18 billion dollars! It’s the amount of money eCommerce brands lose every year because of Abandoned carts!

That’s right - billions of dollars in potential revenue lost, just simply because customers abandon their carts before completing their purchase. How to turn loss to opportunity? Well, SMS Marketing can do that for you!

Let’s find out how to integrate SMS Marketing into your abandoned cart recovery campaigns in this blog. SIMPLE SETUP, INSTANT ADVANTAGES.

What is an Abandoned cart?

Once upon an e-commerce realm, there were mischievous “Abandoned carts”. Customers would excitedly fill their online shopping carts but leave them stranded without buying. Abandoned carts can be a challenge for online retailers as they represent lost sales and revenue. However, with the right strategies, retailers can win back those customers and their precious sales

What is Abandoned cart SMS

Like a friendly nudge, Abandoned cart SMS is a message sent to customers who left items in their online shopping cart without completing the purchase. To recover abandoned carts, SMS Marketing is an effective way for online retailers to remind customers about items they left in their cart and encourage them to complete their purchase

SMS Marketing: Your Abandoned Cart Recovery Hero!

Why can I say that certainly? Let the numbers do the talking.

• High Open Rate & Response Rate

With 98% open rate and 45% Open Rate, it means that customers are much more likely to see your abandoned cart recovery messages and take the action needed.

• High Conversion Rate

Studies show that SMS conversion rates can be as high as 45%. That means customers are more likely to complete their purchase when they receive the message. 

• Cost-Effectiveness

Without breaking the bank, SMS Marketing could be a highly budget-friendly solution. As it typically costs less than other marketing channels like email or paid advertising.

Get Started with Abandoned Cart SMS

In Shopify, the only method offered for recovering abandoned carts is through email. So, to start using SMS with the purpose of recovering abandoned carts, you need a third-party application. 

Step 1: Install an application from Shopify app store

Shopify has an App library where you can find hundreds of applications to connect your Shopify store. To use SMS Marketing for your store, Just head to the Shopify app store and select an SMS Marketing app that fits your needs. Some top contenders include SMSBump, SMSGem, Klaviyo, and Automizely SMS Marketing.

You can learn more about the pricing plans of each platform by checking this blog.

Step 2: Customize your SMS message templates. 

When creating a campaign, you can craft witty and attention-grabbing messages that will encourage customers to complete their purchase. The customer’s name, abandoned items, and the link for them to come back to their cart should be included in the messages. 

Tips: Insert a sense of urgency in your messages: limited stock, time-sensitive deal, etc.

The SMS Marketing platform like SMSGem already has a library of templates for you to choose from, which can save your time and effort.

Step 3: Set up automated SMS reminders.

Think of scheduling automatic SMS reminders like setting a personal alarm clock for your customers. 

You can choose when to send the reminders after cart abandonment, like 10 minutes or 12 hours later. Just like a good wingman, the reminders are there to nudge your customers and remind them about the items they left behind. But be careful not to hit ‘snooze’ too many times! It is important to bear in mind that the messages should not be sent too frequently. You don't want to bombard your customers with too many messages and risk annoying them. Once you've set up your automated SMS campaign, you're ready to go! 

Step 4: Analyze your SMS campaigns. 

Top students don't stop studying after finishing a test - they carefully review their answers and identify areas for improvement. The same goes for SMS marketing.

After launching an SMS campaign, it's important to analyze your performance data and identify areas for improvement. By tracking metrics, you can gain insights into how your campaigns are performing and where you can make adjustments. Then, you can optimize your messaging and drive better results in future campaigns. So, what are several numbers that you should take into account?

1. Revenue
2. Conversion rate
3. Click-through rate
4. Unsubscribe rate
5. Cart remaining today

The bottom line

In conclusion, abandoned carts can be a significant problem for eCommerce brands, but SMS Marketing can be a powerful solution for recovering lost sales and revenue. With high open and response rates, SMS Marketing allows you to reach customers where they're most likely to see your message - on their phones.

By following the steps outlined in this blog - installing a third-party SMS Marketing app, customizing your message templates, setting up automated SMS reminders, and analyzing your campaign data - you can launch effective abandoned cart recovery campaigns and drive success for your business.

So, don't let abandoned carts be a roadblock to your eCommerce success. Try SMS Marketing and turn those lost sales into opportunities for growth!