# Use paid search terms as ASO research candidates

URL: https://storelift.net/guide/paid-search-terms-for-aso/
Language: en
Updated: 2026-10-02

A paid search-term report can reveal the language people used before interacting with an ad. Those phrases are candidates for research, not automatic additions to the app's metadata. Validate product relevance and organic competition in the same storefront before making an editorial decision.

## Investigation steps

1. Distinguish the bid keyword from the reported search term. Retain country, period and available outcome counts; one paid interaction is weak evidence for a broad metadata change.
2. Remove terms that describe unsupported capabilities, competing brands or a different user task. Group the remaining phrases by intent rather than by spelling alone.
3. Check organic rank, competing results and existing metadata coverage for the strongest candidates. Note what field would change and what wording would be displaced.

## Worked interpretation

Illustrative case: a search term describes a supported feature more precisely than the current subtitle. It has repeated paid interactions, but the app is not observed organically. That supports a research task; it does not guarantee organic demand or ranking success.

## Decision and next check

Create a small reviewed candidate list with evidence and next steps. Keep paid outcome data attached to its original reporting definition. After a metadata edit, assess organic observations separately from any changes in bidding, budget or campaign targeting.

## Related Storelift feature

Read Apple Ads for the available product data and its scope. Keep the app, storefront, period and measurement status with the observations used in your report.