How To Send Abandoned Cart Emails on Shopify
Last updated: December 19 2024
If abandoned carts are your frustration, then you need to know how to leverage the Shopify abandoned cart email feature! These automated emails will gently remind customers about their forgotten items and entice them to return and complete their purchase.
And this article will show you how to set up and optimize these emails effectively. Let’s get right into it!
Understanding Abandoned Cart Emails in Shopify
Shopify abandoned cart emails are automated messages designed to re-engage customers who added items to their cart but didn’t complete the checkout process. These emails serve as reminders and encourage customers to finalize their purchases.
Here are some key points about Shopify abandoned cart emails:
- Automation: Shopify allows you to set specific time intervals and automate abandoned cart emails with minimal setup.
- Customization: You can customize the content of the abandoned cart emails to align with your brand. Also, you can personalize emails with customer names, product details, and links directly to their abandoned cart.
- Discounts: You can also include discount codes in these emails to incentivize customers to complete their purchases.
- Built-in Analytics: Shopify provides analytics to track the performance of your abandoned cart emails, such as open rates, click-through rates, and recovered sales.
How To Send Abandoned Cart Emails on Shopify
Now you know how helpful this feature is, let’s go to the main part: setting it up! Sending abandoned cart emails on Shopify can be done in two ways: manually or automatically. Below, I’ll show you both methods step by step.
Method 1: Send Manually
- Step 1. Access your Shopify admin panel by logging in with your credentials.
- Step 2. Click on Orders in the admin dashboard.
- Step 3. Select Abandoned checkouts from the dropdown menu.
- Step 4. Look for a checkout with the status Not Sent. Select one of these orders.
- Step 5. Click on Send cart recovery email. The customer’s email address will automatically populate in the recipient field.
- Step 6. Click Review email to preview the content and layout.
- Step 7. If everything looks good, click Send email to finalize. If they complete their order using that link, the Recovery status on the Abandoned checkout page will update to display as recovered.
Method 2: Send Automatically
- Step 1. The settings for abandoned checkout emails are moving to the Marketing section of your Shopify admin. This gives you more control over how your emails look and who they're sent to. So, from your Shopify admin, go to Marketing
- Step 2. Navigate to Automation.
- Step 3. Select the Abandoned checkout template. Click Edit to customize the email's content and settings or to make changes to the automation’s workflow. Remember to install the Shopify Email app to start editing the email.
- Step 4. Open the Shopify Email app to adjust the recipient list, subject line, preview text, or sender email address as needed. Click Turn on automation.
- Step 5. Review the information and click Continue.
After the new automation is turned on, you can edit and manage the automation, including turning it off and on from the automation’s summary page.
How To Send Abandoned Cart Emails on Shopify For Non-Subscribers
- Step 1. Go to Marketing > Automation in your Shopify admin.
- Step 2. Select Abandoned checkout automation.
- Step 3. Click Edit, and in the Shopify Email editor, change the Email subscribers who abandon their checkout to Anyone who abandons their checkout.
- Step 4. Click Save to update
This ensures all customers, including non-subscribers, receive reminders about their abandoned carts.
Optimizing Your Abandoned Cart Email
To optimize your abandoned cart emails, start by setting up automated emails following the steps above. Once set up, focus on improving these key areas:
Timing and Frequency
The sooner you send the email after the cart is abandoned, the higher the chance of recovery. However, timing should strike a balance between being timely and not intrusive.
- First email: Send 1-2 hours after abandonment to catch customers while the purchase is still fresh in their minds.
- Follow-up emails: Space subsequent emails 24-48 hours apart to maintain interest without overwhelming the recipient.
To set the timing and frequency for abandoned cart emails in Shopify, follow these steps:
- From your Shopify admin, go to Marketing > Automations.
- Select the Abandoned checkout automation.
- Click … > Edit settings > Select your preferred timing in Send after
- After making your changes, click Turn on workflow to activate the automation.
Abandoned cart emails are usually sent after 10 hours. But you can adjust this using Shopify Flow if you have it installed.
Content and Personalization
Use clear subject lines, high-quality product images, and personalized details like the customer’s name and abandoned items. Offer incentives, such as discounts or free shipping, and include a strong call-to-action to guide them back to their cart.
To edit your Shopify abandoned cart emails, follow these steps:
- From your Shopify admin, go to Marketing > Automations
- Click … in your Abandoned checkout > Edit settings
- Select the Abandoned checkout.
- Click Edit > Edit email.
- Review the considerations for editing the email, and then click Continue.
- You Edit any of the following:
- Beside To: you can select the customer group you want the email to send to.
- Beside Subject: you can change the default email subject line to one that you want your abandoned checkout email to have.
- Beside Preview text: you can summarize your email with text that displays after the subject line.
- Beside From: you can click Edit to open the sender email settings to change the email address that the email will be sent from.
- Customize your email message using Shopify email's section editor. Click Save.
How To Turn Off Shopify Abandoned Cart Email
To disable the Shopify abandoned cart email, follow these steps:
- Step 1. In your Shopify admin, navigate to Marketing > Automation.
- Step 2. Select the Abandoned checkout automation template.
- Step 3. On the automation summary page, you can manage and turn off the automation.
Additional Abandoned Cart Recovery Strategies
- Exit-Intent Popups: Detect when customers are leaving and display offers like discounts to keep them on the site. A well-timed popup can nudge them to complete their purchase.
- Retargeting Ads: Use Facebook or Google Ads to remind customers of their abandoned items. Personalized ads increase the chances of re-engagement.
- Text Message Follow-Ups: SMS reminders have high open rates and can include direct links to the cart. This makes it quick and easy for customers to return and check out.
- Personalized Product Recommendations: Include suggestions based on the cart or browsing history in recovery emails. This approach boosts interest and increases upselling opportunities.
- Simplify Checkout Process: Reduce checkout steps and offer guest checkout to minimize friction. Autofill options also improve completion rates.
- Live Chat Assistance: Provide live chat during checkout to address questions or issues instantly. Real-time help reduces abandonment.
- Abandoned Cart Gamification: Use tools like spin-the-wheel or scratch-to-win to engage customers. Gamification adds fun and motivates them to revisit their cart.
Bottom Line
Sending abandoned cart emails on Shopify is simple yet highly effective for recovering sales. By following these steps, you can create a seamless process to engage customers, reduce cart abandonment, and maximize your revenue.
FAQs
Does Shopify have built-in support for abandoned cart emails?
Yes, Shopify provides built-in abandoned cart email functionality. This feature can be easily enabled in your Shopify admin under "Settings" > "Checkout," where you can customize the timing and content of the emails sent to customers who leave items in their cart.
Can I customize the content of my abandoned cart emails on Shopify?
Yes, Shopify allows you to customize the abandoned cart emails' content through its notification settings. You can adjust the subject line, message body, and design to match your brand’s voice and encourage customers to return to their cart. Additionally, you can include product images and personalized recommendations.
How often should I send abandoned cart emails?
Best practices suggest sending a series of two to three abandoned cart emails. The first email should be sent within 1-2 hours after abandonment, reminding the customer of their cart. A second email can be sent 24 hours later, possibly including a discount or incentive. If the cart is still abandoned, a third email 2-3 days later may be useful, offering additional incentives or creating urgency.
Can I include discounts or incentives in abandoned cart emails?
Yes, Shopify allows you to include discounts, free shipping, or limited-time offers within abandoned cart emails. Adding an incentive can significantly increase the likelihood of the customer returning to complete their purchase, as it adds urgency and value to their abandoned cart.
How can I track the performance of my abandoned cart emails?
Shopify provides built-in analytics to help you track the performance of your abandoned cart emails. You can view open rates, click-through rates, and recovery rates directly in the Shopify dashboard. If you use third-party apps, they often provide more detailed reports and A/B testing to optimize your email performance.