When I send an email campaign, I am only able to see analytics for link clicks that are going to product pages and category pages that are located on my store’s website. When I add links to outside partner websites, the analytics don’t show click stats. Can anyone help?
Topic summary
A user is unable to track clicks on outbound links to partner websites in Shopify Email campaigns, while internal store links (product and category pages) show analytics properly.
Root Cause:
Shopify’s native email analytics only track interactions within the store’s own domain and cannot capture data from external websites.
Proposed Solutions:
-
UTM Parameters + Google Analytics - Manually tag external links with UTM parameters (e.g.,
?utm_source=shopify&utm_medium=email) to track clicks in Google Analytics under Acquisition > Campaigns. -
Link Shorteners - Use services like Bitly or Rebrandly to create trackable shortened URLs that provide click data without requiring Google Analytics setup.
-
Third-Party Email Platforms - Switch to more advanced email marketing apps (Klaviyo, Omnisend, Mailchimp) that offer built-in tracking for external links.
Status: The issue remains a limitation of Shopify Email’s native functionality, but multiple workarounds are available depending on technical requirements and existing tools.
I see what you’re dealing with, and I totally get why this is frustrating. You’re running email campaigns in Shopify, and while you can track clicks to your own store’s product and category pages, any links going to external partner websites aren’t showing up in your analytics. That’s an important issue, especially if you’re working with affiliates, sponsors, or third-party services.
Why This Happens
Shopify’s built-in email analytics are designed to track interactions within your own Shopify domain. When someone clicks a link to an external site, Shopify doesn’t have control over those domains, so it can’t capture that data directly.
How to Fix It
You have a couple of workarounds to track those outbound link clicks:
1. Use UTM Parameters and Google Analytics
If you’re already using Google Analytics (GA), you can manually tag your outbound links with UTM parameters. This allows you to see exactly how many clicks are coming from your Shopify emails.
Here’s an example of a properly structured UTM link:
https://partnerwebsite.com/?utm_source=shopify&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=partner_promo
You can generate these URLs easily using Google’s Campaign URL Builder. Then, check your Google Analytics reports under Acquisition > Campaigns to see those clicks.
2. Use a Link Shortener with Tracking
If you want a simple solution without setting up GA, try a service like Bitly or Rebrandly. These tools let you shorten your links and track the number of clicks. Just replace your outbound links with shortened versions, and you’ll be able to see click data from your email campaigns.
3. Shopify + Third-Party Email Marketing Apps
Shopify Email is pretty basic when it comes to tracking. If tracking external links is a big part of your strategy, consider switching to an app like Klaviyo, Omnisend, or Mailchimp. These platforms have built-in link tracking, including external links.
Final Thoughts
Right now, Shopify Email doesn’t support external link tracking natively. But with UTM parameters, link shorteners, or a more advanced email platform, you can easily track outbound clicks and get the insights you need.
Hope that helps! If you need extra help, just let me know asap. Thanks!
Daisy.