How to Get Shopify App Installs on Autopilot (While Your Competitors Do the Work)

Most Shopify app developers are stuck in a cold email loop. Send 100 emails, get a couple installs. The problem isn't your app or your email copy, it's timing.

Here's what changed everything for me: instead of reaching stores randomly, I built an automation that reaches them the exact moment they uninstall a competitor's app.

Think about it. A store that just uninstalled your competitor is:

• Already aware they have a problem
• Actively dissatisfied with the current solution
• Looking for alternatives right now

That's not a cold lead. That's a hot prospect who's already done the research and made a buying decision once. They just picked the wrong solution.

Why Competitor Uninstalls Are Pure Gold

When a store uninstalls an app, something broke. Maybe the app was missing features they needed. Maybe the UI was confusing. Maybe support was terrible. Whatever the reason, they're in active problem-solving mode.

Compare that to a random store you found through some Shopify store directory. They might not even know your category of apps exists. You're starting from zero.

With uninstall tracking, you're starting at mile 9 of a 10-mile race.

The Automation Setup (Surprisingly Simple)

Here's the full workflow I use:

Step 1: Track Competitor Uninstalls

I use Store Census for this (disclaimer: it's my tool, but there are alternatives). The key capability you need is tracking when stores install or uninstall specific apps.

For my order tracking app example, I set up tracking for the top competitors:

• 17Track
• AfterShip

The automation fires whenever a store uninstalls one of these apps.

Step 2: Filter by Store Type

Not every store that uninstalls a competitor is your ideal customer. I filter by vertical to make sure I'm only reaching stores that fit my profile.

For instance, if your app works best for fashion brands, filter for fashion and apparel stores. If you're targeting high-volume sellers, add revenue filters.

This keeps your outreach hyper-targeted instead of spraying and praying.

Step 3: Send to Zapier

Once a store meets your criteria (uninstalled competitor + matches your filters), send it to Zapier via webhook.

Zapier becomes your automation engine. You can:

• Send emails via Gmail
• Add to Google Sheets for tracking
• Import to your CRM
• Trigger Slack notifications
• Really anything

I use Gmail because it's simple and my domain already has good sending reputation.

Step 4: Craft the Email

This is where most people screw it up. Here's the email template I use:

Subject: Uninstalled [App Name]

Hi,

I noticed you recently uninstalled [App Name], probably because [specific problem with competitor app].

A lot of stores in the [vertical] niche have switched to using [Your App] instead because [specific advantage].

Customers love it and stores tell us their support tickets have dropped noticeably.

It's available on the Shopify app marketplace. Just search for [Your App].

[Your Name]

The Critical Details Everyone Misses

No links. Seriously. Don't include a direct link to your app listing or your website. Email providers see that as spam. Just tell them to search your app name in the Shopify marketplace.

I know it feels counterintuitive. You're thinking "I'm making it harder for them to install!" But here's what actually happens: they go to the app store, search your app, and see your reviews and screenshots in context with other apps. That social proof and marketplace legitimacy is worth way more than saving them one click.

Plain text only. No fancy HTML templates. No images. No bold text or colors. Plain text looks personal. It looks like you actually typed it just for them. And more importantly, it doesn't trigger spam filters.

Call out the competitor specifically. Don't be vague with "I see you're looking for a solution." Name the app they uninstalled. It shows you're paying attention and the timing isn't random.

Identify a real weakness. Do your homework on competitor apps. What are reviewers complaining about? What features are they missing? Call it out directly. If you're honest about a legitimate shortcoming, they'll trust you when you say your app is better.

What Results Actually Look Like

I'm not going to feed you some "10,000% ROI" nonsense. Here's the reality:

With cold email to random stores, my install rate was around 1-2%. With competitor uninstall tracking, it jumped to 8-12%.

That's not magic. It's just better targeting. You're reaching people at the exact moment they're most receptive.

The other benefit: these installs stick. When someone finds your app through random discovery, they're tire-kickers. When they find you because they just fired your competitor, they actually need what you're selling. Churn is way lower.

Common Objections (And Why They're Wrong)

"Isn't this sleazy?"

No. You're reaching people who have an active problem you can solve. If your app is legitimately better for their use case, you're doing them a favor by letting them know it exists.

Sleazy would be lying about your competitor or making false claims. This is one well-timed email with honest information.

"What if my competitor finds out?"

They will. And they should. Competition makes everyone better. If they see stores churning and switching to you, maybe they'll fix whatever's broken in their app.

"Won't I get flagged as spam?"

Not if you follow the rules: plain text, no links, personalized subject lines, and you're only emailing stores that actually uninstalled a competitor (not bulk blasting everyone).

Spam is unsolicited and untargeted. This is solicited (they demonstrated interest by being in your category) and hyper-targeted (they just uninstalled a competitor).

How to Implement This Today

Here's your action plan:

1. Identify your top 3-5 competitors. The big ones that stores actually install and uninstall frequently. Don't pick tiny niche apps nobody uses.
2. Set up uninstall tracking. You need a tool that monitors Shopify's app ecosystem. Store Census is one option, but there are others.
3. Create your Zapier webhook. This is the bridge between detection and action. 10 minutes to set up.
4. Write your email template. Follow the structure above. Be specific about competitor weaknesses and your advantages. Keep it under 100 words.
5. Add your filters. Don't email every store. Target the ones that actually fit your ICP.
6. Turn it on and let it run. The beauty of automation is it works while you sleep.

The Bigger Picture

This isn't just about emails. It's about timing.

Every growth channel has an optimal moment. Content marketing works when someone's researching. Paid ads work when they're browsing. Competitor uninstall tracking works when they're actively switching.

Most app developers ignore timing completely. They're just trying to get in front of as many eyeballs as possible, whenever possible.

Smart developers recognize that a store at the right moment is worth 10 stores at the wrong moment.

Uninstall tracking gives you the right moment, every time.

Watch the Full Tutorial

I recorded a complete walkthrough showing exactly how to set this up, including the Zapier configuration and email template. You can watch it here: https://youtu.be/vKF2mZKOODM

The whole setup takes about 20 minutes. The ROI is immediate.

About the author: Nick runs Store Census, a Shopify store database and prospecting tool used by agencies and app developers to find and target ecommerce businesses. You can reach him at nick@storecensus.com.