Woocommerce How To Change Order Notification Email

WooCommerce: How to Change Order Notification Emails (The Easy Way!)

So, you’re using WooCommerce to sell amazing products online? Great! One of the most important things you need to nail is order notification emails. These emails are your direct line of communication with customers, keeping them informed about the status of their order. They’re not just polite; they’re crucial for building trust and providing a seamless experience.

But what if the default WooCommerce emails are a bit… bland? What if you want to add your branding, offer personalized messages, or include extra information? Don’t worry! This guide will walk you through changing your WooCommerce order notification emails, even if you’re a complete beginner.

Think of it this way: Imagine ordering a pizza online and receiving a confirmation email that’s just a plain text receipt. Now, imagine receiving a beautifully designed email with your name, a thank you message, and a fun promotional offer for your next order. Which one would you prefer? The latter creates a better impression and encourages repeat business!

Why Customize WooCommerce Order Emails?

Before we dive in, let’s quickly recap why customizing these emails is so important:

Brand Consistency: Ensure your emails match your website’s design and branding, reinforcing your brand identity.
Improved Customer Experience: Provide clear, concise, and personalized information to keep customers informed and happy.
Increased Sales: Include promotional offers, upsell opportunities, or discount codes in your emails to drive further purchases.
Reduced Support Inquiries: Answer common questions (like shipping times or return policies) directly in the email, reducing the load on your customer support team.

Method 1: Using the Built-in WooCommerce Customizer (Limited)

WooCommerce offers some basic customization options right within the admin panel. This is the easiest starting point.

1. Navigate to WooCommerce > Settings > Emails.

2. You’ll see a list of different email types, such as “New Order,” “Processing Order,” “Completed Order,” etc.

3. Click on the email you want to edit. (e.g., “New Order”).

4. You’ll find options to customize the:

Email Subject: This is the first thing your customers will see! Make it clear and informative.
Email Heading: This is the main heading displayed in the email body.
Additional Content: This is where you can add extra text to the email body.

5. Example:

Subject: “Your [Your Store Name] Order #[Order Number] Confirmed!”
Heading: “Thank you for your order!”
Additional Content: “We’re now processing your order and will ship it out as soon as possible. You can track your order here: [Tracking Link (if available)]”

6. Don’t forget to save your changes!

Limitations: This method offers limited customization. You can only change the subject, heading, and add some extra text. You can’t change the overall design or add more complex elements.

Method 2: Using WooCommerce Email Customizer Plugins (Recommended)

For more advanced customization, you’ll need a plugin. Many plugins allow you to visually design your emails using a drag-and-drop interface, no coding required! Some popular options include:

YayMail – WooCommerce Email Customizer: (Often free for basic use)
Kadence WooCommerce Email Designer:
Email Customizer for WooCommerce by ThemeHigh:

Example using a plugin (Generic Steps):

1. Install and activate your chosen plugin. Search for it in the WordPress plugin directory.

2. Navigate to the plugin’s settings. This is usually found under the WooCommerce menu.

3. Select the email you want to customize. (e.g., “New Order”).

4. Use the visual editor to drag and drop elements: You can add your logo, change colors, add images, edit text, and more.

5. Preview your changes: Most plugins offer a preview option so you can see how your email will look.

6. Save your changes!

Benefits of using plugins:

Visual design: Easier to create visually appealing emails.
More customization options: Control over layout, colors, fonts, images, and more.
No coding required: Ideal for non-developers.
Pre-built templates: Some plugins offer ready-made templates to get you started.

Method 3: Overriding WooCommerce Email Templates (For Developers)

This method is for those who are comfortable with PHP and HTML coding. You’ll be directly modifying WooCommerce’s email templates. Warning: This can be risky if not done correctly. Always back up your site before making changes!

1. Create a `woocommerce` folder in your theme’s directory (or child theme’s directory!). For example, `wp-content/themes/your-theme/woocommerce/`. Using a child theme is HIGHLY recommended so your changes aren’t lost when the main theme updates.

2. Copy the email template files you want to customize from the WooCommerce plugin folder to your theme’s `woocommerce` folder.

The default templates are located in `wp-content/plugins/woocommerce/templates/emails/`.
For example, to customize the “New Order” email, copy `wp-content/plugins/woocommerce/templates/emails/new-order.php` to `wp-content/themes/your-theme/woocommerce/emails/new-order.php`.

3. Edit the copied template files. Use a code editor to modify the HTML and PHP to achieve your desired look and functionality.

4. Example: Adding a custom message at the end of the New Order email:

Open `wp-content/themes/your-theme/woocommerce/emails/new-order.php` and add the following code snippet before the `?>` closing tag at the bottom of the file:

 <?php /** Show user-defined additional content - this is filterable, as of WooCommerce 3.6.0
 * @hooked WC_Emails::email_footer()
 */ do_action( 'woocommerce_email_footer', $email ); ?>

Thank you for supporting our small business! We really appreciate it.

Explanation: This adds a paragraph with a custom message at the end of the email. The styling is inline CSS, which is generally recommended for emails to ensure compatibility across different email clients.

Important Considerations:

Keep updates in mind: When WooCommerce is updated, your customized templates might need to be updated as well to maintain compatibility. Check the changelog for any template changes.
Use hooks and filters: Instead of directly modifying core WooCommerce files, consider using WooCommerce’s action hooks and filters to modify the email content. This is a more robust and maintainable approach.
Email client compatibility: Different email clients render HTML and CSS differently. Test your emails in multiple email clients (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, etc.) to ensure they look good everywhere.

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Testing Your Email Customizations

Always test your email customizations before going live! WooCommerce offers a “Preview email” option on some settings pages, but the best way to test is to:

Place a test order: Use your own email address to place a test order on your website.
Check your inbox: Verify that the email is delivered correctly and that the content and design are as expected.
Test different email types: Test all the different email types that you have customized.

Conclusion

Customizing your WooCommerce order notification emails is a powerful way to improve customer experience, boost sales, and reinforce your brand. Whether you use the built-in customizer, a dedicated plugin, or directly modify the templates, make sure to test your changes thoroughly. A well-designed and informative email can make all the difference in building lasting relationships with your customers. Remember, even small changes can have a big impact! Good luck!