The Retention tab allows you to easily monitor your LTV (lifetime value) metrics and cohort analyses.
Understanding LTV Metrics
The video below details how to understand and utilize the LTV summary section of your Retention tab. Keep in mind that the date range you have set in the top righthand corner of your dashboard will not impact your LTV summary - this data will only adjust as you update your customer lifespan.
Note: If you have a Plus plan, you get access to additional filters at the blended level from Google Analytics (such transaction ID from Google Analytics matched with the Shopify orders).
Understanding Cohorts
The video below details how to understand and utilize the cohort tables within your Retention tab. You can visit our article on cohort analysis here to learn more about how to read these tables.
What is included in New Sales in the Retention tab?
Within your cohort tables on the Retention tab, "New Sales Per Month" is calculated as:
New Sales from that month + Repeat Sales of new customers (that bought for the first time in that month, and a second time or more in that same month)
In the example below, New Sales for November is calculated as actual New Sales for November + Repeat sales of new customers who purchased more than once in November. For example, if a customer bought for the first time on November 1st, and then again on November 20th, both their initial and repeat purchases are counted as part of the November cohort.
Please note that Polar includes gift card sales by default, whereas Shopify does not.