How Smart ASO Helped a Survey App Win in Brazil's Toughest App Store Category

The “make money” app category in Brazil is brutal: dominated by casino-style apps, heavy ad budgets, and vague promises of rewards. Most new apps entering this space get buried.

But not this time.

In early 2025, REPLUG’s ASO team helped a newly launched survey app go from zero visibility to ranking #1 for a high-volume keyword, generating thousands of high-intent installs.

All with just one metadata update.

Here’s how it happened—and why.

We’re REPLUG, a Berlin-based app marketing agency specializing in OEM marketing, paid user acquisition, ASO, tracking and analytics, and more.

Contact us today if you’re looking for expert solutions to promote your app and scale through mobile marketing.

The Challenge: Cracking the “Make Money” Category

Launching in Brazil’s ultra-competitive survey + earn money space is no small feat.

The app needed to:

Stand out in a noisy, saturated category
Target users with clear earning intent
Build visibility from scratch (no brand presence)
Align its visuals and messaging with the category’s high-stakes psychology

And it had to do all that without relying on shady keyword stuffing or misleading visuals.

“This space isn’t just competitive—it’s chaotic. You’re up against casino apps, rewards platforms, and games—all promising fast cash. We had to be smarter, not louder.” — Saba Kiria, ASO Manager at REPLUG

The Strategy: Deep Research, Not Shortcuts

No guesswork. No gimmicks. Our ASO team went all in on a strategy built to win—by outsmarting, not outspending. Here’s the exact playbook we used to dominate one of the most competitive app categories in Brazil:

1. Long-Tail Keyword Targeting

Instead of chasing generic, high-difficulty terms like “money” or “make money,” the ASO team focused on:

Long-tail searches with strong user intent
Terms pulled from both direct and indirect competitors
Keywords like “faça dinheiro,” “ganhar dinheiro jogando,” and “app que ganha dinheiro de verdade”

By looking beyond the obvious competitors (even analyzing casino and casual games), REPLUG found overlooked keyword gold.

“There are millions of apps in this space. That’s intimidating but full of hidden opportunities if you’re willing to go deep.” — Saba Kiria, ASO Manager at REPLUG

2. Keyword Strategy + Human Copywriting

The team avoided keyword stuffing entirely. Instead:

Wrote clean, trustworthy metadata
Used clear language that explained how the app works
Prioritized clarity and trust to boost conversion and retention

“We don’t write just for the algorithm. We write for users and the algorithm.”

3. High-Intent Keywords First

Rather than going after high-volume “survey” terms, REPLUG prioritized:

Keywords focused on real money earning, not just survey participation
Examples include “paid surveys earn real money” and “pesquisa remunerada”

The result? Higher-quality users who converted better, and that positive performance reinforced ASO keyword rankings.

4. One (Very Smart) Metadata Update

Here’s what’s wild:

Just one metadata update drove massive visibility gains
The app ranked in the top 3 for some of Brazil’s most competitive long-tail terms
Keyword visibility exploded across 280+ non-branded terms

“If you do ASO right the first time, you don’t need to update it every two weeks.”

5. Visuals That Match Search Intent

REPLUG designed creative assets that tapped into the “money psychology” of the category:

Jackpot-style visuals
Realistic earnings UI showcased in screenshots
Celebratory elements (confetti, payout screens) to drive excitement

This helped convert users from long-tail search queries, reinforcing rankings and improving store performance metrics.

“We didn’t just show app features—we showed what users want to feel: like they’re winning.” Saba Kiria, ASO Manager at REPLUG

The Results: From Zero to Contender

In less than a month:

Keyword visibility grew by triple digits
The app ranked #1 for high-volume earning terms in Brazil
Organic installs from non-branded keywords skyrocketed

All with zero keyword stuffing, one metadata update, and a sharp focus on user intent.

Key Takeaways

Stop targeting keywords your competitors already dominate

Look beyond the top 3 apps and find underused but high-intent keywords.

Avoid keyword stuffing

Your copy should convert humans and help your rankings. Don’t sacrifice one for the other.

One great update > 10 mediocre ones

One metadata update can carry you if you know what you’re doing.

Align your visuals with your audience’s intent

If users are looking to make money, show them that journey visually.

Get smart with category psychology

It’s not just about features. It’s about the feeling you sell.

Final Thought

Most apps enter competitive categories with a copy-paste ASO playbook. REPLUG doesn’t.

This success in Brazil proves that precision keyword targeting + creative alignment can win—even for brand-new apps in saturated markets.

Want us to audit your keyword strategy? Our ASO team helps apps grow without shortcuts or fluff. Let’s have a chat.