Home eCommerce Success Blog Tips On How To Create A Relationship With Your Customers
November 19, 2022

Tips On How To Create A Relationship With Your Customers

By Veronica Jeans Shopify Queen & Bestselling Author
Tips On How To Create A Relationship With Your Customers | Veronica Jeans

It is the little things in life that make a difference.

As you know, I have been traveling lately. When I entered the USA, I did not pick up my bag before passing through passport control. I assumed my bag would follow me to Houston.

United airlines made sure I had my bag delivered to my boat! But, the best was the airline apologized and promised to get the bag to me as quickly as possible.

And I must say, this is the second time it has happened and it was my fault both times. Guess what? I LOVE United and will fly with them as much as I can.

So when we sell stuff to our customers, the little things make a difference. 

For instance, I called one of our customers for Moyocollections.com (I look after the Shopify store for them), and he had just spent $$$$. During our chat, he revealed that they are building an outdoor area and wanted more of the similar sculptures he had bought. Because I made an effort to communicate, it will increase our online sales in the future.

Black Friday and the Holidays are upon us, and if you have an eCommerce store, I hope you have everything in place to make some excellent sales.

Here are some TIPS to solidify your relationship with your customers:

1. Make sure your email automation is in place. Brand all your emails in your store!

2. Website Widgets - Make sure your online chat options are activated. Customers like to communicate immediately; even if you are unavailable 24/7, they will leave an email address (hurray). You can still communicate with them after they are on your website.

3. If you don't have one already, create a quick thank you video for your order notification.

4. Send your customers instructions on how to use your products by email.

5. If it is after Thanksgiving, send your customers a Christmas card with a discount.

6. Offer an incentive (giveaway/order refund/chance to win a gift card, etc.) for submitting product photos, reviews, tagging in stories, etc. (you decide!). It's a fun way to give back to your customers AND get more social proof for future customers! Win-win.

7. AFTER the holidays - Send a special offer to customers as a thank you for their support during the holiday season. (optional: share a little sneak/ps. on Instagram to let them know its coming + add a little FOMO to non-customers)

8. After-Sale Survey - easiest way to get referrals & reviews

9. Mailed personalized and handwritten card - thank you

LAST but not least...

Find the top problems your customers face that you can solve. And how do you do that?

I call it the LOL Strategy.

  • Listen to your customers, and see what they need, not what you think they need.
  • Offer them something more than they expect, and they will return.
  • Look after your customers, make them feel special, and they will stay.

Your customer will drive your marketing and sales! If they like you and trust you, they will buy from you.

 

TOOLS:

CARDS:

PostPilot for cards - they will mail them to your customers. (Shopify App)

Canva.com for cards, but you will have to mail them yourself.

VIDEOS: Wave.video.

Here is a quick video I created...for my Lives. Watch: https://watch.wave.video/0d73ab5ed68009c52f35d88e

WRITING:

I write every day and use this tool for emails and blogs and improving my writing:

Copy.ai

Chat next week, and have a fabulous rest of the weekend!

Cheers

Veronica

PS: I write a weekly newsletter about ideas or experiences I have during the week. I hope to inspire, help and support other entrepreneurs, whether it is selling your products or services online. 

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Also in eCommerce Success Blog

What is the difference between Shopify CSV and Matrixify Products import and export?

By Veronica Jeans, Bestselling Author November 16, 2024

Shopify CSV vs Matrixify Excel: A Comprehensive Guide to Product Management

Managing product data in an e-commerce platform can be a complex task, especially when dealing with large inventories. This article compares two prominent methods for handling product data in Shopify: the native CSV system and the Matrixify Excel approach. We'll explore how these tools differ and why choosing the right one can significantly impact your workflow efficiency.

Shopify vs Matrixify Comparison

FEATURE SHOPIFY MATRIXIFY
File Type CSV files Excel files
Import/Export Visibility No visibility or control; must wait for email. Full visibility, progress updates, and cancel options.
Export Options Exports full store with all fields, leading to duplicate rows. Granular export filtering, saves time and file size, no duplicate rows.
Multiple Images Requires copying rows and adding each image to a separate row. Allows multiple images in one row, separated by semicolons.
Metafields Cannot export/import Metafields. Exports and imports Metafields as columns in the table.
Product Updates Replaces entire product; no field-specific updates. Allows individual field updates without replacing products.
Template Suffix Cannot update in bulk. Supports bulk Template Suffix updates as a column.
Product IDs Deletes and recreates products with new IDs, losing references. Keeps IDs and references intact, preserving Custom Collections.
File Size Limit 15 MB (~10,000 products). Supports large files (e.g., 600,000+ products).

 

Detailed Comparison between Shopify & Matrixify Product Management & Uploads

File Format and Basic Handling

Shopify CSV

  • File Format: Limited to CSV files only
  • Process Visibility: Upload and wait system
  • User Control: Minimal interaction during process
  • Progress Tracking: None email notification upon completion
  • File Size Limitation: Strict 15MB limit (approximately 10,000 products)

Matrixify Excel

  • File Format: Works with Excel files (.xlsx)
  • Process Visibility: Real-time progress tracking
  • User Control: Full control with cancel option
  • Progress Tracking: Live progress bar with time estimates
  • File Size Limitation: Handles large files (600,000+ products)

Data Management Capabilities

1. Product Export Features

Shopify CSV

  • Exports entire store inventory
  • No filtering options
  • All fields included regardless of need
  • Creates duplicate rows for variants and images
  • Limited customization options

Matrixify Excel

  • Granular export control
  • Custom field selection
  • Filtered exports based on specific criteria
  • Efficient row management
  • Optimized file size through selective exporting

2. Image Handling

Shopify CSV

  • One image per row requirement
  • Multiple images need row duplication
  • Complicated management for product variants
  • Image Alt Text updates require full product reimport

Matrixify Excel

  • Multiple images in single row
  • Semicolon-separated image sources
  • Streamlined variant management
  • Independent Image Alt Text updates

Advanced Features

3. Metafields Management

Shopify CSV

  • No metafield support
  • Cannot export existing metafields
  • No import capabilities for metafields
  • Requires separate solution for metafield management

Matrixify Excel

  • Full metafield support
  • Export metafields as table columns
  • Direct editing and updating
  • Integrated metafield management

4. Product Updates and Maintenance

Shopify CSV

  • Creates new product IDs on import
  • Breaks existing collection references
  • Full product replacement required
  • No partial updates supported

Matrixify Excel

  • Maintains original product IDs
  • Preserves all existing references
  • Supports partial field updates
  • Selective field modification

5. Inventory Management

Shopify CSV

  • Basic inventory tracking
  • Single location focus
  • No adjustment features
  • Limited variant handling

Matrixify Excel

  • Multi-location inventory support
  • Inventory adjustment tracking
  • Delta-based inventory management
  • Advanced variant generation

6. Template Management

Shopify CSV

  • No template suffix support
  • Cannot modify templates in bulk
  • Limited template customization

Matrixify Excel

  • Full template suffix support
  • Bulk template modifications
  • Simple column-based management

Special Features

Matrixify Exclusive Capabilities

1. HTML Code Optimization

  • Automatic fixing of escaped HTML code
  • Converts symbols to proper HTML

2. Variant Management

  • Bulk variant generation
  • Option combination support
  • Semicolon-separated combinations

3. Publishing Control

  • Flexible channel publishing
  • Online and POS integration
  • Custom publishing scope settings

    Best Practices and Recommendations

    When to Use Shopify CSV

    • Small product catalogs 
    • Basic product updates
    • Simple inventory management
    • Standard product configurations

    When to Use Matrixify Excel

    • Large product catalogs
    • Complex product configurations
    • Multi-location inventory
    • Detailed metafield management
    • Bulk template updates
    • Advanced variant management

    While Shopify's native CSV system provides basic functionality for smaller stores, Matrixify Excel offers a more robust, flexible, and efficient solution for managing product data. The choice between the two largely depends on your store's size, complexity, and specific needs. For larger operations or those requiring detailed control over their product data, Matrixify Excel presents clear advantages in terms of functionality, efficiency, and scalability.

    Remember that investing time in learning the more powerful tool can save significant time and reduce errors in the long run, especially as your store grows and your product management needs become more complex.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

    General Questions

    What's the main difference between Shopify CSV and Matrixify Excel?

    The main difference is that Shopify CSV is a basic file format with limited functionality, while Matrixify Excel offers advanced features like real-time tracking, multiple sheets, and partial updates. Matrixify also allows you to work with pure Excel files instead of CSV format.

    Which option is better for my store?

    It depends on your store size and needs:

    Use Shopify CSV if:

    •   You have under 10,000 products
    •   You need basic import/export features
    •   You're doing simple updates

    Use Matrixify if:

    •   You have over 10,000 products
    •   You need advanced features
    •   You want better control over updates
    •   You work with multiple locations
    •   You need to manage metafields

    File Size & Limitations

    What are the file size limitations?

    Shopify CSV: 15MB maximum

    Matrixify: Can handle gigabytes of data (600,000+ products)

    How many products can each handle?

    Shopify CSV: small catalog

    Matrixify: 600,000+ products in one import

    Features & Functionality

    Can I update specific fields without replacing entire products?

    Shopify CSV: No, you must replace the entire product

    Matrixify: Yes, you can update individual fields

    How do multiple images work in each system?

    Shopify CSV: Requires separate rows for each image

    Matrixify: All images can be in one row, separated by semicolons

    Can I manage metafields?

    Shopify CSV: No metafield support

    Matrixify: Full metafield support with column-based management

    Import/Export Process

    How do I track the progress of my import?

    Shopify CSV: No tracking wait for email notification

    Matrixify: Real-time progress bar with estimated completion time

    Can I cancel an import once it's started?

    Shopify CSV: No

    Matrixify: Yes, at any time during the import

    Data Management

    What happens to product IDs during import?

    Shopify CSV: Creates new IDs, breaking collection references

    Matrixify: Maintains existing IDs and references

    How are variants handled?

    Shopify CSV: Each variant requires a separate row

    Matrixify: Can generate variants from combinations using semicolon separation

    Technical Questions

    How does each handle HTML in descriptions?

    Shopify CSV: Leaves escaped HTML code as is

    Matrixify: Automatically fixes escaped HTML code to normal HTML

    Can I manage inventory across multiple locations?

    Shopify CSV: Limited location support

    Matrixify: Full multi-location inventory management

    Best Practices

    What's the recommended way to update product prices?

    Shopify CSV: Must upload full product data

    Matrixify: Can update prices alone using a simple price column

    How should I handle large product catalogs?

    Shopify CSV: Split into multiple files under 15MB

    Matrixify: Can handle in single file with filtering options

    Troubleshooting

    What if my import fails?

    Shopify CSV: Check email for basic error message

    Matrixify: Detailed error reporting with specific row/column information

    How do I fix broken product references?

    Shopify CSV: Manually rebuild collections and references

    Matrixify: No action needed references are maintained

    Integration & Compatibility

    Do these work with all Shopify plans?

    Both work with all Shopify plans, but Matrixify requires a separate subscription.

    Can I use these with other e-commerce platforms?

    Shopify CSV: Shopify-specific format

    Matrixify: Designed for Shopify but Excel format is more universal

    Support & Resources

    Where can I find documentation?

    Shopify CSV: Shopify Help Center

    Matrixify: Comprehensive documentation with tutorials and examples

    Is there technical support available?

    Shopify CSV: General Shopify support

    Matrixify: Dedicated support team with Excel/import expertise

    Cost & Efficiency

    Which option is more time-efficient?

    Matrixify is generally more time-efficient due to:

    Faster processing of large files

    • Ability to make partial updates
    • Better error handling
    • Real-time progress tracking

    How do they compare in terms of cost?

    Shopify CSV: Free with Shopify subscription

    Matrixify: Requires separate subscription but offers more features and efficiency

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