + of users check ratings/reviews before downloading an app.

As a Mobile App Developer, leveraging app store ratings and reviews is crucial for assessing app success. A high average rating indicates user satisfaction, but don't forget to consider the quantity of ratings. A 4-star app with thousands of reviews holds more weight than one with just a few. Take the time to read and respond to feedback to continuously improve your app and attract more users. Focus on delivering value and quality to maintain a positive rating and drive success in the competitive mobile app industry.

The overall star rating is a quick snapshot of how users feel about your app. Consistently high ratings indicate satisfaction, while low ratings can highlight issues that need immediate attention.

Your app’s rating is essential for conversion. It’s shown in search results, on the product page, and outside the App Store, e.g. in Google Search results and in-app ads. Research actually shows that up to 90% of users check ratings before downloading apps. However, contrary to what you might think, the exact star rating is less important to users, they look at the number of ratings for social proof. As long as the rating is “ok”, like >4 stars, they’re fine with it/don’t care. Users view of ratings is really funny, and explains why apps crossing "1k" ratings often see their CVR increase. It simply looks better than 934 ratings.

Reviews are more than just star ratings & user comments. They are a treasure trove of info, providing insights into user experiences, app performance, and potential areas for improvement. Google Play Console "Reviews analysis" involves examining these reviews to extract valuable data. This data can help developers enhance their apps and fine-tune their strategies. Reviews Analysis have different sections. In the "Highlights" section, you'll see terms & user quotes that surface regularly in reviews. In the "Benchmarks and topics" section, you can see how users review your app in relation to specific categories. In the "Updated Ratings" section, you'll see how users have updated their ratings and reviews over the time period.

Analyzing app store ratings and reviews is crucial for understanding user sentiment and guiding future improvements. Look for common themes in feedback to identify areas for enhancement and to showcase strengths in marketing campaigns. Reviews provide real-world insights for users to make informed decisions before downloading.

Dive into the written reviews for detailed user feedback. Look for common themes or recurring issues that users mention, which can give insights into areas for improvement or highlight what’s working well.

The best way to assess sentiment in reviews on App Store or Google Play is to use a "sentiment word cloud", which is a common feature available in most app intelligence tools, like AppTweak. You can also look for trending mentions, that is, specific positive or negative keywords that are being mentioned more than normal in the last whatever timeframe. This is a great way to get ahead of potential issues or spot features users love early.

Monitor changes in ratings and reviews after app updates. If an update resolves major issues or adds desired features, you should see an improvement in user feedback. This helps you gauge the impact of your updates.

The important thing to remember is that a reply is more important than what the reply says. Sure, you should aim to reply to what the user is actually saying, but back-and-forth conversations should be referred to your support email or similar. Try to just thank users for using your app and/or leaving a review, regardless of if it's positive or negative. Your reply rate should be >90%. Why though? Because users you reply to change their star rating more often than not. At ASOgency, one of our clients with a Google Play app saw every review that was replied to on Google Play receive an updated rating, by +1.2 stars on average.

Compare reviews across different versions of your app. This helps identify if specific updates have positively or negatively influenced user perception and can guide future development decisions.

Users often comment on specific features. Use this feedback to understand which features are most valued and which might need enhancement or removal. Direct user suggestions can be a goldmine for future updates.

Positive reviews that highlight ease of use, functionality, and overall satisfaction are strong indicators of success. High ratings accompanied by detailed positive feedback suggest your app is meeting user needs effectively.

Look beyond just the ratings and reviews. Analyze user engagement metrics, retention rates, and other analytics to get a comprehensive view of your app's performance. Additionally, respond to reviews to show users that you value their feedback and are committed to improving their experience.