Mastering WooCommerce: Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting Subscription Reminder Emails in WordPress

One of the most important insights we’ve gained from testing subscription systems in WooCommerce is that effective communication is essential.

Store owners who proactively inform their subscribers about upcoming renewals not only enjoy higher retention rates but also experience a decrease in support inquiries and complaints.

After assisting numerous subscription businesses through CanadaCreate, we’ve honed the process of crafting reminder emails that are both informative and unobtrusive.

You don’t need to be a technical expert to apply these strategies – just the right tools and a thoughtful approach.

In this comprehensive guide, we will teach you how to create subscription reminder emails that your customers will genuinely value.

The Importance of Creating WooCommerce Subscription Reminder Emails in WordPress

Once you have established WooCommerce subscriptions, it’s beneficial to set up subscription reminder emails. These automated notifications inform customers that their subscriptions are nearing renewal.

• Minimize Failed Payments:Reminder emails provide customers with an opportunity to update their credit card or contact information, thus preventing renewal issues.
• Enhance Customer Experience:A timely reminder fosters transparency and builds trust, leading to fewer customer complaints.
• Reduce Support Requests:Proactive communication can help you avoid administrative challenges and refund inquiries.

This approach allows subscribers to update their payment details and contact information or make other necessary changes before their subscription automatically renews. This strategy helps prevent administrative challenges, refund requests, and customer complaints.

It also provides customers with the option to cancel their subscription.

While it’s important to attract as many subscribers as possible, customers who feel misled into renewing their subscriptions may voice complaints or leave negative reviews.

In the following sections, we will guide you through the process of creating a subscription reminder email in WordPress using the WooCommerce Subscriptions extension along with FunnelKit.

Here is a comprehensive list of steps we will cover in this guide:

• Step 1: Configure FunnelKit Automations
• Step 2: Set Up a FunnelKit Email Reminder Automation
• Step 3: Design Your WooCommerce Subscription Reminder Email
• Step 4: Create Follow-Up Emails
• Bonus: Ensure Your Reminder Emails Are Successfully Delivered!
• Common Questions About Sending WooCommerce Emails

Are you ready? Let’s dive in.

How to Create a WooCommerce Subscription Reminder Email in WordPress

The most effective way to create a subscription reminder email is by utilizing FunnelKit Automations, the leading marketing automation tool for WooCommerce websites.

We have tested it across various WooCommerce stores, and you can read our detailed review of FunnelKit Automations for more insights.

FunnelKit enables you to effortlessly set up automated emails for abandoned cart recovery, lead nurturing, post-purchase education, next-order discounts, subscription reminders, and much more.

Step 1: Configure FunnelKit Automations

Begin by installing and activating the FunnelKit Automations Pro plugin. For detailed instructions, refer to our guide on installing a WordPress plugin.

The Pro plugin serves as an add-on, so you will also need the free FunnelKit Automations plugin. The free version offers essential features, while the Pro version provides advanced capabilities such as subscription reminders.

Once both plugins are activated, proceed to FunnelKit Automations » Settings and enter your license key in the ‘FunnelKit Automations Pro’ field. You can locate this information in your account on the FunnelKit website.

After entering the key, simply click the ‘Activate’ button.

You are now set to create various WooCommerce automations that boost sales.

Step 2: Set Up a FunnelKit Email Reminder Automation

To create a subscription reminder email, navigate to the FunnelKit Automations » Automations (Next-Gen) section in the WordPress dashboard.

Next, click on the ‘Add New Automation’ button.

This action will open FunnelKit’s library of pre-designed automation templates.

For this tutorial, we will select the ‘Start From Scratch’ option.

You can enter a name for the automation, which is for your reference, so feel free to choose any name you like.

After that, click the ‘Create’ button.

This will open FunnelKit’s intuitive email automation builder.

Now you are ready to create the WooCommerce workflow. To begin, click on ‘Select Trigger.’

You can now select the action that will initiate the automated workflow in WordPress.

To proceed, click on the ‘WooCommerce’ tab and choose ‘Subscriptions Before Renewal.’

When you are ready, click on ‘Done.’

This will add a basic trigger to the FunnelKit editor. To customize the trigger, click on ‘Subscriptions Before Renewal.’

Now you can determine when to send the reminder email.

Keep in mind that you can also create follow-up emails. For instance, you could send a reminder 5 days before the subscription renewal and a follow-up the day before.

To set a date, simply enter a number in the ‘Days before subscription renewal’ field.

You can also select the time when the email will be sent. It’s advisable to send reminder emails when subscribers are more likely to be online and checking their messages.

Understanding your subscribers is crucial. If you haven’t done so yet, we recommend installing Google Analytics on your WordPress site. This tool will provide valuable insights about your customers, such as their time zones and peak online activity.

Once your reminder emails are set up, it’s beneficial to monitor your email open rates. Consider implementing A/B split testing by sending emails at different times to determine which timing yields the best results.

By regularly analyzing and optimizing your custom WooCommerce emails, you can enhance both your open rates and conversion rates.

You can schedule FunnelKit to send reminder emails at specific times by entering the desired hour (‘HH’) and minute (‘MM’) in the provided fields.

Next, you can decide whether to send this email just once or multiple times.

In the following sections, we will guide you on how to include follow-up emails in this campaign. Generally, you will want to send this email once by selecting the ‘Once’ option.

After configuring the trigger, click the ‘Save’ button to finalize your settings.

Step 3: Create the Design for the WooCommerce Subscription Reminder Email

Now, it’s time to design the WooCommerce email that will be sent to your subscribers by clicking the ‘+’ button.

Next, select the ‘Action’ option.

In the pop-up window that appears, choose ‘Send Email.’

After that, click ‘Done.’

Now, you can start crafting your email by entering a subject line and preview text.

You can combine plain text with merge tags. FunnelKit will automatically replace any merge tags with actual values when sending a subscription reminder email, allowing for personalized content that captures the subscriber’s attention.

For instance, you might use a merge tag to include the subscriber’s name in the subject line or the date their subscription will renew.

To insert a merge tag, click on the ‘{{.}}’ icon next to the desired field.

This will open the merge tag library. Merge tags are placeholders (like {{ contact.first_name }}) that automatically populate your emails with customer information, enhancing personalization.

When you find a tag you want to use, look for either a ‘Copy’ or ‘Settings’ icon. If you see the ‘Copy’ symbol, click it to copy the merge tag.

Once copied, you can paste the merge tag into your email.

At this stage, you may also want to include some static text by typing directly into the field.

While reviewing the merge tags, you might notice a ‘Settings’ icon in place of a ‘Copy’ icon.

For instance, the image displays a ‘Settings’ icon next to the ‘Contact First Name’ merge tag.

This icon enables you to configure a fallback option that FunnelKit will utilize if it cannot retrieve the actual value.

If you encounter a ‘Settings’ icon, click on it and enter your desired text in the ‘Fallback’ field.

Once you’ve created a fallback, click on ‘Copy’ to save it.

After that, simply paste the merge tag into your desired field. You can also enter static text directly into the field.

When you are satisfied with the subject line and preview text, scroll down to the smaller text editor.

In this editor, you can compose the body of your email by typing directly. You can also insert dynamic tags by selecting ‘Merge Tags’ and following the same steps outlined earlier.

The text editor includes all standard formatting options, allowing you to add links, adjust text size, change fonts, and more.

After completing this step, you can preview your email by clicking the ‘Show Preview’ button.

Once you are pleased with the subscription reminder email, click the ‘Save & Close’ button to finalize it.

Step 4: Set Up Follow-up Emails

At this stage, consider adding one or more follow-up emails to your campaign.

To begin, add a delay between these emails by clicking the ‘+’ icon and selecting ‘Delay.’

On this screen, open the dropdown that defaults to ‘Minutes’ and choose a duration from the list. For reminder emails related to your online store, it’s best to select either ‘Days’ or ‘Weeks.’

Next, enter the duration you wish to use, such as 1 Week or 3 Days.

You may also want to specify the time when FunnelKit will send the follow-up email. Aim to send the reminder email when subscribers are most likely to check their inbox or when you typically see higher open rates.

To do this, simply check the ‘Delay until a specific time of day’ option.

You can now set the time using the new options that appear.

By default, FunnelKit will utilize the timezone from your WordPress settings. However, you can also send the email according to the subscriber’s timezone by selecting ‘In Contact Timezone.’

Once you are satisfied with the delay settings, click ‘Save.’

With that completed, it’s time to create the follow-up email. Click the ‘+’ icon and then select ‘Action.’

In the pop-up window that appears, select ‘Send Email.’

Next, click on ‘Done.’

This will open a pop-up window where you can create a subject line, preview the email, and add body text by following the same process outlined earlier.

Once you are satisfied with the follow-up email, simply click the ‘Save & Close’ button.

You can add additional delays and follow-up emails by repeating the same steps.

When you’re ready to activate the automation on your WordPress site, toggle the ‘Inactive’ slider to ‘Active.’

Now, FunnelKit will automatically send subscription reminder emails to your online store.

Bonus: Ensure Your Reminder Emails Are Delivered!

After setting up the ideal reminder sequence in FunnelKit, the last step is to confirm that your emails actually reach your customers’ inboxes.

By default, WordPress relies on a mail function that can be unreliable, often resulting in important emails being marked as spam.

To resolve this issue effectively, use the WP Mail SMTP plugin. It is the top SMTP solution for WordPress, allowing your site to send emails via a reliable mailer service, significantly enhancing email deliverability.

WP Mail SMTP provides comprehensive email logs, enabling you to view a complete history of every subscription reminder sent from your website. This feature ensures that your automated emails are functioning as intended.

For more information, please refer to our detailed guide on setting up email tracking in WordPress.

Common Questions About Sending WooCommerce Emails

Here are some common inquiries from our readers regarding the sending of WooCommerce subscription reminder emails:

Why are my WooCommerce reminder emails landing in the spam folder?

By default, WordPress uses a sending method that may not be reliable. This can lead to your essential subscription reminders being marked as spam or not delivered at all.

The most effective solution is to use the WP Mail SMTP plugin, which routes your emails through a trusted email service, ensuring they arrive in the inbox.

How many subscription reminder emails should I send?

We recommend sending a series of three reminder emails. A proven approach is to schedule them for 7 days prior, 3 days prior, and on the renewal day. This provides customers ample time to update their payment information without feeling rushed.

Is it possible to customize the design of my WooCommerce emails?

Absolutely. While the default WooCommerce emails offer limited styling options, using a tool like FunnelKit allows you to fully customize your emails. It features a visual builder that enables you to adjust the layout, colors, and branding to align perfectly with your store’s aesthetic.

We hope this article has helped you understand how to create subscription reminder emails in WooCommerce. You may also find our guide on creating a WooCommerce popup for boosting sales or our tips for recovering abandoned cart sales helpful.

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