{"id":17157,"date":"2025-07-15T21:59:42","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T19:59:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/actualizatec.com\/blog\/how-to-create-apple-search-ads-campaigns-step-by-step\/"},"modified":"2026-05-26T17:40:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T15:40:17","slug":"how-to-create-apple-search-ads-campaigns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/actualizatec.com\/en\/blog\/how-to-create-apple-search-ads-campaigns\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Create Apple Search Ads Campaigns Step by Step"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before we get started: if you haven&#8217;t yet watched our previous video on how to properly set up your Apple Search Ads account, <\/span><b>watch it first<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<br \/>\nMany errors start with an incorrect initial setup and then campaigns don&#8217;t even start.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this video I show you step by step how to avoid basic mistakes such as choosing the wrong currency, not linking App Store Connect properly or having problems with billing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">  Here it is \u2192 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Ljz8ZX0kb7o\">How to set up your Apple Search Ads account correctly.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apple Search Ads is Apple&#8217;s official advertising platform for promoting apps within the App Store. Unlike other advertising channels, here your ads appear just when a user is searching for an app like yours. In other words: pure download intent.  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This tool allows you to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Appear in the first search results within App Store<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Segment by country, age, device and user type<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Measure conversions and cost-per-acquisition (CPA) in real time<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want to go even deeper, you can check out our article on<\/span> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/actualizatec.com\/en\/blog\/apple-search-ads\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">what is Apple Search Ads and how to take advantage of it<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> <strong>Would you prefer to watch the step-by-step video?<\/strong>  Here is the complete guide on our YouTube channel with real examples and practical tips.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"lyte-wrapper\" style=\"width:640px;max-width:100%;margin:5px;\"><div class=\"lyMe\" id=\"WYL_HsAO6zjcNsc\"><div id=\"lyte_HsAO6zjcNsc\" data-src=\"https:\/\/actualizatec.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-youtube-lyte\/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FHsAO6zjcNsc%2Fhqdefault.jpg\" class=\"pL\"><div class=\"tC\"><div class=\"tT\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"play\"><\/div><div class=\"ctrl\"><div class=\"Lctrl\"><\/div><div class=\"Rctrl\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><noscript><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/HsAO6zjcNsc\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/actualizatec.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-youtube-lyte\/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FHsAO6zjcNsc%2F0.jpg\" alt=\"YouTube video thumbnail\" width=\"640\" height=\"340\" \/><br \/>Watch this video on YouTube<\/a><\/noscript><\/div><\/div><div class=\"lL\" style=\"max-width:100%;width:640px;margin:5px;\"><\/div><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><b>Preparations before creating your campaign<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before you set up your first campaign, make sure you have:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your app published in App Store<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apple Ads account linked to App Store Connect<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Active payment method<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Defined budget (from 10\u20ac per day you can start)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Tip<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Incorrect configuration can cause your campaigns to not even start. Check everything before launching.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Step by Step to Create your Apple Search Ads Campaign<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3><b>Step 1 &#8211; Login and create your campaign<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Log in to your Apple Search Ads account and select &#8220;Create campaign&#8221;. Choose the &#8220;Search&#8221; placement, as this is the space where most conversions are generated: users are actively searching for an app like yours. This type of intent converts better than passive advertising.  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If this is your first campaign, select only one app to maintain focus and familiarize yourself with the options. As you gain experience, you will be able to diversify locations and strategies. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Step 2 &#8211; Budget and date configuration<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Define your daily budget. Although you can start from 5\u20ac, we recommend starting with at least 10-15\u20ac\/day to get representative data. Also define the duration: you can create continuous campaigns or campaigns with an end date.  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Give it a clear and useful name for easy identification. For example: &#8220;ES-Fitness-Q3-Search&#8221;.   <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This detail helps a lot when you have several campaigns active simultaneously.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Step 3 &#8211; Creation of ad groups<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is where you organize your campaign into thematic blocks. Do not mix different audiences or interests in the same group. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Example:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Exercise at home&#8221;.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Weight loss routines.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Fitness for women&#8221;.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each group should have its own set of keywords, creatives and specific bids. This way, you will be able to see which one is performing better and make precise adjustments. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And if you want to increase the performance of each group, don&#8217;t miss our guide on<\/span><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/actualizatec.com\/en\/blog\/custom-product-pages-app-store\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">how to create custom product pages on App Store<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Step 4 &#8211; Choosing keywords<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is one of the most critical decisions. Keywords define who your ad will be shown to. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Types:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Broad match<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">generates more traffic but can be inaccurate.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Exact match<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">focused, less volume but better quality.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Search Match<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Apple chooses automatically, useful as a complement.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Agency tip: combine exact match with Search Match and use negative keywords to filter out irrelevant traffic. For example, if your app is about nutrition for adults, add &#8220;children&#8221;, &#8220;infant&#8221;, etc. as negatives. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can use your ASO analysis as a basis for choosing powerful keywords, as often the terms that perform best in organic also perform well in paid campaigns.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Step 5 &#8211; Audience segmentation<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Targeting allows you to decide who sees your ads. You can filter by: <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Device: iPhone or iPad<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Age and gender<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Geographical location<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">User status: new, returning or both<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, if you know that iPhone 13 users have a better conversion rate, you can target your ads only to that segment. Or if your app has better retention among 25-34 year old women, focus your budget there to maximize results. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Measurement and Optimization of your Campaign<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A campaign without analytics is like driving with your eyes closed. Some essential metrics: <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>CPA (Cost per acquisition)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: how much you pay for each user who downloads<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>CTR (Click Through Rate)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: percentage of people who see the ad and click on it<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Conversion rate<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: how many of those who download end up buying or actively using the app<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Review your campaigns at least once a week. Adjust CPC, pause underperforming keywords and duplicate those that are working. Do A\/B tests with different creatives, descriptions and titles.  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want to improve your income even more, we recommend you to read this<\/span> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/actualizatec.com\/en\/blog\/how-to-integrate-chatgpt-into-apps\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">practical guide to integrate ChatGPT in your apps.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><b>Conclusion: What&#8217;s next after creating your Apple Search Ads campaign?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best Apple Search Ads campaigns are not the ones with the biggest budgets, but the ones that:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are well segmented<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They have clear objectives<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Combine ASO + ASA<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Constantly optimized<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By implementing these steps, you can attract quality users and transform your downloads into real revenue.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2705 If you have already followed all these steps, your account and your campaigns are ready to start engaging users with real download intent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The next step is to maintain a routine of analysis and optimization. Adjusting keywords, improving creatives and reviewing audiences every week is what makes the difference between an average campaign and a highly profitable one. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u25ba If you have not yet watched the previous video on how to properly set up your account, start there: Watch video<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And if you want us to help you directly to launch and scale your campaigns, write to us at contacto@actualizatec.com.  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At Actual\u00edzatec we have been working for more than 16 years and 550 apps, helping businesses like yours to make informed, strategic and profitable decisions. We know that success is not only in the tool, but in how you implement it and how you make it evolve. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also, if you want to become an expert in apps and digital marketing, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/actualizatec.com\/en\/stellar-app-business\/\">join our online program<\/a>. Learn from the best and take your projects to the next level. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover how to launch campaigns on Apple Search Ads. Learn how to set up your account, choose keywords and optimize your budget to attract more users. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":17922,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[241],"tags":[260,282,285,283,284,261,286],"class_list":["post-17157","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-app-marketing","tag-apple-ads","tag-apple-campaigns","tag-apple-search-ads","tag-campaigns","tag-downloads","tag-monetize-app"],"acf":[],"modified_by":"Bernat","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/actualizatec.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17157","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/actualizatec.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/actualizatec.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actualizatec.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actualizatec.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17157"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/actualizatec.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17157\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actualizatec.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17922"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/actualizatec.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17157"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actualizatec.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17157"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actualizatec.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17157"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}