How to Build an Email List for Your Shopify Store 2025 Guide

If you’re running a Shopify store, you’ve probably heard the phrase “email marketing” tossed around a lot. But is it really worth the effort? In short—YES. Email marketing remains one of the most effective ways to connect with your customers, increase your sales, and build a loyal following. In fact, 49% of consumers say they would like to receive promotional emails from their favorite brands on a weekly basis (Source: Statista), and emails with personalized subject lines have a 26% higher open rate (Source: Campaign Monitor). If you’re looking to grow your Shopify store in 2025, building and nurturing an Shopify email list is an essential strategy.
You might be thinking, “But where do I start? How do I grow and Shopify email list without feeling overwhelmed?” Don’t worry. I’m here to walk you through it, step-by-step, in a way that’s easy to understand and implement. No technical jargon, just clear, actionable advice to help you succeed!
Let’s get started on how to build an email list that drives results for your Shopify store.

Why an Email List is Crucial for Your Shopify Store in 2025
Let’s start with the basics: why do you need an email list in the first place? Think about it—how often do you scroll through Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn and get lost in a sea of posts, ads, and notifications? You probably know the feeling of wondering whether your audience is even seeing your content. It’s frustrating, right? That’s because social media is a crowded, competitive space where algorithms dictate who sees your posts.
Now, imagine having a direct line to your audience—an inbox that’s all yours. When someone subscribes to your email list, they’re giving you permission to talk to them directly, whenever you want. No algorithm standing in the way.
And here’s the game-changer: email marketing gives you one of the highest returns out there 42$ for every dollar spent. Imagine turning just one dollar into a huge payoff, again and again, with every email you send. Sounds pretty amazing, right?
So, how do you start building that list? Here are a few simple steps:
Utilize Shopify’s Built-in Tech for Email Collection
The good news is that Shopify offers several tools and apps that make collecting emails super easy, so you don’t have to start from scratch. Let’s take a look at what Shopify has to offer.
Shopify Email App
With the Shopify Email app, you can seamlessly issue newsletters, product updates, and promotional emails from your store dashboard. It’s a no-fuss solution that’s integrated with your store so you can keep your customers in the loop and engaged.
Getting started with Shopify Email is the installation of the app, connection of your email account, and sending away. Before sending, however, you will need a list to send emails to-so let’s set our attention on list-building.
Pop-Up Forms
Pop-ups might sound a little old-school, but they’re still one of the most effective ways to collect email addresses. Shopify allows you to add pop-up forms to your store, where visitors can subscribe to your newsletter or receive a special discount for joining.
Let’s put this fear to rest—pop-ups don’t have to be annoying. Use them properly by offering upfront value, such as a 10% discount or a free gift in exchange for an email address. When done right, pop-ups become a powerful tool for growing your email list without disrupting the user experience.
Customer Accounts
Encouraging customers to create an account on your Shopify store not only helps streamline their shopping experience but also gives you the opportunity to collect valuable email addresses. When customers create accounts, you can send them personalized emails based on their purchase history, preferences, and browsing behavior.
By integrating your email list with customer accounts, you create a seamless experience where users feel personally connected to your brand—a great strategy in email marketing ecommerce.
Leverage Exclusive Perks to Attract Subscribers
Now that you know how to collect emails, let’s talk about what you can offer in exchange. Simply asking for an email won’t cut it—people need a reason to sign up. Offering the right incentives not only helps you grow your email list but also keeps customers engaged and loyal.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
1. Discount Codes
People love offers and discounts in exchange for an email is a win-win. Set up an automated system that sends a discount code (like 10-20% off) as soon as someone subscribes. It’s a simple way to entice new subscribers to make their first purchase—and for you to get their contact info.
2. Exclusive Offers
Create a sense of exclusivity for your email subscribers. Offer special deals, early access to new products, or members-only discounts that aren’t available to the public. When people feel like they’re getting extra value by being on your list, they’re more likely to stay loyal and engaged.
3. Freebies and Resources
Position yourself as an authority in your niche by offering free resources in exchange for an email sign-up. For example, if you sell beauty products, offer a free skincare routine guide. This not only gives your subscribers valuable information but also strengthens their relationship with your brand.
4. Reward Systems
Reward programs can take things to the next level. Encourage customers to join your email list and keep coming back for more by offering a loyalty program where they earn points, discounts, or perks just for subscribing or making purchases. A gamified approach can make the shopping experience more fun and engaging.
Apps like Vital Rewards for Shopify make it easy to set up a loyalty program that tracks and rewards customer actions, such as signing up for your emails, making purchases, or even sharing your store.
Keep Your Sign-Up Forms Simple
When it comes to collecting emails, ease is key. If the sign-up process is too complicated, people will bail. Here are a few things you can do to make the process as seamless as possible:
Pop-Ups
Pop-up forms are an effective way to gain subscribers, but timing is key. Avoid showing pop-ups immediately—let visitors browse first.Set your pop-up to appear after a few minutes or when a visitor is about to leave (exit-intent pop-ups). Offering a discount or freebie can make the sign-up more enticing.
Example:
Imagine a clothing store that offers a 15% discount on the first purchase. Instead of showing the pop-up immediately, they set it to trigger after a visitor has viewed at least two product pages. This way, the pop-up feels more relevant, and visitors are more likely to subscribe and use the discount.
Sticky Bars
Sticky bars are those small bars that sit at the top or bottom of your website. They’re always visible as customers scroll, making it easy for them to sign up without feeling overwhelmed. The trick is to keep it unobtrusive and offer something that catches their attention.
Example:
For instance, a fitness brand might use a sticky bar that reads, “Join our newsletter and get a free 7-day workout plan!” It’s visible but not disruptive, and it’s a clear, tempting offer for the visitor to sign up.
In-Line Forms
In-line forms are forms that are embedded directly in the product pages, blog articles, or the homepage. These can be especially usable teamed with an attractive incentive such as a discount or exclusive content. The best feature of in-line forms is that they blend with your site, which makes it look like a tool that helps your visitors rather than a sales pitch.
You don’t need to overwhelm your customers with email advertising; just make the process simple, clear, and valuable.
Example:
A skincare brand might embed an in-line form in their blog post about “How to Achieve Glowing Skin.” The form could offer a free downloadable skincare guide in exchange for subscribing to the newsletter. Since it’s embedded directly in relevant content, visitors are more likely to engage, especially if the incentive adds value to their experience.

Keep Your Emails Engaging and Relevant
Building an email list is just the first step. Now, you need to keep your subscribers engaged. If your emails are boring, irrelevant, or feel spammy, people will unsubscribe. Here’s how to keep your email content fresh and exciting:
Personalization
Personalized emails do get better open and click-through rates as compared to generic ones. Use any data you have concerning your customers, including behaviors like previous purchases or browsing history, to send custom emails. For instance, if a customer bought a pair of shoes from your shop, email them about new accessories to go with their purchase.
Email list segmentation can also be based on customers’ behavior. For example, you may have different lists for first-time buyers, repeat customers, and cart abandoners.
Engaging Content
Give your subscribers more than just promotions. Share valuable content like blog posts, product tutorials, and how-to guides. If you’re selling clothing, send styling tips or seasonal outfit inspiration. If you sell fitness equipment, provide workout plans. Make your emails feel like they’re part of a relationship, not just a sales pitch.
Clear Calls to Action (CTAs)
Every email should have a clear call to action (CTA). Whether it’s “Shop Now,” “Claim Your Discount,” or “Learn More,” make sure it’s obvious what you want your subscribers to do. Use compelling language and make your CTAs stand out visually.
By keeping your emails relevant and personalized, you’ll maximize your chances of success with email advertising and increase your conversions.
Automate Your Emails for Consistency
One of the best ways to stay consistent with your email marketing without burning yourself out is through automation. Shopify integrates with several email marketing platforms (like Klaviyo and Mailchimp), all of which offer automation features.
Here are some key automated emails to set up:
Welcome Emails
Send a friendly welcome email as soon as someone subscribes to your list. Introduce them to your brand, offer a discount, and give them a reason to start shopping.

Abandoned Cart Emails
If someone adds items to their cart but doesn’t complete the purchase, send a series of automated abandoned cart emails to remind them about their cart and encourage them to finish their purchase. Include product images and an incentive (like a discount or free shipping) to sweeten the deal

Post-Purchase Emails
After a customer buys something, send them a series of follow-up emails. These can include a thank-you message, product recommendations based on their purchase, or a request for a product review. You can also include a loyalty offer to encourage repeat business.
Automating these processes ensures you stay connected with your customers, especially when it comes to B2B email marketing and nurturing business relationships.

Blog Newsletter Emails
Send automated emails to subscribers every time you publish a new blog post. This keeps your audience engaged with fresh content and drives traffic back to your website. Offering valuable content such as tips, tutorials, or industry insights will make your subscribers look forward to these emails.
Stay Compliant and Respect Your Subscribers
As you build your email list, it’s important to stay compliant with email marketing laws, like GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and CAN-SPAM. Make sure you:
- Get explicit consent before sending marketing emails.
- Make it easy to unsubscribe: If someone wants to opt-out, they should be able to do so with just one click.
- Protect subscriber data:Be transparent about how you use and store their email information.
Being compliant isn’t just about following the law—it’s also about building trust with your audience.
Analyze and Optimize Your Email Strategy
The work doesn’t stop after you hit “send” on your emails. To keep improving and growing your email list, you need to regularly analyze your email campaigns and optimize them for better results.
Key Metrics to Track:
- Open rates: Are the customers opening your emails? If the answer is no, the next step would be to consider improving the subject lines or taking into account different timing for the send. .
- Click-through rates (CTR): How many clicks have the links got? If the answer is a low percentage, try different CTAs or better content..
- Conversion rates: Are the emails converting sales? If not, then consider more rigorously A/B testing or sweeter personalization for the offers. As you keep on analyzing and tweaking your campaigns, your Shopify email list stands to gain even further revenue as time passes.
By continually analyzing and tweaking your campaigns, you’ll be able to improve your Shopify email list and increase your sales over time.
Conclusion
An email list for your Shopify store is the most viable growth strategy for 2025. As the digital landscape is evolving, the best way to engage with customers is through email marketing. The tools offered by Shopify, combined with apps for seamless integration, have made growing your list more accessible than ever. An incentive such as a discount, an exclusive offer, or a reward gives the prospective customer another reason to join.
But the success of an email list is about relationship-building. Sending personalized content, staying consistent, and using segmentation and automation will nurture your subscribers into loyal, repeat customers. Customers who feel valued are more likely to refer your store and become your lifetime supporters.
What people need to remember is that email marketing is always more than just trying to push promos. It is about offering some value while hopefully solving an issue for them, thus creating connections, one by one. Make it personal and build a relationship, and sit back to see your business grow.