12 Email Marketing Tips for WooCommerce Businesses

In a podcast episode of Woo BizChat we had email marketing expert 📈 Greg Zakowicz from Omnisend chatting with Emma Young and Adam Weeks . Although it's recommended that you listen to the full episode: Email Marketing for Woo and WordPress Builders and Businesses with Greg Zakowicz , here are 12 tips to help with your WordPress or WooCommerce business, whether you create products or provide services.

1. Embrace Automation

Greg emphasizes the effectiveness of automated emails, revealing that 41% of all email marketing orders sent by Omnisend customers came from automated messages. Automation allows you to send targeted and relevant messages based on the user's behavior, making it a powerful tool for increasing engagement and conversions.

2. Focus on High-Intent Automated Messages

Greg highlights specific automated messages that drive results, including welcome messages, browse abandonment, and cart abandonment emails. These messages are high-intent and directly tied to user behavior, making them more likely to lead to conversions.

3. Utilize Social Proof in Subject Lines

Greg suggests that subject lines featuring social proof, such as top-rated products or five-star reviews, can capture attention. Incorporating elements that highlight the quality and popularity of your products or services can make your emails more appealing to recipients.

4. Experiment with Emojis in Subject Lines

Despite not being a new concept, Greg emphasizes the continued effectiveness of using emojis in subject lines. Emojis can help break up the visual monotony, especially on mobile devices, making your emails stand out in crowded inboxes.

5. Optimize for Mobile and Visual Appeal

Greg discusses the importance of visual elements, white space, and breaking up text to make emails visually appealing. Since many users access emails on their mobile devices, optimizing for mobile responsiveness and creating visually engaging content can enhance the overall user experience.

6. Clean Inactive Contacts Regularly

Greg emphasizes the importance of cleaning inactive contacts from your email list to maintain deliverability and engagement rates. Sending emails to inactive contacts can negatively impact your sender reputation and result in lower inbox placement. Regularly clean your list, preferably twice a year, to remove subscribers who haven't engaged in a significant period.

7. Understand and Monitor Email Deliverability Requirements

Stay informed about email deliverability requirements, such as authentication protocols like DKIM, DMARC, and SPF. Greg mentions that Google and Yahoo have implemented new deliverability requirements, and compliance with these standards is crucial for proving your legitimacy as a sender and avoiding potential deliverability issues.

8. Benchmark Against Yourself, Not Just Industry Averages

While industry benchmarks can provide useful insights, Greg advises marketers to primarily benchmark against their own performance. Focus on improving your open rates and click-through rates over time rather than comparing yourself solely to industry averages, as different list-cleaning practices can significantly impact these benchmarks.

9. Leverage Competitive Differentiators in Email Templates

When creating email templates, highlight competitive differentiators such as free shipping, fast delivery, and customer service policies. Templatize this information to make it highly visible in your emails, catering to the specific intent of users who are looking for such value propositions when deciding whether to engage with your email content.

10. Templatize Social Proof and Value Propositions

Incorporate social proof, customer testimonials, and value propositions into your email templates. Whether it's showcasing five-star reviews, testimonials about great customer service, or emphasizing hassle-free returns, templatizing this content can build confidence and address potential obstacles to conversion, ultimately increasing click-through rates.

11. Implement Automated Retargeting Sequences

Greg emphasizes the importance of setting up automated retargeting sequences based on user behavior. Whether it's a browse abandonment or cart abandonment, these automated sequences can significantly improve the chances of reengaging with users who have shown interest in your products. By strategically utilizing automation, you can "feed the wolf" over time, increasing the likelihood of recapturing customers at a lower cost compared to other retargeting methods.

12. Use AI Tools for Subject Line Generation

Greg recommends using AI tools, such as the subject line generator provided by Omnisend, to overcome creative blocks when crafting email subject lines. AI-powered tools can offer a fresh perspective and propose creative subject lines that may not have been considered. This can be particularly useful in ensuring that your subject lines stand out and capture the attention of your audience, contributing to higher email open rates.