How to Add Email to Your Shopify Store: A Comprehensive Guide

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Understanding the Importance of Email for Your Shopify Store
3. Setting Up Email Forwarding in Shopify
4. Setting Up a Third-Party Email Hosting Service
5. Enhancing Email Deliverability and Brand Credibility
6. Email Marketing Best Practices for Your Shopify Store
7. Building Community with Email
8. Conclusion

Introduction

Did you know that businesses that engage with their customers via email can see a return on investment of up to $42 for every dollar spent? This startling statistic highlights the importance of email communication in the e-commerce landscape today. As we delve deeper into diversifying revenue streams in a competitive market, establishing effective communication channels is crucial for success.

For Shopify merchants, integrating email functionality into their stores is vital not just for transactional purposes, but also for building trust, establishing brand identity, and enhancing customer relationships. At Tevello, we understand that empowering Shopify merchants means making all the tools necessary for success accessible — including email management systems.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know on how to add email to your Shopify store, ensure professional communication, and utilize email as a core part of your e-commerce strategy. We will explore setting up custom email forwarding, the importance of email authenticity, and how integrating an email service can optimize your operations.

Are you wondering how your current email setup measures up, or are you ready to take strides in professionalizing your communications? Let’s explore the world of email integration within Shopify together, and discover how Tevello’s all-in-one approach can streamline the process.

Understanding the Importance of Email for Your Shopify Store

In the realm of e-commerce, email serves as a fundamental touchpoint between the merchant and customers. Research demonstrates that personalized email marketing campaigns boast open rates as high as 29%, compared to the average open rates for other digital marketing methods.

Why Use Email?

1. Brand Recognition: A custom email associated with your business domain strengthens brand recognition and builds credibility. Imagine receiving an email from “[email protected]” rather than something generic. The former conveys professionalism.
2. Customer Engagement: Regularly communicating with customers through email keeps your brand fresh in their minds. Whether it's tailored promotions, newsletters, or educational content, email allows you to engage effectively and build lasting relationships.
3. Conversions and Retention: Email plays a crucial role in guiding potential customers along their purchasing journey. From cart abandonment reminders to personalized discounts, email campaigns can nurture leads and encourage repeat purchases.
4. Cost-Effective Marketing: Compared to many marketing channels, email marketing boasts a remarkable return on investment. Leveraging email for promotions can significantly reduce your marketing costs while maximizing outreach efforts.

Setting Up Email Forwarding in Shopify

If you’re just starting out with your Shopify store or are looking to improve your email setup, let’s break down how to add email to your Shopify store through email forwarding.

Step 1: Understanding Email Forwarding

Email forwarding allows you to create a custom email address that directs incoming messages to your designated email inbox. For instance, a customer could reach you at “[email protected],” while the message is sent to your existing email like “[email protected].” This makes communication seamless and professional without any additional email storage costs.

Step 2: Create a Custom Domain Email Address

To set up a custom email address using your Shopify domain, you will need to follow the steps outlined below:

1. Log In to Your Shopify Admin Panel: Access your account and navigate to your dashboard.
2. Go to Settings: In the bottom left corner of your dashboard, click on "Settings."
3. Select Domains: From the settings menu, click on "Domains."
4. Manage Your Domain: Locate your Shopify-managed domain and click on “Manage” to access email settings.
5. Add Forwarding Email Address: In the “Email forwarding” section:
   • Enter the preferred store email address (e.g., “info” if you want “[email protected]”).
   • Enter your existing email address (e.g., “[email protected]”) in the forwarding email address field.
6. Click Save: Ensure you click save to finalize your settings.

Step 3: Verifying Your Setup

Once you have created your forwarding email address, it is crucial to test it to ensure functionality. Send a test email to your custom domain and verify that it successfully arrives at your designated account.

Setting Up a Third-Party Email Hosting Service

While email forwarding offers a straightforward solution, as your business grows, you may find the need for more comprehensive email management. This is where third-party email hosting comes into play.

Why Consider Third-Party Email Hosting?

1. Professional Appearance: With a third-party service, recipients will see emails from your branded domain, reinforcing your professionalism.
2. Expanded Features: Services like Google Workspace or Zoho Mail provide advanced features for organization and collaboration, including shared inboxes, calendars, and document storage.
3. Greater Storage Capacity: Unlike basic forwarding, third-party providers offer substantial storage to accommodate all your communication needs.
4. Team Collaboration: With a proper email hosting solution, you can create multiple email addresses, giving each team member their own branded address while maintaining cohesion.

How to Set Up Third-Party Email Hosting

1. Choose an Email Hosting Provider: Popular options include Google Workspace or Zoho Mail.
2. Create Your Email Address: Follow the steps provided by your chosen service to set up your custom email address.
3. Verify Your Domain: Each provider will request you to verify ownership of your domain by adding specific DNS records to your domain settings. Here’s how:
   • Return to Shopify’s “Settings” and navigate to “Domains.”
   • Locate your domain and add the TXT record provided by your email host.
4. Switch to Email Hosting: In the email forwarding section, switch to your chosen email host and enter the related verification information.
5. Complete the Setup Process: Follow your hosting provider’s steps to finalize the configuration, ensuring proper functionality.

Enhancing Email Deliverability and Brand Credibility

Having a branded email address is only the start; ensuring your emails successfully reach recipients is vital. Proper email authentication helps to combat issues with email deliverability.

Email Authentication Protocols

1. SPF (Sender Policy Framework): This protocol prevents spammers from sending messages on behalf of your domain. It establishes which mail servers are authorized to send email for your domain.
2. DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): DKIM allows the receiver to check that an email was indeed sent by the domain owner and that it wasn’t altered in transit. This adds an additional layer of security.
3. DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance): DMARC enforces the use of SPF and DKIM, instructing receiving servers on how to handle unverified messages.

Setting Up Email Authentication in Shopify

1. Access Settings: In your Shopify admin panel, navigate to “Settings” then “Notifications.”
2. Authenticate Your Domain: Next to your sender email, click on "Authenticate your domain."
3. Add CNAME Records: Shopify will provide CNAME records that you will need to add to your domain provider's DNS settings.
4. Monitor Authentication Performance: Utilize tools like MXToolbox to verify that your email authentication is set up correctly.

Email Marketing Best Practices for Your Shopify Store

Having established a solid email setup, we can delve into utilizing email for marketing effectively. Here are some best practices for e-commerce email marketing.

Segment Your Audience

Effective email marketing starts with understanding your audience. Segment your email list based on different criteria:

• Purchase History: Tailor your campaigns based on where customers are in their buying journey.
• Demographics: Use insights regarding age, location, and preferences to create personalized experiences.
• Engagement: Target those who clicked on your emails versus those who did not to tailor messaging accordingly.

Create Compelling Content

1. Subject Lines: Craft enticing subject lines that encourage opens. A/B test your subject lines to identify what resonates best with your audience.
2. Visual Appeal: Use high-quality images and consistent branding in your email templates to maintain a professional look.
3. Personalization: Use recipient names and relevant products they may be interested in to increase engagement rates.

Automate Email Campaigns

Utilizing email automation can significantly enhance customer engagement while reducing your workload. Consider setting up:

• Welcome Series: Send a series of emails to new subscribers to introduce your brand and offerings.
• Abandoned Cart Reminders: Automatically notify customers of items left in their shopping carts.
• Post-Purchase Follow-Ups: Send thank you emails and solicit feedback on their shopping experience.

Monitor Metrics and Adjust Strategies

Track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as open rates, click-through rates, and conversions to gauge email campaign effectiveness. By analyzing these metrics, you can make informed adjustments to your strategy and improve future efforts.

Building Community with Email

Engagement doesn't stop after the purchase; email is a powerful tool for fostering community among your customers.

Create a Community Newsletter

Sharing valuable content through newsletters can help keep your audience engaged. Consider including:

• Educational Materials: Offer tutorials, articles, or videos related to your products.
• Exclusive Promotions: Reward loyal customers with exclusive discounts or early access to sales.
• User-Generated Content: Showcase customer stories and testimonials to build trust and community spirit.

Encourage Feedback and Interaction

Encourage your subscribers to reply to your emails to share their thoughts or feedback. This can lead to improved relationships and a better understanding of your audience's needs.

Conclusion

Adding email functionality to your Shopify store is more than just a practical choice; it's an essential part of building a professional brand and fostering customer relationships. From setting up email forwarding to utilizing a robust third-party email hosting service, we at Tevello believe in empowering Shopify merchants to thrive in the ever-evolving digital marketplace.

Let us help you unlock the full potential of your e-commerce store with our all-in-one solution designed to seamlessly integrate into the Shopify ecosystem. Interested in starting your journey toward enhanced email communication and professional branding?

Start your 14-day free trial of Tevello today and see how we can support your growth!

FAQ

1. Do I need to set up email authentication? Why is it important?

Yes, email authentication is crucial to ensure your emails reach your customers’ inboxes rather than their spam folders. It protects your domain from spammers while reinforcing your brand’s credibility.

2. Can I use Shopify Email for automation?

Shopify Email does offer some basic email automation features, but for more advanced automation sequences, you may want to consider integrating third-party email services that provide superior capabilities.

3. What should I do if my emails are not being delivered?

First, check your email authentication setup and ensure it’s correctly configured. Also, monitor your email content for spammy words or phrases that could affect deliverability.

4. Can I create more than one custom email address?

Yes, Shopify allows for multiple custom domain email addresses to be created, enabling different team members to communicate effectively.

5. How can I improve customer engagement through emails?

Segmentation, personalization, and compelling content are key to improving engagement. Focus on understanding your audience and crafting relevant messages that resonate.

Feel free to reach out if you have any more questions, or install the all-in-one course platform for Shopify and empower your business today!