I took my Shopify App WideBundle from $0 to $40,000 MRR in 2.5 years.
Never paid ads. ๐ฐ
Today I share with you my process.
A THREAD ๐งต๐
Never paid ads. ๐ฐ
Today I share with you my process.
A THREAD ๐งต๐
What worked for me might not work for you.
Even if you copy everything I'll share here. But you can use it as an inspiration!
Even if you copy everything I'll share here. But you can use it as an inspiration!
1) Backstory
We're in 2020 and Covid-19 started.
Everyone is at home and making a lot of money in e-commerce.
So more people open Shopify stores.
I was in my last year before graduation and had to do an internship
We're in 2020 and Covid-19 started.
Everyone is at home and making a lot of money in e-commerce.
So more people open Shopify stores.
I was in my last year before graduation and had to do an internship
Instead of doing it I created my own company.
I loved e-commerce and was already in a few FB groups.
I learned to code when I was 13 and learned marketing.
I loved e-commerce and was already in a few FB groups.
I learned to code when I was 13 and learned marketing.
2) Shopify App Idea
The 1st thing to do was find the app idea.
I didn't know what to create.
I scrolled the FB groups I was in (4-5 groups)
And searched for terms like app or problems.
Groups were trendy at that time.
The 1st thing to do was find the app idea.
I didn't know what to create.
I scrolled the FB groups I was in (4-5 groups)
And searched for terms like app or problems.
Groups were trendy at that time.
I found 3 posts (from 2 different groups)
They asked, "Does anyone know an app for this?"
And the stores they showed were using something similar to WideBundle.
They asked, "Does anyone know an app for this?"
And the stores they showed were using something similar to WideBundle.
3) Validate the idea
So I found 3 people who wanted this app. It means more people need it.
I created a fake photoshop mockup and said "Does anyone want this?"
Got 100+ comments
So I found 3 people who wanted this app. It means more people need it.
I created a fake photoshop mockup and said "Does anyone want this?"
Got 100+ comments
4) Understand the problem
I contacted everyone in the comments and asked them what they wanted.
I asked "Why?" many times to get the deep problem.
I contacted everyone in the comments and asked them what they wanted.
I asked "Why?" many times to get the deep problem.
It allowed me to:
- Get the words describing the pain
- Prepare the MVP
- Get the price they are willing to pay for
And I told them I was working on the app
- Get the words describing the pain
- Prepare the MVP
- Get the price they are willing to pay for
And I told them I was working on the app
5) Start the MVP
I spent 2 weeks working on the 1st version.
- It wasn't working for everyone
- It worked with only 4 themes.
- It worked only if your product had 1 option
But it was enough to test the market!
I spent 2 weeks working on the 1st version.
- It wasn't working for everyone
- It worked with only 4 themes.
- It worked only if your product had 1 option
But it was enough to test the market!
The MVP wasn't free. I asked for money from day 1
- 14 day free trial
- Discount for the early users
- 14 day free trial
- Discount for the early users
6) Launch it
I built a simple landing page to collect installs. I talked about the pain using their words.
You didn't have to go through the Shopify Approval process and could get installs immediately
I built a simple landing page to collect installs. I talked about the pain using their words.
You didn't have to go through the Shopify Approval process and could get installs immediately
I sent a message to everyone I contacted and said "it's live"!
Out of 100+ comments I had 9 that showed up
Out of 100+ comments I had 9 that showed up
7) Offer excellent support
This is one of the best ways to grow a Shopify App.
The users contacted me when they found bugs and I fixed them directly.
I created a helpdesk
This is one of the best ways to grow a Shopify App.
The users contacted me when they found bugs and I fixed them directly.
I created a helpdesk
8) Use your users base
Your current users are not the end but the beginning of something.
I asked them:
- To refer friends
- To add comments on posts I added to the groups
- To give feedback
Your current users are not the end but the beginning of something.
I asked them:
- To refer friends
- To add comments on posts I added to the groups
- To give feedback
We slowly grew to 27 merchants
And at that point my goal was to reach PMF. I didn't care about the number of users.
I was dedicated to the product and support
And at that point my goal was to reach PMF. I didn't care about the number of users.
I was dedicated to the product and support
9) Launch on the app store
I had users even before I was on the app store.
So the moment I launched I could collect reviews quickly and climb the ladder.
I had users even before I was on the app store.
So the moment I launched I could collect reviews quickly and climb the ladder.
10) Improve conversion rates
I added Mixpanel and started to track how people used the app.
My goal was to improve:
- Conversion Rate on app store
- Activation Rate
- Conversion Rate
I added Mixpanel and started to track how people used the app.
My goal was to improve:
- Conversion Rate on app store
- Activation Rate
- Conversion Rate
11) Snowball with affiliates and partners
Once people loved the app I could multiply the effect by contacting French influencers.
I did the same by starting partnerships with other apps
Once people loved the app I could multiply the effect by contacting French influencers.
I did the same by starting partnerships with other apps
2.5 months later we had 130 merchants.
And the snowball effect started.
And the snowball effect started.
12) Iterate
Now the goal was to improve everything I had built.
- Better app
- Better support
- More affiliates
- More partnerships
- Better metrics
Now the goal was to improve everything I had built.
- Better app
- Better support
- More affiliates
- More partnerships
- Better metrics
13) Hire
I hired people to delegate and optimize my time so I could focus on what made the app grow more.
It allowed me to focus on building the app and marketing
I hired people to delegate and optimize my time so I could focus on what made the app grow more.
It allowed me to focus on building the app and marketing
14) Plateau
At some point you'll reach a plateau. That's when you should focus on your weaknesses.
So I hire someone to fix weaknesses and do more of my strengths.
At some point you'll reach a plateau. That's when you should focus on your weaknesses.
So I hire someone to fix weaknesses and do more of my strengths.
15) Duplicate
Duplicate the people. Do more of what works and keep iterating
Duplicate the people. Do more of what works and keep iterating
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