Abandoned carts have a significant impact on your online business’s success. Customers who add items to their shopping carts but do not complete the purchase result in lost sales and missed opportunities. According to research, the average cart abandonment rate across industries is a staggering 69.57%. This means that nearly seven out of ten potential customers leave your website without converting.

The power of SMS is one effective strategy for recovering these abandoned carts. Short Message Service (SMS) has proven to be a highly effective communication channel, with a 98% open rate. You can engage with your customers in real-time and increase the likelihood of them returning to complete their purchase by leveraging the immediacy and personal nature of SMS.

SMS’s Effectiveness in Recovering Abandoned Carts

SMS is a direct and immediate way to reach out to your customers, making it an excellent channel for recovering abandoned carts. Unlike emails, which frequently go unread or are lost in spam folders, SMS messages are delivered to the customer’s mobile device and are therefore more likely to be seen. According to studies, SMS messages have an average response time of 90 seconds.

To use SMS to recover abandoned carts, you must implement effective strategies that are appealing to your customers. You can remind shoppers about their abandoned carts, offer incentives, and create a sense of urgency to encourage them to complete their purchases by sending timely and personalized SMS messages.

Also Read: SMS Marketing For e-Commerce 

SMS Abandoned Cart Strategies That Work

• Send an SMS message shortly after the shopper abandons their cart to remind them of the items they left behind. Include a link that returns them to their cart, making it simple for them to complete the purchase.
• Personalized Incentives: As an incentive, offer a discount or free shipping to encourage customers to return and complete their purchases. Personalize the SMS message by mentioning the items in the cart as well as the amount of the discount.
• Create a sense of urgency by emphasizing limited stock availability or a time-limited offer via SMS. Inform the customer that if they do not act quickly, their desired items may become unavailable. 

Examples of Effective Abandoned Cart SMS

Effective SMS messaging necessitates careful thought and consideration. Here are some examples of successful abandoned cart text messages:

• “Good day, [Customer Name], you left something behind!” Complete your order now and receive 10% off your entire order. There is a limited supply available, so do not miss out! [Cart URL]”
• “Hello there! I noticed you did not finish your purchase. Your cart has been saved for you. Return to enjoy free shipping on all items in your shopping cart. [Cart URL]”
• “Hello, [Customer Name], we miss you!” Your items are waiting patiently in your cart. Use the code SAVE15 to save 15% on your order. Do not put it off too long; supplies are running low! [Cart URL]“

Keep your messages brief, concise, and compelling. Use strong calls to action and include a direct link to the customer’s abandoned cart for easy access.

Best Practices for Implementing Abandoned Cart SMS

Follow these best practices to ensure the success of your abandoned cart SMS campaign:

• Permission-based Opt-ins: Before sending SMS messages to customers, obtain their explicit consent. Allow customers to easily opt-out if they no longer want to receive SMS notifications by providing clear opt-in options during the checkout process.
• Segmentation and Personalization: Based on their preferences and past behaviour, segment your customer base and personalize your SMS messages. Customize your messages to appeal to each individual customer, increasing the likelihood of conversion.
• Timing and Frequency: Keep the timing and frequency of your SMS messages in mind. Sending too many messages or at inconvenient times can irritate customers and lead to opt-outs. To determine the best sending schedule, experiment with different timings and measure customer response.

Maximizing the Effectiveness of Abandoned Cart SMS Retargeting

Retargeting is an effective strategy for re-engaging customers who have abandoned their shopping carts. You can create personalized retargeting campaigns that speak directly to the customer’s interests and motivations by using data from customer behaviour and preferences.

Consider the following key strategies when implementing abandoned cart retargeting: 

• Product Dynamic Ads: Display the exact items that customers abandoned in personalized ads across multiple platforms. This increases their interest in the products and serves as a reminder for them to complete the purchase.
• Cross-Channel Retargeting: Extend your retargeting efforts beyond SMS by incorporating email, social media, and display ads. You increase your chances of re-engaging customers by reaching out to them at multiple touchpoints.
• A/B Testing: Test and optimize your retargeting campaigns on a regular basis to identify the most effective strategies. Experiment with different messaging, visuals, and incentives to find the best combination for your audience.

Results Analysis: Measuring the Success of Your Abandoned Cart SMS Campaign

It is critical to measure and analyze the results of your abandoned cart SMS campaign in order to truly understand its impact. Here are some key metrics to keep an eye on:

• Conversion Rate: Calculate the percentage of customers who purchased after receiving an abandoned cart SMS message. This will allow you to assess the effectiveness of your campaign in terms of conversions.
• Revenue Generated: Total the revenue generated by customers who returned and completed their purchases. This metric reflects the monetary impact of your abandoned cart SMS strategy.
• Opt-out Rate: Track the number of customers who decline to receive SMS messages following an abandoned cart reminder. A high opt-out rate may indicate that your messages are not being received by your target audience or that they are being sent too frequently.

The Essential Elements of a Successful Abandoned Cart SMS Template

Include the following key elements when creating an abandoned cart SMS template:

• Personalization: To create a more personalized and engaging experience, address the customer by name.
• Use strong and compelling language to encourage customers to click on the link and complete their purchase.
• Offer exclusive discounts, free shipping, or other incentives to entice customers to return and finish their purchases.

Tools & Platforms for Implementing Abandoned Cart SMS

Several tools and platforms are available to assist you in implementing and automating your abandoned cart SMS strategy. Here are some popular alternatives:

• SMS Marketing Platforms: SMS marketing platforms such as SMSala, SMSBump, and ActiveCampaign provide robust SMS marketing features such as abandoned cart automation and personalized messaging.
• E-commerce Platforms: Many e-commerce platforms, such as Shopify and WooCommerce, have built-in integrations with SMS marketing tools, making abandoned cart SMS strategies easier to implement.

Conclusion:

Do not let abandoned carts derail the success of your online business. You can effectively recover lost sales and boost conversions by leveraging the power of SMS. Implement the strategies outlined in this guide, create compelling SMS messages, and track the success of your campaign. You will be well on your way to increasing customer engagement, driving conversions, and ultimately boosting your bottom line if you use the right approach and tools.