What Is an Abandoned Cart Flow (and Why Your Store Needs One)
Ever had someone come into your store, fill up their shopping cart, then walk out before buying?
Now imagine if you could gently tap them on the shoulder later and say, “Hey, you forgot something!”
That’s exactly what an abandoned cart flow does — but online.
When someone adds an item to their cart on your website but doesn’t complete the purchase, an automated email (or a series of them) gets sent to remind them to come back and finish checking out. Think of it as a friendly little nudge, not a pushy salesperson.
How It Works
Here’s how it usually goes:
- A customer adds something to their cart — maybe a pair of shoes, a gadget, or a cute mug.
- They leave without buying — maybe they got distracted, needed to think about it, or just weren’t ready.
- Your email flow kicks in automatically — your email marketing platform (like Mailchimp, Klaviyo, or Brevo) sends a reminder email a few hours later.
- The email brings them back — sometimes it includes a product photo, the items they left behind, or even a small discount to sweeten the deal.
You don’t have to do anything once it’s set up — the system does the follow-up for you.
Why It’s So Important
Abandoned cart flows are one of the highest-converting automations in email marketing.
Here’s why:
- People who abandoned their cart were already interested — they just need a reminder.
- You can recover 10–20% of lost sales with a good abandoned cart flow.
- It builds trust when done right (no spammy vibes, just helpful reminders).
Think of it as saving sales that were this close to being yours.
What to Include in an Abandoned Cart Email
Keep it simple, personal, and friendly. A good flow might look like this:
Email 1 (After a few hours): A friendly reminder — “Looks like you left something behind!”
Email 2 (After a day or two): Highlight the product again, maybe include reviews or free shipping info.
Email 3 (Optional): A small discount or a final reminder before their cart expires.
Bonus tip: Always include a clear button that says something like “Return to Your Cart” — make it easy for them to finish the checkout.
Final Thoughts
If you run an online store and you’re not using an abandoned cart flow yet, you’re leaving money on the table. The good news? It’s one of the easiest automations to set up — and one of the most effective.
And if you’d rather skip the tech headaches, Digital Marauders can help you get it done right. We’ll build you a smart, seamless abandoned cart flow that helps turn browsers into buyers — automatically.
👉 Contact us today to get started!
