Table of Contents
- Quick Overview
- Why These 5 Apps Are Essential
- The 5 Essential Apps for New Shopify Stores
- 1. Klaviyo – Email Marketing & Automation
- 2. Judge.me – Product Reviews
- 3. Google Analytics – Website Analytics
- 4. Loox – Photo Reviews
- 5. Back in Stock – Inventory Alerts
- Installation Strategy for Beginners
- Budget Considerations
- Common Beginner Mistakes
- Measuring Success
- Next Steps After Installation
- Support and Resources
Quick Overview
Starting a new Shopify store can be overwhelming with thousands of apps to choose from. This guide focuses on the 5 most essential apps that every new store owner should install to build a solid foundation for success.
Why These 5 Apps Are Essential
These apps were selected based on:
- Beginner-Friendly: Easy to set up and use
- Proven Value: Demonstrated ROI for new stores
- Core Functionality: Address fundamental business needs
- Cost-Effective: Good value for money
- Scalable: Grow with your business
- Reliable Support: Good customer service
Pro Tip: Install these apps one at a time and master each one before moving to the next. This prevents overwhelm and ensures you’re using each app effectively.
The 5 Essential Apps for New Shopify Stores
1. Klaviyo – Email Marketing & Automation
Category: Email Marketing
Why It’s Essential: Email marketing drives 40% of ecommerce revenue
What It Does:
- Collects customer email addresses
- Automates email campaigns
- Recovers abandoned carts
- Sends personalized recommendations
- Tracks customer behavior
- Integrates with your store data
Key Features for Beginners:
- Welcome Series: Automatically welcome new subscribers
- Abandoned Cart Recovery: Recover lost sales
- Post-Purchase Emails: Follow up after sales
- Pre-built Templates: Ready-to-use email designs
- Easy Segmentation: Target specific customer groups
Pricing:
- Free: Up to 250 contacts
- Paid: Starting at $20/month for 1,000 contacts
- Scales with your business growth
Setup Guide:
- Install Klaviyo from the Shopify App Store
- Connect your store to Klaviyo
- Set up your first email signup form
- Create a welcome email series
- Set up abandoned cart recovery
- Test your email campaigns
Best Practices:
- Start with the free plan
- Use pre-built templates initially
- Test emails before sending
- Monitor open and click rates
- Segment your audience
2. Judge.me – Product Reviews
Category: Social Proof & Reviews
Why It’s Essential: 93% of customers read reviews before purchasing
What It Does:
- Collects customer reviews
- Displays reviews on product pages
- Shows review stars in search results
- Automatically requests reviews
- Manages review moderation
- Provides review analytics
Key Features for Beginners:
- Automatic Review Requests: Ask for reviews after purchase
- Review Widgets: Display reviews prominently
- Photo Reviews: Customers can add photos
- Review Badges: Show trust signals
- Easy Setup: Minimal configuration required
Pricing:
- Free: Basic features
- Paid: Starting at $15/month
- Premium plans for advanced features
Setup Guide:
- Install Judge.me from the App Store
- Configure basic settings
- Set up automatic review requests
- Add review widgets to your theme
- Customize review display settings
- Test the review system
Best Practices:
- Start with the free plan
- Set up automatic review requests
- Respond to customer reviews
- Display reviews prominently
- Use review badges for trust
3. Google Analytics – Website Analytics
Category: Analytics & Tracking
Why It’s Essential: Understanding your customers is crucial for growth
What It Does:
- Tracks website visitors
- Monitors customer behavior
- Measures conversion rates
- Analyzes traffic sources
- Provides detailed reports
- Helps optimize your store
Key Features for Beginners:
- Real-time Data: See current visitors
- Traffic Sources: Know where customers come from
- Conversion Tracking: Measure sales success
- Mobile Analytics: Track mobile performance
- Easy Integration: Simple setup process
Pricing:
- Free: Full features for most stores
- Google Analytics 360: $150,000/year (enterprise)
Setup Guide:
- Create a Google Analytics account
- Set up a new property for your store
- Install Google Analytics in Shopify
- Configure ecommerce tracking
- Set up conversion goals
- Test tracking implementation
Best Practices:
- Set up goals and conversions
- Monitor key metrics regularly
- Use data to make decisions
- Track mobile performance
- Set up custom reports
4. Loox – Photo Reviews
Category: Visual Social Proof
Why It’s Essential: Photo reviews increase conversion rates by 85%
What It Does:
- Collects photo and video reviews
- Displays visual reviews prominently
- Automatically requests reviews
- Offers review incentives
- Shares reviews on social media
- Provides review analytics
Key Features for Beginners:
- Photo Review Collection: Customers can add photos
- Review Incentives: Offer discounts for reviews
- Social Sharing: Share reviews automatically
- Review Widgets: Display reviews beautifully
- Mobile App: Easy review submission
Pricing:
- Free: Basic features
- Paid: Starting at $9.99/month
- Premium plans available
Setup Guide:
- Install Loox from the App Store
- Configure basic settings
- Set up review request emails
- Add review widgets to your theme
- Configure review incentives
- Test the review system
Best Practices:
- Offer incentives for photo reviews
- Display reviews prominently
- Share reviews on social media
- Respond to customer reviews
- Use reviews in marketing
5. Back in Stock – Inventory Alerts
Category: Inventory Management
Why It’s Essential: Can recover 20% of lost sales from out-of-stock items
What It Does:
- Notifies customers when items are back in stock
- Manages waitlists for out-of-stock items
- Sends email and SMS notifications
- Tracks inventory levels
- Provides analytics on notifications
- Integrates with your inventory system
Key Features for Beginners:
- Automatic Notifications: Sends alerts when items restock
- Waitlist Management: Tracks interested customers
- Email & SMS: Multiple notification methods
- Easy Setup: Minimal configuration required
- Analytics: Track notification effectiveness
Pricing:
- Free: Basic features
- Paid: Starting at $9.99/month
- Premium plans available
Setup Guide:
- Install Back in Stock from the App Store
- Configure notification settings
- Set up email templates
- Add notification forms to product pages
- Test the notification system
- Monitor notification performance
Best Practices:
- Set up on popular out-of-stock items
- Create compelling notification messages
- Track notification conversion rates
- Optimize timing of notifications
- Use notifications for marketing
Installation Strategy for Beginners
Recommended Installation Order
- Week 1: Install Google Analytics
- Week 2: Add Judge.me for reviews
- Week 3: Set up Klaviyo for email marketing
- Week 4: Install Loox for photo reviews
- Week 5: Add Back in Stock for inventory
Setup Timeline
- Day 1-2: Install and configure basic settings
- Day 3-4: Customize and test functionality
- Day 5-7: Monitor performance and optimize
- Week 2: Review data and make adjustments
Budget Considerations
Free vs. Paid Plans
- Start with Free Plans: All apps offer free tiers
- Upgrade Gradually: Pay only when you need more features
- Monitor ROI: Track if paid features increase sales
- Budget Allocation: Allocate budget based on performance
Monthly Cost Breakdown
- Free Total: $0/month (all apps have free plans)
- Basic Paid: $50-100/month (upgraded features)
- Advanced: $150-300/month (full features)
Common Beginner Mistakes
Important: Avoid these common mistakes when setting up your first apps.
- Installing Too Many Apps: Start with these 5 essential ones
- Not Testing: Always test before going live
- Ignoring Mobile: Test all apps on mobile devices
- Not Monitoring Performance: Track app effectiveness
- Poor Configuration: Take time to set up properly
- Ignoring Support: Use app support when needed
Measuring Success
Key Metrics to Track
- Email Signups: Number of subscribers
- Review Count: Number of customer reviews
- Website Traffic: Visitor numbers and sources
- Conversion Rate: Sales from visitors
- Customer Engagement: Interaction with your store
Success Indicators
- Growing email list
- Increasing review count
- Higher conversion rates
- More customer engagement
- Reduced cart abandonment
Next Steps After Installation
Advanced Features to Explore
- Klaviyo: Advanced segmentation and automation
- Judge.me: Review incentives and moderation
- Google Analytics: Custom reports and goals
- Loox: Review marketing and social sharing
- Back in Stock: Advanced notification strategies
Additional Apps to Consider
- Chat Support: Live chat for customer service
- Social Media: Instagram feeds and social proof
- Upselling: Product recommendations
- Loyalty Program: Customer rewards
- SEO Tools: Search engine optimization
Support and Resources
Getting Help
- App Documentation: Read official guides
- Video Tutorials: Watch setup videos
- Community Forums: Ask questions online
- App Support: Contact app developers
- Shopify Support: Get help from Shopify
Learning Resources
- Shopify Academy courses
- App developer blogs
- Ecommerce podcasts
- YouTube tutorials
- Online communities
Conclusion
These 5 essential apps provide a solid foundation for any new Shopify store. Start with the free plans, master each app’s basic features, and gradually upgrade as your business grows. Remember to track your results and optimize based on data. With these apps properly configured, you’ll have the tools needed to build a successful ecommerce business.
