Unlock Hidden ASO Gems Using Apple Search Ads

As you may know, ASO is a lot harder now with the changes happening in iOS 11 so I have been employing new strategies to get around this. Every time I am stuck, I have been using search ads to discover new keywords and I have been able to discover decent, high traffic ones with low competition. Let me show you how I stumbled into these nice gems:

• Go to Search Ads and thenCreate Campaign.
• Key in your app name and fill out the fields. Remember, you are not really going to run a search ad campaign so some fields are optional.
• Focus on the Keywords It would help if you install a Chrome extension where you can see scores, or else, you will only see a blue bar signifying traffic of that certain word.
• Click the buttonAdd to Keywords and you will see suggested keywords in this portion, as well as their popularity. Just continue this super simple process to discover new, interesting keywords with decent traffic which you can leverage on for your app both on ASO and search ad perspective. You will be surprised that sometimes, even misspelled words can gain traffic.
• You can note of the words which piqued your interest and throw them into other ASO tools such as Mobile Action and Sensor Tower for other details and for validation.

Are you struggling to find fresh, high-performing keywords for your app? Tired of running in circles with the same old ASO tactics?

You’re not alone. But there’s a goldmine of keywords hiding in plain sight—and it’s inside Apple Search Ads.

In this post, you’ll learn:

• How to use Apple Search Ads for keyword discovery (even if you’re not running ads)

• A simple, repeatable process to find low-competition, high-traffic keywords

• Why this works better than many traditional ASO tools

• And how to turn insights into real ASO wins 💡

---

🎯 Why Apple Search Ads Is Your Secret ASO Weapon

Most indie app developers use Apple Search Ads to bid on keywords and drive installs. But few realize its untapped potential as a keyword discovery tool.

When you’re stuck or hitting a ceiling with traditional ASO tools, Apple Search Ads can help you:

• Uncover new keyword ideas

• Gauge search popularity based on real Apple data

• Identify hidden low-competition terms that actually convert

This isn’t theory—it’s a working strategy Steve P. Young from App Masters uses for client ASO campaigns (and yes, it’s helped increase downloads and even 10x revenue for some apps).

---

🔍 The Step-by-Step: How to Use Apple Search Ads to Discover Keywords

Here’s how to mine Apple Search Ads for keyword gold without even spending a dime:

1. Set Up a Mock Campaign

• Go to Apple Search Ads

• Start a new campaign with your app (you won’t need a budget)

• Pick your target country and skip to the Keywords section

2. Add Your App Name or a Competitor’s Name

• Let Apple auto-suggest keyword ideas

• Click “Add to Keywords” repeatedly to reveal more suggestions

💡 Pro tip: Install a Chrome extension like SearchAdsHQ to see search popularity scores as actual numbers instead of vague bars.

3. Look for Hidden Gems

• Prioritize keywords with decent popularity but little competition

• Take note of:

  • Misspellings

  • Niche feature keywords (like “shake camera” or “slide filter”)

  • Competitor-inspired terms you didn’t think to use

4. Validate in Your ASO Tool

• Plug your shortlist into ASO tools like Sensor Tower, Mobile Action, or AppTweak

• Check for:

  • Search volume

  • Difficulty score

  • Relevance to your app

---

📈 Real-World Wins Using This Strategy

• A client 5x’d impressions after incorporating new keywords discovered through this method

• Another developer 10x’d their paid app revenue after launching a campaign targeting new keywords found this way

• Even for games, this method has surfaced non-obvious keywords with strong traffic and minimal competition

---

💡 Bonus: Keyword Inspiration Beyond the Obvious

When you’re stuck in “obvious keyword” mode, try these:

• Think about actions your app enables: “swipe photos,” “shake flip camera,” “quick record”

• Explore misspellings or plural/singular variants

• Use competitor names in Search Ads to get idea spillover

---

🔥 Take Action: 5 Tips to Start Using This Today

1. Create a mock campaign in Apple Search Ads today—no budget required.

2. Install a popularity score extension to get clearer keyword data.

3. Start with your app name and competitors to generate ideas.

4. Keep a running list of interesting terms, then validate with ASO tools.

5. Update your keyword fields (app name, subtitle, and keyword field) based on your findings.

---

🧠 Final Thoughts: Don’t Just Compete—Outsmart

Apple Search Ads isn’t just a paid channel—it’s a powerful ASO research engine hiding in plain sight.

If you’re an indie app marketer with limited resources and big goals, this strategy gives you an edge. You don’t need a big budget—just a smarter way to find keywords your competitors aren’t using yet.

Stop guessing. Start mining.
And if you want to go deeper, check out the full ASO Masters Course at AppMastersAcademy.com.