Klaviyo Setup Guide
Stores using Klaviyo properly drive 30-40% of total revenue from email. Here's how to set it up right.
Most Shopify store owners install Klaviyo, connect it to Shopify, and then... stare at the dashboard wondering what to do next. The app is installed but nothing is actually working. No flows running, no segments built, no revenue being tracked.
Here's the thing — Klaviyo is ridiculously powerful, but only if you set it up properly from day one. A bad setup means bad data, and bad data means every decision you make afterward is wrong. We've set up Klaviyo for over 150 Shopify stores as a Gold Partner, and the difference between a store that nails the setup and one that wings it is usually tens of thousands of dollars in the first 90 days.
This guide walks you through exactly what to do, in order, so your Klaviyo account is generating revenue — not collecting dust.
30-40%
Revenue from Email (Done Right)
150+
Stores We've Set Up
Gold
Klaviyo Partner Status
90 days
To See Full Impact
How to fix this — step by step
Install the Klaviyo app and connect your Shopify store
Go to the Shopify App Store, search "Klaviyo," and install it. During setup, authorize the connection so Klaviyo can sync your product catalog, customer data, and order history. This initial sync pulls in all your historical data — every order, every customer profile, every product. It usually takes 15-60 minutes depending on store size. Don't skip the product feed sync — it's what powers dynamic product blocks in your emails later.
Set up your sending domain and authenticate it
Go to Klaviyo Settings → Domains → Add Sending Domain. Use a subdomain like send.yourstore.com. Klaviyo gives you SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to add in your DNS provider (GoDaddy, Cloudflare, Namecheap — wherever your domain lives). This takes 20 minutes and is non-negotiable. Gmail and Yahoo require authentication as of 2024, and without it your emails land in spam. Verify the records are active before sending a single email.
Import your existing email list and suppress unengaged contacts
If you have an existing list from Mailchimp, Omnisend, or a CSV file — import it into Klaviyo as a list (not a segment). But don't just dump everyone in. Create a suppression segment for anyone who hasn't opened an email in 180+ days and suppress them before your first send. Starting with a clean, engaged list protects your sender reputation from day one. A smaller, engaged list will always outperform a bloated, dead one.
Build your core automated flows
These five flows should be live before you send a single campaign: Welcome Series (triggered when someone joins your list — 3-4 emails introducing your brand and making the first sale), Abandoned Cart (triggered 1 hour after cart abandonment — 3 emails), Browse Abandonment (triggered when someone views a product but doesn't add to cart), Post-Purchase (triggered after first order — thank you, cross-sell, review request), and Win-Back (triggered 60-90 days after last purchase). Klaviyo has templates for all of these. Customize them with your brand voice and products.
Create your foundational segments
Segments are how you stop blasting everyone and start sending relevant emails. Build these first: Engaged 30 Days (opened or clicked in last 30 days), Engaged 90 Days (same, 90 days), VIP Customers (3+ orders or top 10% by spend), At-Risk Customers (purchased before but no activity in 60+ days), and Never Purchased (on your list but hasn't bought). These segments update in real time. Use them for every campaign — never send to "all subscribers."
Set up your signup forms and popups
Klaviyo has a built-in form builder. Create a popup for desktop (trigger after 5-8 seconds or on exit intent), a flyout for mobile (less intrusive than a full popup), and an embedded form for your footer. Offer something specific — 10% off first order, free shipping, or a content lead magnet. Generic "subscribe to our newsletter" converts at 1-2%. A specific offer converts at 5-8%. Connect every form to a list and make sure your Welcome Series triggers from that list.
Send your first campaign to your engaged segment only
Don't blast your whole list. Send your first campaign to your Engaged 30 Days segment. Keep it simple — a product highlight, a new arrival, or a seasonal offer. Watch the open rate and click rate. If opens are above 35%, you're in good shape. Below 25% means your list needs more cleaning or your sending domain needs more warming. Gradually expand to your 90-day engaged segment over the next 2-3 weeks.
Want us to handle this?
Steps 1 through 4 are straightforward if you follow this guide carefully. You can get Klaviyo installed, authenticated, and running basic flows in a weekend.
But here's where it gets real: the difference between a Klaviyo account that "works" and one that drives 30-40% of your revenue comes down to the details. Flow timing, conditional splits based on purchase history, dynamic product recommendations, segment-specific campaigns, A/B testing subject lines and send times — these are the optimizations that compound over months. As a Klaviyo Gold Partner, we set up and manage accounts like this every day. If you want us to do the heavy lifting — or audit what you've already built — that first conversation is free.
Questions our best clients asked first
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