Last Updated: January 2025
Ever wondered how Shopify marketing automation could revolutionize your online store?
Brace yourself for a game-changing journey as we delve into the complete guide to mastering Shopify marketing automation.
Uncover the secrets that will propel your business to new heights, all while streamlining your efforts and maximizing your reach.
Are you ready to transform your Shopify experience and witness the magic of automated marketing in action? Let’s dive in!
Table Of Contents
What’s Shopify Marketing Automation?
Marketing automation involves utilizing software to simplify various marketing activities and associated tasks. This enables Shopify store owners to automate their marketing endeavors, delivering tailored messages to specific audiences at optimal times.
Ranked closely behind content marketing, marketing automation stands out as one of the most impactful digital marketing strategies. With an average return on investment of $5.44 per dollar spent, it’s a game-changer.
These are just a few compelling reasons to harness its potential.
Why Use Shopify Marketing Automation?
Let’s check out the good things that happen when you use marketing automation on your Shopify store.
1. Saves You Time
The best part about marketing automation? It saves you a bunch of time.
Marketing tools do the hard work for you:
- Sending emails
- Sorting out customer lists
- Figuring out which products to show
- Deciding who to aim your ads at
Instead of doing all this stuff manually, automation tools do it in a snap.
2. Keeps Customers in the Loop
Ever heard of the ‘Marketing Rule of 7’? It says people need to see a message 7 times before they buy. If you’re not using automation, you might miss those chances to connect and make more sales.
3. Boosting Customer Retention and Loyalty
The cool thing about automation tools is they help you make friends with your customers. Like, when someone joins your email list, you can welcome them automatically and share what your brand is all about.
Plus, for special occasions like birthdays or holidays, you can send out automatic emails with special deals or show off your newest stuff. Without these tools, doing all that wouldn’t be as smooth.
Starting with Marketing Automation on Shopify
Now, let’s talk about how to start using marketing automation on Shopify.
When you’re ready to begin, you’ve got two choices. You can use the tools already in Shopify, or you can pick another app for marketing automation. We’ll look at what each option does and what’s good or not-so-good about them.
1. Shopify’s Built-in Marketing Automation Tools
Shopify recently added new tools for marketing right inside your Shopify admin dashboard.
If you choose Shopify’s marketing tools, here’s what you should know:
Pros:
- No Extra Costs: Included in the Shopify Basic plan, so no additional monthly expenses.
- Basic Automation: Good for smaller customer bases and those just starting.
Cons:
- Limited Features: Constraints on integrations and adding onsite popups.
- Plan Requirement: Accessible only with the Basic plan or higher, not available with the Shopify Starter plan.
To find these tools, just go to your Shopify admin dashboard, click on “Marketing,” then “Automation,” and you’re ready to use the pre-made automation templates.
2. Third-party Marketing Automation Software
If you want a tool that can be more flexible and grow with your business, using third-party marketing automation software is a good idea.
Here’s a quick rundown:
Pros:
- Advanced Features: These tools can do more, like marketing on different platforms and connecting with lots of other tools. You can even use popups to grab emails.
- Scales with You: No matter how big your business gets, these tools can handle it.
- Multilingual Support: If your store uses different languages, these tools can handle that too.
Cons:
- Extra Cost: After any free trials, you might have to pay a monthly fee. But considering the benefits, like making $36 for every $1 spent on average, it’s usually worth it.
To use these tools, just go to the Shopify app store and install them.
How to Choose a Shopify Marketing Automation Tool: What to Look for
Certain features are essential for effectively using and scaling your Shopify marketing automation tool. Let’s explore these key features:
1. Ease of Use
To gauge the ease of use, ask yourself:
- Is it easy to navigate?
- Do the features work as expected?
- Can you set up automated campaigns effortlessly?
These considerations are crucial when choosing your marketing automation tool.
2. Features
Depending on your needs, ensure your tool includes:
- Customer segmentation
- Email personalization
- Onsite popups for email capture
- Automated workflows to reduce manual tasks
- Integration with e-commerce, marketing, and customer service tools
Choose a tool that aligns with your needs for successful marketing campaigns.
3. Pricing
Consider the pricing structure, as it varies among tools. Some less expensive plans may offer access to all features.
For instance, tools like Drip or Omnisend may be more affordable than GetResponse for multichannel outreach. Check for a free trial if it’s important to you.
4. Customer Data
Ensure the tool can capture and leverage customer data. A/B testing on marketing automation campaigns is crucial for obtaining data from customers.
5. Customer Support
Choose a tool such as Saufter.io that offers dependable customer support via calls and messages. Access to self-help options, like a comprehensive help center, ensures immediate assistance.
6. Automation Templates
Look for tools with customizable templates for your campaigns. Drip, for instance, offers over 50 templates for users to customize according to their needs.
7. Deliverability
Consider the deliverability of your emails. Ensure your marketing automation tool has minimum sending requirements in place.
For Drip, this may include owning your website, having DMARC enabled, and obtaining opt-in permission from customers.
8. Integration with Shopify
For Shopify store owners, a crucial feature is seamless integration with Shopify. Confirm its availability on the provider’s website, often under the “Integrations” tab or on the Shopify app store.
9. Shopify Store Rating
Before investing, check user reviews for insights. Assess the Shopify store ratings for your chosen marketing automation tool.
For example, Drip’s review section can provide valuable feedback from other users.
Picking a Shopify Marketing Automation Workflow
Now that you have a grasp of marketing automation fundamentals and top-notch solutions, let’s delve into some effective workflows you can send.
We’ll illustrate each workflow with an example from another company.
1. Welcome Workflow
The first email you send when someone joins your email list is called the welcome email.
For sellers, this is a great way to start getting to know your customers better.
Look at Three Sips as an example. In their first welcome email, they introduce their brand and what they stand for.
They even show a picture of the founders, which helps build trust.
You can do the same by sending a welcome email that talks about your brand values. After that, you might send a couple more emails going even deeper into what your brand is all about.
2. Browse Abandonment Workflow
When you check out something on a website but don’t buy it, they might send you an email—it’s called a browse abandonment email.
To make one that gets people’s attention, look at what REBEL8 does.
The email subject line grabs your eye, and when you open it, you see this:
They put together three cool things: the item is popular, it’s a limited edition (so you might miss out), and they promise fast delivery and easy returns.
3. Cart Abandonment Workflow
About 70% of people leave their shopping carts without buying anything.
If you don’t remind these folks about what they left behind, you’re missing out on lots of potential sales.
Look at what Brooklinen does. They send up to three emails to remind customers about the things in their cart.
First, they promise an extra 10% off in the first email.
The second one is like a friendly reminder about the first email.
For the third email, they make the deal even better with a 10% discount and free shipping.
You can do something similar by sending 1-3 emails to remind people to finish buying what’s in their cart.
4. Post Purchase Workflow
After someone buys something from your online store, you usually send them a post-purchase email.
Most times, these emails just say, “Hey, we got your order and it’s on its way.” But you can do more with them, like making customers like your brand more or suggesting other things they might want.
Look at what Allbirds does. First, they say they got the order.
Then, they talk more about what makes their brand cool.
So, the email not only tells the customer about the brand but also makes them feel good about buying something.
5. Reactivation/Win Back Workflow
When people who used to like your emails or buy from you stop doing that, you can try to get them back with a reactivation or win-back campaign.
Warby Parker does something cool. They start with an interesting subject line.
Then, they use astrology to suggest glasses to customers based on their zodiac signs.
You can do something unique too, like Warby Parker, to bring back people who used to be into your stuff.
Best Ways to Do Shopify Marketing Automation
Using marketing automation might not seem like a big deal, but it’s one of the best ways to make your customers like you more and sell more stuff.
Here’s what you need to do for successful marketing automation:
- Make your messages personal: About 80% of marketers think personalized messages improve customer relationships. If you want to stand out in crowded inboxes, keep your messages personalized.
- Try different ways of doing things: The tools we talked about let you test different ideas to see what works best.
- Think about your customers: Don’t send too many emails. Most studies say that sending two to three emails each week is just right.
Follow these three things, and you’ll be on your way to making your marketing automation work well!
To sum it up, that concludes the guide on Shopify marketing automation. We trust it provided valuable insights.
Now, let’s delve into Saufter.io, an all-in-one eCommerce customer service and order management Helpdesk solution with automated features.
Explore Saufter.io: Your Complete E-commerce Helpdesk Solution
Are you on the lookout for Helpdesk software that streamlines customer support, order management, and returns processing?
Saufter.io is the perfect solution, designed specifically for eCommerce to ensure outstanding customer service.
Key Features
- Live Chat: Connect with customers instantly, providing real-time assistance and sharing helpful articles.
- Self-Service Portal: Empower customers to independently update addresses, check orders, and manage returns.
- Omnichannel Support: Assist through email, phone, SMS, WhatsApp, and social media, all in one place.
- Knowledge Base: Store information for easy sharing between customers and support agents.
- Customer History View: Track all customer interactions conveniently in one spot.
- Automated Order Monitoring: Receive timely alerts about order issues for swift resolutions.
- Insights and Reports: Access reports on customer and agent performance, common issues, and essential business data.
Conclusion
In summary, Shopify marketing automation is a game-changer for your online store. By personalizing communication and utilizing strategic automation, you can enhance customer engagement and streamline operations.
By applying these insights and leveraging innovative tools like Saufter.io, you’re poised for success in the competitive world of eCommerce.
Elevate your customer relationships, automate processes, and stay ahead in the game. Happy selling!
