I started my 1st Shopify App 3 years ago.
Today I own a $25k MRR app.
But I hadn't found a lot of information back then.
So here we go. My Christmas gift! ๐
24 things I wish I knew when I started my Shopify App๐
Today I own a $25k MRR app.
But I hadn't found a lot of information back then.
So here we go. My Christmas gift! ๐
24 things I wish I knew when I started my Shopify App๐
1/ There are a lot of opportunities for apps.
You just have to talk to merchants to understand their pain and what's missing in the App Store.
New apps will create new needs.
You just have to talk to merchants to understand their pain and what's missing in the App Store.
New apps will create new needs.
2/ Don't wait too long to submit your app on the app store.
As soon as you have a working app (even an MVP), submit it.
Because Shopify will review your app during the approval process.
The more features you have, the more changes they might ask you to make.
As soon as you have a working app (even an MVP), submit it.
Because Shopify will review your app during the approval process.
The more features you have, the more changes they might ask you to make.
3/ Once you're approved, you won't need to go through the approval again.
So don't worry when you build new features. Just make sure that you still respect the requirements!
So don't worry when you build new features. Just make sure that you still respect the requirements!
4/ Average time to get a reply when you submit your app is 14 days.
Well, they always told me they'd review it in 14 days (5 apps)
Sometimes it takes 10 days, sometimes 16.
It depends on how many apps were submitted at the same time.
Well, they always told me they'd review it in 14 days (5 apps)
Sometimes it takes 10 days, sometimes 16.
It depends on how many apps were submitted at the same time.
5/ The approval process is rigorous (and that's a good thing)
Make sure that you actually read the requirements (there is a list on the Shopify website)
And for each point, check if your app meets it.
Make sure that you actually read the requirements (there is a list on the Shopify website)
And for each point, check if your app meets it.
6/ You can submit your app and still choose to be "unlisted".
That's what you can do to avoid potential users finding your app when you're working with beta users.
That's what you can do to avoid potential users finding your app when you're working with beta users.
7/ The reviews are gold on the store.
Make sure to provide excellent support to get reviews.
Make sure to provide excellent support to get reviews.
8/ You're using Shopify Brand so if you provide excellent support and a great app, they will put you in front of more people.
They can feature you on the app store, in articles, etc.
They can feature you on the app store, in articles, etc.
9/ The frequency of reviews matters more than how many you have.
It means that you can have a better ranking if you had 10 reviews in the last week than an app with 45 reviews that has existed since 2015
It means that you can have a better ranking if you had 10 reviews in the last week than an app with 45 reviews that has existed since 2015
10/ There is a hierarchy in the importance of keywords
(I don't even know if hierarchy means the same thing in English as in French)
Title > Tagline > Key Benefits > Description
A keyword in the title is more important than a keyword in the tagline.
(I don't even know if hierarchy means the same thing in English as in French)
Title > Tagline > Key Benefits > Description
A keyword in the title is more important than a keyword in the tagline.
11/ The changes you make on your listing are directly live
Unlike Google. So you can definitely test keywords and see the impact on the ranking instantly.
Unlike Google. So you can definitely test keywords and see the impact on the ranking instantly.
12/ Make your English listing your primary listing.
Because all the countries where you didn't translate your listing will see the primary one.
Because all the countries where you didn't translate your listing will see the primary one.
13/ Never put fake reviews
Shopify knows everything. They will see it.
Shopify knows everything. They will see it.
14/ It is not necessary to put a keyword twice.
If you have it in your title, putting it in the tagline won't change anything.
If you have it in your title, putting it in the tagline won't change anything.
15/ Do not ask your users to leave 5-star reviews.
Shopify doesn't like that.
Just tell them to leave a review to tell you what they think about your app.
If you provide excellent support and a fantastic app, the review will obviously be a 5-star review.
Shopify doesn't like that.
Just tell them to leave a review to tell you what they think about your app.
If you provide excellent support and a fantastic app, the review will obviously be a 5-star review.
16/ The ads on the app store are expensive.
So the trick is to target keywords even if they are not relevant.
You don't want to do that on Google because you'll target unqualified people.
But on the Shopify app store, everyone is already qualified ๐คซ
So the trick is to target keywords even if they are not relevant.
You don't want to do that on Google because you'll target unqualified people.
But on the Shopify app store, everyone is already qualified ๐คซ
17/ You can definitely make a lot of money only with the Shopify App Store Traffic. It's amazing
18/ Your conversion rate will be higher than other SaaS.
But your churn too.
Your users don't have to put their credit card number, and they trust Shopify.
But they will also uninstall quickly if they don't understand what you do.
(You will also see a lot of closed stores)
But your churn too.
Your users don't have to put their credit card number, and they trust Shopify.
But they will also uninstall quickly if they don't understand what you do.
(You will also see a lot of closed stores)
19/ Sending emails don't work. (Well, it didn't work for me and some other developers)
The emails you have are sometimes the same as their customers so they barely reply.
Don't try to do cold emails or use emails to get feedback (unless it's the only way)
The emails you have are sometimes the same as their customers so they barely reply.
Don't try to do cold emails or use emails to get feedback (unless it's the only way)
20/ Try to partner with other Shopify Apps. It's a great way to increase the number of users!
The best way is to do a technical integration (making sure that your app works perfectly with theirs)
The best way is to do a technical integration (making sure that your app works perfectly with theirs)
21/ Making your app partner-friendly can increase your users.
You just need to put your app "for free" for all the people on a partner plan and check when they change their plan to the Basic one.
The agencies will be able to add your app to a store even if it has no plan.
You just need to put your app "for free" for all the people on a partner plan and check when they change their plan to the Basic one.
The agencies will be able to add your app to a store even if it has no plan.
22/ The best way to increase your reviews is to ask people to leave a review once you help them with the support.
They had an aha moment and are more likely to leave a review.
They had an aha moment and are more likely to leave a review.
23/ You can't add Stripe or something into your app. You need to use Shopify Payment System.
Basically, you create a charge on a store (the pricing of your app). Then Shopify will take that money from your users.
And twice a month they will send you the money...
Basically, you create a charge on a store (the pricing of your app). Then Shopify will take that money from your users.
And twice a month they will send you the money...
I hope you enjoyed and learned a lot! And if you did, retweet the first tweet! It will help me a lot!
Merry Christmas! ๐
And if you want to follow my journey, feel free to follow me @DsMatie
Merry Christmas! ๐
And if you want to follow my journey, feel free to follow me @DsMatie
We can't make more than 25 tweets in a thread ๐ญ
24/ The apps that perform the best on the app store are the ones that help merchants earn more.
And the more obvious it is, the better.
And the more obvious it is, the better.
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