How can Shopify apps help to build and promote your online business and increase your bottom line?
Shopify powers over 3.5 million e-commerce and e-business websites around the world. Its simple structure and powerful features mean you can create your online store within hours. Yet many online business owners aren’t aware of one of its greatest features — the Shopify App Store.
This article explores the top Shopify apps that will enhance your online presence.
Discover how Shopify can help you source products to sell in your store. See how dropshipping apps take the hassle out of delivery. Learn how to sell internationally and market your site more effectively.
Read on to find out why Shopify is one of the top online selling platforms and how to take advantage of all its features.
Starting an Online Business With Shopify
Shopify is a one-stop-shop that enables you to sell products and services online.
The service offers a wealth of tools to help build your business from the ground up:
- Brand creation through logo design and generating a business name
- Online store set-up including domain name registration
- Source products to sell and choose a theme
- Market and promote your store
Shopify hosts podcasts and guides to assist you on your journey. It even offers tips on finding online business ideas to match your budget.
If all of these benefits weren’t enough, Shopify expands its catalog of features through the Shopify App Store.
Shopify App Store
Shopify’s ecosystem allows third-party developers to create apps to expand its core feature base. If you need a particular service that Shopify doesn’t offer, then a third-party app will.
This article breaks down x5 key areas where Shopify apps will enhance your online store.
As a continuation of our top 5 Shopify app ideas article, we highlight the best apps to source, sell, and promote. That includes international commerce and effective marketing.
You won’t need an online business degree to use these apps and neither will they break your bank account.
1. Product Sourcing Apps
Don’t have an online business yet but you’re thinking of starting your own e-commerce store? Shopify has the answer with its product sourcing applications.
The Handshake Shopify app lets you buy US brands at wholesale prices.
It holds 150,000 products and prides itself in hosting quality content. New brands get added on a weekly basis and you can interact with the sellers directly.
Best of all, Handshake is free to use.
There are no joining fees and they don’t charge commission for opening orders or reorders. Many items have low order minimums so you can test a product before committing to larger quantities.
Vegan Cosmetics + Skincare is a specialized app that lets you build your own makeup store.
All of their lipsticks and cosmetics are vegan-friendly and cruelty-free. The store can also print your designs on their packaging. Combine that with printed business cards online to begin to market your new company.
2. Dropshipping Shopify Apps
Dropshipping offers an order fulfillment service that removes the hassle of e-commerce selling.
A third party holds the stock and processes and ships orders on your behalf. This removes the need for costly warehousing and packaging centers and speeds up the process. Customers receive the goods with your store’s branding too.
The Shopify App Store hosts a range of dropshipping applications including:
- Spocket – US and EU products that work with Oberlo and AliExpress
- Trendsi – fashion dropshipping service for US boutiques
- Automizely – fully branded shopping experience at discounted prices
1688.com is a sister site of China’s leading e-commerce website Alibaba.com. The AliExpress Dropshipping Shopify app sources items from 1688.com and lowers product costs by up to 50%.
The app also handles deliveries to the US from China and gives you full control over your product catalog.
3. Print-On-Demand Apps
Our ‘how to start a print on demand business with Shopify’ article offers excellent advice on POD. But what apps on the Shopify store can get you up and running?
Printify has a 4.3 star rating and has a mockup generator for your customers to create their own designs.
Printify’s network covers the US, China, and the UK. They offer full dropshipping services with your branding and there’s a free plan available to try the platform.
Printful is a top-rated POD app that promotes 290 product ideas for your customers to choose from.
T-shirts, accessories, apparel, and homeware are all fully customizable. Printful’s customer support team will guide you on set-up and you can see your sales from the dashboard. To check out Printful visit this link here.
4. Sell Internationally With Shopify
If you wish to broaden your customer base then Shopify’s internationalized apps can help.
The MLV: Auto Currency Switcher is a multi-currency converter that integrates with your Shopify store. The app automatically provides the correct currency based on the customer’s location. And it works with Shopify’s new Payments system.
The Language Translate app by Transcy offers an intelligent AI Translation service for your store content.
The 1-click feature uses artificial intelligence to translate product pages. Languages will auto-switch based on the visitor’s location.
SEO is a must in today’s digital marketplace and Transcy’s app offers multilingual SEO services. It also converts prices into the local currency dynamically.
5. Online Business Marketing Apps
Building a store with top brands is great but you need to promote it to bring in sales.
Shopify hosts lots of apps in five key marketing areas:
- SEO
- Content Marketing
- Advertising
- Email Marketing
- Direct Marketing
Analyzing your marketing efforts is just as important as sending a mailshot or advertising on Google Ads.
The SEO Booster ‑ SEO Marketing app by Secomapp aims to boost your SEO efforts while tracking results. The Advanced Facebook Pixl App uses machine learning to improve your Facebook leads.
Don’t forget about Shopify’s own Buy Button Channel app that enables you to sell your products on any website.
Which App Is Good for Online Business? ( quick video )
More Shopify Apps to Assist Your Online Business
The Shopify App Store offers hundreds of useful applications to assist your online business.
The apps listed above enable you to create your first online store and sell within a few days. Dropshipping means you don’t need to hold inventory stock while the internationalize apps mean you can sell anywhere.
View more recommended Shopify apps here. These applications include affiliate marketing, invoice creation, and theme design.
Make sure to share the links on your social media profiles for other business owners to read. And if you’d like to learn more about how Shopify works then visit our in-depth article.
