Shopify not collecting backend, store sessions correctly

Shopify offers a robust eCommerce platform that supports businesses in managing their online stores effectively. An essential aspect of this management involves tracking user sessions to gain insights into customer behavior and store performance. However, when Shopify sessions are reported lower than expected, one potential cause could be the misconfiguration of customer privacy settings. Understanding and correcting these settings can ensure accurate data collection and improve overall store metrics.

The impact of privacy settings on Shopify sessions metric

Shopify’s platform is designed to comply with global privacy laws, such as GDPR in Europe and CCPA in California, which protect consumer data. Store owners can customize their privacy settings to adhere to these regulations, but incorrect configurations can lead to underreporting of sessions and skewed analytics data. This misalignment often occurs when cookie settings or customer consent forms are not properly configured, resulting in insufficient data tracking.

Recently, I was contacted by a Shopify store owner from a Nordic country. They had two stores (2 domains) for Norway and European markets. Both of them built with the same theme, and apparently similar settings. The campaigns on Facebook were not performing as expected, and additionally the number of Shopify backend sessions was small in relation to the number of orders that they were getting. Other metrics that relied on the number of conversions, like conversion rate, was totally off.

The client had implemented a consent management platform via Google Tag Manager, however he did not realize that they had accidentally enabled the consent Regions within Data sales opt-out page: Customer privacy settings in Shopify. They did not have enabled the cookie consent banner from Shopify, though.

Because that configuration Shopify was blocking tracking for sessions as users were not really providing consent. That was also affecting to the Shopify Facebook & Instagram app integration.

As soon as we deactivated all the regions, and left only the cookie management platform in GTM, Shopify backend tracking went back to normal.

Common Misconfigurations affecting Shopify sessions tracking

1. Cookie Consent Prompt Mismanagement:
   • Stores must ask for consent to track cookies, which are crucial for session tracking. If the consent prompt is configured to block tracking by default or is not clearly visible to users, fewer sessions will be tracked.
   • If you are not using Shopify cookie banner (you use another cookie consent third party solution), make sure to disable all the region options in Shopify.
2. Incorrect Script Placement:
   • Tracking scripts must be correctly placed within the website’s HTML code. If these scripts are incorrectly implemented, especially post-consent, tracking may not initiate correctly.
3. Lack of Compliance with Regional Laws:
   • Misunderstanding the nuances of regional privacy laws can lead to overly restrictive settings, where unnecessary limitations are placed on tracking to comply with perceived legal requirements.

Strategies to Correct Misconfiguration

1. Audit Privacy Settings:
   • Regularly review the privacy settings in your Shopify dashboard. Ensure that all settings are in compliance with the laws of the regions your customers are from, without being overly restrictive.
2. Optimize Cookie Consent Forms:
   • Design cookie consent notifications to be clear and engaging. Provide concise information about what cookies are used for and ensure they are visible upon entering the site.
   • Test different layouts and wordings to see which configurations lead to higher acceptance rates.
3. Ensure Correct Script Implementation:
   • Verify that tracking scripts are placed correctly in the site’s code and are triggered after consent is obtained. Consider using Shopify’s built-in solutions or third-party apps that ensure compliance without sacrificing data integrity.
4. Educate Your Audience:
   • Use your website or blog to educate visitors about how their data is used and protected. Transparency can increase trust and potentially improve consent rates.
5. Consult Legal Advice:
   • To fully understand the implications of privacy laws on your store, consider consulting with a legal expert who specializes in data protection. This can prevent overly cautious settings that impair data collection.
6. Utilize Shopify’s Privacy Policy Generator:
   • Shopify provides tools to help create a privacy policy that aligns with your settings. Use this feature to ensure your policy covers all necessary aspects of your configurations.

Conclusion about low Shopify sessions

The misconfiguration of privacy settings in Shopify can significantly impact the accuracy of session data, which in turn affects business decisions and strategies.

By taking proactive steps to ensure that these settings are not only compliant with legal standards but also optimized for both privacy and performance, Shopify store owners can safeguard their data tracking capabilities.

Regular audits and adjustments, guided by legal advice and best practices, will help maintain an effective balance between privacy and analytics, fostering a trustworthy and successful eCommerce environment.