Woocommerce How To Modify Thank You For Your Purchase Email

WooCommerce: Master the “Thank You” Email – Customization Guide

Introduction:

The “Thank You for Your Purchase” email is often the *last* direct communication a customer receives after placing an order on your WooCommerce store. It’s a crucial touchpoint for reinforcing a positive brand image and encouraging repeat business. A generic, out-of-the-box email can feel impersonal and leave customers wanting more. This article will guide you through various methods to modify and personalize this vital communication, maximizing its impact and improving the overall customer experience. From simple text edits to more complex code customizations, we’ll equip you with the knowledge to create a memorable “Thank You” email that aligns with your brand and delights your customers.

Main Part: Customizing Your WooCommerce Thank You Email

There are several ways to modify the WooCommerce “Thank You” email, ranging from simple adjustments to more complex code-based solutions. Choosing the right method depends on your comfort level with coding and the extent of customization you desire.

1. Modifying the Email Text Directly in WooCommerce Settings

This is the *easiest* and most straightforward way to make basic changes.

• Navigate to WooCommerce > Settings > Emails.
• Locate the “Processing order” email and the “Completed order” email (these both act as the “Thank You” email in different scenarios).
• Click “Manage” next to the email you want to modify.
• Here, you can edit the:
• Email Subject: This is what the customer sees in their inbox. Make it clear, concise, and include your brand name.
• Email Heading: This is the title within the email itself.
• Additional Content: This is the area where you can add a personalized message, special offers, or other relevant information.
• Remember to click “Save changes” at the bottom of the page.

Pros:

• Very simple and user-friendly.
• No coding required.

Cons:

• Limited customization options. You can only change the text content.
• Not ideal for adding complex layouts or dynamic data.

2. Using WooCommerce Email Customizer Plugins

Many plugins are available that provide a drag-and-drop interface to customize WooCommerce emails. These plugins often offer more flexibility than the built-in settings. Popular choices include:

• YayMail – WooCommerce Email Customizer
• Kadence WooCommerce Email Designer
• Email Customizer for WooCommerce by Themeisle

These plugins generally allow you to:

• Visually edit the email template.
• Add your logo and branding elements.
• Customize colors and fonts.
• Insert dynamic order information.

Pros:

• Visual editing makes customization easier for non-coders.
• More customization options than the built-in settings.

Cons:

• May require a paid subscription for advanced features.
• Can sometimes add bloat to your website if not well-coded. Choose a reputable plugin.

3. Overriding the WooCommerce Email Templates via Theme (Code-Based)

This method involves directly modifying the WooCommerce email templates using code. It offers the *greatest* flexibility but requires familiarity with PHP and WooCommerce template structure.

• Locate the Template Files: The default WooCommerce email templates are located in the `wp-content/plugins/woocommerce/templates/emails/` directory.
• Create a `woocommerce` Directory in Your Theme: In your active theme’s directory, create a folder named `woocommerce`.
• Copy the Template Files: Copy the template files you want to modify from the WooCommerce plugin directory into the `woocommerce` directory in your theme. For example, to modify the order received email, copy `order/order-details.php` to `wp-content/themes/your-theme/woocommerce/order/order-details.php`.
• Modify the Template: Edit the copied template file with your desired changes. For example, you could add a custom message after the order details:

<?php
/**
Order details
* This template can be overridden by copying it to yourtheme/woocommerce/order/order-details.php.
* HOWEVER, on occasion WooCommerce will need to update template files and you
(the theme developer) will need to copy the new files to your theme to
maintain compatibility. We try to do this as little as possible, but it does
happen. When this occurs the version of the template file will be bumped and
the readme will list any important changes.
* @see     https://docs.woocommerce.com/document/template-structure/
@package WooCommerceTemplates
@version 4.6.0
*/

defined( ‘ABSPATH’ ) || exit;

$order = wc_get_order( $order_id );

if ( ! $order ) {

return;

}

$order_items = $order->get_items( apply_filters( ‘woocommerce_purchase_order_item_types’, ‘line_item’ ) );

$show_purchase_note = $order->has_status( apply_filters( ‘woocommerce_purchase_note_order_statuses’, array( ‘completed’, ‘processing’ ) ) );

$show_customer_details = is_user_logged_in() && $order->get_user_id() === get_current_user_id();

$downloads = $order->get_downloadable_items();

$show_downloads = $order->has_downloadable_item() && $order->is_download_permitted();

if ( $show_downloads ) {

wc_get_template(

‘order/order-downloads.php’,

array(

‘downloads’ => $downloads,

‘order’ => $order,

)

);

}

?>

<?php

if ( $show_customer_details ) {

?>

get_billing_email() ); ?>

get_billing_phone() ); ?>

<?php

}

?>

<?php

wc_get_template(

‘order/order-details-item.php’,

array(

‘order’ => $order,

‘order_items’ => $order_items,

‘show_purchase_note’ => $show_purchase_note,

‘plain_text’ => $plain_text,

)

);

?>

<?php

?>

<?php

if ( $show_customer_details ) {

wc_get_template( ‘order/order-customer-details.php’, array( ‘order’ => $order ) );

}

?>

Thank you for shopping with us! We appreciate your business.

• Important: Always test your changes in a staging environment before deploying them to your live site. Also, when WooCommerce updates, you may need to update your custom templates to maintain compatibility.

Pros:

• *Maximum* customization and control over the email’s appearance and functionality.
• Allows for adding dynamic content based on order details.

Cons:

• Requires PHP and WooCommerce template knowledge.
• Can be complex and time-consuming.
• Requires maintenance to ensure compatibility with WooCommerce updates.

4. Using Filters and Hooks (Code-Based)

WooCommerce provides a robust system of filters and hooks that allow you to modify its behavior without directly editing the core template files. This is generally the recommended approach for code-based customizations.

• `woocommerce_email_subject_customer_processing_order`: Filter the subject of the “Processing order” email.
• `woocommerce_email_subject_customer_completed_order`: Filter the subject of the “Completed order” email.
• `woocommerce_email_heading_customer_processing_order`: Filter the heading of the “Processing order” email.
• `woocommerce_email_heading_customer_completed_order`: Filter the heading of the “Completed order” email.
• `woocommerce_email_order_details`: Action hook to add custom content after the order details table.

Here’s an example of how to use a filter to change the email subject:

add_filter( 'woocommerce_email_subject_customer_processing_order', 'custom_processing_order_subject', 10, 2 );

function custom_processing_order_subject( $subject, $order ) {

$blogname = wp_specialchars_decode( get_option( ‘blogname’ ), ENT_QUOTES );

$order_id = $order->get_order_number();

$subject = sprintf( ‘[%s] Your Order #%s is Being Processed!’, $blogname, $order_id );

return $subject;

}

Add this code to your theme’s `functions.php` file or a custom plugin.

Pros:

• Non-destructive: doesn’t directly modify core files.
• Relatively easier to maintain compared to template overrides.
• Provides granular control over specific elements of the email.

Cons:

• Requires some PHP knowledge and understanding of WooCommerce hooks.
• Can be less visually intuitive than template overrides.

Conclusion:

Customizing your WooCommerce “Thank You” email is an *essential* step in enhancing customer satisfaction and fostering brand loyalty. Whether you choose to make simple text edits directly in the WooCommerce settings, utilize a dedicated email customizer plugin, or delve into code-based solutions, the key is to create an email that reflects your brand identity and provides a personalized experience for your customers. Remember to test your changes thoroughly and choose the method that best aligns with your technical skills and desired level of customization. By investing in a well-crafted “Thank You” email, you can turn one-time buyers into returning customers and build a thriving WooCommerce business.