How to set up an abandoned cart email automation in Xendy

introduction

Abandoned cart email automations are one of the most effective tools for recovering lost sales in eCommerce. When a customer leaves items in their cart without completing a purchase, an abandoned cart email gently reminds them of what they left behind, enticing them to return and complete their order.

what is an abandoned cart email automation?

An abandoned cart email automation is a triggered workflow that automatically sends a series of emails to customers who abandon their shopping carts. These emails often include:

• A list of the abandoned items.
• A call-to-action (CTA) to return to the checkout page.
• Sometimes, an incentive like a discount or free shipping to encourage the purchase.

why are abandoned cart emails important?

• recover lost sales: A significant percentage of shopping carts are abandoned before checkout. A well-timed email can recover a large portion of these sales.
• engage potential customers: These emails remind customers of their interest and keep your brand top-of-mind.
• boost revenue: By nudging customers back to their carts, you can significantly increase your revenue with minimal effort.

abandoned cart emails in xendy

For WooCommerce users, Xendy makes it easy to set up abandoned cart email automations. By integrating your WooCommerce store with Xendy and using the abandoned cart block, you can automate highly personalized recovery emails that bring customers back to your store.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of creating an abandoned cart email automation in Xendy, share tips for optimizing your emails, and provide best practices to maximize conversions.

benefits of abandoned cart email automations

Abandoned cart email automations are a vital tool for any eCommerce business. They help you reconnect with potential customers, boost engagement, and recover sales that might otherwise be lost. Below are the key benefits of setting up abandoned cart email automations in Xendy.

1. recover lost sales

why it matters:

A large percentage of online shopping carts are abandoned before checkout, often due to distractions or indecision.

how it helps:

• Abandoned cart emails remind customers of their pending purchase and bring them back to complete the transaction.
• A personalized approach, such as showing the exact items left behind, significantly increases the chances of conversion.

2. increase revenue with minimal effort

why it matters:

Automations save you time while driving results.

how it helps:

• Once set up in Xendy, the automation works in the background, requiring no manual intervention.
• Each recovered cart directly contributes to your bottom line.

3. improve customer experience

why it matters:

A well-designed abandoned cart email feels like a helpful nudge, not a hard sell.

how it helps:

• By reminding customers about their cart, you show them you value their interest.
• Including direct links to the checkout page streamlines the purchasing process.

4. personalize your outreach

why it matters:

Personalization makes your emails more relevant and engaging.

how it helps:

• With Xendy’s abandoned cart block, emails automatically include:
  • The specific products the customer left behind.
  • A button that takes them directly back to their cart.
• You can add dynamic fields like the customer’s name for an even more personal touch.

5. build a stronger brand relationship

why it matters:

Customers who feel valued are more likely to return to your store in the future.

how it helps:

• Abandoned cart emails create another touchpoint, building familiarity and trust with your brand.
• A thoughtful email, especially one with a small incentive, can leave a positive impression.

6. high engagement rates

why it matters:

Abandoned cart emails typically perform better than other types of emails in terms of open and click-through rates.

how it helps:

• Customers are already interested in your products, making them more likely to engage with your email.
• Adding urgency or incentives further boosts the likelihood of conversion.

why choose xendy for abandoned cart emails?

• ease of setup: With Xendy’s intuitive tools, creating an abandoned cart workflow is as simple as setting up any other email automation.
• woocommerce integration: Seamlessly connect your store to collect cart data and trigger personalized emails.
• abandoned cart block: Automatically populate emails with the right products and checkout links, saving time and enhancing personalization.

By leveraging the benefits of abandoned cart emails in Xendy, you can turn lost opportunities into revenue. In the next section, we’ll discuss the prerequisites for setting up an abandoned cart email automation in Xendy.

pre-requisites: connecting woocommerce with xendy

Before you can set up an abandoned cart email automation in Xendy, you’ll need to ensure that your WooCommerce store is connected and sending cart data to Xendy. This setup is essential for enabling abandoned cart tracking and triggering personalized emails.

1. connect your woocommerce store

why it’s necessary:

To collect cart abandonment data, your WooCommerce store must be integrated with Xendy. This connection allows Xendy to monitor customer activity and identify when a cart is abandoned.

steps to connect your store:

1. Log in to your Xendy account.
2. Navigate to the “integrations” section in the left-hand menu.
3. Follow the instructions to connect your WooCommerce store (see detailed guide in another article).

2. install the xendy plugin

why it’s necessary:

The Xendy plugin ensures seamless data synchronization between WooCommerce and Xendy, enabling abandoned cart tracking and other eCommerce features.

steps to install the plugin:

1. Go to your WooCommerce store’s admin dashboard.
2. Navigate to the “plugins” section.
3. Search for “xendy for woocommerce” and click install now.
4. Activate the plugin and follow the setup wizard to complete the integration.

3. start collecting cart data

why it’s necessary:

Once the integration is complete, Xendy begins receiving data about customer activity, including abandoned carts.

how it works:

• When a customer adds items to their cart but doesn’t complete the purchase, the plugin sends this information to Xendy.
• This data is then used to trigger abandoned cart email automations.

checklist before proceeding

• woocommerce store successfully connected to xendy.
• xendy plugin installed and activated on your woocommerce store.
• data synchronization verified (e.g., test with a sample abandoned cart).

With these prerequisites completed, you’re ready to set up your abandoned cart email automation in Xendy. In the next section, we’ll provide step-by-step instructions for creating the workflow.

setting up an abandoned cart email automation in xendy

Creating an abandoned cart email automation in Xendy is a straightforward process. By using WooCommerce data and Xendy’s powerful automation tools, you can design an effective workflow that recovers lost sales.

step 1: create a new automation

1. Log in to your Xendy account.
2. Go to “email automations” in the left-hand menu.
3. Click “new email automation” in the top-right corner.
4. Name your automation (e.g., “abandoned cart recovery”).

step 2: define the segment

To ensure the automation targets only customers with abandoned carts:

1. In the segment rules section, choose:
   • rule: “customer has an abandoned cart.”
   • condition: “equals to.”
   • value: “yes.”
2. Save the segment to finalize the targeting criteria.

step 3: add emails to the workflow

Design a series of personalized emails to re-engage customers and encourage them to complete their purchase.

email 1: immediate reminder

• timing: send 1–3 hours after cart abandonment.
• content:
  • Gently remind the customer about their cart.
  • Use the abandoned cart block to display the specific items left behind.
  • Include a checkout button that restores their cart.
• cta: “return to your cart” or “complete your purchase.”

email 2: follow-up with an offer

• timing: send 1 day later if the customer hasn’t completed their purchase.
• content:
  • Highlight the abandoned items again.
  • Offer a small incentive, such as a 10% discount or free shipping.
  • Reinforce the urgency of completing their purchase.
• cta: “claim your discount” or “finish your order now.”

email 3: last-chance reminder

• timing: send 2–3 days after cart abandonment if the purchase is still incomplete.
• content:
  • Add urgency with a time-sensitive offer or low-stock warning.
  • Emphasize how easy it is to return and complete their order.
  • Maintain a friendly tone while encouraging action.
• cta: “don’t miss out!” or “your cart is waiting.”

step 4: add the abandoned cart block

The abandoned cart block is key to personalizing your emails.

how to add it:

1. While designing an email, click “add content block.”
2. Select “abandoned cart block” from the options.
3. Customize the surrounding text, images, and branding.
4. The block will automatically populate with:
   • Items the customer left in their cart.
   • A checkout button that restores their cart in WooCommerce.

step 5: configure timing and delays

1. Use the dotted lines between email steps to set delays.
   • For example, set a delay of “1 day” between email 1 and email 2.
2. Ensure the timing aligns with customer behavior to maximize engagement.

step 6: test your automation

Before activating, test the workflow to ensure everything works correctly:

1. Use Xendy’s preview feature to simulate the automation.
2. Send test emails to yourself or your team to verify:
   • The abandoned cart block populates with accurate items.
   • Links redirect to the correct checkout page in WooCommerce.
3. Confirm that all delays and triggers are functioning as expected.

step 7: activate the automation

Once you’ve verified the setup:

1. Click “start” to activate the automation.
2. Monitor its performance in Xendy’s reporting tools to track recovery rates and make adjustments if needed.

With this workflow in place, your abandoned cart email automation will work tirelessly to recover lost sales and increase revenue. In the next section, we’ll share best practices to further optimize your emails.

best practices for abandoned cart emails

Creating an abandoned cart email automation is just the first step. To maximize its effectiveness, follow these best practices to engage your customers and recover more sales.

1. time your emails strategically

why it matters:

Sending emails at the right time increases the chances of re-engaging customers before they lose interest.

how to implement:

• first email: send within 1–3 hours of cart abandonment when the purchase is still fresh in the customer’s mind.
• follow-up emails: space these 1–2 days apart to maintain engagement without overwhelming the customer.

2. personalize your emails

why it matters:

Personalized emails are more engaging and show customers you value their specific interest.

how to implement:

• Use the abandoned cart block in Xendy to automatically include:
  • The products left in the cart.
  • A checkout button that restores their cart.
• Add the customer’s name in the subject line or greeting for a personal touch.

3. create a clear and compelling call-to-action (cta)

why it matters:

A strong cta guides customers toward completing their purchase.

how to implement:

• Use clear, action-oriented ctas like “return to your cart” or “complete your order.”
• Make the cta button prominent and visually distinct.

4. offer incentives to encourage action

why it matters:

A small incentive can nudge hesitant customers to complete their purchase.

how to implement:

• Include a discount code (e.g., 10% off) or free shipping offer in the second email.
• Emphasize that the offer is time-sensitive to create urgency.

5. add urgency to the final email

why it matters:

Creating urgency encourages customers to act quickly before losing their opportunity.

how to implement:

• Use phrases like “limited stock available” or “your cart will expire soon.”
• Highlight any time-sensitive offers, such as discounts expiring in 24 hours.

6. focus on mobile optimization

why it matters:

Many customers will open your emails on a mobile device.

how to implement:

• Use responsive email templates to ensure the design looks great on all devices.
• Test your emails on both desktop and mobile before sending.

7. use social proof to build trust

why it matters:

Customer reviews and testimonials reassure customers about the value of your products.

how to implement:

• Include positive customer reviews or ratings for the abandoned items.
• Add a “best seller” or “most loved product” tag to highlight popular items.

8. monitor and optimize performance

why it matters:

Analyzing metrics helps you refine your automation for better results.

how to implement:

• Track open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates using Xendy’s reporting tools.
• Experiment with A/B testing for subject lines, email content, and timing.

9. keep the design simple and focused

why it matters:

A cluttered email can distract from the main message and cta.

how to implement:

• Use a clean design with clear headings, concise text, and a prominent cta.
• Avoid overwhelming customers with too much information or imagery.

10. test your workflow regularly

why it matters:

Errors or outdated content can harm the effectiveness of your automation.

how to implement:

• Regularly review and test your automation to ensure it functions as expected.
• Update content, offers, or designs based on seasonal trends or customer feedback.

By following these best practices, you can create abandoned cart email automations that are highly effective in recovering lost sales and boosting customer engagement. In the next section, we’ll provide a summary and encourage you to start building your automation in Xendy.

frequently asked questions