Christmas is coming soon. This is an important holiday worldwide, when many people, potential users, are concerned with the topic of Christmas and even search for it in the stores. After all, gamers want to get into the Christmas spirit when they play.
This offers app publishers a wealth of opportunities. A new version, even for established apps, offers new opportunities for new downloads and users. Here are some ideas to get this Christmas boost for your apps!
- Create a temporary app icon with a Christmas touch
- Update app Screenshots and give them a Christmas look
- Modify your app and apply a Christmas theme
- Update App Description with Christmas keywords
Why do you need Christmas ASO?
Implementing holiday-themed events to your app can bring significant advantages, as seen in many genres of games.
By introducing a combo of features including event-specific currency, seasonal tasks, unique game modes, and collaborations, you can greatly boost your chances of revenue growth and even attract old users that are looking for new content and an entirely different experience.
Seasonal ASO is a great way to highlight today's agenda. Mobile games generally get a lot of organic traffic from the Browse/Explore sections of the App Stores.
Besides, it may be essential if you want your app to get featured – by getting into a thematic collection of the App Store/Google Play, you will acquire new users and that's your primary goal.
It can be seen that in the past 90 days, the search volume of the keyword <christmas> has shown a steady upward trend. This increase reflects the growing anticipation and interest in Christmas, suggesting that optimizing your ASO strategy in this area can significantly increase your app's visibility.
And don't forget that seasonal In-App Purchases associated with certain holidays (unique rewards, improvements, or cosmetic items) are only available during a limited time. Players see that content as something exclusive and limited, and IAPs automatically become more valuable in their eyes… Which translates into revenue growth!
Getting your app ready
As the holiday season approaches, developers need to strategically plan their app submissions to avoid delays in the App Store review process. Despite reviewers being available, the sheer volume of submissions can lead to significant backlogs.
To ensure timely approval and release, developers are advised to submit their apps well in advance of the end-of-year rush. Ideally, submissions should be made around a week before the holidays, providing ample time for any necessary adjustments following potential rejections.
📌 Important Apple Store Announcement
As the busiest season on the App Store approaches, it's crucial to ensure that your apps and games are up to date and ready. The App Review team will continue to accept submissions throughout the holiday season.
However, due to the anticipated high volume of submissions, it's advisable to plan ahead and submit any time-sensitive updates early. Please be aware that reviews may take longer to complete from December 20-26.
Certain app categories, such as those in highly regulated fields like banking, healthcare, or gambling, may face longer review times. Apps requiring proof of licensing or those with features for children or involving gambling also risk extended reviews and potential rejections. Even new developers may experience longer review periods as their apps undergo initial vetting.
💡 Expert Tips:
If your app's visibility is limited in the App Store, consider creating an SEO-optimized website to drive traffic and downloads. While this approach requires time and effort, it can significantly enhance your app's reach. For those who already have an app website but aren't seeing the desired results, seeking professional help can make a difference. ASOWorld offers expert SEO services with a proven track record of success. Our team can help optimize your site to attract more users and improve your app's visibility.
Check out our blog for more insights and strategies 👉 SEO Backlink Strategies: How to Improve App Traffic and Brand Awareness.
Failure to submit early could result in updates not going live in time for users receiving new devices as holiday gifts. A rejection might lead to multiple cycles of back-and-forth communication in the Resolution Center, further delaying the app's release. Therefore, early submission is key to ensuring that apps are available to new users during the holiday season.
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Create a temporary app icon with a Christmas touch
App icons are usually the first impression potential users get of your app. Therefore an appealing icon is mandatory. Icons can be tested underbar such as A+B Testing. Which one appeals to more users? Which one manages to move more users from viewing the app in the store to downloading it. The Christmas season is ideal to test a new icon, a new style, or a different look and feel.
To do this, it also appeals more to users in the Christmas spirit. Important, regular updates of apps, but also the assets in the stores are essential for good placement. this includes, of course, the icons.
The example below shows three icons, The yellow one is the regular standard version. The two red ones are the customized versions for wintertime. They replace the normal, more generic icon with themes from the actual Christmas variant of the app. And red is of course always a good color for Christmas. Our experience shows, this measure alone, promises double-digit growth rates.
Create Christmas screenshots
When creating Christmas-themed app screenshots, it's essential to capture users' attention with the first 2-3 images, as these are crucial for download decisions. These images should ideally showcase real scenes from your app. Not only do ASO managers emphasize this, but it’s also a requirement by app store regulations.
A great example of successful holiday-themed screenshots is the popular game Subway Surfers. They have creatively updated their screenshots to feature Christmas reindeer elements and incorporated Icelandic landscapes as part of their scene design. This not only enhances the festive appeal but also aligns with their branding for the holiday season.
To create such engaging screenshots, you can use common design tools or explore various online tools available. For managing a large number of screenshots across different languages, consider using the App Store Manager for bulk uploads, simplifying the process.
Incorporating seasonal elements into your app's visuals can significantly boost its appeal during the holidays.
Apply a Christmas theme to your app
It involves a little more work, but also to retain existing users and offer them something new, it is recommended to customize the actual app. I.e. assets, texts, symbols, icons, or even different characters. Users will certainly appreciate the variety. The positive side effect, a new app update also brings positive effects in the findability in the app stores.
Update app description with Christmas keywords
After the app, the screenshots and also the icon is customized, the descriptions in App Store Connect and Google Play remain. It is important to include a few Christmas keywords.
To do this, you first need to research for new, good terms. Use tools like Keyword Tool or one of the many commercial providers (many allow a few weeks of free use).
Once you have rewritten your descriptions and modified your keywords, use the App Store Manager to translate everything and upload all texts with a few clicks.
ASOWorld offers
free ASO tools that provide keyword research suggestions and app diagnostics. You can also opt for our
ASO service, where our experts will help you find the most effective ASO solutions tailored to your app's needs.
Get more downloads with a Christmas Edition
Our customers and our own test series prove us right. It is always worthwhile to adapt apps to certain circumstances, such as Christmas. The relatively small effort is worth it.
With a few clever adjustments, best of all using some clever tools, almost every app can be redesigned. In our experience, this immediately results in two to three-digit growth rates in views and downloads. So give it a try!
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