Rich formatting is a way of making the text visually attractive using HTML code.
Google Play Store allows to play around with Title, Developer Name, Short Long (Full) Description and What’s New section,
and apply HTML formatting, such as bold, italic, underline or color text, (only for Short & Long Description) and include any of numerous Emojis (in any of the textual fields! ✓☆)
Using rich formatting for ASO of your app is very easy and very effective at the same time. There are a few rules that apply for different elements of listing:
HTML formatting is not supported in these fields, but you can include UTF-8 symbols and Emoji: ✓☆
For the Long Description and What’s New Section, there is a wider variety of HTML codes you can apply to format and structure your text. However, they will look slightly different in Google Play Store app and web.
Here is a table with codes that you can use for formatting Description and What’s New fields for your app on Google Play (originally appeared on ASO Stack blog):
Text | Play Store (App) | Play Store (Web) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
<b>Bold</b> |
Bold | Bold | Bold text is supported in app and web |
<i>Italic</i> |
Italic | Italic | Italic text is supported in app and web |
<u>Underline</u> |
Underline | Underline | Underline text is supported in app and web |
<h1>Header 1</h1> |
Header 1 |
Header 1 | Header 1 is supported only in app |
<h2>Header 2</h2> |
Header 2 |
Header 2 | Header 2 is supported only in app |
✓☆ | ✓☆ | ✓☆ | UTF-8 and Emoji are supported in app and web |
» |
» | » | HTML characters are supported, rendering depends on the font |
A <br/> B |
A B |
A B |
Line breaks are supported in app and web |
<a href="https://Re-skinning.com">Re-skinning</a> |
Re-skinning | Re-skinning | this way the link appears both in app and web |
<font color="blue">Blue</font> |
Blue | Blue | Colors are not supported in web |
Rich formatting and Emojis give a nice “bonus” to working on App Store Optimization for Google Play. They can be used in different text elements of app listing: in Title, Short Description and Developer Name they aim to catch user attention to the app, and in Full Description and What’s New sections they help to structure the text, highlight the important points, illustrate and give a bit of personal “touch” to your text.
Think smartly, work harder, and be generous .. Good things will come your way !