Email Marketing 
As an e-commerce store owner, you put in a lot of effort and resources to attract visitors and convert them into customers. However, what happens when potential buyers abandon their carts without making a purchase? According to studies, nearly 70% of online shoppers abandon their carts. This not only leads to lost revenue but also lowers your conversion rates.
Fortunately, you can use abandoned cart email subject lines to recover lost sales and boost your revenue. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of abandoned cart email subject lines and provide tips to help you craft effective ones.
Why abandoned cart email subject lines matter
When a potential customer abandons their cart, they might have several reasons for doing so. They could have found a better deal elsewhere, decided to postpone their purchase, or faced a technical issue on your website.
By sending an abandoned cart email, you can remind them about the products they left behind, provide incentives to complete the purchase and address any concerns they might have had.
However, for your abandoned cart email to be effective, it needs a compelling subject line that grabs the recipient’s attention and entices them to open it. A well-crafted subject line can make the difference between your email being ignored or getting clicked through.
Boost your sales with these 8 abandoned cart email subject line ideas
Incentives subject lines
Incentives have proven to be effective in attracting customers. If you want to make it crystal clear that your potential customer is getting a fantastic deal after making a purchase, you must use compelling words such as deal, promotion, % off, etc., as these are powerful triggers for price-sensitive shoppers.
Bonobos, for instance, has executed this subject line perfectly. The incentive is evident and direct. The call-to-action is clear and uses an active verb: “Empty your cart – save 20%.”
However, it is crucial to follow the best practice of email suppression when using incentives. Your technology should recognize when a customer redeems an offer and refrain from sending additional incentives.
Examples of incentives subject lines:
- Act Fast! Enjoy a 10% Discount on Your Order!
- How About a 20% Discount on Your Bag?
- Get 20% Off Something in Your Basket Today!
- Fancy a 15% Discount? 🎁 🎁 🎁
- Don’t Miss Out on a 10% Discount on Your Cart!
- Your Cart is Waiting, and You Can Get 5% Off Now!
- Hello there, Still Shopping? Here’s $10 Off!
- Forgot Your Shades? Save 15% Now!
- We’ve Kept Your Basket and Added 15% Off!
- Lighten Your Cart and Your Expenses with a 15% Discount!
- Forgot Something? This is Your Last Chance for a 10% Discount!
Engaging subject lines
Subject lines that spark curiosity are the polar opposite of straightforward ones that offer bribes. Rather than explicitly stating what’s on offer, these subject lines entice potential customers to click by piquing their interest.
For instance, Everlane employs this technique by hinting that their prospects will receive something exciting. However, the company refrains from divulging what that ‘something’ is until the email is opened.
It’s worth noting that this approach is fundamentally different from the bribe-focused example we mentioned earlier. Both approaches aim to provide value to the reader, but they use contrasting methods to grab the reader’s attention and encourage them to open the email.
Engaging subject lines examples:
- Is everything alright?
- Where have you disappeared?
- Did you leave this item in your cart?
- Leaving already?
- Are you still interested? 🌈
- Did you forget something?
- We miss you and your cart!
- Need help with your purchase?
Brand/product subject lines
When it comes to encouraging customers to make a purchase, consistency and familiarity can be incredibly persuasive.
Brand/product subject lines capitalize on this principle by keeping their messages concise and highlighting the customer’s original desire or need for the product.
For instance, The RealReal adopts a straightforward and amiable tone in its subject lines, but the company doesn’t stop there. It also personalizes the subject line by incorporating dynamic cart insertion, ensuring that the message resonates with the recipient and feels relevant to their specific situation.
Brand/product subject lines examples:
- Have you left your Fit Tea behind?
- Finish your NOTIQ order now!
- You left something in your cart at Revzilla.com!
- The Kitchen Kanister is still waiting for you to checkout!
- Would you like us to hold your Man Crates order? Complete it now!
- Don’t miss out on completing your purchase at Sneaker Standard!
- Your Man Crates Cart is about to expire – Save 10% by completing it now!
- Need assistance with completing your purchase at UNCONDITIONAL?
- Have you forgotten about the Carrera Calibre 5 Day-Date WAR201C you added to your cart?
- Alex, are you still interested in the Massdrop x MiTo SA Pulse Custom Keycap Set?
Urgency subject lines
Urgency and scarcity are often identified as the most potent psychological strategies to motivate customers to take action.
E-commerce companies utilize urgency in three primary ways:
The first approach is centered around the cart itself. In some cases, companies set a time limit for the cart, creating a sense of urgency that compels customers to complete their purchase now. The Honest Company utilized this tactic in the email mentioned below.
Secondly, retailers create a sense of urgency around specific products within the cart. This could be due to limited stock, a fast-selling product, or an item that is soon to be out of stock.
Lastly, urgency can be created in the subject lines of emails by offering incentives. Many retailers provide discount codes that are only valid for a short period to motivate customers to finalize their purchase.
Urgency subject lines examples:
- Act Fast! Your Cart Expires Soon
- Hurry, Limited Stock Available – Almost Sold Out
- Nomad Gear Selling Out Quickly – Grab Yours Now
- Don’t Miss Out – Your Cart is About to Expire
- Free Shipping Won’t Last Forever – Shop Now
- Last Chance to Buy – Order Before it’s Too Late
- Price Drop Alert – Save on Items in Your Cart
- Limited Stock Available – Grab It Before It’s Gone
- Time is Running Out – Your Cart is About to Expire 🍋
- Cart Expired? Don’t Worry, Items Might Still be Available
Catchy subject lines
Using a creative and catchy abandoned cart subject line is essential to grab the attention of your customers and motivate them to complete their purchase. A well-crafted subject line can convey a sense of urgency, highlight the benefits of your product, or even offer an incentive to entice the customer back to their cart.
A creative and catchy subject line can differentiate your email from the many others in your customers’ inbox and increase the chances that they will open and engage with it. So, to increase your chances of recovering lost sales and building customer loyalty, it’s crucial to invest time and effort into crafting an attention-grabbing abandoned cart subject line.
Catchy subject lines examples:
- Hello there, your cart is looking great…
- Did you ghost us?
- What’s catching your eye in your cart? 👀
- Treat your ride to some top-notch gear
- ♫ All by myself in this cart ♫
- These items will suit you perfectly
- Hey there, Alex… We need to chat 🔥
- Don’t let Dumpster Eric down 🗑️
- Alex, we need to talk… we never got to say goodbye 😭
- Oops, did you forget about us?
- Don’t miss out on your fresh start with these new items
- A tribute to that abandoned robe
- Can you keep this our little secret, Alex? [the secret: low inventory]
- Hey there, (taps shoulder), did you forget something?
Best practices for crafting effective abandoned cart email subject lines
Crafting effective abandoned cart email subject lines is essential for any e-commerce store looking to recover lost sales and boost revenue. Here are some tips to keep in mind when creating your subject lines:
Keep it short and sweet
Your subject line should be short and to the point, as most email clients display only the first 50 characters or so. Make sure to convey the message in a concise manner that doesn’t get cut off.
Create a sense of urgency
Use words like “now,” “today,” “limited time,” or “act fast” to convey a sense of urgency and encourage the recipient to take action. Creating a sense of scarcity can motivate customers to complete their purchase before the opportunity disappears.
Personalize it
Address the recipient by name and include the items they left in their cart to make the email feel more personalized and relevant. Personalization can increase the chances of the email being opened and read.
Offer an incentive
Providing a discount, free shipping, or a bonus item can be a powerful incentive to encourage recipients to complete the purchase. Make sure to mention the incentive in the subject line to grab the recipient’s attention and encourage them to open the email.
Use humor or creativity
A clever or funny abandoned cart email subject lines can grab the recipient’s attention and make your email stand out from the rest. However, make sure that the humor or creativity aligns with your brand voice and values.
A/B test your subject lines
Experiment with different subject lines and see which ones perform best with your audience. Use A/B testing to test different subject lines, and adjust them based on the results to improve the open and click-through rates.
FAQs
Why should I send abandoned cart emails?
Abandoned cart emails can help recover lost sales and increase revenue by reminding customers of items left in their cart and providing incentives to complete the purchase.
How soon should I send an abandoned cart email?
It’s best to send an abandoned cart email within 24 hours of the cart being abandoned to increase the chances of the customer still being interested in the items and completing the purchase.
What should I include in my abandoned cart email?
Your abandoned cart email should include a clear message reminding the customer of the items left in their cart, a call to action to complete the purchase, and an incentive such as a discount or free shipping.
How many abandoned cart emails should I send?
You can send multiple abandoned cart emails, but it’s important to space them out and not be too pushy. Two to three emails spaced over a few days can be effective.
How can I measure the success of my abandoned cart email campaign?
You can measure the success of your abandoned cart email campaign by tracking open and click-through rates, conversion rates, and revenue generated from the campaign.
Stop letting those carts be abandoned!
Abandoned carts are a headache for any e-commerce store owner, but with the right strategy, you can recover that lost revenue. By using NestSend, you can set up a system that recognizes when a potential customer abandons their cart and sends them an email with a compelling subject line. So, don’t let those carts be abandoned anymore – start using NestSend and see the difference it can make in your revenue.
Marketing Attribution 
