If you’re 55 years old and just starting with your online store, you may be thinking, “What do all these charts and numbers even mean?” Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Shopify gives you amazing data, and once you understand it, you can use it to make better decisions, improve your marketing, and ultimately, grow your sales.
Let’s break it down into simple sections so you feel confident using your Shopify dashboard every day.
1. Start with the Dashboard (Your Store’s Health Check)
When you first log into Shopify, click on “Analytics” on the left-hand side, then go to “Dashboard.” This page gives you a big-picture view of how your store is doing.
Look at these key metrics:
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Total Sales – This tells you how much money you’ve made during a certain time.
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Online Store Sessions – This shows how many people have visited your website.
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Returning Customer Rate – This shows how many customers are coming back to buy again (higher is better!).
2. Where Are People Coming From? (Traffic Sources)
Scroll down on your Dashboard to see where your visitors are coming from. Are they finding you on:
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Facebook?
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Instagram?
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Google?
This helps you know what’s working. For example, if Instagram is bringing most of your traffic, post more often or invest in Instagram ads.
3. What Are They Buying? (Top Products)
Under “Reports,” click “Sales by Product.”
This shows you what items are selling the most. Focus your energy on:
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Promoting your bestsellers
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Restocking what’s popular
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Creating similar products that your audience might love
If something isn’t selling at all, you may want to stop promoting it or offer a discount to move it faster.
4. Check the Conversion Rate (How Many Visitors Become Buyers)
Go to “Online store conversion rate.” This number tells you how many people visited and actually bought something.
A good rate to aim for is 1% to 3%.
If your rate is low:
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Is your website easy to use?
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Are your product photos clear?
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Is your pricing clear and fair?
Small changes can make a big difference.
5. Look at Customer Behavior (What They Do on Your Site)
In your analytics, check out:
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“Sessions by device” – Are people using phones or computers? If mostly phones, your site needs to look good on mobile.
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“Added to cart but didn’t buy” – Maybe your shipping costs are too high or checkout is confusing.
Use this info to improve your store experience.
Final Tips to Turn Insights Into Sales:
✅ Check your dashboard weekly
✅ Focus on what’s working
✅ Don’t be afraid of numbers;they tell your story
✅ Use data to test new ideas (e.g., bundles, discounts)
Learning how to read your Shopify data doesn’t have to be hard. The more you check in with your numbers, the more you’ll understand what your customers want—and the easier it will be to grow your store. Start small, stay consistent, and remember: every number tells a story about how to sell better.