Learn how to ensure safety in customer accounts on your Shopify store. 

Your customer account is your online store’s front door—the first place a customer will go when they want to view their purchase history, change their address or email, track shipping, or find out about any discounts you’re offering. It’s also the perfect place to engage with customers and help them feel like they’re being heard.

But while having an online store can benefit both the shopper and the seller, it poses certain security risks.

With more and more transactions happening online, cybercrime is a growing concern for shoppers. As a result, customers are becoming increasingly wary of sharing their personal information online. By taking steps to help your customers keep their customer account profiles safe and secure, you can not only give them peace of mind but also earn their trust and loyalty.

Are you looking to take your online store to the next level and offer an exceptional customer experience? In this article, we will outline some ways that you can help your customers keep their customer account pages safe and secure.

How to help your customers keep their customer account profile safe

Here are some actionable steps you can take to help your customers keep their customer account profiles secure and protected:

1. Give them a way to sign up using social profiles

One way to make the sign-up process easier and more secure for your customers is to allow them to sign up using their existing social profiles, such as Facebook or Google. This not only streamlines the sign-up process but also makes it easier for customers to reset their passwords if necessary. Additionally, since customers are already logged into their social accounts, they won’t have to create a new password or remember another username and password.

By integrating social sign-up, you can also leverage the security measures already in place on these platforms, such as two-factor authentication. This provides an added layer of security for your customers and helps protect their information.

Remember, the easier and more secure the sign-up process is, the more likely customers are to create an account and make purchases on your online store. So, consider offering social sign-up as an option for your customers.

2. Add custom fields to customer account page sign up

Another way to help your customers keep their customer account profiles safe is by adding custom fields to the sign-up process. For example, you could ask customers to provide a security question and answer during the sign-up process. This will give them control over their account and ensure that they are the only ones who can reset their passwords or access their account information.

Additionally, you could ask customers to provide information that is unique to them, such as their mother’s maiden name or the name of their first pet. This information can be used to verify their identity if they need to reset their password or if they contact you for support.

By including custom fields in the sign-up process, you can also gather valuable information about your customers that can be used to personalize their shopping experience and offer them relevant product recommendations or special offers.

Just be sure to keep the number of fields to a minimum and only ask for information that is essential to keep the customer account profile secure. A lengthy or complicated sign-up process may discourage customers from creating an account.

3. Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a security measure that requires users to provide two forms of authentication to access their accounts. This helps ensure that only authorized users can access the customer account profile and that the information stored in the account is protected.

When setting up 2FA for customer account profiles, you could offer options such as a text message or an authentication app, giving customers the flexibility to choose the best option. While 2FA is a powerful security measure, it’s important to make it optional so that customers don’t feel hassled or frustrated when logging into their accounts.

Source: Imperva

By offering 2FA, you can give your customers an added layer of security and peace of mind, knowing that their information is protected. Additionally, incorporating 2FA into your security measures can demonstrate to customers that you take security seriously and are committed to protecting their information.

4. Offer an easy way to reset passwords

If a customer forgets their password or if their account is compromised, they need an easy and straightforward way to reset their password and regain access to their account. This is why it’s important to make the password reset process as simple and user-friendly as possible.

One approach is to provide customers with a password reset link that they can access through their email. Upon clicking the link, they should be taken to a page where they can securely reset their password. You could also provide them with the option to reset their password by answering a security question that they set up during the sign-up process.

It’s also a good idea to allow customers to reset their passwords through their mobile devices, as many people access their accounts using their smartphones. By offering multiple ways to reset their password and clear and concise instructions during the password reset process, you can ensure that customers regain access to their account whenever and wherever they need it. You should also ensure that the password reset process is secure and that sensitive information is transmitted over encrypted connections.

5. Make it easy to contact you

Customers should feel confident that they can reach out to you if they have any concerns or issues with their customer account profile. This is why it’s important to make it easy for them to contact you.

One way to do this is by adding a “Contact Us” button in the customer account page. This button should link to a contact form or a support page where customers can easily send a message to your support team. You could also provide them with a direct email address or phone number that they can use to reach out to you.

By making it easy for customers to contact you, you can build trust and provide peace of mind, knowing that they have a direct line of communication to your support team if they ever need it. Additionally, having a clear and accessible support channel can help prevent customer account profiles from becoming compromised, as customers can reach out to you immediately if they detect any suspicious activity.

It’s also important to have a dedicated support team that can respond to customer inquiries in a timely and professional manner. By providing excellent customer support, you can demonstrate your commitment to providing a great customer experience and ensure that customers feel valued and appreciated.

6. Automate important account-related reminders

It’s a best practice to change passwords regularly to maintain the security of customer account profiles. To encourage customers to update their passwords, you can automate reminders to be sent out to them every six months or however frequently you prefer.

These reminders can be in the form of an email or in-app notification and should encourage customers to reset their passwords for added security. You could also include tips and best practices for setting a secure password, such as using a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols and avoiding commonly used passwords such as “123456” or “password.”

By sending out reminders and providing best practices for password security, you can educate your customers on the importance of maintaining the security of their customer account profiles. This not only helps prevent unauthorized access but also shows your customers that you care about their security and are taking proactive measures to protect their sensitive information.

Ready to elevate your customer’s account security?

The importance of protecting customer account profiles cannot be overstated. A safe and secure online shopping experience is essential for building trust with your shoppers and ensuring their peace of mind while making purchases on your online store. By offering social sign-up options, custom fields during sign-up, optional two-factor authentication, a simple password reset process, and easy access to customer support, you can help ensure the security of customer account profiles.

Automated reminders and tips for secure password practices can also help educate your customers on the importance of maintaining the security of their profiles. By taking these steps, you can provide a seamless, secure, and trustworthy customer experience that will not only keep your shoppers coming back to your store time and time again but also encourage them to use their customer account profiles more frequently—whether it be to save addresses or share more details about themselves!

Doing little things to make your shoppers feel secure will go a long way in building a lasting relationship with them. At Flits, we believe in the importance of providing a safe and secure customer experience, and we’re committed to sharing the best tips and strategies to help you achieve that. Follow our blog for more tips and insights on how to improve your online store.

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