How to Protect Yourself from Being Contacted by Shopify Experts or People Who Say They Are
As a Shopify store owner, you're likely invested in making your business successful. Naturally, this means you're looking for ways to improve your store's marketing and conversions. However, amid your efforts, you may have found yourself being inundated by messages from individuals claiming to be Shopify experts. If this is happening to you, you are not alone. This blog post dives into why this happens, its implications, and how you can effectively manage and mitigate these unsolicited contacts.
Identifying the Problem
Overwhelming Number of Unsolicited Messages
Many Shopify users have reported receiving an excessive number of unsolicited messages from individuals claiming to be Shopify experts. In extreme cases, store owners have mentioned getting up to 10-20 messages a day. These messages often clutter inboxes, making it hard to focus on genuine prospects and customer inquiries.
Rude and Aggressive Behavior
Some of these unsolicited contacts can exhibit rude and aggressive behavior, especially when their offers are declined. This type of behavior not only disrupts your peace of mind but can also be demoralizing.
Repetitive Contact from Blocked Individuals
Even after blocking these individuals, they often find ways to contact you again using different names or email addresses. This persistent behavior makes blocking them seem futile and can contribute to the feeling of harassment.
Reasons and Causes
High Demand for Expert Services
The eCommerce industry is booming, and many new store owners look for services to boost their marketing and conversion rates. This creates a lucrative market for genuine Shopify experts and unfortunately, opportunistic individuals as well.
Lack of Effective Spam Filters
Shopify, while an excellent platform, does not offer extensive built-in features to screen out unsolicited service offers. This gap can lead to users being targeted more easily by spammy contacts.
Inadequate Reporting Mechanisms
The reporting mechanisms available may not be sufficient to deter these individuals, especially if new accounts can be created easily. Therefore, these contacts continue to be a problem for many store owners.
Effective Solutions to the Problem
Implement a Country Blocker
One highly recommended solution is to install a country blocker, especially if your store only ships to certain countries. Blocking countries where you're not operational can significantly reduce the number of unsolicited messages.
Here's how to do it:
- Go to the Shopify App Store: Search for a country blocker app.
- Install the App: Follow the installation instructions provided by the app.
- Configure Settings: Set up the app to block countries you do not ship to or do not wish to receive messages from.
Use Email Filtering Tools
Utilizing email filtering tools can make a significant difference. These tools can automatically filter out spammy messages, sending them to a separate folder so they do not clutter your main inbox.
Steps to set up email filtering:
- Access Your Email Settings: Navigate to the settings section of your email service provider.
- Set Up Filters: Create filters for keywords that are commonly used by these unsolicited contacts, such as “Shopify expert,” “marketing help,” etc.
- Auto-Delete or Redirect: Choose whether to automatically delete these messages or redirect them to a spam folder.
Block and Report Unauthorized Contacts
Maintain a practice of blocking and reporting aggressive or spammy contacts. While this may seem like a Sisyphean task, it still discourages some persistent individuals and keeps a log of troublesome contacts.
- Block the Contact: Use Shopify’s built-in features to block contacts who send unsolicited messages.
- Report: If the contact violates Shopify’s terms, report them to Shopify support.
Educate Yourself and Your Team
Understanding what genuine Shopify expert services look like can help you and your team identify unsolicited and potentially harmful messages better. Investing time in research can save you headaches in the long run.
Additional Tips
Do Not Engage
One effective strategy is simply not engaging with unsolicited messages. Engaging with these contacts, even to decline their offers, can sometimes encourage them to persist.
Maintain a Professional Contact Form
Ensure that your professional contact form on your website has fields that can discourage spam. For example, requiring validation through CAPTCHA can significantly decrease the number of automated spam messages.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What should I do if I continue to receive rude messages even after blocking?
If you continue to receive rude messages, escalate the issue by contacting Shopify Support. Provide them with the details so they can take appropriate action.
Is there a more permanent solution to this problem?
While using country blockers and email filters significantly mitigates the problem, maintaining strict control over your contact forms and continuously reporting persistent offenders to Shopify is your best long-term strategy.
Conclusion
Being contacted by individuals claiming to be Shopify experts can be overwhelming, but it is not an insurmountable problem. By leveraging tools like country blockers, email filters, and reporting mechanisms, you can effectively manage and reduce these unsolicited messages. Remaining vigilant and informed is your best defense against this common issue.
