#45 - Build A Successful Shopify App - $500K AMA 🚀

We reached $500,000 ARR after almost 3 years (3 years in May). 🔥

And we did it with 2 apps: WideBundle and WideReview (even if WideReview is way smaller).

Our current focus is on support processes, adding new settings, and improving the code base.

Let’s get ready for the next phase!

And also I created an AMA on Twitter and here are the most important questions 👇

How many people in the team?

We have 6 people “full time”. 2 people on support, 1 on the marketing, 1 full-time developer, and 2 part-time developers (count as 1 full-time). And there is me.

This team should be enough to grow to $1M ARR without adding someone else.

Is the App Store saturated?

It’s not. Needs evolve and Shopify releases new features each year, creating new opportunities. You can always do things differently.

Should we use only the Shopify App Store?

I don’t recommend it. You can start with it but you should diversify asap. Relying on 1 channel and especially the App Store makes you vulnerable because you can’t control it. Add new channels as you grow.

How to gain visibility on the App Store?

If you’re just starting, you need to use the staircase strategy: focus on long-tail keywords first, then go after bigger keywords as you grow.

Focus on what Shopify wants you to have: badges, reviews, etc…

What is my plan for $1M ARR?

We’ll add more features asked by people and create new monthly plans to increase ARPU. It will also improve retention. We’ll increase prices. We’ll improve the referrals as they are so important. And we’ll focus on content marketing.

How to get started from scratch?

Learning how to build a Shopify store. Talking to as many merchants as possible to understand the needs. Validating a Shopify App idea with them. Developing it (or finding a dev to do it with you). Launching on the App Store with the merchants you talked to.

What’s the best book about learning SaaS marketing?

In my opinion, it’s "Zero to Sold” by Arvid Kahl. It teaches you everything from idea to validation, to exit.

Am I not afraid of being tied to the Shopify ecosystem?

I had the opportunity to build Shopify Apps because I knew some merchants, I didn’t even think about it. Check what you have around you and then ask yourself: what can I create with what I already have?

Why do I share my journey?

I want to inspire people and be the guy I wanted to meet when I started. It also helps me create a network.

What’s my process for validating an idea?

1/ Talk to merchants 2/ Find problems by asking many questions 3/ Validate the problem 4/ Think about an app for that problem 5/ Validate the idea with them 6/ Build a mockup of the app 7/ Validate the mockup with them

How did I get my first paying user?

Contacting people in French Facebook groups