Or go to our Shopify Theme Detector directly
How To Market Your Shopify App
Last modified: July 17, 2024
If you’re an app developer, then you’re going to want people to use your app. The more people that use your app, the more of a passive income you will get. The first thing to remember is to not rely on the App Store to market your product. Searches can help, but you won’t get the returns that you really want. Instead, you need to have more active marketing.
There are several options to market your Shopify app. Here are some of the best.
1. Shopify Ads
Shopify does allow for paid placement of apps on the search results. The first two or three results are often paid for. However, that doesn’t always mean that they will yield good returns. You might want to consider that for every click (not sale) you are paying Shopify to market your product. And if you have a good enough product, it should appear near the top of search results anyway.
2. Website
You need a website to promote your app, and ideally this should be on the Shopify platform. This is because a website opens up numerous other marketing avenues that can help you. Plus, if you develop one app, you should really look at developing several other apps in order to maximize potential revenues.
On the website you can showcase videos of the app working, build social media contacts, collect email address (more on that later) and really sell your product.
3. SEO
Whether it’s on your product page or on your website, SEO is an important part of marketing your search results. For new contacts (i.e. customers who have never seen/heard of you before), organic search (SEO) is one of the most lucrative marketing methods. It has the highest ROI and the lowest cost.
SEO is made up of several parts including using keywords in the content of the app (website and app description on the App Store) as well as using rich media with meta tags to get ranked on Google and other search engines.
At least one to two hours a week should be spent on building your SEO profile and this should include:
- Creating blog posts/new content on a weekly basis (at least).
- Building inbound links.
- Updating images/keywords/meta descriptions.
4. Social Media
Social media is an important part of your marketing. It allows people to get to know you as a brand. You can share news about the app (updates, new features, new apps, etc.) and you can engage in customer services/acquisition. You can also share blog posts and testimonials on there.
5. Email Marketing
Finally, you want to be building an email list. This is best done by offering something for free (like a free SEO scan, free images, free industry report, etc.) for their name and email address. Then you can send them the latest news about your brand, special offers and more through email marketing.
Email marketing is very lucrative when it comes to selling online. For every $1 you spend, you’re likely to get back $38 in return. This offers you high rewards and with sites like MailChimp that can offer you 2,000 contacts and 10,000 emails a month for free, you can start earning money without actually spending anything first.
Shopify App Marketing Strategy That Works
Create a strong brand identity
The first step to marketing your Shopify app is to create a strong brand identity. This includes developing a unique name, logo, and overall aesthetic for your app. Your brand identity should be reflective of the value that your app provides to merchants.
Develop a compelling value proposition
Once you have a strong brand identity, you need to develop a compelling value proposition. This is a clear and concise statement that explains what your app does and why it’s beneficial to merchants.
Your value proposition should be unique and persuasive, and it should be prominently displayed on your app’s landing page and marketing materials.
Target the right audience
Target your marketing to the merchants who are most likely to benefit from your app. Conduct market research and create buyer personas to understand your target market’s needs and pain points.
Track your results
Tracking your marketing results will help you to optimize your marketing campaigns and improve your ROI. You can track your results using a variety of different tools, such as Google Analytics and Shopify Analytics. Focus on key metrics such as traffic, leads, and conversions.
Organic Marketing Strategies for Shopify Apps
Create high-quality content
One of the best ways to organically market your Shopify app is to create high-quality content that is relevant to your target audience. This could include blog posts, videos, infographics, or even e-books.
Your content should be informative and engaging, and it should provide value to your readers. It should also be optimized for search engines so that people can easily find it.
Build relationships with other Shopify merchants
Another great way to organically market your app is to build relationships with other Shopify merchants. You can do this by participating in online forums, attending industry events, or simply reaching out to other merchants via email or social media.
Once you have built relationships with other merchants, you can promote your app to them and their customers. You can also collaborate with other merchants on joint marketing campaigns.
Get involved in the Shopify community
The Shopify community is a great place to market your app. You can get involved by participating in the Shopify forums, answering questions on social media, or even writing guest blog posts for other Shopify websites.
When you get involved in the Shopify community, you will be able to reach a large audience of potential customers. You will also be able to establish yourself as an expert in your field.
Utilize Testimonials and Reviews
Collect and showcase positive feedback from current users. Highlight how your app has benefitted other Shopify store owners.
Conclusion: How To Market Your Shopify App
Don’t rely on Shopify Apps to promote your app. Instead, be proactive and get your brand, app and personality out there using the methods above. Doing so will yield higher revenues and more passive income.
-
Should I collaborate with other app developers for cross-promotion?
Yes, collaborating with other app developers for cross-promotion can be a great way to reach a new audience and increase brand awareness, leading to more downloads and sales.
-
How often should I update my Shopify app’s marketing materials?
It varies depending on your app, your target audience, and the marketing channels you are using. A good rule of thumb is to update at least once a quarter, or more often if you have significant changes to your app or marketing strategy.
-
What strategies can I use to retain users of my Shopify app?
Provide regular updates and new features to keep your app fresh and engaging, and offer excellent customer support to help users with any problems they may have.