How to Create a Business Email in Shopify: A Comprehensive Guide

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Why a Business Email Matters
3. Setting Up Your Business Email in Shopify
4. Enhancing Your Business Email Strategy
5. Building Community through Your Email
6. Monitoring Performance and Growth
7. Combining Email with Online Courses
8. Conclusion
9. FAQ

Introduction

Imagine waking up one day to find your inbox overflowing with inquiries from eager customers wanting to learn more about your products. That moment is thrilling, right? But then you realize your inquiry is mixed in with personal emails and junk mail. This scenario often leads to the crucial question: how can we maintain professionalism while efficiently managing our communication in the e-commerce landscape?

With the upward trend in online businesses—reported by Statista to reach over $5 trillion in sales by 2022—the importance of cohesive branding across all touchpoints, including email, cannot be overstated. As Shopify continues to empower merchants to create and sell their products online, the potential to add professional business emails to your Shopify store presents an invaluable opportunity.

In this blog post, we'll explore the ins and outs of setting up a business email directly associated with your Shopify store, fostering a professional appearance and enhancing your brand's credibility. We're excited to share how integrating an email system into your e-commerce strategy not only improves your communication but can also pave the way for building strong relationships with your customers.

We at Tevello specialize in providing all-in-one solutions that integrate seamlessly into the Shopify ecosystem—enabling not just e-commerce, but also allowing merchants to unlock new revenue streams through online courses and vibrant community building. So let's dive deep into understanding how to create a business email in Shopify and why it matters for your success!

Why a Business Email Matters

Establishing Professionalism

Having a business email boosts authenticity and professionalism. Using a custom domain (e.g., [email protected]) gives your brand credibility and helps in establishing trust with customers. A professional email looks directly associated with your business, as opposed to using free email services, which can appear unprofessional. This impression counts in retaining customers and attracting new ones.

Increasing Brand Recognition

Consistent branding is crucial in the digital age. A well-designed website accompanied by a professional email keeps everything cohesive. It reinforces your branding efforts, providing a strong brand memory for customers, which can drive repeat business. Having your email address as part of your domain helps in keeping your brand at the forefront of customers' minds.

Streamlined Communication

In essence, running an online store involves interacting with various stakeholders—from customers to suppliers. A dedicated business email can streamline this communication, making it easy to manage inquiries, feedback, and important transactions. This not only enhances response times but also creates an organized structure for dealing with incoming communication.

Setting Up Your Business Email in Shopify

Creating a business email associated with your Shopify store is a straightforward process. Shopify doesn’t host email services directly, so we'll guide you through the steps of using a third-party provider to set things up.

1. Choose a Domain Name

If you haven't already set up a domain name for your Shopify store, doing so is your first step. Your domain name should reflect your brand identity and be easy to remember. If you have a custom domain registered, this will also reflect in your business email.

2. Select an Email Hosting Provider

Shopify recommends several email service providers that integrate well with their platform. These include:

• Google Workspace: Offers professional email along with collaborative tools like Google Docs and Google Drive.
• Zoho Mail: Features a robust free plan for small businesses and offers collaborative tools.
• Microsoft 365: Provides a comprehensive suite of productivity tools, including Outlook.

These options are excellent for businesses looking to tackle emails efficiently while maintaining a professional veneer.

3. Set Up Your Business Email

Using Google Workspace:

1. Sign Up: Register for a Google Workspace account and choose your plan.
2. Domain Verification: Follow the instructions from Google to verify your domain ownership.
3. Set Up Email Accounts: Create your desired email address (e.g., [email protected]) through the Google Admin Console.
4. Configure MX Records: Update your Shopify domain settings to direct email traffic to Google’s servers by adjusting the MX records in the DNS settings.

Using Zoho Mail:

1. Sign Up: Go to Zoho Mail and create an account.
2. Domain Verification: Similar to Google, Zoho will require you to verify your domain.
3. Create User Accounts: Establish your business email addresses as needed.
4. Update MX Records: Adjust the MX records in your Shopify domain to point to Zoho.

Using Microsoft 365:

1. Sign Up: Register for Microsoft 365 and select the plan that suits your needs.
2. Domain Verification: Verify your domain through the Microsoft admin portal.
3. Create Email Addresses: Add email accounts per your business requirements.
4. Update MX Records: Adjust DNS settings on Shopify, as instructed by Microsoft.

4. Conduct Testing

After setting up, it is crucial to test your email by sending and receiving messages. Make sure everything works as intended and that the emails are delivered to the intended inboxes without issues.

Enhancing Your Business Email Strategy

Once you have your professional business email set up, it's time to think about using it to strengthen your brand further. Here are some strategies we recommend.

Brand Your Email Signature

Your email signature acts as an extension of your brand. Consider including:

• Your name
• Your position within the company
• Social media links
• A brief tagline about your business
• A link to your latest offerings or an online course

For instance, if you're in the art supplies business, your tagline might be, “Helping you create art that inspires.”

Segment Your Email Lists

To make the most of your business email, segment your email lists based on customer behavior. Tailored messages resonate better with customers and can drive more engagement. For example:

• New Subscribers: Send a welcome email outlining your store.
• Past Customers: Offer targeted promotions based on previous purchases.
• Potential Course Attendees: Inform about upcoming online classes related to their interests.

Utilize Automation

Email automation can significantly reduce the strain of manual correspondence while ensuring timely communication. Techniques include:

• Automated replies for frequently asked questions or order confirmations.
• Email drip campaigns for nurturing leads or keeping past customers engaged.
• Event reminders for any upcoming courses or community events.

Building Community through Your Email

Using email creatively can also foster a sense of community among your customers. As Shopify merchants, we have the unique ability to build vibrant online communities where customers can engage with one another.

Encourage Customer Feedback

Utilize your email platform to solicit feedback from customers. Surveys can be sent to gain insights into their experiences and preferences. This information is invaluable as we continue to improve our offerings.

Share Resources

If you offer online courses, consider sending out educational materials or insights about relevant topics. This not only positions you as an industry leader but also provides added value to your customers.

Host Exclusive Events

Leverage your email list to invite customers to exclusive online events or courses. Promoting access to insider knowledge or special discounts can foster loyalty and increase customer retention.

Monitoring Performance and Growth

To maximize the effectiveness of your business email system, it’s essential to monitor and analyze key performance metrics.

Track Open and Click Rates

Most email service providers offer built-in analytics features. These metrics can provide insights into how many recipients opened your emails and how many took action. Understanding these statistics allows us to refine our approach continuously.

A/B Testing

Testing different subject lines, layouts, or calls-to-action (CTAs) can vastly improve engagement. Experimenting with A/B tests will help discover what resonates best with our audience.

Combining Email with Online Courses

At Tevello, we are passionate about empowering merchants to generate additional revenue streams through online courses and engaging communities. When combined with a strategic email approach, your offerings can significantly enhance customer engagement and retention.

Promoting Online Courses via Email

It’s wise to leverage your email list when launching a new course. Utilize an email marketing campaign to create buzz before the launch, share sneak peeks of course material, and highlight any limited-time offers.

For instance, a Shopify store specializing in fitness products could introduce a “Fitness Beginners Course” and offer interested customers an early bird discount.

Building a Course Community

Encouraging interaction among course participants can significantly boost engagement levels. Use your email to promote forums or groups where attendees can discuss course content, share experiences, and build relationships. When customers feel part of a community, they are often more invested in their learning journey—and your brand as a result.

Conclusion

Creating a professional business email on your Shopify store is not only a practical step; it’s an essential part of crafting a robust e-commerce strategy. It enhances professionalism, solidifies brand recognition, and streamlines communication, all of which are pivotal for success. By incorporating forward-thinking email practices—like automation, community building, and targeted promotions—we can ensure ongoing engagement with our audience.

Here at Tevello, we’re dedicated to helping Shopify merchants navigate their journeys, unlocking new revenue streams and fostering meaningful connections with customers. We encourage you to explore how our all-in-one solution can seamlessly integrate into your Shopify ecosystem, making it easier than ever to sell online courses and digital products.

For those ready to take the next step in optimizing their email strategy, we invite you to start your 14-day free trial of Tevello today and witness the difference firsthand!

FAQ

1. Can I use a free email service with my Shopify store? While it's possible to use free email services, we highly recommend a custom business email to maintain professionalism and trustworthiness in your communications.

2. How long does it take to set up a business email with Shopify? Setting up a business email can take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days, depending on your email host and the verification processes involved.

3. Do I need to pay for an email hosting service? Most quality email hosting services require a monthly fee. However, it's an investment worth making for the professionalism and features they offer.

4. Can I integrate email marketing with my business email? Absolutely! Most business email services come equipped with integration tools to help you launch marketing campaigns effectively.

5. How often should I communicate with my email subscribers? Finding the right balance is key. Too much communication may lead to unsubscribes, while too little may cause you to be forgotten. Consider a bi-weekly or monthly newsletter as a good starting point.

By implementing these strategies, we can look forward to elevating our Shopify businesses and thriving in the exciting, ever-evolving e-commerce world.