The 5 Shopify Apps we install in every Shopify store
Join Peter Corkery, Managing Director of Milk Bottle Labs, as he shares the 5 Shopify apps our team add to pretty much every new store build, upgrade and migration onto the Shopify & Shopify Plus platforms.
Shopify is an excellent platform for running your own ecommerce store. And Shopify store owners can easily add value to their store with apps from the Shopify App store. Here Shopify store owners can choose from over 4,000 feature-rich applications that can enhance customer experience, boost sales and make visual changes too. But which Shopify apps should you add? It's a difficult choice with so many to choose from and the cost can add up.
At Milk Bottle Labs we've been inside hundreds of Shopify & Shopify Plus stores. Over time we've been impressed with many apps. Here are the 5 Shopify apps we recommend you install to secure your data, boost revenue and improve the store experience for your customers.
Rewind.io
Did you know that if you delete data from your Shopify store it cannot be recovered? If a staff member or a developer enters your online store and makes an error by deleting a product or collection, your data is gone forever. Imagine losing all your blog posts from your Shopify ecommerce store? Or even worse, what if your new starter accidentally deleted your published theme. It happens. We've seen it.
That’s why we install Rewind.io on every Shopify store. The perfect way to protect your Shopify store from the risks of losing any valuable customer data.
The Rewind.io app maintains an update of your store at all times. In the event of a data loss, the restore facility allows you to choose a time and rewind the store back to its original state. Thus, restoring data such as:
- Individual items, including images and descriptions in addition
- Blogs & themes
- Order & customer details
Rewind will also restore multiple pieces of content at once like an entire collection or brand. So, in the event of an error, a simple click will wind the store back to its original state.
Why does the team at Milk Bottle recommend it?
- We see it as the cheapest insurance policy for your store
- 1 click install
- Value for money: a free plan included and paid plans starting at $9 per month.
Searchanise
Chances are the majority of your users reached your store after a Google search. Consumers want to reach their desired product in rapid time regardless if they are on mobile or desktop. We add search to pretty much every Shopify ecommerce store we build. Put simply Searchanise creates a Google search experience on your own store.
Searchanise is busy in the background indexing your store for new products and content which it will present inside search results. You can then be sure your searches will reflect exactly what's available in real-time, as it scans your store every 2 minutes for updates.
Aside from Search, it also features some powerful additions which boost Shopify store conversions:
- advanced search features
- filters on collections & search results pages - the search results page is highly customisable
- merchandising tools to maximise conversions - select products to appear first
- recommendation blocks
Why does the team at Milk Bottle Labs recommend it?
- It's 1 click install. Simply install and your store will be indexed and searchable in minutes
- The search look and feel is entirely customisable to fit in with your brand
- We especially love the control you can have over the search results page
OrderlyEmails by FORSBERG+two
One criticism of Shopify is the quality of the automated outbound emails templates used to communicate with the customer. These include the order confirmation or delivery confirmation notifications that are not 'on brand' or in any way attractive.
If you want to improve the emails that your customers receive when they buy from your Shopify store, this is the perfect solution. To add your brand look and feel to these important notifications, we recommend you consider OrderlyEmails by FORSBERG+two. For a once-off fee Shopify store owners can easily add their brand to every outbound email Shopify will create. This has an immediate impact on your customer experience.
Why does the team at Milk Bottle Labs recommend it?
- Great value. A single one-off, fixed fee of $49
- The developer is a human :) Björn gives great support. As an app developer he also has a great reputation for stellar customer service.
- It's used by over 20,000 Shopify merchants. They can't all be wrong.
Klaviyo
Klaviyo and Shopify are a perfect match for those looking to personalise their marketing with more relevant, targeted and automated email. We use Klaviyo email marketing & SMS platform to unlock the power of automated email marketing.
In a few easy steps with Klaviyo automated email, you can start using their platform for personalisation purposes right away. Klaviyo will seamlessly collect and store all relevant data about your customers so you can deliver better targeted communications in a matter of seconds. The content is relevant to each individual helping your online business create a stronger relationship and thus drive more sales by offering a more memorable and personal purchasing experience on your Shopify store.
Why does the team at Milk Bottle Labs recommend it?
- It will make you money. We see some stores generating 40% of revenue by Klaviyo automated emails.
- Great support. Online chat is available.
- Once you become familiar with the product, you will easily build new automated email flows and avenues to increase revenue
- It's a must-have app for any Shopify store regardless of size
Cookies First
GDPR guidelines have been around for a while now, so there is little excuse in overlooking this area. However, we know as a busy Shopify store owner it can sometimes get neglected. Luckily there is an app for this!
CookieFirst is a platform for managing and automating consent. It offers automated cookie consent, and periodic scans of your site to make sure you're in compliance with international privacy laws like the GDPR or ePrivacy directive.
In addition it offers custom templates that ensure users understand their terms & conditions upon signing up and is managed by an easy to use interface. Users can view site statistics on opt-ins and opt-outs.
Why does the team at Milk Bottle Labs recommend it?
- Super quick to set up
- Pricing starts at $9 - another cheap insurance policy :)
- It's a simple app that provides reassurance and safety for your store visitors
Invest wisely when adding Shopify Apps
Your Shopify store is the revenue engine for your online business. Apps which protect your data and help you comply with regulation are as important as apps which boost sales.
When choosing an app make sure to:
- Read the Shopify reviews and make an informed decision based on other Shopify store owners experiences. The support from an application is also very important.
- Many apps are free. But watch out, as there are risks with free Shopify apps. Maybe they'll add excess code to your store and 'knock out' other apps which are working perfectly. So be careful before you press install.
