Marketing automation types

Marketing automations are sent to customers using Shopify Email, except for custom marketing automations and third-party automations.

Emails that you send using marketing automations count towards your emails sent with Shopify Email, and are only sent to customers who are subscribed to marketing. Abandoned checkout automation emails don't count towards your emails sent with Shopify Email. For more information, refer to Shopify Email pricing.

Shopify Email marketing automations

Review the following table to learn more about the types of Shopify Email marketing automations:

Types of marketing automations and their descriptions.
AutomationDescription
Abandoned cartSends an email message to customers who add products to their cart, but don't start the checkout process.
Abandoned checkout

Sends an email message to customers who start the checkout process, but don't complete an order. These emails don't count towards your emails sent with Shopify Email.

Marketing automations send only to customers subscribed to email marketing by default. However, when you create an Abandoned checkout automation, you can change the To: field to All customers in the Shopify Email editor.

Abandoned product browseSends an email message to customers who view at least one product, but don't add it to their cart or make a purchase before leaving your store.
Celebrate customer birthday

Sends customers an email message with a discount code on their birthday.

This automation uses the Customer joined segment trigger and the birth date standard metafield. Consider using the Forms app with custom input fields to collect birthdays and populate the metafield for your customers.

CustomDesign your own email automations based on events that you choose.
Customer winbackSends an email message to customers after a specified amount of time has passed after their last order was placed.
First purchase upsellSends an email message to customers after they make their first purchase.
Post-purchase thank youSends a thank you email to customers after their first and second purchases.
Post-purchase upsell emailSends a post-purchase upsell email message after a customer buys something.
Welcome email series (brand story with discount)

Sends your brand story and social links in 3 emails to customers when they subscribe by using a form on your online store. If no purchase is made, then an email with a discount is sent.

Consider using the Forms app to set up forms in your online store that your customers can use to sign up for emails.

Welcome email series (discount with reminder)

Sends an email with a discount to customers when they subscribe by using a form on your online store, followed by 2 brand-building emails. If no purchase is made, then a discount reminder is sent.

Consider using the Forms app to set up forms in your online store that your customers can use to sign up for emails.

Welcome new subscriber

Sends an email message to customers when they subscribe by using a form on your online store.

Consider using the Forms app to set up forms in your online store that your customers can use to sign up for emails.

Welcome VIP customers

Sends an email message to welcome VIP customers when they join your VIP segment. By default, a customer joins the segment after they place their third order and spend a total of $1000 USD or more, or are tagged as VIP.

This automation uses the Customer joined segment trigger.

Learn more about using the Shopify Email template editor to customize your automation emails.

Third-party marketing automations

If you want to create a marketing automation from a template that integrates with a third-party app, then you first need to install that app on your store. Third-party marketing automations are sent to your customers through the app that they're integrated with.

Review the following table to learn more about the types of third-party marketing automations:

Types of third-party marketing automations and their descriptions.
AutomationDescription
Back in stock emailUses the Seguno app and sends an email to customers who request a restock alert. Learn more about Seguno's restock automation and pricing information.
Browser push notification for specific product releasesUses the PushOwl app to send a browser push notification to all of your PushOwl subscribers. The push notification is sent when a new product that you add includes the push notification product tag. Learn more about PushOwl's automated push notification for new product releases.
Post-purchase upsell email or SMSUses Shopify Email and the AfterShip SMS app to send a post-purchase upsell email message or SMS after a customer places an order. Learn more about how to send a post-purchase upsell email or SMS through AfterShip SMS, along with SMS pricing and subscription plans.
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