Promotional Text is a 170-character App Store field above the description that you can update anytime without a new app release — but it does not affect keyword ranking.
Promotional text sits at the top of the description and is the one piece of App Store metadata you can change without submitting an app update for review. That makes it the place for time-sensitive messaging: a limited-time offer, a new feature announcement, a seasonal hook, or a response to a trend. Because it updates instantly, teams use it to test value-proposition angles or to surface what's new without waiting on a release cycle.
Critically, promotional text is not indexed for search — keywords here don't help ranking. Its entire job is conversion: convincing a shopper who's already on the page. Treat it as a billboard, not a keyword field, and keep the message current rather than letting it go stale.
Example
Ahead of January, a fitness app swaps its promotional text to "New Year, new routine — 7-day free trial through January" without shipping an app update. Because it updates without review, it's the fastest way to react to a trend, launch, or seasonal moment.