In cities big and small, it's become alarmingly common to see more and more brick-and-mortar shops’ going out of business sales. Over the past year alone, approximately 9,300 shops closed their doors for good. Considering the costs associated with owning and operating these shops and the number of purchases made online, this makes sense. In 2019, e-commerce businesses made $601.75 billion, which is a 14.9% increase from the previous year. With more customers utilizing the convenience of online shopping, smart direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands are running their businesses exclusively online, making e-commerce platforms such as Shopify incredibly popular.
Shopify is an e-commerce platform that enables D2C brands to run their businesses online by making it easy to create online stores and sell directly to customers. The beauty of the platform is that there is a bevy of tools and integrations that can help these businesses reach new audiences, reconnect with past customers, build goodwill with current customers, and, ultimately, increase sales. There are more than 2,400 apps available in the Shopify App Store, which is both a good and bad thing. In a sea of apps and integrations, how can D2C brands find the one that’s best for their business? We’ve created a list of some of the best Shopify apps to increase sales.
Modern consumers' philanthropic tilts have started to impact the way that businesses interact and engage with them. According to CrowdTwist's report on brand loyalty, 41% of consumers stated donation-focused rewards programs were the most appealing. By catering to target audiences' values, brands are in a better position to build rapport with new customers and inspire repeat business from past customers. The Change Commerce ‑ Donation App by ShoppingGives is the perfect solution for brands looking to do just that.
This Shopify app enables e-commerce brands to give their customers the option to make a donation on their behalf. These customers can choose from multiple charities and non-profit organizations that align with a business's values on either a specific product page, shopping cart, or at checkout. A few benefits that brands can enjoy are:
One of the most potent (and cost-effective) methods of brand awareness is word of mouth. The validation of someone in a potential customer's network can carry more weight than any display ad, email, or case study. According to 5WPR's 2020 Consumer Culture Report, word of mouth was the biggest deciding factor for consumers considering a purchase for age groups between the ages of 18-34 (93%), 35-54 (89%), and 55+ (89%). There are plenty of tools at a D2C brand's disposal when it comes to leveraging their relationships with current customers to acquire new ones, such as referral programs.
ReferralCandy is a platform that helps e-commerce brands build out referral programs that incentivize current customers to refer or reach out to the others in their networks. The Shopify app comes with a 30-day free trial so that businesses can try it without any risk. With their Shopify app, brands can:
With so many options available online, consumers are always on the lookout for the best products at the best price. That's why reviews have taken on a more prominent role in the customer path to conversion. According to BrightLocal's Local Consumer Review Survey from 2019, 81% of those surveyed stated they read reviews before purchasing. Incorporating reviews into a marketing strategy is an excellent method for engendering trust with potential customers. Enter: TargetBay.
TargetBay is a platform that helps businesses quickly facilitate the review process, from collection to publication. With this TargetBay's Shopify app, brands can:
Now that you know about some of the best Shopify apps to increase sales, check out this post on Shopify apps for D2C brands.
Last updated on December 6th, 2022.