1/25/2025

Fixing Shopify Analytics: Why European Sessions Aren’t Being Recorded

Running an online store can be challenging, especially when analytics tools start misbehaving. If you've recently noticed a significant drop in your website’s traffic — particularly from European visitors — you're not alone. In this in-depth guide, we’ll explore the possible reasons behind these issues with your Shopify Analytics and provide you with solutions to get your data back on track.

Understanding the Issue: A 93% Drop in Traffic

One of the most alarming trends reported in the Shopify Community was a sudden 93% drop in website sessions in just one day. This dramatic fall can be attributed to various factors including technical glitches, changes in data collection policies, and GDPR implications.

The General Data Protection Regulation, commonly known as GDPR, is a regulation in EU law on data protection and privacy. It affects every business that interacts with EU citizens, which means every Shopify store has to comply, making it crucial to understand how it can affect your analytics.

Common Causes of Analytics Data Issues

Shopify merchants have reported several causes leading to inaccurate analytics data, especially in the context of European sessions:

1. Privacy Policy Changes

Recent shifts in Shopify's privacy policies have forced merchants to change how they collect data. Starting from late October 2023, many reported experiencing drops in sessions due to new guidelines on consent and tracking. As stated in the Shopify Community, these changes have affected how events are recorded and subsequently tracked.

If you're not using a compliant cookie consent banner, you might find that visitors from the EU are not being tracked. There have been several users on the Shopify Community who noticed that they had installed cookie banners that were not GDPR-compliant, leading to diminished tracking capabilities. Make sure your cookie tool is appropriate for GDPR to capture data accurately.

3. Tracking Code Installation Issues

If you installed third-party tracking tools like Google Analytics but did not set them up correctly, it could potentially skew your results. Some retailers found that incorrect setups resulted in discrepancies between the number of visitors reported on their Shopify dashboard versus distinct tracking tools.

4. Mismatched Tools

Using tools that aren't compatible with Shopify can lead to missing data. For instance, using Facebook tracking pixels or Google Ads without proper integration can sometimes miss vital conversion data, as discussed in multiple Shopify threads like the one found here: Problems with Facebook Tracking.

Fixing Shopify Analytics Issues

Step-by-Step Solutions

So, how do you go about fixing your Shopify Analytics? Here are some steps that can help restore your data accuracy:

Review Cookie Consent Mechanism:
- Ensure you're using an effective cookie consent mechanism that aligns with GDPR. Check that your consent tool is actively tracking users based on GDPR rules, as indicated in several discussions in the Shopify Community.
Utilize Shopify’s Built-in Tools:
- Shopify offers analytics tools that are designed to integrate seamlessly with the platform. Make sure you're using them instead of over-relying on external analytics, as they are built considering best practices for data collection.
Implementing Google Tag Manager (GTM):
- GTM can streamline how you track your analytics events and conversions. Ensure it’s implemented correctly and tagging is set according to how data needs to flow to different platforms.
Double-check Your Pixels:
- Your Facebook Pixel and Google Analytics should be checked for correctness. Ensure they are firing correctly when actions are taken on your site. You can use tools like the Facebook Pixel Helper and Google Tag Assistant to facilitate this task.
Regularly Audit Your Tracking:
- Schedule periodic audits of your tracking implementations to understand if they need adjustments after changes to privacy regulations or software updates from Shopify.

Insights and Best Practices

Staying informed and adaptive to changes in the ecommerce landscape is crucial. Here are some best practices to keep your analytical accuracy high:

Use Fallback Analytics: In case your primary tracking falls through, always have a backup. This ensures that even if one source does not report correctly, another can act as a validation.
Statement and Condition Reviews: Look into the reporting between different platforms — check Shopify against Google Analytics metrics to find discrepancies. This can help ascertain where tracking fails occur.
Feedback Loop: Actively participate in the Shopify Community to discuss issues with fellow merchants and learn from them.

Arsturn: The Future of Data Collection

If you're looking for a SOLID way to enhance your data collection, consider Arsturn, which allows you to create custom ChatGPT chatbots that effectively engage your audience before they even hit the checkout page. By integrating a chatbot solution, you can instantly get insights about your visitors & their behavior on your Shopify store.

How Arsturn Works:

Personalized Chatbot Creation: Effortlessly design a chatbot tailored to your store's needs.
Efficient Data Collection: Gather data precisely without the hassle of manual coding or integration issues.
Analytics at Your Fingertips: Having built-in chat features allows for insightful understanding of customer interactions and preferences, thereby improving your conversion rates AND customer satisfaction.

So why wait? Claim your free Arsturn chatbot today and watch your engagement soar while ensuring your analytics don’t fall through the cracks again!

Conclusion

A dip in your Shopify analytics, especially among European sessions, can stem from various systematic and regulatory failures. By ensuring that GDPR rules are adhered to and that tracking pixels are appropriately configured, you can significantly improve your performance metrics. Don’t forget tools like Arsturn can take engagement and data gathering to the next level, eliminating the worry of losing valuable insights in the future.

Whether you are a seasoned merchant or new to the Shopify platform, staying ahead in tackling these issues will put you on the path to successful ecommerce!