How To Send Email From Woocommerce Websites

How to Send Email from Your WooCommerce Website: A Beginner’s Guide

So, you’ve set up your online store with WooCommerce, which is fantastic! You’re ready to take orders and make sales. But one crucial piece of the puzzle is often overlooked: email communication. Sending the right emails at the right time is critical for keeping your customers informed and engaged. This guide will walk you through how to send email from your WooCommerce website, even if you’re a complete beginner.

Why is sending emails important? Think about it like this: imagine ordering a pizza online and never receiving confirmation that your order was received, or when it will be delivered. You’d likely be worried and frustrated. Email communication in WooCommerce avoids these problems.

Why Email is Crucial for Your WooCommerce Store

Think of emails as the backbone of your customer experience. They help with:

• Order Confirmations: Letting customers know their order was received successfully. A clear order confirmation with an order number makes your customers feel secure.
• Shipping Updates: Keeping customers informed about their order’s journey. No one likes to be left in the dark!
• Password Resets: Enabling users to recover access to their accounts.
• Account Creation: Confirming new user registrations.
• Abandoned Cart Reminders: Gently nudging potential customers to complete their purchase. Think of this as a second chance to close a sale. “Hi [Customer Name], it looks like you left some items in your cart! Click here to complete your order.”
• Promotional Offers: Announcing sales, new product launches, or exclusive discounts. Think of it like sharing good news with your favorite customers.
• General Communication: Addressing customer inquiries and providing support. Prompt and helpful email support builds trust and loyalty.

WooCommerce’s Built-in Email System

Out of the box, WooCommerce provides a basic email system that handles essential transactional emails. This includes:

• New Order
• Processing Order
• Completed Order
• On-Hold Order
• Canceled Order
• Refunded Order
• Failed Order
• Password Reset
• New Account

You can find and customize these settings under WooCommerce > Settings > Emails.

Customizing Your WooCommerce Emails

While the default WooCommerce emails are functional, you can customize them to better reflect your brand. Here’s how:

1. Accessing Email Settings: Navigate to WooCommerce > Settings > Emails in your WordPress dashboard.

2. Choosing an Email: Click on the email you want to customize (e.g., “New Order”).

3. Customization Options: You’ll find options to:

• Enable/Disable: Turn the email on or off.
• Recipient(s): Specify who receives the email (e.g., store owner, customer).
• Subject: The email’s subject line. This is important to capture your customers attention.
• Email Heading: The main heading in the email body.
• Additional Content: Add extra text or instructions to the email.
• Email Type: Choose the format (HTML, Plain text, Multipart). HTML is generally preferred for visual appeal.
• Manage Template: Allows you to customize the email template.

Example: Let’s say you want to customize the “New Order” email.

• Subject: Instead of the default “[Your Store Name] New order (#ORDERNUMBER)”, you could use “Woohoo! We Received Your Order (#ORDERNUMBER)”. A slightly friendlier tone can go a long way.
• Email Heading: Instead of “New order”, you could use “Thank you for your order!”.
• Additional Content: You could add a personalized thank you message and an estimated shipping time.

Using Plugins for Advanced Email Management

While WooCommerce’s built-in system is a good starting point, it has limitations. For more advanced features, consider using plugins. Here are some popular options:

• WooCommerce Email Customizer: Allows you to visually customize your email templates with a drag-and-drop interface. Ideal for non-coders who want to create visually appealing emails.
• MailPoet: An email marketing plugin specifically designed for WooCommerce. Great for building email lists and sending newsletters and promotional campaigns. It integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce.
• Klaviyo: A powerful email marketing platform with advanced segmentation and automation features. Suitable for stores with larger customer bases and more complex marketing needs. It allows for things like personalized product recommendations based on past purchases.
• Sendinblue: A comprehensive marketing platform that includes email marketing, SMS marketing, and chat features.
• WP Mail SMTP: Ensures your emails are delivered reliably by using an SMTP server. Essential for avoiding emails ending up in spam folders.

Example using MailPoet:

MailPoet allows you to create automated welcome emails for new subscribers.

1. Install and activate the MailPoet plugin.

2. Go to MailPoet > Emails.

3. Create a new “Welcome Email”.

4. Design your email using the drag-and-drop editor. Include a welcome message, a discount code, or links to your most popular products.

5. Set the email to be sent automatically when someone subscribes to your list.

Ensuring Email Deliverability: The Importance of SMTP

One of the biggest challenges with sending emails from WordPress is ensuring they actually reach your customers’ inboxes. Many web hosting servers aren’t configured for reliable email sending, which can lead to emails being marked as spam.

What is SMTP?

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is a standard protocol for sending emails. Using an SMTP server bypasses your web server’s potentially unreliable email system and uses a dedicated email service.

Why Use SMTP?

• Improved Deliverability: Significantly reduces the chances of your emails ending up in spam.
• Authentication: SMTP servers authenticate your emails, verifying that they are legitimate.
• Reliability: Dedicated email services are designed for high email volume and reliability.

How to Set Up SMTP with WP Mail SMTP:

1. Install and activate the WP Mail SMTP plugin.

2. Go to WP Mail SMTP > Settings.

3. Choose an SMTP provider (e.g., Gmail, Sendinblue, Mailgun).

4. Follow the plugin’s instructions to configure your SMTP settings. This usually involves entering your email address, password, and SMTP server details.

Important: Consider creating a dedicated email address for your store (e.g., [email protected]) instead of using a personal email address. This looks more professional and improves deliverability.

Testing Your Emails

After setting up your email system, it’s crucial to test everything to ensure it’s working correctly.

• Place a Test Order: Go through the entire purchase process on your website to trigger all relevant emails.
• Check Your Inbox: Verify that you receive the order confirmation, shipping updates, and other transactional emails.
• Check Your Spam Folder: If you don’t see the emails in your inbox, check your spam folder. If they’re going to spam, adjust your SMTP settings or email content to improve deliverability.
• Use Email Testing Tools: Online tools like Mail-Tester can analyze your email content and provide feedback on how to improve your sender score and avoid spam filters.

Conclusion

Sending effective emails from your WooCommerce website is essential for building customer relationships and driving sales. By customizing your WooCommerce emails, using plugins for advanced functionality, and setting up SMTP for reliable delivery, you can ensure that your customers receive the information they need, when they need it. So go ahead, start crafting those emails, and watch your business flourish! Good luck!