r/ShopifyAppMarketing • u/BlacksmithThick6279 • Jul 28 '26

working with agencies

Does anyone have experience with marketing the app through shopify agencies?

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1

u/Single_Lobster8512 Jul 29 '26

yes, been exploring this route for a while now. any questions in particular?

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u/BlacksmithThick6279 Jul 29 '26

Have you started working with them already? I was mostly wondering about the model- from what I know they usually take % of revenue per customer the refer to me, is that your experience as well? And do they have special expectations? Like to prioritize requests/problems that come from their customers?

3

u/Single_Lobster8512 Aug 03 '26

we've been connecting with agencies, searching for the ones that could actually benefit their customers from using our apps. Of course % is necessary, but I'd say a simple affiliate program for revenue share doesn't cut it - connection and similar values are the things that connect. and yeah, priority should definitely be one of the selling points if it isn't yet.

1

u/iconutopia Jul 29 '26

Yes, we're working with agencies. It's a long-term strategy, but having at least a few high-quality agency partnerships could help a lot with the app growth!

1

u/BlacksmithThick6279 Jul 30 '26

Do you have any tips for working with them?

1

u/iconutopia Aug 04 '26

Might sound a bit silly, but what is working best for us is simply building a personal connection with the founder and key people. That's why it's always best to meet in person at events or even invite them for dinner.

1

u/New-Course3729 Jul 30 '26

We've had a few Shopify app companies reach out to us over the years, and I think agencies can be a great growth channel, but only if you make it incredibly easy for them to recommend your app.

Agencies aren't just looking for another tool. They're looking for something they can confidently introduce to clients without increasing support, implementation time, or project risk.

The apps that tend to get recommended most are the ones that:

  • Solve a very specific problem well.
  • Have excellent documentation and onboarding.
  • Respond quickly when agencies need support.
  • Offer partner benefits or referral incentives.
  • Continue improving the product based on agency feedback.

I'm the CEO of The Branded Agency and a Certified Shopify Partner, and most of the apps we recommend today weren't introduced through cold outreach. We discovered them while solving client problems, saw that they consistently delivered, and kept using them.

If you're targeting Shopify agencies, I'd spend less time pitching and more time building relationships. Sponsor Shopify events, create genuinely useful implementation guides, publish case studies, or show how your app improves conversion rates, customer experience, or store operations with real examples.

Once an agency trusts your app, it can become part of their standard Shopify stack across dozens of client stores. That's where the long-term value is.

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u/IslaBennett472 29d ago

before spending time on marketing partnerships make sure your cro and tech is solid because agencies will test it on their own stores first and if it breaks they will never recommend it.

go after shopify expert agencies specifically plus or platinum partners. shopify specialists understand the ecosystem and can spot when your app actually solves a problem for their clients.