Struggling to turn store visitors into loyal customers? Email marketing might be your secret weapon. A strong subscriber list gives you direct access to your audience—without relying on ads or algorithms. Let’s walk through how to build and grow your list the smart way.
Why Email Marketing Matters for Shopify Stores
Email marketing remains one of the highest-ROI channels for e-commerce businesses. With Shopify’s built-in tools and integrations, you can easily create targeted campaigns to drive traffic, boost sales, and nurture long-term customer relationships.
Benefits of building a subscriber list:
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You own your audience—no dependency on third-party platforms
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Enables personalized messaging at scale
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Perfect for promotions, product launches, and abandoned cart recovery
Step 1: Choose the Right Email Marketing Platform
While Shopify has native email marketing features, you may want to explore more advanced options depending on your needs.
Popular tools for Shopify email marketing:
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Shopify Email – Simple, native, great for beginners
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Klaviyo – Powerful automation and segmentation
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Omnisend – Ideal for multi-channel campaigns
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Mailchimp (via integration) – Great for businesses already using Mailchimp
Tip: Choose a platform that supports list segmentation, automation, and integrates smoothly with your Shopify store.
Step 2: Create High-Converting Signup Forms
You can’t grow your list without giving people a reason to join. Add email opt-in forms across your store, and make them visually appealing and strategically placed.
Where to place your email signup forms:
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Homepage pop-ups or welcome bars
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Footer of every page
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Product pages and blog content
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Checkout and post-purchase pages
Offer a compelling incentive like:
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10% off the first order
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Free shipping on sign-up
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Exclusive access to new arrivals or content
Make sure your opt-in is GDPR and CAN-SPAM compliant.
Step 3: Segment Your Audience Early
As your list grows, segmentation becomes essential. Segmenting your email list allows you to send relevant content to the right people at the right time.
Effective segmentation ideas:
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New vs. returning customers
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Product interest or categories browsed
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Purchase history and behavior
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Geographic location
Tools like Klaviyo or Omnisend make segmentation easy with built-in automation triggers.
Step 4: Set Up Automated Workflows
Automation helps you save time while staying connected with your customers. Set up these essential flows:
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Welcome Series: Introduce your brand, offer a discount, and highlight top products.
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Abandoned Cart Recovery: Remind users of what they left behind and encourage them to complete their purchase.
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Post-Purchase Follow-up: Say thank you, offer upsells, and gather reviews.
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Winback Campaigns: Re-engage customers who haven’t purchased in a while.
Pro tip: Personalize subject lines and product recommendations to improve open and click rates.
Step 5: Design Engaging and On-Brand Emails
Every email you send should reflect your brand’s voice and aesthetic. Use Shopify-compatible templates that look good on mobile and desktop.
Best practices for email design:
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Use clear and concise copy
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Stick to one CTA per email
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Include product visuals and customer testimonials
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Test subject lines and layouts regularly
Consistency builds recognition, which builds trust.
Step 6: Track Performance and Optimize
Don’t just set and forget. Monitor your campaigns using your email platform’s analytics and Shopify’s built-in reports.
Key metrics to track:
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Open rate
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Click-through rate (CTR)
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Conversion rate
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Unsubscribe rate
Use A/B testing to improve subject lines, send times, and CTA placement. Even small changes can have a big impact over time.
Final Thoughts
Growing your email list is more than just collecting addresses—it's about building a community of engaged customers who want to hear from you. With the right tools and strategies, Shopify email marketing can become a powerful engine for sales and loyalty.
Start small, stay consistent, and always add value. Your future revenue will thank you.