GLOSSARY: Key Terms You Should Know
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Email Flow | A series of automated emails triggered by a customer’s action or behavior. |
Abandoned Cart | A customer adds products to their cart but doesn’t complete the purchase. |
Post-Purchase Flow | Emails sent after a sale to increase retention and cross-sells. |
Sunset Flow | Campaigns designed to re-engage inactive subscribers before removing them. |
Segmentation | Grouping subscribers by behavior, activity, or preferences to personalize communication. |
Revenue Per Recipient (RPR) | Total revenue divided by number of recipients—used to measure campaign profitability. |
Open Rate | % of recipients who open your email—indicates subject line and brand trust effectiveness. |
Table of contents
Why Email Automation Is a Game-Changer for eCommerce
Still relying on one-off email campaigns or manual blasts? That’s like having a sales team that only works two days a week.
Email automation is your 24/7 digital salesperson. It scales effortlessly, nurtures relationships, and generates consistent revenue without daily effort.
Benefits of Email Flows:
- Consistent engagement from signup to post-purchase
- Behavior-driven personalization
- Higher conversions with less manual input
- Lower churn by re-engaging cold leads
- Scalable as your brand grows
What is an Email Flow?
An email flow is a predefined sequence of emails triggered by user activity (e.g. signing up, placing an order, or abandoning cart). These emails are personalized, timely, and aligned with where the customer is in their buying journey.
Let’s break down the must-have email flows for any eCommerce store, no matter your industry or size.
Top Email Flows Every eCommerce Brand Should Be Running
1. Welcome Flow
Goal: Convert new subscribers into first-time customers.
Why It Works:
Up to 80% open rates—your most engaged audience is right after signup.
Structure:
Email # | Content Suggestion | Timing |
---|---|---|
1 | Welcome + Brand Story + Incentive | Immediately |
2 | Product Showcase or Bestsellers | +1 day |
3 | Social Proof: Reviews or Press Mentions | +2 days |
4 | Education: How to Use Products or FAQs | +4 days |
5 | Reminder: Incentive Expiring Soon | +6 days |
CTA Suggestions:
👉 Shop Now
👉 Explore Our Collection
👉 Use Your 10% Discount
2. Post-Purchase Flow
Goal: Build loyalty and increase repeat purchases.
Why It Works:
✅ Open rates are 2x higher than regular campaigns.
✅ Increases LTV (lifetime value) by educating and delighting.
Structure:
Email # | Content | Timing |
---|---|---|
1 | Thank You + Order Confirmation | Instantly |
2 | Shipping/Tracking Info | 1–2 days |
3 | How-To/Use Tips + Product Education | 3–5 days |
4 | Ask for Review or UGC | 7–10 days |
5 | Cross-Sell/Referral Code | 10–14 days |
Bonus Tip:
Include personalized product recommendations based on purchase behavior.
3. Abandoned Cart Flow
Goal: Recover lost revenue from incomplete purchases.
Why It Works:
Average revenue per recipient = $3.65.
Structure:
Email # | Message | Timing |
---|---|---|
1 | Friendly Reminder (“Forget something?”) | 2 hours later |
2 | Highlight Benefits + Add Social Proof | 24 hours later |
3 | Offer Incentive (Free shipping / 10% off) | 48 hours later |
Pro Tip:
Include product images, clickable CTA, and an “Edit Cart” button.
4. Sunset (Re-Engagement) Flow
Goal: Re-ignite cold leads or gracefully clean your list.
Why It Works:
Up to 52.49% open rates when paired with personalization.
Structure:
Email # | Message | Timing |
---|---|---|
1 | “We Miss You” Message | 90+ days idle |
2 | Incentive or Exclusive Offer | +2 days |
3 | Final Nudge + Preference Center | +4 days |
4 | “You’ll Be Removed” Email (optional) | +7 days |
Why This Matters:
Improves deliverability by maintaining a healthy, engaged list.
Advanced Email Flow Ideas
For brands ready to go beyond the basics, here are more high-converting flows to add to your stack.
5. Birthday or Anniversary Flow
- Trigger: Subscriber birthday or customer “join date”
- Use: Send gifts, discounts, or special VIP access
- Benefit: Builds emotional connection
6. Browse Abandonment Flow
- Trigger: Viewed product but took no action
- Use: Remind them what they saw, suggest alternatives
- Benefit: Catch low-intent shoppers before they forget you
7. Winback Flow
- Trigger: Past purchaser hasn’t returned in 60–90 days
- Use: “Come back” message + discount
- Benefit: Lower churn, increase repeat sales
Strategic Tips for High-Performance Flows
Use Conditional Logic
Show different emails based on gender, product category, or location.
Personalize Everything
Include names, favorite products, or past purchases.
Use Smart Sending
Prevent fatigue by suppressing emails if they’ve already opened a related campaign.
Always Include a CTA
Don’t leave readers hanging. Every email should have a purpose.
Mobile-First Design
60–70% of emails are opened on mobile—design accordingly.
Email Marketing Benchmarks (2024)
Flow Type | Open Rate | CTR | Conversion Rate | RPR |
---|---|---|---|---|
Welcome Flow | 50–80% | 10–15% | 3–5% | $0.60–$1.80 |
Abandoned Cart | 40–60% | 10–12% | 4–6% | $3.65 |
Post-Purchase | 50–70% | 8–12% | 2–4% | $1.00–$2.00 |
Sunset Flow | 20–52% | 5–10% | 1–3% | $0.30–$0.70 |
Winback Flow | 25–45% | 6–10% | 2–3% | $1.50 |
FAQ: eCommerce Email Flows
1. What’s the difference between a campaign and a flow?
- Campaign: One-time send (e.g. sale blast).
- Flow: Automated series triggered by behavior.
2. How many email flows should I set up at minimum?
Start with 4:
- Welcome
- Abandoned Cart
- Post-Purchase
- Sunset
Then layer in others like Birthday and Winback.
3. How often should I update my email flows?
Review every 90 days. Update visuals, messaging, and offers based on performance.
4. Can I run these flows without an email expert?
Yes. Tools like Klaviyo, Drip, or ActiveCampaign offer plug-and-play templates.
5. What platform is best for flow automation?
Klaviyo is best for eCommerce due to deep Shopify/WooCommerce integration.
6. Can flows work alongside campaigns?
Absolutely. Flows = lifecycle. Campaigns = time-sensitive promos. Together, they maximize results.
Final Word: Set It and Scale It
You’ve got traffic. You’ve got sales. Now you need automation.
The right flows work around the clock, nurturing, converting, and bringing customers back. Whether you’re building from scratch or optimizing what you have, email flows are non-negotiable for modern eCommerce.
At Blossom Ecom, we build flows that convert. Welcome, cart, post-purchase, re-engagement—you name it. Want to scale without lifting a finger?
Let’s talk. Book your custom flow audit now.
Need help implementing this?
Let us take the hassle of managing your email marketing channel off your hands. Book a strategy call with our team today and see how we can scale your revenue, customer retention, and lifetime value with tailored strategies. Click here to get started.
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