Collecting Customer Data on Shopify: DIY Forms and Tools

Understanding Customer Data

1. First-party Data: This is the data you collect directly from your customers. It comes from their interactions with your website, like account creations, purchases, & feedback surveys. You can use Shopify's in-built tools to gather this data, which is often perceived as more reliable since it comes straight from the customer.
2. Second-party Data: This data is essentially another organization's first-party data shared with you. Collaborations or partnerships can help you gain access to richer customer data without ethical dilemmas that come with third-party data collection.
3. Third-party Data: This data is collected by outside sources usually through tracking or cookies. It’s becoming more scarce as privacy regulations tighten

Why Collect Customer Data?

• Better Tend to Customer Needs: Understanding what your customers want can enable you to tailor their experience & provide solutions they didn’t even know they needed. Publishing a survey post-purchase can yield insights into their future purchasing decisions.
• Increase Engagement: Tailoring your marketing efforts based on insights gained from customer data increases your chances of engaging customers effectively.
• Optimize Marketing Strategies: With the right data, you can optimize your marketing strategies & campaigns. You can derive insights on what interests your audience most.
• Boost Sales: Ultimately, better understanding your customer helps in growing your bottom line & increasing your ROI.

DIY Forms for Data Collection

1. Shopify Form Builder Apps

• Powerful Contact Form Builder: This app allows you to create custom forms without any coding & is great for tracking responses.
• Hulk Form Builder: Known for its versatility, it enables you to create stylish forms in seconds.
• Formful: Offers a multi-language form builder that is highly customizable for various business needs.

2. Using Shopify’s Native Forms

1. Create a Custom Page: Create a new page in your Shopify admin, & access the code editor.
2. Use the Form Tag: Use the Liquid
   1 {% form 'form_type' %}
   tag to generate your desired form type. For example, using
   1 {% form 'contact' %}
   will create a contact form.
3. Customize Inputs: You can insert inputs for names, emails, or any specific data you would want to collect. For example:
   
   1 2 3 4 html <input name="name" type="text" placeholder="Your Name" required> <input name="email" type="email" placeholder="Your Email" required> <textarea name="message" placeholder="Your Message" required></textarea>
4. Save Changes: Make sure to save changes & view your form on the front end!

3. Utilize Social Media for Data Collection

Tools to Help Collect Customer Data

1. Shopify Analytics

2. Google Analytics

3. Email Marketing Tools

Best Practices for Customer Data Collection

• Transparency: Always inform customers what data you are collecting and how you'll use it.
• Ask for Permission: Use forms that allow customers to Opt-in for data collection, giving them the control.
• Secure Data Storage: Ensure your back-end systems secure the collected data & are compliant with regulations like GDPR.
• Train Staff: If your staff plays a role in data collection (e.g., in-store), ensure they understand how to handle customer data properly.

Avoid Data Overload

How Arsturn Can Help

Wrapping Up