Welcome back, App Collective. I hope you had a very nice week last week during the break. It was weird not posting an episode, but I must admit the break came at the perfect time. On the Thursday before, I had a dermatologist procedure called blue light therapy on my face, and it took an entire week to heal from it. I'm still healing, but boy, oh boy, was that a wild ride. It was far more intense than I anticipated. It confirmed that everything falls into place exactly as it's supposed to.
Today's topic is one that I get asked about a lot. Like, a lot, a lot. The topic is what agencies look for when partnering with Shopify apps. How do we, as app developers, build long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationships? Where do we even begin? The playbook is simple, yet not enough apps work it authentically. Are you ready for it?
The TL;DR is building relationships that add value to both sides. Sure, larger apps hire partnership teams once they have the resources, but guess what? The fundamentals of authenticity and relationship building are played out in the playbook there, too. The teams build relationships by attending events, finding genuine connections, and fostering them into business opportunities. You have heard the saying repeatedly - people work with people they like. It’s that simple.
Outside of that, no one wants to be sold to, talked at, or have a product shoved down their throats. We are all busy professionals with multiple moving parts to our days. Sending templated email blasts offering demos, decks, and rev share will not win over 95% of the agencies—I suspect, at least, not the ones that will sustain a long-term relationship.
We have a special guest on this episode who needs no introduction, as most of you already know and love him, but for those who haven't been lucky enough to interact with him, let me introduce Taylor Page.
Today's episode is free. I hope you enjoy it. As always, comment, like, and subscribe if you haven’t already.
What's inside:
What agencies look for in Shopify app partnerships
Quotes from industry experts
My talk at Editions.dev this year
What Developer Agencies Actually Want in a Shopify App Partnership by Taylor Page
Introducing Taylor Page
Taylor Page is a talented Shopify developer and the co-founder of Pages Media, a boutique Shopify development agency he runs alongside his wife. In addition to client work, Taylor is building an app, Shopinfo, which is set to launch soon. A true pillar of the Shopify community, Taylor shares his knowledge generously through Liquid Weekly, a podcast and newsletter he co-hosts with Karl Meisterheim, and leads the Shopify Dev Alliance, a thriving Slack community. You can find Taylor's member profile here.
Known for always offering a helping hand, whether through free advice or answering questions, Taylor gives far more than he takes. His selfless spirit and genuine passion for helping others have made him a beloved figure in the community. You can also follow him on Twitter for even more insights and updates.
In addition to Taylor's perspective, we have quotes from industry experts on what they look for in agency relationships with Shopify apps.
Now, let's get into it.
Taylor’s perspective on agency relationships
We often talk about the benefits of partnerships between app developers and agencies, but what does a partnership really look like from the perspective of a freelancer or boutique agency?
Here's the truth: it's not about referral revenue. It's not about kickbacks, affiliate deals, or vague promises of "sending leads your way."
What matters most is being a real person.
When a developer reaches out for a potential partnership, the most valuable thing they can do is lead with a genuine human connection.
Relationships win—always. The best app partners aren't the ones with the slickest pitch or the best margins—they're the ones who are responsive, communicative, and present.
As a freelancer or small agency owner, I don't have the bandwidth to chase referral dollars. What I do care about is knowing that if something goes wrong (and something will go wrong because no software is perfect), I can reach out and get a response from a real person—not an AI chatbot, not a support queue, not a direct email, not a Slack message, but a human who cares.
If you're an app developer looking to build agency relationships, the expectation is simple: show up as yourself, build trust, and be available when it counts. That's what turns a one-time integration into an ongoing, valuable partnership.
Now let's hear from other agency experts on their perspectives:
Most app pitches I get are limp and forgettable. If your tool doesn't solve a real problem better than what's already out there, I'm not interested. We only recommend apps with excellent UX, solid support, and clean integrations—bonus points for good docs. I don't chase shiny toys. If a trusted merchant or agency friend raves about something, that gets my attention. Word of mouth beats cold emails every time.
Most apps approach us with the wrong incentives and next steps. We don't want a 15-minute call, and we don't want you to come in with the same sort of pitch deck that you send to merchants. We already know your competitors. We want to know why you have the best product among them and why we should attach our name and reputation to our recommendation of you.
These perspectives are ones we hear again and again: partnership isn't about revenue splits or fancy dashboards. It's about trust, access, and knowing someone has your back when it matters. It’s about a great product that solves real problems that will help the merchant succeed.
If you're a Shopify app developer trying to connect with agencies, this is your north star. Be real. Be reachable. Be the kind of partner you'd want in your corner.
If you follow any of the experts above on social media, you will notice that when they truly love an app that helps not only their clients succeed, but also makes them look like heroes to their clients, they will talk about it publicly. Having trusted brand advocates (influencers) recommending your product on social media because they believe in it can make all the difference in your growth!
Sneak Peek: Speaking at Editions.dev
You heard it here first…I will be speaking at Editions.dev again for a second year in a row! This year, I am doing a roundtable with two rockstars from Shopify’s very own app store team. We will discuss Shopify app store listings—a similar subject to last year, but with some fun new twists. I will announce who I’m doing the roundtable with and more about the content of the roundtable in the coming weeks.
Hint: This time, it will be more interactive, which includes you. So, stay tuned!
Well, that’s it for this week. I hope you enjoyed our special guest contributors and got some insight into what they are ultimately looking for when partnering with Shopify apps.
