16 Abandoned Cart SMS Examples to Win Back Customers
Published: Jan 29, 2024
Abandoned carts often seem like a lost cause for eCommerce brands. But actually, they hold a great deal of potential for recovering sales. As an online retailer, you still have the chance to win over some of the customers who added a product to their cart but didn’t—or maybe couldn’t—complete the purchase. One way to sway online shoppers back to their carts is through an SMS reminder. This communication channel has a lot more power than you think.
Of course, there are many reasons why customers abandon carts. These include loss of interest or technical issues. But a well-written abandoned cart SMS with an incentive can pull some of them back. Explore some of the key aspects of a cart recovery campaign below; we also have abandoned cart SMS templates you can use.
What Is an Abandoned Cart Message?
An abandoned cart message refers to a reminder text message that aims to encourage customers to complete their purchase after they leave products in their online shopping cart. It’s a proactive marketing strategy for redeeming lost sales, leveraging direct SMS communication to reengage customers and recover abandoned carts. Abandoned cart SMS messages typically include details about the abandoned product, a clear call to action, and incentives that encourage the recipient to buy the item.
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Why Do Customers Abandon Shopping Carts?
eCommerce sites face abandoned shopping carts on a daily basis as customers leave the checkout page with one or a few items in their online store shopping carts. Here are common reasons why:
1. High Shipping Fees
Nothing deters customers more than getting to the checkout process only to see unexpectedly high shipping costs. Should you need to charge for shipping, you’ll want to keep the fees reasonable. Being transparent with these extra costs is also essential, as it builds trust.
2. Long Delivery Time
If the customer sees that the delivery time is too far off, you can expect them to abandon their cart. This is especially true when customers are looking for quick or time-sensitive purchases. Providing fair and clear delivery timeframes as well as quick shipping options can help address this issue.
3. Website Error
Technical glitches, slow loading times, or website crashes can be quite frustrating, causing customers to abandon their carts—even if they wanted to buy the product they found. A seamless and error-free online shopping experience is vital for customer satisfaction and the completion of purchases.
4. Unsatisfactory Return Policy
Loyal customers may give up on their purchase if they find the return policy unfair, unclear, or unsatisfactory. A transparent and reasonable return policy, on the other hand, can contribute to a positive shopping experience. This way, you'll end up reducing shopping cart abandonment.
5. Limited Payment Options
Another common reason why your customer abandoned their online shopping carts is limited payment options. Offering a variety of payment methods, including credit cards, digital wallets like PayPal, and other popular methods, helps you cater to diverse customer preferences.
6. Complex Checkout Process
Customers expect a seamless shopping journey with eCommerce businesses. A long or complicated checkout process can be as annoying as website errors, leading customers to abandon their carts. Simplifying the checkout process and reducing the number of steps can enhance the customer experience. It’s also a good idea to provide guest checkout options for those who don’t wish to create an account.
7. Suspicious Website
Customers will abandon carts if the website appears suspicious or untrustworthy. To prevent losing potential sales due to suspicion, you must build a secure and reputable online presence through trust indicators, secure payment gateways, and clear contact information.
Key Elements of Abandoned Cart Messages
If done right, cart abandonment messages can be a powerful way to regain the attention of customers and potentially recover sales. It takes certain elements for cart abandonment text messages to be effective. You want to remind customers about the value they get from your business.
1. Customer’s Name
Always include the customer’s name in your shopping cart abandonment text. This not only personalizes the message but also makes it more engaging and boosts the likelihood of catching the recipient’s attention. When you address the customer by name, the message feels tailored to their journey with your brand, creating a connection and encouraging them to take action.
2. Product Name
Needless to say, you’ll want to mention what product you’re reminding the recipient about. This makes the message more relevant to the customer’s interests. It makes the message more specific and helps the customer recall the item they were intending to buy.
3. Product URL
Providing a direct link to the abandoned product allows customers to easily revisit the product page, streamlining the shopping journey. The product URL serves as a convenient shortcut, reducing friction and making it more likely for the recipient to return to their abandoned cart.
4. Discount Offer
Offering discount codes or text promotions provides extra motivation for the recipients to go back and finalize the transaction. This is especially helpful if the customer is on the fence about buying the item. A coupon code sweetens the deal and adds value to the purchase. A similar idea is to offer free shipping.
5. Call to Action
Adding a clear and compelling call to action lets the recipient know what to do next, prompting them to click the provided link and revisit their abandoned cart. A short and strong CTA, like "get your items now" or "complete your purchase," can be effective enough to direct the customer toward the desired action.
6. Sense of Urgency
Creating a sense of urgency instills a feeling that the customer should act quickly to take advantage of the offer or complete the purchase before a certain time. Use phrases like "limited time offer" or "sale ends soon” to evoke the fear of missing out (FOMO) and urge recipients to decide on the spot.
Tips for Writing Effective Abandoned Cart Text Messages
Recovering abandoned carts via SMS marketing is a delicate procedure. It involves taking several measures as part of a cart abandonment strategy.
1. Pair SMS with Email
While many customers are responsive to SMS messages, some are more responsive to email. Combining both channels for abandoned cart recovery boosts the chances of reaching the customer.
That being said, consider sending a timely SMS cart recovery message and following up with an email going into more detail about the abandoned items. You can also do A/B testing by sending the email first to some of the customers and seeing what works best. The synergy between SMS and email drives up the impact of the recovery strategy.
2. Be Mindful of the Timing
Timing is key, especially when it comes to abandoned cart recovery. By integrating SMS with cart recovery automation tools, you can schedule the delivery of automated text messages at certain time intervals after the cart abandonment.
Send the cart abandonment recovery reminder too soon, and you risk coming off as desperate and annoying. Send the reminder too late, and the customer may not remember what you’re referring to. Aim to deliver the message within an hour or two for optimal results, followed by an email the next day.
3. Offer Real-Time Support
One of the reasons customers abandon their carts is because they encounter technical issues with the website. It’s also possible that they have questions or concerns about the product.
Offering real-time support through abandoned cart messages can address any concerns and encourage recipients to complete the purchase. Include a clear call to action that invites customers to reach out for help. This can be through a link to a live chat or an option to reply directly to the SMS text.
4. Include an Image
By switching to MMS texting, you can add a picture of the item left in the customer’s cart. Having the recipient see the product they were interested in can entice them to revisit the site and finalize the purchase. Make sure the image is clear, relevant, and portrays the item well.
You can also add emojis that reflect your brand voice to create a more engaging message, but keep them to a minimum; otherwise, they can be distracting.
5. Provide an Opt-out Option
Some customers abandon their carts simply because they’re not interested in buying the product anymore. Chances are they still don’t want to make the purchase—even if you offer discounts.
It’s important to respect their preferences and offer them an easy way to opt out. That’s why you should always include a clear and easy opt-out option in your abandoned cart messages. Doing so helps build trust in your brand and keeps uninterested recipients from blocking your number.
Cart Abandonment SMS and Compliance
A critical aspect of sending abandoned cart text messages is compliance. As a business, you must comply with data protection regulations and respect the customer’s privacy. This means gaining explicit consent from customers before reaching out to them about their abandoned carts.
Remember to provide an opt-out option in case the recipient isn’t interested anymore. Taking these measures allows you to stay compliant with privacy laws like the GDPR. Aim to find a balance between recovering potential sales and maintaining compliance.
Abandoned Cart Text Message Examples
If you don't know where to start, you may find our abandoned cart SMS template quite handy. Whether you're sending gentle reminders to regulars or trying to retain new customers, here are 16 SMS abandoned cart examples from which you can draw inspiration:
“Hi Martha! It looks like you forgot something. Complete your purchase today with the discount code 7856. Shop here: http://bit.ly/p1we1”
“Hi Omar! Your items are waiting at http://bit.ly/p1we1. Place your order now and get a 10% discount. Don’t miss out!”
“Hey Tom! Your favorites are running out. Complete your order now before they’re gone. Click here: http://bit.ly/p1we1”
“Hey Paula! You’re just a step away. Buy your items now and get an exclusive offer. Go to http://bit.ly/p1we1.”
“Great news, Richard! Enjoy free shipping on your order. Finish your purchase now at http://bit.ly/p1we1. Reply STOP to opt out.”
“Hi Philomena! Your cart misses you! Click here to complete your purchase now and get 15% off. Discount code valid until Friday.”
“Guess what, Jim! Your items are part of our flash sale today. Complete your order now to benefit from the exclusive deals.”
“Hey Veronica, we think you’ll love this coat too! Buy it today and get 10% off your next order.”
“Hey Steven! The shirt you added to cart is nearly sold out! Grab it now before it’s gone. Reply STOP to opt out.”
“Hi Stanley! You left something in your cart. Place your order now, and we’ll include a special gift in your package.”
“Hello Karen! Your items are ready for checkout. Head over to http://bit.ly/p1we1 and finalize your purchase.”
“You’re one tap away from placing your order. Here’s a quick checkout link to make it easy for you: http://bit.ly/p1we1”
“You’ve got great taste, Julia! Complete your purchase now and get early access to our winter collection.”
“Tick-tock! Place your order within the next hour for an extra 20% off. Click here to go to your cart now.”
“Hey Olivia! This is just a friendly reminder that there’s one item left in your cart. Buy it now to complete your fabulous look.”
“Need help with your order, Helen? We noticed you left your cart without completing your purchase. Feel free to reach out to us here.”
