Increase sales and decrease cart abandonment during Black Friday and Cyber Monday

As the most lucrative season of the year approaches - businesses just like yours are all gearing up for a surge of traffic, sales, and excitement.

But unfortunately with more traffic comes more abandoned carts.

While shopping cart abandonment is a year-round challenge, it peaks during BFCM when consumers are bombarded with deals, and their decision-making can be overwhelmed. 

Why Cart Abandonment Peaks During BFCM

During BFCM, shoppers are bombarded with deals from every direction, leading customers to experience decision fatigue and impulsively add items to their cart. 

Some shoppers may simply get distracted by another offer.

Or some might be put off by the final price, especially when shipping and VAT costs make their sweet deal turn sour.

How Flowium's Email & SMS Automation Strategies Can Help

At Flowium, we focus on automating the abandoned cart recovery process to save time, maximize conversions, and ensure that no potential customer slips through the cracks. 

Here’s a breakdown of how to implement cost-effective email and SMS flows during BFCM, as well as tips on acquiring shoppers’ contact details in the first place.

Abandoned cart emails are a tried-and-true method for recovering sales, and  non-negotiable during BFCM. These automated emails get triggered when a shopper leaves items in their cart without completing the purchase, reminding them about their abandoned products and nudging them to finalize their order.

Here’s how to structure your abandoned cart email flow to maximize engagement and conversions during BFCM:

Email 1: The Gentle Reminder (Within 1 Hour)

The first email should be sent shortly after the cart is abandoned—ideally within an hour. The tone should be friendly and remind the shopper of what they’ve left behind without being too pushy.

• Subject Line: Keep it light and direct, like “Oops, did you forget something?”
• Content: Showcase the abandoned items with product images, names, prices, the amazing deal on the product, and a clear CTA like "Complete Your Purchase."
• Incentive: You don’t need to offer an extra discount right away. A gentle reminder is often enough to prompt shoppers to come back and complete their purchase.

Email 2: Creating Urgency (24 Hours Later)

If the first reminder doesn’t work, send a follow-up email that introduces a little bit of urgency. Mention that the items are still available but might sell out soon, especially during a busy shopping season like BFCM.

• Subject Line: “Your cart is almost sold out!” or “Hurry, before it’s gone!”
• Content: Reinforce the benefits of the products, show the items left in their cart, and include a time-sensitive CTA, such as “Buy Now Before It’s Gone.”
• Add a Countdown: This is a great time to add a countdown timer that creates a sense of urgency, showing how long the sale or availability lasts.

Email 3: Sweetening the Deal (48 Hours Later)

For the final email, give them an incentive to act now. This is where you can offer a discount or free shipping to push the customer over the finish line.

• Subject Line: “An Extra 10% Off – Just For You” or “We Don’t Want You to Miss Out!”
• Content: Include a limited-time discount code to encourage immediate action, and remind them again of the items in their cart. Also, mention that the deal won’t last forever.

2. Leverage SMS for Instant Engagement

While email is a powerful tool, SMS marketing has the potential to engage shoppers even faster - and speed is the name of the game for BFCM. 

Since SMS messages have higher open rates (a whopping average of 98%), they are perfect for reaching customers who may not check their email frequently. 

SMS can be used hand-in-hand with email for a multi-channel approach to re-engage shoppers.

Here’s how to implement SMS flows for abandoned checkouts:

SMS 1: The Quick Nudge (Within 30 Minutes)

SMS is the perfect channel for a quick, simple reminder. Send an automated message 30 minutes after the shopper leaves the site.

• Message: “Hey [First Name], it looks like you left something behind! Come back and complete your purchase [Link].”
• Link to Checkout: Always include a direct link to their cart for a seamless experience.

SMS 2: Adding Urgency (12-24 Hours Later)

Follow up with a more urgent message, emphasizing the time-sensitive nature of your BFCM deals.

• Message: “Your cart is about to expire! Get it now before it’s gone. Our BFCM deals won’t last long [Link].”
• Personalization: Mention the product or category they were shopping for, creating a sense of familiarity.

SMS 3: Offer a Discount (48 Hours Later)

If they still haven’t returned, it’s time to offer a little something extra, like a discount or free shipping.

• Message: “We hate to see you miss out! Use code SAVE10 for 10% off your purchase [Link].”
• Short and Sweet: Keep the message brief but compelling. SMS is all about delivering fast, actionable info.

3. Collect Emails and Phone Numbers Throughout the Journey

To have a strong abandoned cart recovery system in place, you need a way to collect email addresses and phone numbers during the shopping journey - or there is no way of contacting your non-buyers.

Gathering contact info early on ensures you can engage with customers who haven’t completed their purchase.

Exit-Intent Pop-Ups

Exit-intent pop-ups appear when a shopper is about to leave the site without completing their order. These can be a goldmine for capturing emails, as many users abandon their cart simply because they get distracted or overwhelmed.

• Offer a Discount: An effective tactic is offering a small incentive, like an extra 10% OFF or free shipping.
• Keep it Simple: Your pop-up should be concise and clear, with a straightforward message and a call-to-action (CTA) like “Get 10% Off Now.”

In-Cart Email Capture

Sometimes shoppers add items to their cart but don’t complete the purchase. If you capture their email address during the cart stage, you can re-engage them later.

• Auto-Prompt: Have an email prompt pop up during the checkout process, encouraging shoppers to enter their email for order tracking or special offers.
• Email for Shipping Updates: Many customers are willing to share their email to receive shipping updates, so offer this as an incentive for capturing their contact info.

Incentivize Newsletter Sign-Ups

A well-timed newsletter pop-up during a BFCM sale can encourage shoppers to sign up for updates, giving you the chance to market to them even if they don’t purchase immediately.

• BFCM-Specific Incentive: Offer early access to BFCM deals for subscribers or exclusive discounts. You can promote this through pop-ups or banners on the site.
• Double the Value: Highlight that by subscribing, they’ll not only get deals but also receive tips, holiday shopping guides, and insider perks.

Preparing for abandoned checkouts during BFCM requires a smart blend of automated flows and personalized touchpoints. Email and SMS automations are cost-effective strategies that work around the clock to re-engage shoppers, while personalization and well-timed incentives can make all the difference in recovering those lost sales.

Pairing these strategies with CartConvert’s human-centered approach ensures no potential sale slips through the cracks, giving you comprehensive coverage and maximizing your conversions this BFCM season.

Automation + Human Touch = Maximum Cart Recovery

Getting ready for BFCM means pulling out all the stops to recover abandoned carts, and automated email and SMS flows are some of the most cost-effective ways to do it. These automations work behind the scenes 24/7, keeping shoppers engaged and gently reminding them to complete their purchases.

But let’s be real—sometimes, even the best automation strategy can’t reach everyone, and that’s where CartConvert comes in.

While our automations cover the bulk of abandoned checkouts, CartConvert adds that crucial human touch, stepping in where technology can’t. With peer to peer (P2P) messaging, CartConvert live agents (representing your brand) are able to reach out to shoppers not opted into your brand's automations. With its 1-click installation into your Shopify or BigCommerce platform, they’ll immediately begin to receive the abandoned checkout leads in real time and act as an extension of your sales team, answering live customer questions, and incentivising the shopper to complete the checkout. And the best part, you only pay when CartConvert recovers an abandoned checkout (5% total cart value).

Together, automation plus human interaction ensures no cart goes forgotten, and no shopper slips through the cracks.