Shopify’s app store is home to thousands of apps designed to help merchants run their businesses efficiently and make money online.
Although the variety of apps available is great for merchants, it means that app developers have to work harder to get their apps in front of relevant audiences.
If that's you, read on to discover 7 effective marketing ideas for Shopify apps that work.
1. Use Google Mobile App Install Ads
This is a powerful way to generate bulk installs in a short space of time. A well-designed ad will introduce your target audience to your app and prompt them to download it directly from the ad.
Your ads will appear on various platforms, such as:
Google Play
Google Search
YouTube
Display Networks
Gmail, etc.
For example, if you created a CRM connector app, users who type in your targeted keywords on any of these platforms will be presented with the mobile app install ad.
Once they download the app, you can easily track the number (and origin) of installs over time.
2. Facebook Mobile App Install Ads
The strategy outlined above works just as effectively for Facebook Mobile App Install Ads, except that on Facebook, you're more in control of the type of audience that will see your ad.
This means you are able to precisely target your ideal audience based on demographics such as:
Location
Age
Income
Gender
Interests
Hobbies
Preferences, etc.
3. Write About Your App
Yet another great way to market your Shopify app is to create interesting and informative content, such as training videos and posts, about what you are building.
For instance, if you created an app with the essentials for sales management, you might write about the following:
How you got the idea
The challenges you faced
The solutions you came up with
Things you learned along the way
What you are applying to your app
...and so on.
This strategy is effective because it’s marketing that doesn’t look like marketing.
It makes your content easier to share and promote by both you and your readers. Ultimately, this type of content is more likely to convert since it doesn't come across as a blatant ad.
Also, if you follow SEO best practices, you will be able to drive tons of organic traffic to your app over the long term.
Pro Tip: If you’re not particularly gifted as a writer or content creator, you can find copywriting courses on sites like Skillshare and Udemy that will help you craft copy that converts.
4. Set Up an Automated Marketing Process
During the design, app development by app development company, and marketing of your app, it's crucial to automate as many of the tasks as possible so you can boost productivity.
This will allow you to spend more time on the ACTUAL product
For instance, after you write your posts, you can set it up so they are automatically shared on various social media platforms and other writing platforms like LinkedIn, Medium, The Practical Dev, etc. to help increase visibility.
Luckily, there are tons of marketing automation and project management tools to help you in this regard.
5. Source Lots of Testimonials
Testimonials are a great way to market your Shopify app. They prove to your audience that you have a reliable, proven app.
This is particularly important when you're competing against many other similar apps that are already available on the market.
An easy way to source testimonials is through social media, such as Twitter or Facebook groups.
Regardless of the type of app you have, whether it’s about marketing or online security, you can find key users to beta test your app and provide testimonials.
6. Optimize Your App’s Product Page
Optimization is everything in marketing. 3Wishes is a site that offers a great example of this concept in play. Everything on the site is optimized to convert visitors into customers.
Your app product page should be the same.
This goes for every element on the page, including:
The copy
Videos
Images
Call to action button, etc.
You need to show your potential customers what your app looks like and how it works. Give them as much information as they require, as quickly as possible.
One of the best ways to do this is by including videos that will convey all the necessary information in just a few short seconds. In short, your audience should be able to understand at a glance exactly what your app does, as in the example below from Lifesum’s health app product page:
You can use a video maker to create short, engaging, and informative videos for your app’s product page.
7. Make Your App Store Listing Easy to Find
Merchants shouldn't have to hunt for your listing. If you make it too hard for them to find use, they will likely go with one of your competitors instead.
So make sure your listing is optimized to help improve your conversions.
For instance, the creator of this simple Shopify WordPress Post Feed app has structured the app description to clearly show the product’s value.
Use the “Key Benefits” section to draw attention to what merchants stand to gain by using your app.
Pro Tip: Use design tools to help you create a beautiful and memorable icon for your app. This will help make your app store listing stand out. Alternatively, you can hire freelancers from software companies to design one for you.
Conclusion
Regardless of the type of app you create - from a predictive dialer to a sticky cart drawer, you can use these marketing ideas for Shopify apps to bring more attention to your product so you can generate more leads and sales.
Which of these marketing ideas appeal to you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Burkhard Berger is the founder of awesomex™. You can follow him on his journey from 0 to 100,000 monthly visitors on awesomex. His articles include some of the best growth hacking strategies and digital scaling tactics that he has learned from his own successes and failures.
