The Essential Apps blog
Guides and teardowns on Shopify conversion, upsells, loyalty, preorders and SEO, written by the team building the Essential Apps suite.
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6 min readShopify BFCM 2026: Checklist, Key Dates and App Deals
Shopify BFCM 2026 runs from Black Friday, November 27, to Cyber Monday, November 30. Dates, a prep checklist, the apps that help most and BFCM deals.
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8 min readShopify Upsell at Checkout: How to Add Upsells at and After Checkout
Where you can add a Shopify upsell at checkout on every plan (cart, inside checkout, post-purchase, thank you page), how to set each one up, and what to offer.
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9 min readBeyond Upsells: 7 AOV Opportunities Shopify Brands Often Overlook
Discover 7 overlooked ways Shopify brands can increase AOV through better merchandising, clearer value, smarter recommendations and CRO testing.
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9 min readBest Smile.io Alternatives for Shopify in 2026
Looking for Smile.io alternatives? Compare six Shopify loyalty apps on free-plan features, VIP tier pricing and real reviews, including where Smile still wins.
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10 min readDelivery Estimates Before Dispatch: Checklist for Shopify Merchants
A customer reads a date at checkout and measures you against it. Here is how to measure the span before dispatch, and how to show a date you can keep.
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7 min readStore Credit vs Points: Which Loyalty Model Works Better for Shopify
Points are a currency you control; store credit is money Shopify holds for the customer. Here is how the two models differ, and when each one fits.
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6 min readHow to Switch Loyalty Apps Without Losing Customer Data
Moving a loyalty program to a new Shopify app takes one CSV upload. Here is what comes across, what you rebuild, and the three mistakes that cost people data.
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8 min readShopify Frequently Bought Together: How to Use It to Increase AOV!
Learn how to set up frequently bought together recommendations on Shopify to boost AOV by 10-30%. Best practices for product and cart pages.
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8 min readShopify Repeat Sales Strategies That Keep Customers Coming Back
8 proven Shopify repeat sales strategies to increase customer lifetime value. Loyalty, email campaigns & segmentation to drive repeat revenue.
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6 min readHow to Add a New Product on Shopify and Take Presale Orders
Add a new product to Shopify and set up presale orders in minutes. Step-by-step guide to accept payments, track customers, and fulfill on time.
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8 min readShopify Bundle Builder: How to Set One Up on Your Store
Set up a Shopify bundle builder to increase AOV in minutes. No code required. Follow our practical setup steps and bundling best practices.
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6 min readHow to Add a Pre-Order Button on Shopify
Learn how to add a pre-order button on Shopify in minutes. Capture sales on out-of-stock items, manage inventory smarter, and boost revenue. Complete setup guide.