Keywords & Discovery
Discover high-converting search keywords, analyze store search volumes, and score competition difficulty with Cortex.
Keywords & Discovery
Keywords are the foundation of organic App Store Optimization. Cortex collects search suggestions, Apple Search Ads (ASA) Search Popularity metrics, and competitive density to help you choose high-intent terms.
Keyword Metrics
Every keyword in Cortex is evaluated against three core dimensions:
- Search Popularity (0–100): Derived from Apple Search Ads and live store search auto-complete frequencies. A popularity score above 40 indicates strong search demand.
- Difficulty Index (0–100): Measures how hard it is to break into the Top 10 rankings, based on the domain authority, download volume, and ratings velocity of current top-ranking apps.
- Relevancy Score: An AI semantic alignment score measuring how closely the search query matches your application's category, features, and target audience.
The Golden Ratio Formula: Focus your optimization on terms with high Popularity (>40) and moderate Difficulty (<50) where your app has direct semantic relevance.
Keyword Suggestion Engine
Cortex provides multiple discovery vectors:
- Store Auto-Complete: Real-time keystroke predictions from Apple App Store and Google Play search bars.
- Competitor Gap Analysis: Identifies terms where your top 3 competitors rank in the top 5, but your application is currently unranked.
- Semantic Expansion: Uses LLMs to generate high-intent synonyms, long-tail phrases, and localization equivalents.
// Example keyword suggestion payload
{
"keyword": "budget planner expense tracker",
"storefront": "US",
"popularity": 58,
"difficulty": 42,
"relevancy": 94,
"topCompetitor": "Mint & YNAB",
"currentRank": 14
}