Mailchimp: Integration Workarounds for Shopify

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On March 22nd 2019, Mailchimp removed the Shopify integration from their marketplace. This means that e-commerce websites can no longer use their Shopify data to create targeted email campaigns with the Mailchimp for Shopify app.

Both Mailchimp and Shopify released public statements regarding the removal, which centred around issues of customer data and privacy concerns. Mailchimp’s statement cites two reasons for the companies going their separate ways: that they refused to agree to terms that ‘jeopardize our users’ privacy and require us to hand over customer data acquired outside of Shopify’, and because these terms ‘make it clear that Shopify wants to control which providers their partners work with and how they conduct their business’.

In comparison, in their own statement Shopify claimed that they have had ‘growing concerns about Mailchimp’s app because of the poor merchant experience and their refusal to respect our Partner Program Agreement’, which requires ‘app partners to share all important data back to the merchant using Shopify’s API to help them run their businesses’. Shopify also clarified that the ‘data captured on behalf of our merchants belongs to those merchants, it’s as simple as that’.

Switching to a Third-Party Integration

So what does this mean for users? The Mailchimp integration will still be available for existing connected accounts until May 12th 2019, when Shopify’s new terms of service come into effect. Customers can then choose from a list of third-party integrations to connect their Mailchimp accounts to Shopify. To help customers identify the best integration option for their site, Mailchimp has created a list of recommended third-party integrations and their features, including ShopSync, Zapier and Automate.io. More e-commerce integration options can also be found in the Mailchimp directory.

Other Mailchimp Workarounds

If you would prefer to keep using Shopify and Mailchimp, there are several other workarounds to consider. One method is to export your Shopify customer data and create a CSV file, which you can then import to your Mailchimp account to create a mailing list. Another option is to embed a custom Mailchimp site code into your Shopify store, which allows you to activate certain features such as pop-up forms and retargeting ads, but does not support other features like reports and product recommendations. You could also build your own custom integration using Mailchimp’s E-commerce Toolkit 3.0, which is an effective way to create a solution tailored for your e-commerce store. Because these workarounds require an advanced level of familiarity with custom coding, it is best to have a developer or e-commerce expert make these changes to your site.

Whatever workaround you choose for your Shopify store, it is essential that you have a third-party integration installed before you disconnect the Mailchimp for Shopify app. Otherwise, your existing campaigns and active automations may be disrupted.

Need help integrating your Mailchimp account with Shopify? Contact the experts at TWMG! We have years of experience developing and maintaining responsive e-commerce sites. To put your business at the forefront of digital innovation, give TWMG a call today on 1300 008 964 or Contact Us here.

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