The role of email marketing in ecommerce

Email marketing remains one of the most powerful tools in your ecommerce arsenal, and return on investment (ROI) is only getting better. In 2024, nearly 33% of marketers reported a two time improvement rate in their email marketing campaigns’ ROI rates. It’s a key part of the customer journey, from welcome emails that introduce new customers to your brand, to abandoned cart emails that encourage them to complete a purchase, and even to re-engagement emails that win back inactive customers.

The total number of business and consumer emails sent and received per day is forecast to grow to over 408 billion by year-end 2027. That means a lot of words are hitting consumers’ inboxes, and they’re likely to assume most of it is junk. If you can convince someone to open your email with a catchy email subject line, the next step is giving them something valuable. This is how you can build a trustworthy, reputable brand.

Types of ecommerce email templates

The beauty of AI-powered email marketing lies in its versatility. Whether you’re nurturing new subscribers or re-engaging dormant customers, there’s a template type designed to meet your specific goals.

Welcome emails

First impressions are everything, and welcome emails are your chance to make a stellar one. Think of them as the digital equivalent of a warm handshake — they should be inviting, informative, and leave your new subscriber excited about what’s to come. These confirmation emails can also help subscribers join your loyalty program from the start.

Best practices include:

• Personalization: Greet the customer by name and acknowledge their specific interests or the product category that brought them to your store.
• Keep it concise: Make sure your email is easy to scan and prominently displays your call to action (CTA) above the fold.
• Show your personality: Use high-quality images or videos to showcase your brand’s unique voice and aesthetic.

Abandoned cart emails

Global online shopping cart abandonment reached 70.19% in 2024. It’s a massive problem for ecommerce brands, but it’s also a big opportunity. With the right email template, you can recover some of those lost sales and guide customers back to complete their purchase.

Winning strategies include:

• Create urgency: Build FOMO (fear of missing out) by including limited-time offers or scarcity messaging like “Only two left in stock!”
• Get specific: Mention the exact products left behind and provide personalized recommendations based on their browsing history.
• Remove friction: Make it easy to complete the purchase with a clear CTA and pre-filled cart details for a smooth checkout experience.

Promotional emails

Who doesn’t love a good sale? Promotional emails are your secret weapon for clearing inventory, driving traffic, and boosting sales during key shopping periods like Black Friday.

Tips for promotional email success include:

• Segment smartly: Divide your list to ensure the offer is relevant to each customer’s interests and purchase history.
• Make it exclusive: Help customers feel special with limited-time offers or VIP-only deals that create a sense of privilege.
• Visual storytelling: Use eye-catching images and videos to showcase your products in action, not just static product shots.

Re-engagement emails

Sometimes relationships need a little rekindling. Re-engagement emails are your chance to win back inactive customers with templates that reignite their interest in your brand.

Best practices include:

• Get personal: Address customers by name and reference their previous purchases or browsing history to show you remember them.
• Offer incentives: Provide special deals or exclusive discount codes to entice a return visit — think “We miss you” campaigns with compelling offers.
• Seek feedback: Send feedback emails to understand why they went MIA and how you can improve their experience moving forward. This shows you value their opinions and are committed to better service.

Best practices for creating effective email campaigns

Creating emails that convert requires more than just great content — it demands strategic thinking and attention to detail. Here are the essential practices that separate high-performing campaigns from the rest.

Optimize for mobile

Consumers are more likely to add products to their shopping cart when on their mobile device. If you optimize your emails for mobile, you’re one step closer to convincing them to shop on their phone. Use responsive designs that adapt to various screen sizes, and make sure your CTAs are easily tappable on smaller screens. Don’t forget about subject lines either — they typically cut off after 30–50 characters on mobile, giving you just six to 10 words to capture attention.

Master segmentation

One-size-fits-all emails are a thing of the past. Divide your email list into targeted groups based on demographics, purchase behavior, browsing history, or engagement levels. This allows you to send highly relevant content that speaks directly to each segment’s interests and needs.

Personalization beyond names

While including a customer’s name is a good start, true personalization goes much deeper. Use customer data to create emails that reference past purchases, recommend products based on browsing behavior, or acknowledge important milestones like birthdays or anniversaries. Smart segmentation allows you to deliver the right message to the right person at the perfect moment.

Set up smart automation

Implement triggered email sequences that nurture your customers through the buyer’s journey without manual intervention. From welcome series to post-purchase follow-ups, automation ensures timely, relevant communication at scale.

Add interactive elements

Break up text-heavy emails with engaging elements like quizzes, polls, surveys, or user-generated content. Interactive features not only boost engagement but also provide valuable insights into customer preferences.

Craft compelling subject lines

Your subject line is your first — and sometimes only — chance to make an impression. Use attention-grabbing subject lines that include personalization, create urgency, or spark curiosity. Keep them concise and avoid spam triggers.

The benefits of AI ecommerce marketing email agents

So, what makes AI-generated email templates and AI ecommerce email agents so special? Here are the benefits of incorporating them into your ecommerce marketing strategy.

Next-level personalization

AI-generated email templates use sophisticated machine learning to analyze your customers’ behavior, preferences, and purchase history, creating highly personalized emails that resonate on an individual level. Instead of generic “Dear Customer” messages, you’ll send emails that feel like they were crafted specifically for each recipient.

Increased efficiency

With AI-generated email templates, you can bid farewell to the hours spent on manual email writing and design. AI agents free up your time for more high-leverage activities like strategy development and campaign optimization.

Improved engagement

AI-crafted email templates captivate your audience, not just to push a sale. By incorporating interactive features, dynamic content, and personalized product recommendations, these templates create memorable experiences that keep subscribers opening your emails.

How ecommerce marketing email agents are transforming CPG/retail

The CPG and retail industry are undergoing a remarkable digital shift. With the surge of ecommerce and shifts in consumer habits, CPG and retail brands are compelled to provide personalized, pertinent, and captivating customer experiences. This is precisely where ecommerce marketing email agents are revolutionizing the landscape, transforming how brands connect with their customers and boost sales.

Personalization at scale

The most significant hurdle for CPG and retail brands is personalizing their email marketing campaigns on a large scale. With customer bases often numbering in the millions, each with distinct preferences and behaviors, it’s a monumental challenge to craft emails that truly connect with every individual.

Here’s where ecommerce marketing email agents shine, employing AI-powered technology to analyze customer data and generate targeted content automatically. This empowers brands to dispatch highly relevant emails that spur engagement, conversions, and ultimately, sales — all while maintaining the efficiency needed to serve massive customer bases.

Streamlining email production

Another hurdle that ecommerce businesses often grapple with is the laborious process of email campaign creation and dispatch. From the initial stages of conceptualization and design to the crafting and optimization of content, email production can consume weeks of valuable time and resources.

AI ecommerce marketing email agents simplify this process by offering ready-made templates, intuitive drag-and-drop editors, and AI-driven content generation. This empowers brands to swiftly deliver top-notch email campaigns, allowing them to redirect resources towards strategic initiatives like product development and market expansion.

Enhancing customer engagement

CPG and retail brands are also using ecommerce marketing email agents to boost customer engagement and loyalty. By summarizing customer reviews and targeting customers with tailored language, these agents can craft laser-focused, personalized email campaigns that captivate and convert.

Imagine receiving a series of abandoned cart emails from your favorite brand, each one tailored with product suggestions and exclusive discounts just for you. It’s not just about recovering a lost sale. It’s about building a lasting bond of trust and loyalty that translates into long-term customer value.

Creating unified customer journeys

Brands are also leveraging ecommerce marketing email agents to create unified experiences across all customer touchpoints. By transforming product detail page workflows alongside email campaigns, brands ensure that ‌personalization and messaging consistency flow smoothly from email to product page to purchase. This creates a cohesive brand experience that drives higher conversion rates.

Get started with WRITER’s free ecommerce marketing email agent

Ready to transform your email marketing game? In just a few clicks, you can start using WRITER’s free ecommerce marketing email agent. Our AI-powered email template generator is here to assist you in creating compelling and personalized email campaigns that yield tangible results for your online store.

Here’s how to get started with the free tool:

Step 1: Tell us what you’re selling

What is your product called? Be specific — instead of “shoes,” use the actual name “Nike Air Max 270 Running Shoes” for better results.

Step 2: Paint a picture of your ideal customer

Before you start creating your email campaign, you need to define your target audience. Who are they? What are their interests and pain points? What are their buying habits and preferences? To whom are you sending this email?

Step 3: Share your product’s story

Describe your product in one to three sentences. Include key benefits, unique features, or what problem it solves for your customers.

Step 4: Choose your CTA

What is the call to action you’d like your audience to take? Be specific about the desired action, whether it’s “Shop Now,” “Learn More,” or “Claim Your Discount.”

Beyond the free tool: Enterprise-grade AI ecommerce marketing email agent

While the free AI generator is a great tool on its own, WRITER’s AI HQ is the key to unlocking a connected content powerhouse for your ecommerce business. WRITER, the enterprise platform for AI-powered work, aims to elevate your email marketing with unparalleled personalization and quality, even at scale.

With WRITER AI HQ, you can craft custom email agents that embody your brand guidelines, seamlessly integrate real-time inventory data, customer reviews, and adapt product highlights in line with current search trends. This level of sophistication ensures that your emails aren’t just personalized, but also align strategically with your business objectives and market dynamics.

Amplify your email marketing strategy with WRITER Enterprise AI

Email marketing is just one piece of the ecommerce puzzle, but it’s a critical one that can make or break your customer relationships. With WRITER’s AI-powered ecommerce marketing email agent, you can amplify your email marketing strategy and create a cohesive customer experience that drives real results.

Our agent works seamlessly with your existing marketing stack, allowing you to create a unified voice across all touchpoints. Whether you’re looking to drive more sales, increase customer loyalty, or simply improve your overall email marketing ROI, WRITER’s AI-powered ecommerce marketing email agent is here to help you achieve your goals faster and more efficiently than ever before.

Ready to turn your email marketing into a revenue-generating machine? Stop sending emails that get ignored and start creating campaigns that convert. Experience WRITER’s free AI email marketing agent now, or book a demo to see how our enterprise platform can elevate your entire ecommerce marketing approach.

Start your free trial today →