ShopBack’s iOS app tops rankings in Singapore – right after launch

ShopBack, a service that lets you get cashback on your ecommerce purchases from over 500 merchants in Singapore, launched its iOS and Android apps yesterday. It has soared ahead of the pack. The app is now the top free app in the shopping category in the iOS App Store, and number one (as of July 5 at 4:40pm SGT) in the top free apps category. The rankings only apply to the App Store in Singapore.

On Android, the app has already garnered over 50,000 installs. ShopBack tells Tech in Asia that overall, the service has 250,000 registered users, out of which 40 percent, or 100,000, are monthly actives.

The app doesn’t appear to have generated the same amount of enthusiasm among Android users yet, as it’s nowhere near the top rankings there. However, it’s currently in 21th place among Android shopping apps in Indonesia, according to App Annie.

Shame of Thrones

ShopBack’s ability to hit the top of the app store must have left many marketers envious.

The company told us that it engaged a variety of marketing methods to drive app downloads. These include: influencer marketing through actor Tosh Zhang, Facebook paid marketing, email marketing to its existing user base, and YouTube videos like this one:

“Most importantly, actions driven by word-of-mouth. This is something that’s very close to our hearts as it’s not built overnight but through various rounds of branding and ensuring that users get the best experience,” says a ShopBack spokesperson.

Another tactic it used was to engage its 85 employees in a fun game. The company is grouped into various Game of Thrones houses, each with their own app download link, say http://app.shopback.com/lannister. The teams then go out to promote their links to drive downloads.

The losing team would need to do a “walk of shame,” minus the nudity and flogging of course.

Riding the wave

Founded in August 2014, ShopBack has since raised US$1.1 million from investors. It’s basically an affiliate marketer for ecommerce sites, collecting a fee for every purchase made through ShopBack. Part of that fee is passed to consumers.

In January this year, ShopBack expanded to India, a hot but overheated ecommerce playground. It’s competing with local cashback sites like CashKaro, LafaLafa, and GoPaisa.