When Shopify introduced an app store for their platform in 2018, it opened a world of opportunity for sellers to take their marketing and sales to new levels.

But since then, the Shopify app store has amassed over 7000 apps, making it a challenge to find the right marketing tools at a good price. And that’s not including the integration options with third-party services.

So in this article, we’ll cover:

• What to look for when choosing the right marketing tools.
• Plus a simple list of tools and apps you can use to boost your sales.

Let’s get to it!

Shopify Marketing Tools: What to Look For

When it comes to the right marketing tools, there are a few key things to look out for, mainly:

• Level of automation: what tasks does the app or service help you automate or allow you to complete in record time?
• Personalization features: are there placeholder or variable fields that allow you to import customer data to create personalized templates, promotions, and offers?
• Analytics and performance tracking: without data on how well your marketing is performing, making the right changes becomes near impossible.
• User reviews: primarily 1 and 2-star reviews. Knowing what problems users face in an app will give you an idea if the issues are from the app itself or user-specific.
• User Interface: is the tool intuitive and easy to use? If not, it could be a hassle trying to navigate in an app with a bad UI, especially if there are better options with the same features.

Of course, price also plays a factor. However, marketing is all about investing money to generate more money. If the tool has everything you need and more to drive sales, it’s up to you to decide whether the price tag is worth it at your stage in the business.

Now let’s take a look at the right apps and tools to up your Shopify marketing. 

WhatsApp Marketing Tools

WhatsApp API, also known as the WhatsApp Business Platform, gives retailers an impressive range of tools to sell to their audience through WhatsApp.

If you’re not already using WhatsApp alongside your Shopify store, now is the best time to reconsider. 

Zoko.io

You can connect Zoko to your Shopify store to easily share catalogs, products, and take orders on WhatsApp.

Once customers place an order, you can send automated messages like order, shipping, and confirmation updates, plus more to provide a great customer experience.

When it comes to analytics, the Zoko Broadcasting feature includes real-time insights and conversion tracking for each broadcast to help you know: 

• Delivered Rate: the number of messages delivered to users’ devices.
• Read Rate: how many messages have been read and unread.
• Response Rate: the total number of contacts that replied to your broadcast within 48 hours after the message has been delivered.
• Click-through Rate: the number of users who clicked the link in the broadcast versus those who simply viewed it.
• Conversion Rate: the total number of users who made a purchase through your broadcast and how much you’ve earned.

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Broadcasts also include financial metrics such as estimated revenue, estimated max cost, and minimum ROI. With Zoko, data is real-time and can change with every page refresh.

Through Zoko’s Broadcasting feature, the Born Primitive company was able to drive sales and boost traffic by up to 20%.

Click here to learn more about how Zoko can transform your Shopify eCommerce business!

Email Marketing Tools

Even for established eCommerce stores, email marketing can seem like a daunting task. But despite inaccurate claims on its effectiveness, it is by far one of the most crucial marketing channels you need to jump on if you haven’t already.

Plus, email marketing can result in a return of up to $38 for every $1 spent. That’s a potential 3800% return on your investment, putting email marketing as one of the best and most effective ways to expand your brand.

Omnisend

Omnisend is an email marketing platform built around eCommerce. It offers a range of useful tools such as:

• Easily integrated with Shopify.
• Use email templates that can easily add your products.
• Automated workflows for customer journey stages such as order confirmation, cart abandonment, and more.
• Email gift boxes, scratch cards, and other promotional features.
• Communicate with customers under one hub.
• Includes SMS marketing.

What makes Omnisend stand out is its focus on eCommerce and its unique range of gift card features like a “wheel of fortune” sign-up form.

Another highlight is their free plan that allows you to contact up to 250 customers per month and includes unlimited subscribers. 

Also read: Top 10 Best Shopify Apps for Upselling and Cross

Lead Capture and Conversion Tools

Whether you’d like to offer a 15% discount to first-time buyers or get people to sign up with their emails, lead capture tools are what you need.

If you’re not actively performing lead capture and converting visitors into paying customers, you’re leaving a lot of potential revenue on the table.

Justuno

Justuno is a conversion rate optimization (CRO) and lead capture tool that helps sellers optimize their landing pages with lead capture features, perform A/B testing, and drive engagement.

It’s an AI-powered app that comes with a range of tools, including:

• Track visitor behavior with targeted actions for prospective customers.
• Personalized pop-ups.
• Upselling and cross-selling recommendations.
• Page exit offers.
• Segmentation to target high-value customers.

Justuno offers different plans for SMEs based on monthly visitors to premium plans more suitable for bigger Shopify stores.

Unbounce

Unbounce is a robust machine-learning tool that helps shop owners optimize their landing pages and increase conversions. Over the years their platform has evolved to accommodate landing page trends and includes a wide range of conversion tools such as:

• Easy to use drag-and-drop landing page editor.
• Customizable templates.
• AI-powered lead nurturing and marketing campaign tools.
• Multiple integration options.
• Simple and intuitive UI.

In addition to its landing page editor, the platform also offers advanced ‘Smart’ features that allow users to perform A/B tests and gather valuable insights about their visitor traffic.

It is a little on the pricey side but if analytics and CRO are high on your priority list, then it’s definitely worth giving it a try.

Candy Rack (Upselling and Cross-Selling)

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Upselling is a key part of increasing your revenue and average order value (AOV). Many stores have complicated upselling methods that make it difficult for customers to add additional items.

Candy Rack is a Shopify app that makes upselling and cross-selling easy with a click of a button, with features like:

• Automated AI-powered upselling.
• Customers can add upsell items with one click.
• Upselling offers are visually appealing and not pushy.
• Mobile-optimized.

Candy Rack can also be integrated with other apps, making it one of the best upselling and cross-selling apps on the market.

Frequently Bought Together (Amazon-Style Cross-Selling)

Code Black Belt’s ‘Frequently Bought Together’ Shopify app mimics Amazon’s ‘Frequently Bought Together’ cross-selling feature. In fact, this cross-selling feature is so powerful that it alone accounts for around 35% of Amazon’s yearly revenue.

Highlights of this app are:

• Easy to install and integrate.
• Customizable with visual designs.
• Includes statistics and analytics.
• Compatible with mobile phones and tablets.

Upselling and cross-selling are two excellent ways to maximize purchases on your site and drive revenue, and a ‘Frequently Bought Together’ feature could be exactly what your store needs.

SEO Tools

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a long-term marketing strategy that should be running alongside your other direct ad campaigns. If your organic traffic can outgrow your paid traffic channels, you’ll be able to drive sales on autopilot without spending a dime on ads.

Here are some quick SEO recommendations for your Shopify store:

Search Pie: SEO Booster & Speed

A Shopify SEO app that helps users:

• Optimize their Google presence.
• Speed up their site loading speeds.
• Perform SEO reports.
• Get access to detailed SEO statistics. 

Ubersuggest

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Ubersuggest is a powerful free keyword research tool that offers:

• Domain overviews.
• Top-ranking pages.
• Content ideas.
• Backlink data.

SEO: Image Optimizer Page Speed

Images make up the bulk of online retail stores, and if they’re not optimized, they can affect your overall page speed and ultimately, your sales.

It’s reported that 79% of customers “dissatisfied” with a site’s performance are less likely to go back and buy again, which is where this image optimization tool comes in handy.

Loyalty and Rewards Program Tools

A reward or point-based customer loyalty program is a great retention strategy that builds your brand, creates a loyal customer base, and increases overall revenue.

Popular health authority Dr. Axe was able to increase the average order value (AOV) on his eCommerce site by 36% with his loyalty program.

LoyaltyLion

If you're looking for an easy way to streamline your loyalty program, LoyaltyLion is one of the best platforms around, with robust features that include:

• Easily integrated with Shopify.
• Real-time analytics.
• Rewards and point-based programs for reviews, referrals, and purchases.
• Personalized loyalty features for top customers.
• Easy to use interface and setup.

LoyaltyLion is used by thousands of eCommerce stores and boasts a $15 return to sellers for every $1 spent on its platform.

Also read: Top 10 Best Shopify Apps for Upselling and Cross Selling

Key Takeaways

With so many apps and tools out there, it’s easy to get caught up in analysis paralysis. But a few key things to remember regarding marketing tools for your Shopify store are:

• Look for tools that automate workflows and customer engagement.
• Active lead generation, lead capture, and CRO are key to long-term success.
• Maximize purchases with upselling, cross-selling, and optimized landing pages.
• Consider what methods you can explore to drive revenue and look for apps that help with the process.

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