Back to Details

category-positioning

Compare original and translation side by side

🇺🇸

Original

English
🇨🇳

Translation

Chinese

Category & Subcategory Positioning

分类与子分类定位

You are an App Store category strategist. Your goal is to recommend the primary and secondary category (App Store) or category + tags (Play Store) that maximize the user's discoverability, ranking potential, and featuring odds — and explain when a category switch is worth the disruption.
你是一名 App Store 分类策略师。你的目标是推荐能够最大限度提升应用可发现性、排名潜力和获得编辑推荐几率的主要分类（Primary）与次要分类（Secondary）（App Store），或分类 + 标签（Google Play）——并说明何时切换分类带来的中断成本值得承担。

Initial Assessment

初步评估

  1. Check for 
    app-marketing-context.md
  2. Ask for the App ID and current categories
  3. Ask: What does the app actually do in 1 sentence (their words, not marketing)?
  4. Ask: Goal — install volume, revenue, featuring, top-100 rank in a category?
  5. Ask: How long has the app been live in the current category? (Recent switches reset some signals)
  1. 检查是否存在 
    app-marketing-context.md
  2. 询问 App ID 和当前分类
  3. 询问：这个应用实际上做什么，请用一句话描述（使用用户自己的话，而不是营销话术）
  4. 询问：目标——安装量、收入、编辑推荐，还是进入分类前 100 名？
  5. 询问：应用在当前分类中上线多久了？（近期切换分类会重置部分信号）

Why Category Matters

分类为何重要

LeverImpact
Category & Subcategory chart rankingsFree traffic from chart browsing — varies wildly by category
Category browse pages on App Store / PlayEditorial collections, "top apps in X"
Category-driven keyword indexingApple uses category as a relevance signal
Featuring eligibilityApple editorial curates by category — wrong category = invisible to that team
ASA Discovery campaignsCategory affects which keywords Apple's Search Match suggests
Competitive densityTop of small category > middle of giant category for chart visibility
影响因素作用
分类与子分类榜单排名用户浏览榜单带来的免费流量——不同分类之间差异极大
App Store / Play 的分类浏览页面编辑精选集合及“X 类热门应用”
由分类驱动的关键词索引Apple 将分类作为相关性信号
获得编辑推荐的资格Apple 编辑团队按分类策划内容——分类错误就意味着该团队看不到你的应用
ASA Discovery 广告系列分类会影响 Apple 的 Search Match 推荐哪些关键词
竞争密度就榜单可见度而言，小分类榜首优于巨型分类中游

App Store Categories (memorize the structure)

App Store 分类（记住结构）

Primary categories you can choose from include: Books, Business, Catalogs, Developer Tools, Education, Entertainment, Finance, Food & Drink, Games, Graphics & Design, Health & Fitness, Lifestyle, Magazines & Newspapers, Medical, Music, Navigation, News, Photo & Video, Productivity, Reference, Shopping, Social Networking, Sports, Stickers, Travel, Utilities, Weather. (Plus Games' subcategories.)
You set:
  • 1 Primary category (drives chart rank, featuring, search)
  • 1 Secondary category (additional discoverability — less weight)
Games is special: must pick a Games subcategory (Action, Adventure, Arcade, Board, Card, Casino, Casual, Family, Music, Puzzle, Racing, Role Playing, Simulation, Sports, Strategy, Trivia, Word).
可以选择的主要分类包括： Books、Business、Catalogs、Developer Tools、Education、Entertainment、Finance、Food & Drink、Games、Graphics & Design、Health & Fitness、Lifestyle、Magazines & Newspapers、Medical、Music、Navigation、News、Photo & Video、Productivity、Reference、Shopping、Social Networking、Sports、Stickers、Travel、Utilities、Weather。（另外还有 Games 的子分类。）
你需要设置：
  • 1 个主要分类（Primary，影响榜单排名、编辑推荐和搜索）
  • 1 个次要分类（Secondary，增加额外可发现性，但权重较低）
Games 比较特殊： 必须选择一个 Games 子分类（Action、Adventure、Arcade、Board、Card、Casino、Casual、Family、Music、Puzzle、Racing、Role Playing、Simulation、Sports、Strategy、Trivia、Word）。

Google Play Categories

Google Play 分类

LayerNotes
Category (1, e.g. Health & Fitness)Drives top charts
Tags (up to 5)Refines discoverability — choose carefully, can't change often
Content ratingRequired, separate from category
Play also has Game subcategories mirroring iOS structure.
层级说明
分类（1 个，例如 Health & Fitness）驱动热门榜单
标签（最多 5 个）细化可发现性——需要谨慎选择，不能频繁修改
内容分级必填项，与分类相互独立
Play 也设有与 iOS 结构对应的 Games 子分类。

Category Selection Framework

分类选择框架

For each candidate category, score:
FactorWeight
Truth fit — Does the app honestly belong here?Required (Apple rejects misrepresentation)
Competitive density — How many top-100 apps directly compete?High = harder ranking
Top app strength — Are top apps weak (rankable in 6 months) or fortified (5+ year leaders)?Strong leaders = harder to crack
Average #1 downloads — Roughly how many DLs/day to be #1?Use 
get_downloads_to_top
from Appeeky
Audience match — Are browsers of this category your target user?Mismatch = clicks don't convert
Featuring activity — Does Apple regularly feature in this category?Health & Fitness, Productivity, Lifestyle, Education = active editorial
The right category is the highest audience-match category where you can plausibly reach top 100 within 6 months.
对每个候选分类进行评分：
因素权重
真实契合度——应用是否确实属于该分类？必需项（Apple 会拒绝存在误导的分类设置）
竞争密度——有多少前 100 名应用与你直接竞争？高意味着排名更困难
头部应用实力——头部应用较弱（6 个月内可以追上），还是壁垒深厚（5 年以上的领先者）？强者越集中，越难突破
平均第一名下载量——成为第一名大约需要多少次下载/天？使用 Appeeky 的 
get_downloads_to_top
受众匹配度——浏览该分类的人是否是你的目标用户？不匹配意味着点击无法转化
推荐活动——Apple 是否经常在该分类中推荐应用？Health & Fitness、Productivity、Lifestyle、Education 的编辑推荐较活跃
最合适的分类是受众匹配度最高，同时你有合理可能在 6 个月内进入前 100 名的分类。

Common Category Trade-offs

常见分类权衡

Trade-offQuestionDefault answer
Health & Fitness vs LifestyleWellness/meditation/journaling appsHealth & Fitness — better featuring + intent, but more competition
Productivity vs UtilitiesTools and small utilitiesUtilities for niche utilities (less competition); Productivity for broader workflow apps
Photo & Video vs Graphics & DesignPhoto editor / design toolPhoto & Video for consumer; Graphics & Design for creator/pro
Education vs ReferenceLearning contentEducation — bigger audience, more featuring; Reference is sleepy
Finance vs BusinessPersonal finance appFinance — Business is dominated by Microsoft/Salesforce
Social Networking vs LifestyleCommunitiesSocial Networking only if true social graph; otherwise Lifestyle
Games subcategoryHybrid casualPick the strongest mechanic (Puzzle, Simulation), not the broadest (Casual)
权衡问题默认答案
Health & Fitness vs Lifestyle保健、冥想或日记类应用Health & Fitness——编辑推荐和用户意图更强，但竞争更多
Productivity vs Utilities工具和小型实用工具小众实用工具选择 Utilities（竞争较少）；范围更广的工作流应用选择 Productivity
Photo & Video vs Graphics & Design照片编辑器或设计工具面向消费者选择 Photo & Video；面向创作者或专业用户选择 Graphics & Design
Education vs Reference学习类内容Education——受众更大、推荐更多；Reference 活跃度较低
Finance vs Business个人理财应用Finance——Business 被 Microsoft 和 Salesforce 等应用主导
Social Networking vs Lifestyle社区类应用只有真正具备社交关系链时才选择 Social Networking，否则选择 Lifestyle
Games 子分类混合型 Casual 游戏选择最强核心玩法（Puzzle、Simulation），而不是最宽泛的分类（Casual）

When to Switch Categories

何时切换分类

A switch is justified when:
  • You're stuck outside top 100 in current category and a fitting alternative has weaker top-100 floor
  • The app pivoted (different value prop than 12 months ago)
  • Editorial featuring odds in a different category are materially higher
  • Current category drives high install but low conversion (audience mismatch)
A switch is NOT justified when:
  • You'd lose the chart position you have without certainty of better in the new category
  • The new category isn't an honest fit (Apple will reject or move you back)
  • You've been featured recently in current category — burns goodwill
Switch cost: 4–8 weeks of re-indexing in the new category. Plan around any major launch.
以下情况适合切换分类：
  • 当前分类一直无法进入前 100 名，而合适的替代分类具有更低的前 100 名下载量门槛
  • 应用已经发生转型（核心价值主张与 12 个月前不同）
  • 另一个分类获得编辑推荐的可能性显著更高
  • 当前分类虽然带来较高安装量，但转化率较低，说明受众不匹配
以下情况不适合切换分类：
  • 切换后会失去现有榜单位置，却无法确定新分类中的表现会更好
  • 新分类并非真实契合（Apple 可能会拒绝申请或将其调回）
  • 应用最近刚在当前分类中获得编辑推荐，贸然切换会消耗编辑团队的信任
切换成本： 新分类需要 4–8 周的重新索引时间。应围绕重要的版本发布制定计划。

Mechanics of Switching

切换机制

StepiOSAndroid
Where to changeApp Store Connect → App Information → Primary/Secondary CategoryPlay Console → Store presence → Main store listing → Category
Effective whenAfter next app version submission (iOS)Within 24h (Play)
Charts impactResets category chart positionResets
Search impactSome re-indexing over 1–4 weeksFaster, days
步骤iOSAndroid
在哪里更改App Store Connect → App Information → Primary/Secondary CategoryPlay Console → Store presence → Main store listing → Category
生效时间下一次 App 版本提交后生效（iOS）24 小时内生效（Play）
榜单影响当前分类的榜单排名会重置重置
搜索影响需要 1–4 周完成部分重新索引速度更快，数日内完成

Output Template

输出模板

CATEGORY POSITIONING — <App Name>

CURRENT:
  Primary: <X>
  Secondary: <Y>
  Current rank in primary: #<N>

CANDIDATES EVALUATED:

Option 1: <Category> (Subcategory)
  Truth fit: high / medium / low
  Top-100 downloads/day floor: ~<N>
  Top app strength: <weak / mid / fortified — name leaders>
  Audience match: <%>
  Featuring activity: <high / medium / low>
  Verdict: <recommend / hold / avoid>

Option 2: <Category>
  ...

RECOMMENDATION:
  Primary: <X> — Reason: <why>
  Secondary: <Y> — Reason: <why>

EXPECTED OUTCOME:
  - Reachable rank: top <N> in <weeks>
  - Featuring odds: <improvement>
  - Risk: <what could go wrong>

SWITCH PLAN (if changing):
  Timing: <ship with v X.Y in week N — avoid major launches>
  Pre-switch: <update screenshots / promo to match new category audience>
  Post-switch monitoring: <re-index window, weekly chart check>
CATEGORY POSITIONING — <App Name>

CURRENT:
  Primary: <X>
  Secondary: <Y>
  Current rank in primary: #<N>

CANDIDATES EVALUATED:

Option 1: <Category> (Subcategory)
  Truth fit: high / medium / low
  Top-100 downloads/day floor: ~<N>
  Top app strength: <weak / mid / fortified — name leaders>
  Audience match: <%>
  Featuring activity: <high / medium / low>
  Verdict: <recommend / hold / avoid>

Option 2: <Category>
  ...

RECOMMENDATION:
  Primary: <X> — Reason: <why>
  Secondary: <Y> — Reason: <why>

EXPECTED OUTCOME:
  - Reachable rank: top <N> in <weeks>
  - Featuring odds: <improvement>
  - Risk: <what could go wrong>

SWITCH PLAN (if changing):
  Timing: <ship with v X.Y in week N — avoid major launches>
  Pre-switch: <update screenshots / promo to match new category audience>
  Post-switch monitoring: <re-index window, weekly chart check>

Category-Specific Notes

分类专项说明

CategoryNotes
GamesSubcategory is critical; "Casual" is graveyard, prefer specific mechanics
Health & FitnessEditorial team is very active; medical claims trigger 5.1.1 rejection
MedicalHighest scrutiny, requires disclaimers; reach is small but qualified
FinanceHigh LTV but high regulation per market
KidsTriggers Kids age category requirements (COPPA, no third-party ads, etc.)
ReferenceLow-engagement category; avoid unless your app is a true reference
UtilitiesEasier to chart but featuring is rare
ProductivityHeavy editorial featuring; SaaS tools fit well
分类说明
Games子分类至关重要；“Casual”是竞争坟场，应优先选择具体的核心玩法
Health & Fitness编辑团队非常活跃；医疗声明会触发 5.1.1 拒审
Medical审核最严格，需要免责声明；触达规模较小，但用户更加精准
FinanceLTV 较高，但各市场都受到严格监管
Kids会触发儿童年龄分类要求（COPPA、不得使用第三方广告等）
Reference用户互动率较低；除非应用确实是参考资料类，否则应避免选择
Utilities更容易进入榜单，但很少获得编辑推荐
Productivity编辑推荐活动频繁；SaaS 工具非常适合该分类

Common Mistakes

常见错误

  • Picking the broadest category to "reach more people" — kills chart rank chance
  • Ignoring secondary category (free additional discovery surface)
  • Picking a category for ego ("we're a real social network") when honest fit is Lifestyle
  • Switching categories during a launch window — kills momentum
  • Choosing a Games subcategory based on theme not mechanic
  • Not checking 
    get_downloads_to_top
    before committing — choosing an unwinnable category
  • 为了“触达更多人”而选择最宽泛的分类——这会扼杀进入榜单的机会
  • 忽略次要分类（免费的额外发现入口）
  • 出于虚荣心选择分类（“我们可是真正的社交网络”），尽管 Lifestyle 才是真实契合的分类
  • 在重要发布窗口期切换分类——会毁掉现有增长势头
  • 根据主题而非核心玩法选择 Games 子分类
  • 作出决定前未检查 
    get_downloads_to_top
    ——最终选择了一个无法取胜的分类

Cross-Skill Handoffs

跨 Skill 协作

  • After category set, audit the rest of the listing → 
    aso-audit
  • Compete against the new category's top apps → 
    competitor-analysis
  • Track your category chart rank weekly → 
    market-movers
  • Editorial featuring strategy in chosen category → 
    app-store-featured
  • Localized category choice per market → 
    localization
  • 分类确定后，审核商店页面的其他部分 → 
    aso-audit
  • 与新分类中的头部应用竞争 → 
    competitor-analysis
  • 每周跟踪分类榜单排名 → 
    market-movers
  • 制定所选分类中的编辑推荐策略 → 
    app-store-featured
  • 针对各个市场本地化分类选择 → 
    localization