Optimise for app store searches

After web searches, the next most likely way for people to find your tour is by searching in the Apple App Store or Google Play. This is more indirect – after all, before they find your specific tour, users have to discover and then install VoiceMap. But reviews of the app can help them get there, if they mention your tour.

The App Store and Google Play rank apps differently in different countries. The number one search result for "audio tours" displayed to users in the US and Australia isn't always the same, for example. VoiceMap already ranks highly for all sorts of generic searches in a wide range of countries – and it is actually the number one search result for "audio tours" in both countries at the time of this writing – but for searches that include the names of specific countries, cities or even neighbourhoods, it's impossible for us to cover everything in the app description and our choice of a few keywords.

That's where reviews come in: if they mention your tour, they can help VoiceMap rank for searches that include the name of the city, neighbourhood, or even the topic of your tour. It goes without saying that this also helps your tour show up when people are browsing and searching within the app.

So when you're asking people to rate and review VoiceMap's app, encourage them to mention the tour name and the location. e.g. "I took the Discover Galway tour and loved it. It was a great way to explore the city centre and learn about the history of the medieval quarter." This helps for both generic searches ("audio tours Galway") and more specific ones ("Galway walking tour").

The best time to ask for a review is right after someone has finished your tour and had a great experience. You can also include a gentle reminder in your post-tour follow-up materials.