10 Best Free Shopify Apps to Help You Build, Manage and Grow Your Ecommerce Store

Summary

This video script emphasizes the importance of the ecosystem, particularly the app library, in choosing an e-commerce platform. It highlights Shopify's extensive app store and introduces 10 free tools to enhance online stores, including product reviews, loyalty programs, page builders, and email marketing. The script advises on balancing app utility with site speed for optimal conversion rates and encourages viewers to explore Shopify's free trial to start growing their e-commerce business.

Takeaways

• 🛍️ The most crucial factor when choosing an e-commerce platform is its ecosystem, particularly the app library, which can significantly impact business growth.
• 🌟 Shopify's app store is highly regarded, offering over 6,000 apps to enhance various aspects of an online store, such as marketing, design, and analytics.
• 🆓 The presenter introduces 10 types of free tools from the Shopify app store that can be utilized to improve a store without incurring costs.
• 📈 Adding too many apps can slow down page load speed, which is detrimental to conversion rates; it's important to prioritize impactful tools without compromising speed.
• 💬 Product Reviews by Shopify is a free app that allows customers to leave text-based reviews, enhancing social proof and trust.
• 🤝 Loyalty programs are beneficial for driving sales and increasing brand loyalty; free apps like Game Ball and Smile.io can help organize such programs.
• 🛠 Page builders like PageFly, despite limited free plans, can help create custom page layouts without extensive coding knowledge.
• 📚 For selling digital products, apps like Easy Digital Products and Digital Downloads integrate with Shopify to manage digital deliveries and payments.
• 💬 Customer support is vital, and chatbot apps with free plans like MyAlice and LiveChat can help manage inquiries and automate responses.
• 🔄 Recurring payments are cost-effective for retaining customers and can be managed through free apps such as PayWhirl and Yotpo Subscriptions.
• 🖨️ Print on demand services like Printful and Printify allow for inventory-free business models, handling production and shipping after sales are made.
• 🔝 Pre-order pages, supported by apps like PreOrder Alpha, help manage inventory and build hype for upcoming products, offering a smart sales strategy.
• 🔄 Affiliate programs can be easily set up with apps like UpPromote, encouraging customers to refer others and receive rewards, aiding in sales and marketing.
• ✉️ Email marketing integration is essential for capturing customers and automating communication; Shopify's own email tool offers seamless integration and automation features.

Q & A

What is considered the most important factor when choosing an e-commerce platform according to the video?

The most important factor is the ecosystem that the e-commerce platform offers, specifically the app library, as it can greatly impact the growth and scalability of your business.

How does the Shopify app store differentiate itself in the e-commerce platform market?

The Shopify app store differentiates itself by offering over 6,000 apps, which can help improve various aspects of an online store such as marketing, design, and analytics.

What is the significance of maintaining page load speed when adding apps to a Shopify store?

Maintaining page load speed is crucial for conversion rates. A slow load time can significantly decrease the chances of converting visitors into customers, with studies showing optimal load times to be between zero to four seconds.

What are some free apps mentioned in the video that can help with product reviews on a Shopify store?

The Product Reviews app by Shopify, Stamped.io, and Yotpo Reviews are mentioned as free apps that can help collect and display customer reviews.

How can loyalty programs benefit an e-commerce business?

Loyalty programs can drive sales and increase brand loyalty by rewarding customers for their purchases or other brand interactions, thus encouraging repeat business.

What are some free apps that can help set up a loyalty program on a Shopify store?

Free apps like Game Ball, Smile.io, Rivo, and Joy can help set up a loyalty program with features such as point earning rules and reward redemption.

Why are page builders useful for a Shopify store, and what are some free options mentioned in the video?

Page builders are useful for creating custom page layouts without needing extensive coding skills. The video mentions PageFly, LayoutHub, and Tapita as free options, although with limited capabilities in their free plans.

How can Shopify be used to sell digital products, and what apps are recommended for this purpose?

Shopify can be used to sell digital products by integrating apps like Easy Digital Products and Digital Downloads, which handle payment acceptance and the delivery of digital goods via email and download links.

What role can chatbots play in enhancing customer support on a Shopify store?

Chatbots can manage incoming customer inquiries, provide quick responses, and even capture messages from social media platforms, centralizing customer support operations and improving customer experience.

Why are recurring payments important for an online store, and what apps can facilitate this?

Recurring payments are important for retaining customers and ensuring steady revenue streams. Apps like PayWhirl, Yotpo Subscriptions, and Recharge Subscriptions can facilitate recurring payments without upfront costs.

How can print on demand apps benefit a new business with limited cash flow and storage space?

Print on demand apps like Printful and Printify allow businesses to sell products without the need to purchase or store inventory, handling manufacturing and shipping upon receiving a sale, thus reducing initial overhead costs.

What are the advantages of offering pre-orders on an online store, and what apps can help with this process?

Offering pre-orders helps build hype for products and manage inventory effectively. Apps like PreOrder Alpha, PreOrder Globo, and Timesact can facilitate pre-orders, collect advanced orders, and offer discounts for early purchases.

Why is setting up an affiliate program beneficial for a new business, and what apps can assist with this?

An affiliate program can help spread the word about products and generate sales by incentivizing customers to refer others. Apps like UpPromote and Automizely loyalty can assist in setting up and managing an affiliate program.

How can email marketing be integrated into a Shopify store, and what are some free tools mentioned in the video?

Email marketing can be integrated into a Shopify store using tools like MailChimp, Klaviyo, Privy, or Shopify's own email marketing tool, which offers automations and easy tracking of customer interactions.