How to Convert Your MakeShop Into a Mobile App

The world of ecommerce is witnessing a rapid surge in mobile usage, as an increasing number of individuals opt to shop using their smartphones. Without a mobile-first strategy, you could be disregarding a substantial portion of your customer base. While developing a fully custom native app can be expensive, you can achieve similar results with minimal investment by leveraging the power of a MakeShop mobile app builder.

Keep on reading to learn how.

Why You Need a Mobile App

Reaching 72% in 2022, mobile's market share in the ecommerce industry has shown significant growth over a span of five years.

This is on track with the general trend toward mobile internet usage, which becomes more commonplace everywhere. Currently, mobile holds a market share of over 50% in comparison to desktop and tablet.

And with 15% of Americans exclusively relying on smartphones today to access the internet, the future of ecommerce is set to go beyond mobile-first to become exclusively mobile in a matter of time.

Optimizing your website for mobile browsing is a necessity, but more work is needed to fully keep up with the mobile revolution. Apps offer a superior user experience on mobile, resulting in improvements across various vital metrics, including:

 
• Boost in conversion rates
 
• Increased average order value
 
• Higher number of products viewed per session

There are several benefits to creating a mobile app for your store, including that users of ecommerce mobile apps are twice as likely to revisit the store within 30 days compared to those using mobile browsers.

Also, thanks to mobile push notifications connected with apps, user opt-in and open rates demonstrate customers' interest at a much higher rate than simple email marketing.

These are just some of the reasons that mobile apps serve as an excellent tool for nurturing loyal, repeat customers. And having a MakeShop mobile app has the power to boost brand awareness, customer satisfaction and revenue streams.

Can You Create Mobile Apps for MakeShop?

MakeShop is specifically built for webstores, so you can't create a mobile app directly form it. However, you can still create a mobile app using MakeShop by using additional resources. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Look for a third-party MakeShop mobile app builder.
2. Consider tech-enabled assistance to transform your MakeShop store into a mobile application.
3. Hire a team of engineers to develop Android and iOS apps and connect them to your MakeShop shop.

Can I Turn My MakeShop Store into an App?

With the help of one of the methods presented above, you can effectively turn your MakeShop store into a mobile application. But most store owners will want to stick with the first two options, avoiding the cost that comes with third. Hiring developers to create a native app from the ground up comes at a significant cost.

The expenses involved in building a native app can range from $30,000 to $150,000, and that's before factoring in the need to develop separate apps for Android and iOS, both of which are crucial.

Developing an app is a resource-intensive, intricate, and costly process right from the beginning. It becomes even more demanding when your developers have to build an API and integrate the back end of your apps with your MakeShop store.

Considering your budgetary limitations, it's unlikely that you have enough funds for these expenses. And there's the recurring costs associated with maintenance to incorporate as well.

The Recurring Cost of Having an App

There are several ongoing expenses associated with launching an app that need to be considered. The regular maintenance and upkeep, which includes things like OS updates, MakeShop updates, bug fixes, as well as implementing new features and enhancements, typically amounts to approximately 15-20% of the initial development cost each year.

In fact, the costs can even much higher when all is said and done. David Cost, the VP of Marketing at Rainbow Apparel, conducted his own research while launching their brand's app and discovered this first-hand. He shared:

"If we had unlimited time and resources, we would likely opt for a custom native app. However, the maintenance alone would cost between half a million and a million dollars per year."

If we make a conservative estimate and assume that building apps for both mobile platforms costs $150,000, we can predict the annual expenses for updates and maintenance would amount to around $30,000.

This is a bit too steep for most store owners. Moreover, managing multiple platforms going forward, in addition to your website, can be quite a headache. It triples the workload whenever you want to make changes to your site.

But that's where MobiLoud can help.

The Best Way to Turn Your MakeShop Store into an App

The most effective solution is to transform your MakeShop store into an app is by employing a mobile app builder like MobiLoud.

With the assistance of a MakeShop mobile app builder, you can convert your current MakeShop website into a mobile app that closely resembles a native app. Users can conveniently download and install this app on their mobile devices, making it easier than ever for them to access and purchase your products.

The greatest app builders will set you up with a a mobile app that delivers nearly the same functionality as a native app, but at a fraction of the cost and with fewer hoops to jump through. But be cautious, as not all choices on the market are appropriate for developing professional mobile apps capable of handling high user volume while staying true to your brand's image.

How to Convert MakeShop to an App

If you're a renowned brand with a significant amount of resources at your disposal – like Target, H&M, Nike – you may have the money and energy required to program your shopping app completely from scratch.

If that's not the case, as it often isn't, then MobiLoud presents itself as the best way to create an app! It's user-friendly, affordable, and efficient. Plus, maintaining your apps becomes much more cost-effective and easier in the long run.

Here's a glimpse at the step-by-step process:

Step One: Preview Your App or Get a Free Consultation

There are two starting points available:

 
1. You can jump in and use the free MobiLoud builder to generate a complimentary preview of your site transformed into an app.
 
2. Or, you may opt for a free consultation call with one of our app specialists to discuss your project and get an overview of our workflow.

Regardless of which option you choose, you'll notice that the majority of the app creation is done from the get-go if your site is optimized for mobile.

If you need support optimizing your website first, we're here to help! This is a crucial step to ensure a smooth and hassle-free process.

Step Two: Work With Our Team to Build Your App

When you're all prepared to begin the app development process, proceed to sign up to MobiLoud. Our plans come with a promise of your money back in 60 days if you aren't satisfied, and there's no pressure for a long-term commitment.

Together, we'll work to configure and design your app. Remember, most of the groundwork has already been done, we'll just need a few tweaks are necessary to give your app a native look and feel.

Once you're happy with the design, we'll get to work building your mobile app. We handle all the technical pieces, so you won't have to figure out any coding or have any experience with it previously.

If you prefer an even more hands-off approach, our full-service package is available. It covers everything needed to configure, design, and publish your app, allowing you to have a seamless experience.

Step Three: Prepare for Launch

When your app development is finished, it's time to prepare for its public release. It's essential to have a solid launch plan in place to attract people to download your app.

We offer valuable resources to support your app's launch, including assets for app store descriptions, launch announcements for your website and email list, press releases, and more. Furthermore, you can activate additional features at no extra cost, such as smart app banners and app-exclusive discounts, to incentivize your existing customers to make purchases through the app.

Step Four: Launch and Submit Your Apps to the App Stores

Lastly, we'll release your apps on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

When you're new to the space, the submission process can be a time-consuming challenge. However, rest assured that our teams are highly experienced in this process and you won't have to lift a finger!

Our team handles the app submission process with Apple and Google on your behalf. We offer a 100% app approval guarantee and are prepared to handle multiple submissions if needed. We will also provide recommendations and make any necessary changes. You can sit back and relax.

Once your app listings are live, you can officially start watching the downloads roll in while having your own MakeShop mobile app.

Why You Should Use MobiLoud to Convert Your MakeShop Store into a Mobile App

It's crucial to keep up with the mobile revolution's impact on ecommerce. In all likelihood, a significant portion of your revenue currently comes from mobile. And if it doesn't, it will soon.

Merely having a mobile-optimized website for your MakeShop store is no longer enough. To fully capture the revenue potential of your mobile users, it's essential to offer your own branded app.

Fortunately, transforming your MakeShop store into a mobile app has become a lighter lift as long as you set yourself up for success. Instead of investing large amounts of cash in mobile developers, MobiLoud provides a highly accessible and user-friendly solution.

Here are some of the key benefits of using MobiLoud's MakeShop app builder:

 
• It costs only a fraction of what custom app development would require.
 
• You can launch professional, high-quality apps in less than two weeks.
 
• Your apps will retain all the excellent features of your website, including product collections, payment gateways, plug-ins, tools, themes, and more.
 
• Everything remains synchronized across the web, Android, and iOS platforms. Any changes you make on your site will be instantly reflected in your apps.
 
• You won't have to worry about submitting your apps to the app stores – we guarantee approval.
 
• Our team will support you throughout the entire process, taking care of all the heavy lifting so that you can focus on other aspects of your business.

With this simple, code-free app builder, you can launch your own shopping apps and join the ranks of the world's leading brands in the app stores.

Reach out to us now to learn more about how we can help you launch an app for your MakeShop store. Book a free, personalized demo, and one of our app experts will guide you through the entire process.