Create Your Own Shopify Mobile App with Ease

Table of Contents

1. Can You Build Mobile Apps in Shopify?
2. Building Mobile Apps with Shopify - Hiring Developers
3. Using a Platform like Mobiloud to Convert your Shopify Store to a Native Mobile App
4. Steps to Create Your Own Shopify Mobile App
   • Step 1: Choose the Right Shopify App Builder
   • Step 2: Optimize Your Site for Mobile
   • Step 3: Sign into Mobiloud and Insert Your Site's URL
   • Step 4: Add Mobile App UI Elements
   • Step 5: Set Up Push Notifications
   • Step 6: Finish Configuring Your App and Test it
   • Step 7: Finalize, Publish, and Promote Your Apps
5. Benefits of Converting Your Shopify Store into a Native Mobile App
   • Better Mobile Shopping Experience
   • Increased Customer Loyalty and Retention
   • Sales Channel of Your Own
   • Improved Marketing Ability with Push Notifications
6. Conclusion

Can You Build Mobile Apps in Shopify?

Shopify is a popular commerce platform that allows users to start, grow, and manage their businesses. However, many people wonder if it's possible to build mobile apps directly within Shopify. The simple answer is no, you cannot build mobile apps directly from Shopify. But there are alternative options to consider.

Building Mobile Apps with Shopify - Hiring Developers

While you can't publish mobile apps directly from Shopify, you can still build mobile apps using a roundabout method. This involves hiring developers to build the front end of your mobile app. The developers will create an API to connect the mobile app with the Shopify backend, allowing you to manage your store through Shopify while publishing it as a mobile app. However, it's important to note that this option is quite expensive and adds to your workload. Native app development can cost anywhere between $20,000 and $150,000.

Using a Platform like Mobiloud to Convert your Shopify Store to a Native Mobile App

An alternative option to consider is using a platform like Mobiloud to convert your existing Shopify store into a beautiful native mobile app. This provides a more cost-effective solution and eliminates the need for extensive development work. With Mobiloud, you can convert your actual Shopify store to an app that is 100% synced with your website. This means you'll have a consistent user experience, easy maintenance, and you can take all of your existing features to your app.

Steps to Create Your Own Shopify Mobile App

Now let's walk through the steps to create your own Shopify mobile app using a platform like Mobiloud.

Step 1: Choose the Right Shopify App Builder

To begin, you'll need to choose the right Shopify app builder. Look for a platform like Mobiloud that specializes in converting Shopify stores into mobile apps. This will ensure a smooth and seamless transition from your website to your app.

Step 2: Optimize Your Site for Mobile

The app you create will display content using web views, which essentially function as a mobile browser built into the app. It's important to optimize your website for mobile screens to ensure a good-looking app. Make sure the mobile version of your website looks great on different mobile devices.

Step 3: Sign into Mobiloud and Insert Your Site's URL

Once you've optimized your site for mobile, sign into the Mobiloud platform and insert your site's URL. This will allow Mobiloud to generate a preview of what your site will look like as an app within minutes. This preview will give you an idea of how your app will appear and function.

Step 4: Add Mobile App UI Elements

Next, you'll need to set up the UI elements that will encase your site's content in the app. This includes the tab menu at the bottom of the screen, navigation settings, and various elements such as animations, black bar behavior, loading spinners, splash screens, and more. All of these elements can be easily configured within the Mobiloud app builder dashboard.

Step 5: Set Up Push Notifications

Push notifications play a crucial role in making your Shopify mobile app effective. These notifications allow you to send targeted messages and encourage users to engage with your app and make purchases. Set up push notification tags to indicate what kind of notifications your users are interested in receiving, which they can customize from their app preferences.

Step 6: Finish Configuring Your App and Test it

Take the time to finish configuring your app, which includes adding login and signup pages, as well as an automatic rating prompt. Once you're done, pass it on to the Mobiloud team who will compile the code that allows your app to run on mobile devices. This process typically takes about a week or two. Once it's done, you'll be able to test your app on your own devices.

Step 7: Finalize, Publish, and Promote Your Apps

After testing your app and making any necessary revisions, it's time to finalize, publish, and promote your apps. Give the go-ahead to the Mobiloud team to ship the live versions of your iOS and Android apps. Their team will also handle the App Store submission process, guaranteeing approval. Once your apps are live, you can start promoting them to your audience.

Benefits of Converting Your Shopify Store into a Native Mobile App

Converting your Shopify store into a native mobile app offers several advantages that can benefit your business.

Better Mobile Shopping Experience

By having a mobile app, you provide your customers with a better shopping experience. Apps are designed for mobile use and offer a more streamlined and user-friendly interface compared to mobile websites.

Increased Customer Loyalty and Retention

Mobile apps are excellent for fostering customer loyalty and increasing retention rates. By having a dedicated app, you stay top-of-mind with your customers and make it convenient for them to make repeat purchases.

Sales Channel of Your Own

Having a mobile app gives you a sales channel of your own. You're not solely reliant on third-party platforms to reach your audience. With a mobile app, you have control over the entire app ecosystem.

Improved Marketing Ability with Push Notifications

One of the biggest benefits of having a mobile app is the ability to leverage push notifications. Push notifications allow you to send targeted messages to your app users, promoting special offers, new products, and more. This is an effective way to re-engage users and boost sales.

Conclusion

Converting your Shopify store into a native mobile app is an excellent way to enhance your business's online presence and improve the shopping experience for your customers. While building a mobile app directly within Shopify may not be feasible, using platforms like Mobiloud offers a cost-effective and efficient solution. By following the steps provided, you can create a professional-looking app in a short amount of time and enjoy the benefits of increased customer loyalty, improved marketing ability, and a sales channel of your own.