Why Every Competition Site Needs a Mobile App in 2025?
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Why Every Competition Site Needs a Mobile App in 2025?

Written by: ShopApper Team
23.05.2025 - 5 mins read

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Increasing conversion and engaging rate is a challenge for every eCommerce business, but for competition sites, the stakes are even higher. In 2025, competition apps are emerging as a powerful tool to cut SMS costs, engage users more effectively, and drive repeat participation with targeted push notifications.

If you’re running a competition site and relying solely on a website, it’s time to rethink your strategy. Let’s explore why competition apps are becoming essential, how to build one quickly, and how successful brands like Competition Fever and Lancashire Competitions are reaping the benefits with ShopApper.

🔥 Why Competition Sites Need Mobile Apps in 2025

1. Cut SMS Costs by 100%

Competition businesses often rely on expensive SMS campaigns to notify users of new draws and results. With competition apps, you can eliminate these costs with free push notifications that boast a 90%+ open rate, far surpassing SMS and email.

2. Boost Engagement by 3x

  • Push notifications reach users directly on their phones, keeping your brand top-of-mind without the clutter of email inboxes.
  • Apps drive 3x higher conversion rates than websites, with users being 7x more likely to respond to push notifications.

3. Streamline User Experience

  • With one-tap entries, users can join competitions instantly, without navigating through multiple web pages.
  • This frictionless experience reduces cart abandonment and encourages repeat entries.

4. Increase Repeat Purchases

  • Apps offer exclusive deals, loyalty rewards, and early access to high-stakes competitions.
  • Example: Lancashire Competitions saw a 90% increase in app users in just one month after adopting ShopApper.

📱 How to Build a Competition App Without Spending $50,000

Creating a competition site app doesn’t have to be a six-figure investment. With no-code platforms like ShopApper, you can convert your competition site to an app in under 15 minutes — no coding required.
Step 1: Install & Activate the Plugin
  • Download and activate the ShopApper plugin on your WooCommerce or WordPress site and schedule your call in seconds.
Step 2: Review Your Demo App
  • Within 15 minutes, ShopApper provides your real app, showcasing your branding, colors, and essential features like push notifications.
Step 3: Customize & Optimize
  • Work with ShopApper to fine-tune your app’s design, notification settings, and loyalty program integrations.
Step 4: Publish on App Stores
  • We handle app publishing on both iOS and Android, ensuring a smooth approval process without all the headaches that competition sites face.

How Prepared Is Your Store for a Mobile App?

Find out with the App Readiness Score Test.

Answer a few quick questions and get a custom report on your app potential, missed opportunities, and where to level up.

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✅ Key Features of a Winning Competition App

What features set a competition app apart from a basic website?
  • Push Notifications: Keep users engaged with real-time alerts for live draws, new competitions, and app-exclusive offers.
  • One-Tap Entries: Simplify participation with a single tap, reducing friction and boosting entries.
  • App-Exclusive Rewards: Incentivize repeat entries with special offers only accessible through the app.
  • User Segmentation: Group users based on participation history to deliver targeted notifications and offers.
  • App-Only Coupons: Create a sense of urgency with time-sensitive offers exclusive to app users.

📊 Real-Life Success Stories: How Mobile Apps Transformed Competition Sites

1. Competition Fever: 4000% ROI and 40% More Orders

Case study: Competition Fever
  • 40% of all orders now come from the app.
  • 4000% ROI in just 3 months.
  • Push notifications achieved a near-perfect open rate, driving repeat entries.
Why It Worked:
  • Personalized push notifications kept users engaged without SMS costs.
  • App-exclusive deals incentivized repeat participation.
  • One-tap entries streamlined the competition process.

2. Lancashire Competitions: $250K+ Revenue Boost and 90% App User Growth

Case Study: Lancashire Competitions
  • $250,000+ in revenue in 3 months.
  • 90% growth in app users within one month.
  • 22% of orders now originate from the app.
Why It Worked:
  • Push notifications replaced expensive SMS campaigns, delivering targeted messages.
  • The app’s simple, one-tap entry system increased participation rates.
  • App-exclusive deals encouraged repeat entries.

🤔 Common Misconceptions About Competition Apps — And Why They’re Wrong

Despite the proven benefits, many competition businesses still hesitate to adopt mobile apps. Here are some common misconceptions:
1. “Apps Are Too Expensive”
  • Reality: While custom app development can cost $30,000 to $100,000, ShopApper offers subscription plans starting at just $395/month.
  • With no upfront costs and ongoing support included, ShopApper’s model is a fraction of the price of custom development.
2. “Apps Don’t Work for Small Businesses”
  • Reality: Apps are not just for big brands. ShopApper’s flexible plans are designed for small to mid-sized competition sites looking to increase sales and repeat entries.
3. “My Website Is Already Mobile-Friendly”
  • Reality: A mobile-responsive website is not the same as a dedicated mobile app.
  • Mobile apps enable push notifications, app-only coupons, and one-tap entries — features that websites simply can’t match.
4. “SMS Works Just Fine for Me”
  • Reality: While SMS can be effective, it’s also costly and limited.
  • Push notifications via apps have a 98% open rate, compared to just 8.9% for SMS — and they’re free.

🤔 How to Know If Your Competition Site Is Ready for a Mobile App

If you’re still unsure whether your competition site could benefit from a mobile app, ask yourself:
  • Are your SMS costs eating into your profit margins?
  • Is your website’s cart abandonment rate over 50%?
  • Do you struggle to re-engage participants after their first competition?
  • Are your email open rates under 10%?
If you answered yes to any of these, it’s time to consider a mobile app.

🚀 Ready to Transform Your Competition Business?

Don’t let competitors outpace you.
ShopApper offers a cost-effective way to launch a customized competition app in just 15 minutes — without the $50,000+ price tag.
👉 Get Your Free Store Checkup to discover how much you could save on SMS costs and drive more sales through a high-converting mobile app.
Let Us Build Your App in 15 Min

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