/Copywriting
Question
My abandoned cart emails have 2% click rate - what am I doing wrong?
Posted by •12/12/2025
Set up abandoned cart emails in Klaviyo about a month ago. Getting decent open rates (45%) but click rates are terrible (2%).
My current email:
Subject: You left something behind!
Body:
"Hi [name],
You left items in your cart. Complete your purchase now before they sell out!
[Product image]
[Button: Complete Purchase]
Thanks,
[Store name]"
What am I missing? Everyone says abandoned cart emails are "free money" but mine aren't converting at all.
My current email:
Subject: You left something behind!
Body:
"Hi [name],
You left items in your cart. Complete your purchase now before they sell out!
[Product image]
[Button: Complete Purchase]
Thanks,
[Store name]"
What am I missing? Everyone says abandoned cart emails are "free money" but mine aren't converting at all.
3 Replies
•12/12/2025
This makes so much sense. I was treating abandoned carts as "forgetful people" when really they're "unconvinced people."
Going to set up a 3-email sequence:
1. Soft reminder + social proof (2 hours after)
2. Handle objection + small discount (24 hours)
3. Last chance urgency (48 hours)
Is that timing reasonable or should I space them out more?
Going to set up a 3-email sequence:
1. Soft reminder + social proof (2 hours after)
2. Handle objection + small discount (24 hours)
3. Last chance urgency (48 hours)
Is that timing reasonable or should I space them out more?
•12/12/2025
Timing depends on your product and price point. For most dropshipping products in the €20-50 range, your timing is pretty standard.
My sequence:
- Email 1: 1 hour (catches impulse buyers who got distracted)
- Email 2: 24 hours (the "slept on it" crowd)
- Email 3: 72 hours (last chance, stronger offer)
Some people extend to 7 days but response rates drop off a cliff after 72 hours in my experience.
One important thing: don't lead with the discount. If your first email has 10% off, you're training people to always abandon cart and wait for the coupon. Save the discount for email 2 or 3, and keep it modest (10% max usually).
My sequence:
- Email 1: 1 hour (catches impulse buyers who got distracted)
- Email 2: 24 hours (the "slept on it" crowd)
- Email 3: 72 hours (last chance, stronger offer)
Some people extend to 7 days but response rates drop off a cliff after 72 hours in my experience.
One important thing: don't lead with the discount. If your first email has 10% off, you're training people to always abandon cart and wait for the coupon. Save the discount for email 2 or 3, and keep it modest (10% max usually).
•12/12/2025
Also your subject line is literally the most overused abandoned cart subject line in existence. Every store uses "You left something behind" - people are blind to it now.
Subject lines that work better:
- "[Product name] is getting lonely" (playful)
- "Your cart expires in 24 hours" (urgency)
- "Did something go wrong?" (curiosity + concern)
- "Still thinking it over?" (understanding)
- Just the product name: "Re: Portable Blender" (looks like a reply)
Test different subjects. Open rate affects click rate - if you can get opens to 55-60% with a better subject, clicks will naturally improve too.
Subject lines that work better:
- "[Product name] is getting lonely" (playful)
- "Your cart expires in 24 hours" (urgency)
- "Did something go wrong?" (curiosity + concern)
- "Still thinking it over?" (understanding)
- Just the product name: "Re: Portable Blender" (looks like a reply)
Test different subjects. Open rate affects click rate - if you can get opens to 55-60% with a better subject, clicks will naturally improve too.
•12/12/2025
45% open rate is actually good. 2% click rate means people are opening, reading, and saying "nah."
Look at your email from the customer's perspective. They abandoned the cart for a REASON:
- Price too high?
- Shipping cost surprise?
- Not sure about quality?
- Got distracted?
- Just browsing?
Your email addresses NONE of these. It just says "hey you forgot" - but they didn't forget. They chose not to buy.
Your email needs to overcome the objection, not just remind them the cart exists.
Better approach - try one of these:
1. Handle price objection: "Still thinking about [product]? Here's 10% off to help you decide: [CODE]"
2. Handle trust objection: "Not sure if [product] is right for you? Here's what [customer name] said: [review]"
3. Handle shipping surprise: "Your cart is waiting - and shipping is free if you order in the next 24 hours"
4. Handle quality concern: "Quick question about [product]? Reply to this email and I'll help personally - [your name]"
Different emails for different abandonment reasons. That's why most stores use a SEQUENCE of 3-4 emails, each trying a different angle.
Look at your email from the customer's perspective. They abandoned the cart for a REASON:
- Price too high?
- Shipping cost surprise?
- Not sure about quality?
- Got distracted?
- Just browsing?
Your email addresses NONE of these. It just says "hey you forgot" - but they didn't forget. They chose not to buy.
Your email needs to overcome the objection, not just remind them the cart exists.
Better approach - try one of these:
1. Handle price objection: "Still thinking about [product]? Here's 10% off to help you decide: [CODE]"
2. Handle trust objection: "Not sure if [product] is right for you? Here's what [customer name] said: [review]"
3. Handle shipping surprise: "Your cart is waiting - and shipping is free if you order in the next 24 hours"
4. Handle quality concern: "Quick question about [product]? Reply to this email and I'll help personally - [your name]"
Different emails for different abandonment reasons. That's why most stores use a SEQUENCE of 3-4 emails, each trying a different angle.