Mobile apps have opened new dimensions and unlocked new avenues of growth and success for businesses. E-commerce has started evolving into m-commerce (mobile commerce) and the number of mobile app-based shoppers is constantly increasing.
People are using apps for a variety of activities in their daily lives, and businesses are harnessing them to expand their presence and grow. You have already won half the battle if you also own a Shopify store.
Now, launching an app with a Shopify app builder will unlock new opportunities for you. So, stay tuned and learn how you can build and launch your own mobile app store for your Shopify website.
In this blog
- Shopify: the ultimate eCommerce solution
- How to build a Shopify app?
- How to promote your Shopify app?
- How can AppMySite help you with Shopify app development?
- Frequently asked questions
Shopify: the ultimate eCommerce solution
Essentially, Shopify can be defined as an eCommerce website builder. It has emerged as the ultimate eCommerce solution for businesses that aspire to go online and reach customers worldwide.
It is easy to build an online store with Shopify and the user-friendly features make it a top choice amongst e-commerce CMS platforms. According to BuiltWith, around 7,752,991 (7.7+ million) websites have been created using Shopify so far. Around 4,794,511 (4.7+ million) Shopify websites are live on the web.
In the year 2023, Shopify’s revenue stood at around 7.06 billion US dollars which was a 26 percent increase from Financial Year 2022. With merchants located across 175 countries around the world, Shopify’s prominence is likely to continue increasing.
Notably, one of the most interesting statistics is that 81 percent of Shopify traffic comes from mobile. More than 70 percent of orders are also placed via mobile devices. This goes on to show that mobile devices play a key role between your Shopify website and your target customers.
This, coupled with the fact that more users prefer mobile apps to shop these days, further intensifies the need for an app solution for your Shopify-based e-commerce business. Undoubtedly, Shopify is a wide market, and with a fully-featured app, you can strengthen your reach, performance, and engagement.
How to build a Shopify app?
Let us cut to the chase and understand how you can build your Shopify app. It is obvious that you must build your app with absolute perfection to attract more customers. The features and functionalities must be selected and integrated with great attention and precision.
To ensure that you are headed in the right direction, you can start with detailed market research. It will help you get a lay of the land and analyze the competitors, target audience and market, scope of the app idea, and more. Once you have all the information and research data, you can get started with app development.
Consider the tips listed below and make your journey seamless:
Find a reliable development solution
After research, the next and most important step when developing an app is finding a reliable development platform or solution. In general, these are the options that you can explore:
- Build your own app with a no-code app builder.
- Code your own app with traditional frameworks.
- Hire a team of professionals for in-house development.
- Outsource app development to a company or freelancers.
Notably, there was a time when businesses were compelled to go for custom app development services to get a highly functional and fully featured app. This need has been eradicated by smarter solutions like the code-free DIY mobile app builders.
Therefore, you can create your feature-rich Shopify mobile app with AppMySite’s free app creator. It is the fastest, easiest, and even most affordable app development solution that saves you a ton of money and months of time.
Build your fast and responsive native mobile app in a completely code-free environment in only a few minutes and go live on the app stores in no time. Else, if you are willing to invest money and time, you can outsource development to an external body of experts who can create the app for you.
Make sure to build apps for both Android and iOS for maximum exposure and coverage. Sign up for a solution that allows you to create and publish apps for both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store without breaking the bank.
Design and customize the app theme
Mobile app design determines the overall look, feel, and performance of your app. What your users see on the app and how they interact with it, all depends on the design and layout of the app.
Thus, it is important to ensure that the app’s layout matches your brand’s own theme and color scheme. Additionally, the layout should be user-friendly and make it easy for your users to navigate from one point to the other.
Thus, you can start by creating wireframes or prototypes of your app. It is the process of creating caricatures or sketches that represent your app’s core design, features, and navigational journey.
You can use these models to communicate with your development teams and align them with your needs. Design the screens, buttons, menus, and more. Also, ensure that the overall look and theme conform with the website and the image of your brand.
Develop and add features
The exact app UI/UX design and development process depends on your choice of platform. For instance, with AppMySite, you can proceed step by step and design your app icons and screens first.
Next, you can go on to connect your website and app and import all the content with just a few clicks. Proceed to finetune the settings and features of the app and you will be ready in no time. This approach frees you from the cumbersome process of dealing with complex codes and technicalities. All it takes is a few clicks to get your app up and running.
The best part is that you can preview every step in real time and make changes on the go. Develop and perfect the app while sipping on your favorite beverage and be ready to roll in no time.
Alternatively, you can build your app using SDKs (Software Development Kits), IDEs (Integrated Development Environments), and other software tools and resources that are ideal for a programmer or a professional developer. The steps will be based on your choice of platform and the complexity of features and functionalities.
Follow the platform’s guidelines and processes and develop the front end and back end. Otherwise, simply build your app with AppMySite and get rid of all the complex development and maintenance processes. Add endless e-commerce features of your choice and enrich your app with limitless functionalities.
Test and deploy your app
Once your app is fully developed, you can go on to test it. You can opt for manual or automatic testing and thoroughly review your mobile app. Refer to our detailed mobile app testing guide to know about the process in detail.
Check every aspect of your app including design, navigation, features, security, performance, and more. Focus on testing the core e-commerce features like adding products, applying discounts, viewing invoices, retrieving parked orders, placing new orders, making payments through preferred gateways, optimizing delivery details, etc.
Fix the flaws and bugs and make sure your app is perfect and ready for launch. Submit your app to the app stores and optimize the listing with relevant app titles, descriptions, images, and so on. Follow the guidelines of the app stores and go live.
How to promote your Shopify app?
It is not just enough to create an app and make it live. You will need to promote and market the app well to get a good number of initial downloads on the app stores, and to secure better ranks.
Although there are a variety of ways for marketing and promotion of a mobile app, it can be mainly divided into three phases.
The three most significant phases of a perfect launch strategy are:
1. Pre-launch
While the app idea is still being conceived or the app is being built, you can spend some time promoting it parallelly like the trailers of a movie. It is the best time to create curiosity in the minds of your potential app consumers and get them interested in the idea.
Drop intriguing teasers and promotional content on your website, social media pages, or other advertisement channels. Tell them why the upcoming product is desirable and how it will impact their lives for the good. Create hype around the launch of your app and thrive on it.
2. Launch
This is the phase where the actual game takes place, and it requires the most effort. You can stick to some elementary mediums and platforms or make the launch of your app an extravagant affair. It totally depends on your budget, business goals, and your calls.
However, do not forget to endorse your USP (Unique Selling Proposition) at this point and make your users feel like they are a part of the campaign. At this stage, you can use existing tools of communication or you can go for app store optimization, install ad campaigns, video marketing, influencer marketing, social media marketing, or more.
3. Post-launch
In order to raise the graph of growth and prevent it from dropping, you must be consistent in your efforts. The marketing should not just stop with the launch of the app. In fact, it should take a stronger pace from this point. This can be done using push notifications, email marketing, social media, or more.
Once the app is out there, you can seek people to indulge, use your app, drop ratings and reviews, and share it in their circle. To achieve this feat, you will need to communicate it to them strongly and smartly. Analyze and strengthen your marketing efforts and keep reviewing and reinventing the strategies from time to time.
How can AppMySite help you with Shopify app development?
AppMySite is one of the best no-code app builders available online that offers a holistic platform for creating apps without coding. If you want to take the simple and affordable route to app development where you enjoy complete authority and control over the process, then AppMySite is the way to go.
The platform offers many products and solutions that make your journey easier. For instance, you can go with the web to app converter to turn your Shopify website into a full-fledged mobile app. Mirror your website on an app and be ready to cater to app-based customers in no time.
Plus, AppMySite offers a suite of features that ensure a true-blue mobile experience for you and your buyers. You can design and develop your app in an intuitive and DIY (Do It Yourself) environment in minutes and add features of your choice with easy toggle options. You can give it a try for free and know for yourself.
While you are at it, you can check out our other blogs and learn how to create an app, launch it, and market it to your customers. Create an app to claim your territory in the m-commerce realm and market it the right way to stay ahead of your customers. Get going! May the force of technology be with you!
Frequently asked questions
How to use Shopify?
Shopify is a holistic e-commerce CMS platform that enables you to build, manage, and run a store and sell online. You can go to Shopify’s website and start a free trial first. Follow the instructions and enter the required details. You will get access to an admin dashboard where you can choose and customize a theme to set up your store. Add products and configure settings like payments, shipping, and more. Next, you can purchase a domain to get your store’s URL. Additionally, you can finetune other features and settings and then go on to launch your store with Shopify. Once your website is up and running, you can go on to convert it into an app with AppMySite.
What is Shopify app development?
Shopify app development can be defined as the process of creating apps for Shopify. This could mean developing public apps for Shopify stores to use in general or building a private app that is meant for a specific store. In general, you can create a Shopify app for your store built on Shopify. The easiest way to develop a Shopify app is to use a no-code app maker and turn your existing website into a full-fledged app. You can use resources from your website to set up your store and run the two together.
How much does it cost to build a Shopify app?
The app development industry is widely divided when it comes to budget and price. The cost of developing a Shopify app can be anywhere from 5,000 US dollars to 50,000 US dollars. It depends on the method/platform of app development, the feature and design complexity of the app, the location of app development, and more. For example, a basic app will cost you less than an advanced app with many integrations and complex features. Similarly, no-code app development will cost you way less than hiring an app development company.
How to create a Shopify app without coding?
AppMySite is the best way to create a Shopify app without coding. Here, you can turn your Shopify website into an app with point-and-click options and import all the content with a click. The platform is equally suitable for beginners, developers, small business owners, enterprises, agencies, and more. From design to development, you can manage every step with ease. Try out the platform for free and know yourself.