How to Check Keyword Rankings
How to Check Keyword Rankings
Learn how to find and track which keywords your app ranks for in the Shopify App Store search.
What Are Keyword Rankings?
When merchants search the Shopify App Store (e.g., "email marketing", "inventory management"), apps appear in ranked
order. Your position for each keyword affects:
- Discoverability: How easily merchants find you
- Search Traffic: Volume from search results
- Install Rate: Better positions = more installs
- Competitive Edge: Outrank competitors for key terms
Browsing All Keywords
Access Keywords Page
1. Click "Keywords" in the main navigation
2. You'll see a table of all tracked keywords
Keywords Table
Columns:
- Keyword: The search term
- Apps: Number of apps ranking for it
- Avg. Rating: Average rating of ranking apps
- Total Reviews: Combined reviews of all apps
- Avg. Reviews/App: Average per app
- Last Updated: When data was last refreshed
Search for Keywords
1. Use the search box at top right
2. Type keyword or partial keyword
3. Results filter automatically
4. Click any keyword to see ranking apps
Understanding Keyword Data
High app count = Competitive keyword
- Example: "email" has 200+ apps
- Harder to rank well
- But more search volume
Low app count = Niche keyword
- Example: "abandoned cart sms" has 15 apps
- Easier to rank well
- But less search volume
Viewing Keyword Details
Click any keyword to see:
Number of Apps Over Time Chart
Line chart showing:
- How many apps rank for this keyword
- Trend over time
- Growing = more competition
- Shrinking = declining interest
Ranking Apps Table
All apps that rank for this keyword:
Columns:
- Rank #: Position in search results
- App Name: With logo and developer
- Rating: Star rating
- Reviews: Review count
- Launched: When app was released
- Last Updated: Most recent update
Click any app to view its full profile.
Rank Changes
Next to rank you'll see:
- +3 (Green): Moved up 3 positions
- -2 (Red): Dropped 2 positions
- No indicator: No change or new ranking
Finding Your App's Keywords
To see which keywords YOUR app ranks for:
Method 1: Search Keywords Page
1. Go to Keywords
2. Search for terms related to your app
3. Click each keyword
4. Look for your app in the ranking table
Method 2: Check Search Analytics
1. Go to My Apps → Your app
2. Click "Search Analytics"
3. See keywords driving traffic
4. Rankings for each keyword
Note: Search Analytics requires BigQuery connected
Improving Keyword Rankings
Optimize for Relevant Keywords
Research phase:
1. Browse Keywords page
2. Find keywords with moderate competition
3. Check if they match your app's purpose
4. Note your current rank (if any)
Optimization phase:
1. Include keywords in app title (most important)
2. Use keywords in app description
3. Add to meta description
4. Use in image alt text
Target Long-Tail Keywords
Instead of: "email" Try: "abandoned cart email automation"
Benefits:
- Less competition
- More specific intent
- Higher conversion rate
- Easier to rank
Monitor Competitor Keywords
1. Find successful competitors
2. Click their app profile
3. See which keywords they rank for
4. Target similar keywords
Keyword Research Strategy
Step 1: Find Your Core Keywords
What does your app do?
- Main function
- Primary benefit
- Problem it solves
Example: "Inventory management", "Stock tracking"
Step 2: Find Related Keywords
Use Keywords page to discover:
- Variations of core keywords
- Related terms
- Industry-specific terms
Step 3: Check Competition
For each keyword:
- How many apps rank?
- What are their ratings?
- What's your realistic rank target?
Step 4: Track Over Time
1. Note your rank for target keywords
2. Check weekly
3. Track changes after optimizations
4. Adjust strategy based on results
Tips for Success
Quality Over Quantity
- Rank #1 for one good keyword beats #50 for ten keywords
Match Search Intent
- Your app should deliver what the keyword promises
- Don't optimize for irrelevant high-volume keywords
Update Regularly
- Keyword rankings change constantly
- Check your target keywords weekly
- Adjust app listing based on performance
Combine with Categories
- Strong category rank + keyword rank = maximum visibility
- Focus on categories where your keywords matter most
Common Questions
Q: How often do keyword rankings update? A: Shopify updates search results daily. Ranksy syncs overnight.
Q: Can I see my exact keyword rankings? A: Yes, search for the keyword on Keywords page, then find your app in the
table.
Q: How many keywords should I target? A: Focus on 5-10 core keywords. Master those before expanding.
Q: What's a good keyword rank? A: Top 5 is excellent, Top 10 is good, Top 20 is acceptable. Below 20 = low traffic.
Q: Do keywords affect installs? A: Yes! Good keyword ranks = more search visibility = more installs.
Q: Can I see keyword search volume? A: Ranksy doesn't show search volume directly, but "Apps" count indicates keyword
popularity.
Q: How long to improve keyword rank? A: After optimizing your listing, allow 2-4 weeks to see ranking changes.
Next Steps
Related features to improve discoverability:
- Check Category Rankings - Track category positions
- View Search Analytics - See which keywords drive traffic (requires BigQuery)
- Optimize Your Listing - Improve app store presence
- Follow Top-Ranking Apps - Learn from successful competitors
Need help? Contact [email protected] or use the chat widget.
