Double, double, toil and trouble; ROI burn and retention bubble…

Good Hallows’ Eve Eve and welcome to this spine-chilling edition of the eCom Email Marketer. Today Chase and I will be conjuring up some automation magic.

From abandoned cart reminders that’ll bring sales back from the dead to eerie back-in-stock and bewitching birthday emails—we’ve got all the tricks for hauntingly good timing and messaging.

But before we dive in, we’ve got a few treats just for you.

🎙️ New Episode Alert! SEGMENTATION Secrets to Reduce Churn & Skyrocket Sales

In this NEW episode of Send It!, we dive into high-impact segmentation. Chase and I cover essential topics like behavioral, demographic, and psychographic segmentation; the RFM (Recency, Frequency, Monetary) model; and best practices for engaging high-value, at-risk, and inactive customers.

Plus, you’ll learn the most common segmentation pitfalls, how to enhance Customer Lifetime Value (CLTV), and drive revenue through personalized content and automated tools.

And a major thank you to our sponsor AppBrew! Now, without further adieu, let’s send it—Watch the episode on YouTube or listen in on Spotify or Apple.

💡 Knowledge Drop of The Week

BFCM is creeping up fast and Chase has some killer tips on how to conjure up maximum revenue from your email strategy. Trust us—this thread is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. 👇

Enough small talk—light your jack-o’-lantern and circle up because today we’re conjuring powerful automations to spark engagement and boost revenue. 🎃

The 6 Most Effective Automations to Drive Engagement & Revenue

Automation is a retention marketers best friend. Whether you’re welcoming new subscribers, re-engaging quiet ones, or thanking a customer post-purchase—it’s the easiest way to stay connected in a personalized, timely manner.

We’ve got six of our favorite automated emails here for you and we’re going to dive into what exactly makes them so successful.

1. Abandoned Cart Emails

An abandoned cart email is triggered when a customer adds items to their shopping cart but doesn’t complete the purchase. These emails serve as a gentle nudge, reminding customers of the products they left behind and encouraging them to complete their purchase. Because of that, they are highly effective at recovering potential lost sales.

Here are a few ways you could play them out:

• The Personalized Approach:

  Subject: “Don’t forget about your cart, [Name]!”
  Body: “Hi [Name], it looks like you left these items in your cart. Have no fear, we saved them for you. Click through to complete your purchase!”

• The Urgent Approach:
  Subject: “Your cart is almost empty!”
  Body: “Hey [Name], you’re running out of time to take advantage of 10% off! Complete your purchase before it’s gone for good.”

• The Product Rec Approach:

  Subject: These would look good on you, [Name]

  Body: “[Name], you have great taste. We noticed a few items left in your cart and thought these would pair well together. Check out now and score 10% off!”

Standard parameters for your abandoned cart emails should fall within 3-4 hours after a shopper leaves items in their cart without completing the purchase.

2. Recommendation Emails

Recommendation emails are sent after a customer interacts with your website or makes a purchase. These emails suggest products that complement their previous purchases, increasing the chances of repeat sales and upselling.

Example:

• Subject: “All new just for you, [Name]”
  Body: “Since you purchased [Product], we thought you’d love these items as well. Enjoy 10% off when you complete your order today.”

You can use recommendation emails when:

• A customer makes a purchase or visits a specific product page.

• You want to re-engage customers with tailored product suggestions.

3. Back-in-Stock Emails

Back-in-stock emails notify customers when a previously unavailable product is back. This automated email builds excitement and encourages quick action from customers who were interested in the product when it sold out.

Example:

• Subject: “Your favorite item is back in stock!”
  Body: “[Name], the [Product] you wanted is available again! Don’t miss out—grab it before it’s gone!”

This is another great place for recommendations. Include best sellers or products that compliment the back in stock product.

4. Welcome Emails

Welcome emails are triggered when someone joins your email list or creates an account on your site. They help make a great first impression and set the tone for your ongoing relationship with the customer.

Examples:

• The Simple Approach:
  Subject: “Welcome to [Brand]!”
  Body: “Hi [Name], we’re thrilled to have you with us! Explore our best-selling products and let us know if you have any questions.”

• The Thank You Approach

  Subject: “You’ve joined the [Brand] family”

  Body: “Thank you for your purchase, [Name]! We’re stoked to have you join our community. [Insert Brand Mission]. [Add push for loyalty or social media following].”

Use welcome emails when:

• A new subscriber joins your email list

• New subscriber makes a first purchase

5. Feedback Emails

Feedback emails are automatically sent after a purchase or customer service interaction, helping you gather valuable insights. These emails show customers that their opinions matter and help improve your products or services.

Example:

• The Simple Ask Approach

  Subject: “We value your feedback!”
  Body: “Hi [Name], we hope you’re loving your [Product]. We’d love to hear your thoughts – take a moment to share your feedback and help us improve!”

• The Ethical Bribe Approach

  Subject: “Penny for your thoughts, [Name]?”

  Body: “20% off with your name on it! Tell us if you’ve been loving [product name] and receive 20% your next purchase.”

Feedback emails should be sent anywhere from 14-30 days after purchase—depending on the product. Ensure your shoppers have enough time to touch, use and form a well rounded opinion of your product. ie: Skincare will have a longer timeline than apparel or tech.

6. Birthday/Anniversary Emails

Birthday emails add a personal touch and are the baseline to show customers you care. They often include special offers or discounts to make the recipient feel appreciated on their special day.

Example:

• Subject: “Your birthday, our treat!”
  Body: “Birthday-ing is hard. You deserve a little treat—So take 25% off your next purchase.”

Put a spin on these emails for subscriber anniversaries to celebrate the milestones of your relationship together.

🔥 DTC Win of The Week

Dr. Squatch just launched their Squatch-o-ween collection (seriously, are they everywhere or what?!), and it’s pumpkin vibes all day, every day.

Dara Denney shared BFCM takeaways from this year’s 2024 Q4 Summit in NYC, and let’s just say—there are some gold nuggets you don’t want to sleep on.

🗞️ Quick Clips

• TikTokShop Growth Summit: This is an event you won’t want to miss! Industry pros will spill all the secrets on mastering TikTok’s algorithm and taking your brand presence to the next level. Don’t just keep up—lead the charge.

• The Art of the Upsell: Tune in to this webinar where BREZ reveals how they finessed nearly $1M in extra revenue with post-purchase magic. Learn how to squeeze every last drop of value from each order, without breaking a sweat.

That’s a wrap for this week’s spooky edition! 👻 Thanks for hanging out with Chase and me. If you found this newsletter informative or just fun, share ecomemailmarketer.com with your favorite DTC ghoul… I mean, marketer. Get them to subscribe so they don’t miss out on next week’s tricks and treats.

Remember: Do shit you love.

🤘 Jimmy Kim