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Collect Customer Emails From Checkout

Last updated: October 07 2024

Written and researched by experts at Avada Learn more about our methodology

If you’re running a Shopify store, you already know the power of email marketing. But are you maximizing its potential by seamlessly integrating email collection into your checkout process?

In this guide, we’ll show you how to effortlessly capture customer emails at checkout and explore extra strategies for collecting and managing these addresses, turning one-time buyers into loyal subscribers.

Before Collecting Customer Email at Checkout on Your Shopify Store

  • Customer Consent: It’s important to only send promotional material to customers who have opted in to receive marketing from your store. Customers can subscribe by signing up for your newsletter or checking a box during checkout. If you’re using abandoned cart reminders, you will need to adjust the text near the consent checkbox.

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  • If your store is based in Germany: In addition to GDPR, Germany has specific regulations around email marketing, including the requirement for a double opt-in process. This means customers must confirm their subscription through a separate email after providing their email address at checkout. Make sure your email marketing setup adheres to these specific requirements.
  • Providing a Clear Privacy Policy: Your Shopify store should have a comprehensive privacy policy that is easily accessible at checkout. The privacy policy must outline:
    • The type of information collected (e.g., email address).
    • The purposes for which the data will be used (e.g., order processing, marketing).
    • How will the data be stored and for how long
    • The customer’s rights (e.g., to access, modify, or delete their data).

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Step-by-Step Guide to Enable Email Collection at Checkout on Shopify

  • Step 1: In your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Checkout.

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  • Step 2: In the Customer contact method click Phone number or email or Email

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  • Step 3: Scroll down to the Marketing options and select Email.

Check Preselected box to automatically check the email marketing sign-up box for customers without an account or those already on your email list. Customers can deselect if they don’t want email marketing.

  • Step 4: Click Save.

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Additional Methods for Email Collection

While checkout is a prime opportunity for email collection, you can also employ other strategies to expand your subscriber list:

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  • Newsletter Signup via Social Media: Promote your email sign-up links on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok using tools like Linktree or Shorby. Encourage followers to subscribe by adding clear call-to-actions on your profiles.
  • Homepage Email Signup Form: Place a newsletter signup form on your store’s homepage to collect email addresses directly from visitors. These emails will be stored in the Email subscribers segment in your Shopify admin.
  • Run Contests or Giveaways: Boost email collection by hosting contests or giveaways using Shopify apps like ViralSweep or Social Boost. Make participation conditional on entering an email and sharing on social media to maximize reach.
  • Offer Early Access: Collect emails by offering visitors early access to exclusive products or limited-time offers. This creates urgency and appeals to their desire to stay informed on special deals.
  • Targeted Ads with Landing Pages: Run paid ads that direct users to dedicated landing pages designed for email sign-ups. These pages can provide a focused space for visitors to subscribe, with targeted messaging for specific audiences.

Managing Your Email Subscriber List

Once a customer opts in for marketing, you can find their email on the Customers page in your Shopify admin and start managing this list for email marketing campaigns.

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  • Segment for Targeted Campaigns: Use Shopify’s customer segmentation feature to group subscribers based on behavior or attributes (e.g., recent purchases) for personalized email campaigns.

This can be done through the Customers section > Segment > Use customer segment > Click email.

  • Remove Unengaged Subscribers: Regularly clean your email list by removing inactive contacts. Automate the process through your email marketing platform to identify and remove invalid addresses or unengaged subscribers, improving your overall deliverability and engagement rates.

  • A/B Testing: Continuously improve your email content by A/B testing different elements like subject lines, CTAs, or design. This helps identify what resonates best with your audience and maximizes engagement.

  • Automate Contact Management: Use automated workflows to manage your list, such as adding new subscribers based on preferences, tagging highly engaged contacts, or removing those who unsubscribe. This keeps your list organized and ensures relevant communication with each subscriber.

Bottom Line

Collecting customer emails is a valuable strategy for building relationships and driving sales. By enabling email collection at checkout and implementing additional methods, you can grow your subscriber list and engage with your audience effectively. Remember to prioritize transparency and compliance with data privacy regulations to build trust and maintain a positive brand image.

FAQs

Track metrics such as email open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates. Use analytics tools provided by your email marketing platform to assess performance and make data-driven adjustments.

Yes, Shopify directly integrates with various email marketing platforms like Mailchimp, Klaviyo, and Omnisend. These tools can help you manage and segment your email list, automate campaigns, and analyze performance.

Simplify the email collection form by minimizing required fields, using clear and concise language, and ensuring the form is easy to locate during checkout. Consider offering incentives for signing up.

Consider offering discounts, free shipping, exclusive content, or early access to products in exchange for email sign-ups. Highlight these incentives clearly during the checkout process.
Sam
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Sam Nguyen is the CEO and founder of Avada Commerce, an e-commerce solution provider headquartered in Singapore. He is an expert on the Shopify e-commerce platform for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems. Sam loves talking about e-commerce and he aims to help over a million online businesses grow and thrive.