Plugins are small pieces of software that are compatible with the Shopify software to the extent that it can be plugged in or added on. Plugins introduce some specialized functionality. The following are some examples that add a lot more functionality to an ecommerce store.
- Address Validator by RoboTurk. This checks for mis-spelling and other errors in customer entries of their addresses. This works for only US and Canada addresses (with hopes of including international locations over time). This app can reduce late deliveries (and from the makers' estimation, product returns). The pricing is also good. There is a free 14-day trial and the 1st 100 orders free. When billing begins, each order will cost $0.03. Value added: customer service
- Arka: custom packaging and fulfilment for your own branded packaging.
- Automatic supplier inventory management: Some of your suppliers may have an app established with Shopify that automatically updates inventory levels. Once you establish whether you suppliers have this agreement with Shopify, it may be possible to automatically track inventory levels on your website. Value added: customer service (convenience)
- EVM Lookbook: This is a free app that puts clickable text tags for each of multiple products that appear in a single image. This is ideal for product reviews from customers who include single photos that include multiple products. Value added: customer service (product sales)
- Fraudlabs: has a free version up to 500 monthly transactions with several price packages. Value added: customer service (security)
- Fraud Filter by Shopify: This is a free app that allows you create filters that can flag, cancel and immediately refund fraudulent transactions. There appears to be some bugs however. For instance, since this app does not prevent the sale upfront, it is unsuitable for digital products that a sale confirmation delivers immediately. Additionally, customer reviews suggest that it still allows identified fraudsters already entered into its filters to complete subsequent transactions. Value added: customer service (security)
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- Gift Reggie: This is a paid app that allows customers or even sales people to create gift registries for a customer. The registry is shared with a public URL. Unlike other registries, visitors to the registry will not be shown the same or similar products from competing stores. The packages start with as few as 5 active public registries for USD 5. You may change your package according to he number of active registries you wish to maintain within a month. Other features like telephone support and functionality are the same for all packages. Value added: Promoting brand awareness
- Has it shipped yet (closed July 2017): This app integrates well with Shopify. It provides you, the store owner, with convenience because it frees up your customer service resources in dealing with one of the single most frequently asked questions, 'has my order been shipped yet?' It creates a webpage on your website where customers can get their order's status with their order number (and, if you prefer more security, their order email address). I particularly like the easy setup. A video is available for each of the 3 steps. Coding is not required for set up either. Value added: customer service (convenience)
- Order Lookup (a replacement for the 'Has it shipped yet' app): Unfortunately, although this app was recommended by the makers of 'Has it shipped yet', it does not offer the service free, even for an initial number of orders. It costs USD 10 monthly regardless of the number of orders placed at your store. However, past 100 sales, each subsequent order has a cost of USD 0.05. Overall however, the price should be manageable for anyone who is running a profitable store.
- Help Center: This allows you to have a phenomenal FAQs page. It allows you to arrange topics into collapsible categories and subcategories. If your store visitors do not want to scroll through the topics, they have only to start typing their question for this app to use search through all of the words within the page to suggest questions with matching word(s). An alternative is FAQ by POWr. Value added: customer service (information)
- McAfee Secure: This gives your customers the confidence that they will be able to use their credit card securely on your website. Value added: customer service (security)
- MailChimp: This is quite a favorite for newsletters. Value added: promotion of (new) products and for tentpoling
- Mega Menu: Many of Shopify's free themes do not allow for navigation bars beyond the basic one-level drop down menues. However, Mega Menu allows you to create any time of drop down menu for each section. Value added: customer service (convenient store navigation)
- Order Logic. This app allows you to establish minimum purchase volumes. It is a paid plugin with monthly charges. Value added: profitability as it relates to raising the average order value (AOV)
- Parcelify: Shopify's system currently allows you to plan several shipping plans but almost only based on weight. This app allows you to create multiple types of shipping (or freighting) options. Value added: customer service (convenience)
- Privvy. Great app for popups, flyouts, landing pages on just the free version alone. The paid version includes email sequences and other functions. Overall however, the functionality is great, even for the free version. Furthermore, it has a very clean look and feel - much like how Apple was to Windows when Apple was head and shoulders over Windows. Value added: lead value optimization
- Product Reviews: This is self explanatory. Value added: product promotion using social proof
- PushCrew. This app sends automatic push announcement advertisements on the desktop of a subscriber. For instance, it announces the commencement of live webinars. Value added: customer communications / promotion
- Signifyd is a fraud and chargeback prevention app. It appears to differentiate itself by offering a guarantee to cover chargebacks fully, including processing fees if they had previously approved an order with a green ticket and score. The app completely automates the processes of checking the legitimacy of transactions (mentioned here). Note however that Signifyd may not cover incidents of friendly fraud. See list of conditions covered for chargeback reimbursements, reimbursement claim manual and other reimbursement manuals. Value added: customer service (security)
They have a fixed 1% charge per transaction on all transactions OR a fixed 4% through the 'On demand plan' for only some of all your store's transactions. The latter is usually used for higher ticket items.
- Tabify. Is a product page tab generator. It allows product-specific customization because the tabs are generated by including header tags within the description. However, if you like, you can create a tab that recurs on all product pages. At USD 3.95 monthly, it is a cheaper but apparently comparable alternative to Easy Tab (at USD 5 monthly). Value added: customer service (product information)
- Tawk.to: Great free app for live chat. It is absolutely top notch. This app provides a lot of customization without charge. In fact, its features are all available free of cost. Such free features include multiple agents, multiple websites (aka 'properties'), shortcut phrases and much more. Get a basic intro (with instructional links). Value added: customer service as it relates to one-on-one customer communication
- UniteXpress: is ideal for dropshippers from AliExpress. This allows you to automatically import products from the AliExpress website directly into your Shopify store ... and ship directly to your customers. This app is free up to the 499th monthly order, after which the monthly cost is USD 24.99. Value added: customer service (convenience) and operational efficiency
- Welcome Screen (by Hero). This app allows you to create full-screen push advertising pop-ups. There is even a free version. (Overall, I find Privvy as an attractive alternative because Privvy does not have the bug issues that does Welcome Screen. Additionally Privvy has considerably more functionality, even on the free version.) Value added: lead value optimization
- WishTack: This is not the best app for gift registries. However, it may work for a less professional presentation and shopping experience. It allows your customers to create a any type of registry (bridal registry, baby shower registry or any generic wishlist). Customers will announce this wishlist on Facebook to friends who could buy items and collaborate to buy single items ... all without notifying your customer. Customers can send a link to friends named anything they wish like 'My bridal registry', etc. They may even include an image of themselves. The key downside is that, after spending money of paid traffic, this app actually recommends the same or similar products from competing stores that include ecommerce giants like Amazon. This is the major deal breaker for me for key projects. See Gift Reggie as a better paid alternative that starts with USD 5 monthly for 5 registries. Value added: customer value regarding financial cost; brand awareness promotion.
- Zopim Live Chat: Great app, even the free version. It essentially replicates the ever near brick-and-mortar shop assistant. It is ideal as a free chat app if you will have only 1 agents. However, I prefer Tawk.to if you want more functionality (like multiple agents, websites aka 'properties' and so on) and a free account for all the features for which Zopim charges when you want more upgrades. Value added: customer service regarding one-one virtual and direct customer communication
- Referral Affiliate Programs: These apps allow you to maintain your site's own referral affiliate program with social media customers, influencers, bloggers, employees and so on. Value added: lead value optimization, evangelism and brand awareness promotions.
- Refersion Affiliate Tracking:
- You can track: sales and royalties using data like SKUs (a retailer's stock keeping unit number), email addresses and so on.
- Affiliate experience: Each affiliate will have their own dashboard that also allows them to track their activity real time.
- Automation: Auto-emails for specific events like their account approval, completed sales and impending payments.
- Payments: Affiliates can use Paypal and custom gift cards.
- Cost: Different plans like 2.2% on affiliate sales or USD 79 monthly minimum (whichever is greater), with a 14-day trial, conversion triggers (like coupons, automatic emails and SKUs) with chat and email support. They are open to discussing custom plans for monthly charges.
- LeadDyno:
- You can track: Unlimited number of affiliates. Up to 10 levels of lead commissions. (A 'level' refers to any unique commission rate with a corresponding affiliate type).
- Automation: Automatic email for different events like inviting customers to be affiliates when they buy, etc
- Affiliate experience: their own dashboard to track their earnings. 'Conversion triggers' include coupon codes.
- Payments: Paypal
- Cost: USD 49 (or USD 29 with Shopify) + 0% on sales monthly to 3k unique visitors with email, phone and chat support 7 days. 14-day free trial.
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- International Shipping:
- Yakit: This is a free app for international (not domestic) shipping. The company is based in California, US and India. The service is drop shipper friendly.
- Instant shipping and duties rates: Yes. They are guaranteed by Yakit.
- Tracking: yes
- Shipping time & cost: delivery within 7 to 9 days worldwide at USD 10 / lb or more for faster shipment.
- Weight Minimums: There are no minimum shipment weights or volumes. However, smaller weights and volumes may be costlier.
- Origin country: US, China, HK, Singapore, UK, Germany, Italy, France and Spain. They may be able to work from other countries if you ask them via chat.
- Insurance: Yes, up to USD 2,000 without cost
- Customer stays on your website: yes
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To find plugins / 'apps'
- Log in to the backend of Shopify
- In the left column menu, select the 'Apps' icon (shaped like puzzle piece).
- In the top right corner of the screen, click 'Visit Shopify App Store'
- Define search criteria like category, price and so on using the dropdown menu on the top of page
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