Top 10 ranking (App Store)

LocalASO's volume score is a rank-weighted mean of the log of rating counts across the top 10 results, and its difficulty score uses the top 10's median and mean log rating counts and the share with at least 50,000 ratings. The top 10 therefore defines both demand and competition for a keyword. Keyword difficulty is literally how hard it is to enter that list.

LocalASO labels a keyword Swap when you rank in the top 10 but almost nobody searches it, Hard when difficulty is 80 or more and you are outside the top 10, and Push when you rank 4 to 20 with solid volume and difficulty below 80. The edge of the top 10 is where effort pays most: see quick-win keywords.

Search results may display the app rating and up to three screenshots or previews. A top 10 position with a weak first screenshot wastes the position, so the visuals need the same attention as the keywords.

1. Check that the term appears in a field Apple searches. Apple states results are based on text relevance and user behavior.
2. Move the term to a stronger field, for example from the keyword field to the subtitle.
3. Improve conversion rate for people who see you.
4. Wait for the update and re-check with rank tracking.

A hypothetical app ranks #12 for "daily planner". After moving the phrase into the subtitle and replacing screenshots, it ranks #7 two weeks later. That is one data point, not proof of cause.

Read keyword ranking for how positions are defined.

Behavior inputs are described under user behavior signals.