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Unity Asset Store Optimization

VFX/Shaders/Substances Asset Listing Optimization Guide

Guidelines for creating standout VFX/Shaders/Substances assets on the Unity Asset Store.

Market Size

Very small - fewer than 100 assets

Competition Level

Lower competition - niche quality can stand out

Average Price

Around $9.0

Title Optimization

Your title is the first thing buyers see

Optimal Length
20-36 characters (3-5 words)

Best Practices:

  • Name the effect/type and style (e.g., 'Volumetric Light Beams').
  • Mention target pipeline (URP/HDRP/Built-in) when relevant.
  • Hint at customization or performance if it's a key benefit.
  • Front-load primary keywords and the asset type.
  • Avoid filler words like 'Ultimate' unless you can prove scope.
  • Use Title Case for readability.
Good Examples
  • Light Beam System
  • Procedural Planets and Stars
  • 4K Procedural Terrain with Rocks and Mold - Substance Material (HDRP)
  • 4K Procedural Terrain with Rocks and Mold - Substance Material
  • Realistic Plastic & Metal Substance Kit
Bad Examples
  • Stylized Rock 01
  • Procedural Hand Painted Materials
  • Gobble Cobblestone

Description Optimization

Detailed, structured content converts browsers to buyers

Optimal Length
120-250 words

Recommended Structure:

  1. 1One-sentence promise of the effect and typical use cases.
  2. 2Key features (variants, controls, performance notes).
  3. 3Compatibility (pipelines, platforms, Unity versions).
  4. 4What's included (counts, demos, prefabs).
  5. 5Setup steps or integration notes.

Writing Tips:

  • Explain exactly what's included with counts, formats, and variations.
  • State supported pipelines/Unity versions and any requirements.
  • Add 2-4 concrete use cases so buyers can picture fit.
  • Link to a demo scene or quickstart steps.
  • Keep paragraphs short and scannable.

Example Description Template:

Bring believable results to your project with a curated, ready-to-use set. You'll get multiple variations, clear folder structure, and support for common Unity pipelines (URP/HDRP or Built-in). Designed for quick iteration, this pack blends quality with performance and ships with a small demo scene and usage tips so you can drag-and-drop and ship faster.

Image & Screenshot Guidelines

Visual quality directly impacts conversion rates

Optimal Count
5-9 images

Requirements:

  • Hero on light/dark backgrounds to show readability.
  • Variation shots (colors/intensity) and in-engine demos.
  • Short video preview strongly recommended.

Pro Tips:

  • Lead with a clean hero that summarizes the value.
  • Use consistent framing and typography across images.
  • Include at least one real in-engine screenshot (or audio waveform sampler for music).
  • Avoid busy collages—keep each image focused on one idea.

Tags & Keywords Strategy

Maximize discoverability through search

Tags
8-12 relevant tags

Common Tags for VFX/Shaders/Substances:

ShaderMaterialsubstancePBRTextureRealisticSubstance designerWaterVFXshaders

Tagging Tips:

  • Mix generic discovery tags with specific ones that describe content or workflow.
  • Match pipelines and formats (URP/HDRP, PBR, WAV/OGG) where applicable.
  • Avoid repeating the same word with different casing.
Keywords
For SEO and Asset Store search optimization

Primary Keywords:

  • light beam
  • beam system
  • procedural planets
  • planets stars
  • procedural terrain
  • terrain rocks
  • rocks mold
  • mold substance
  • substance material
  • lowpoly substances

Secondary Keywords:

  • procedural materials
  • materials vol
  • procedural materials vol
  • substance designer
  • potion shader
  • high quality
  • pbr materials
  • shader graph
  • substance procedural
  • stylized stone
Keyword Strategy Tips
  • Use primary keywords in the first 40 characters of your title.
  • Repeat key phrases naturally in the first 2-3 lines of the description.
  • Align tags with the same language to reinforce search relevance.

Pricing Strategy

Balance value perception with competitive positioning

Recommended Price Range
$4.99-$30
  • Anchor price to scope and clarity of value (counts, variants, support).
  • Offer a free lite/demo to drive traffic without underpricing the main pack.
  • Consider bundles or upgrade paths as your catalog grows.
  • Participate in seasonal sales with clear before/after pricing.

Real-World Success Examples

Learn from top-performing assets in this category

Lowpoly Substances
by Dustyroom

Why This Asset Succeeds:

  • Clear, specific title that sets expectations.
  • Concise description that highlights what's included and where it fits.
  • Adequate image gallery that shows real usage.
  • Calls out pipeline/format details to reduce uncertainty.
  • Includes a video or audio preview for quick evaluation.

Title Length

18 chars

Description

109 words

Images

5

Tags

10

Tags Used:

WaterFireVFXlowpolyEffects3DnprMobileShaderStylized
Crack Texture Generator
by Artify

Why This Asset Succeeds:

  • Clear, specific title that sets expectations.
  • Concise description that highlights what's included and where it fits.
  • Adequate image gallery that shows real usage.

Title Length

23 chars

Description

87 words

Images

5

Tags

15

Tags Used:

Materialcracktexture exportVFXgroundEnvironmentgeneratorTextureDecalsbsarsurface damageStylized
Procedural Planets and Stars
by Tadej Slivnik

Why This Asset Succeeds:

  • Clear, specific title that sets expectations.
  • Strong visuals with multiple in-engine screenshots.
  • Calls out pipeline/format details to reduce uncertainty.
  • Includes a video or audio preview for quick evaluation.

Title Length

28 chars

Description

0 words

Images

31

Tags

11

Tags Used:

PlanetProceduralSubstance in Unitysungas planetGenerationmetal planetspace3D2DShader
4K Procedural Terrain with Rocks and Mold - Substance Material (HDRP)
by Alessio Regalbuto

Why This Asset Succeeds:

  • Clear, specific title that sets expectations.
  • Strong visuals with multiple in-engine screenshots.
  • Calls out pipeline/format details to reduce uncertainty.
  • Includes a video or audio preview for quick evaluation.

Title Length

69 chars

Description

0 words

Images

29

Tags

12

Tags Used:

HDRPsnowmoldrockssubstancesurfaceprocedural materialPBRMaterial4K materialsTerrain TextureShader
4K Procedural Terrain with Rocks and Mold - Substance Material
by Alessio Regalbuto

Why This Asset Succeeds:

  • Clear, specific title that sets expectations.
  • Strong visuals with multiple in-engine screenshots.
  • Calls out pipeline/format details to reduce uncertainty.
  • Includes a video or audio preview for quick evaluation.

Title Length

62 chars

Description

0 words

Images

29

Tags

8

Tags Used:

snowmoldrocksTerrain Texture4K materialssubstanceMaterialShader

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Learn from others' errors and optimize from the start

Thin or missing description

Impact:

Buyers can't tell what's included or if it fits their project, so they bounce.

Solution:

Write 120-250 words covering what it is, what's included (counts, formats), compatibility, and practical examples.

Missing or irrelevant tags

Impact:

Search and category filters won't surface your asset to the right audience.

Solution:

Add 8-12 relevant tags matching genre, pipeline, resolution, and use cases.

Outdated listing with no recent updates

Impact:

Signals poor maintenance and may break on newer Unity versions/pipelines.

Solution:

Ship a small update (URP/HDRP notes, demo scene refresh) and highlight the new support in the changelog.

Ready to Optimize Your VFX/Shaders/Substances Assets?

Apply these best practices to your next Unity Asset Store listing and watch your visibility and sales improve. Remember: Optimization is an ongoing process. Monitor your asset's performance, gather user feedback, and continuously refine your listing based on what works best for your specific assets and target audience.

Get Started with Optimization
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VFX/Shaders/Substances Optimization Guide | Best Practices for Publishers