Recovery Email Templates and Scheduling

Recovery email templates control the messages customers receive after they abandon a cart. Each template can have its own subject line, email content, delay time, and enabled/disabled status.

Use this section to create a complete abandoned cart email sequence, such as a first reminder, second follow-up, and final recovery email.

Email templates overview

Email templates are the messages used for abandoned cart recovery.

A typical recovery sequence may include:

Each email template can be scheduled independently. The plugin checks abandoned carts through the recovery queue and sends eligible templates when their delay time has passed.

What a template usually includes

A recovery email template normally includes:

• Template name
• Enabled/disabled status
• Subject line
• Email content
• Delay value
• Delay unit
• Recipient settings
• Restore cart link
• Unsubscribe link

Where to manage recovery email templates

From your WordPress dashboard, go to:

Onpage Checkout → Cart Recovery

Then open the Email tab.

From this section, you can manage recovery email templates, email settings, test emails, and email activity.

Create a recovery email template

To create a new recovery email template:

1. Go to Onpage Checkout → Cart Recovery.
2. Open the Email tab.
3. Click Add New Email or Create Template.
4. Enter a template name.
5. Add the subject line.
6. Write the email content.
7. Set the delay value and delay unit.
8. Enable the template.
9. Save the template.

Example template setup

Edit an email template

Use the edit option when you want to update an existing recovery email.

You may edit:

• Template name
• Subject line
• Email content
• Delay timing
• Enabled/disabled status
• Recipient settings

After editing a template, save your changes. Future recovery emails will use the updated template.

When to edit a template

Edit a template when:

• The subject line is not performing well.
• The email content is outdated.
• You want to change the delay time.
• You want to add a discount or coupon message.
• You want to improve the call-to-action.
• You want to update branding or tone.

Duplicate an email template

Duplicating a template lets you quickly create another email using an existing message as a starting point.

Use this when creating a sequence, such as:

First Reminder → Second Reminder → Final Reminder

After duplicating a template, update the name, subject line, content, and delay timing so each email has a clear purpose.

Example

Duplicate First Cart Reminder and rename it:

Second Cart Reminder

Then change the delay to 24 hours and update the message.

Delete an email template

Delete a template when you no longer want to use it.

Before deleting, make sure the template is not part of an active recovery sequence.

Recommended approach

If you are unsure, disable the template first instead of deleting it. This keeps the template available for later use.

Enable or disable templates

Each template can be enabled or disabled.

Enabled

The template is active and can be sent when:

• Cart Recovery is enabled.
• The cart is abandoned.
• The customer has a valid email address.
• The template delay has passed.
• The email sending window allows sending.
• The cart has not reached the maximum email limit.
• The customer has not unsubscribed.
• The license requirements are met.

Disabled

The template will not be sent automatically.

Use disabled status when:

• You are drafting a new email.
• You are testing content.
• You want to pause a campaign.
• You want to stop one step of the sequence without deleting it.

Subject line

The subject line is one of the most important parts of a recovery email. It affects whether the customer opens the message.

Good subject line examples

You left something in your cart
Still thinking it over?
Your cart is waiting
Complete your order before it’s gone
Need help finishing your order?

Subject line best practices

Use subject lines that are:

• Clear
• Short
• Friendly
• Relevant to the cart
• Not too aggressive
• Not misleading

Avoid subject lines that feel spammy, overly urgent, or unrelated to the customer’s cart.

Email content

The email content should remind the customer what they left behind and make it easy to return to checkout.

A good recovery email should include

• Friendly greeting
• Short reminder
• Cart/product summary
• Clear restore cart button
• Support/contact message
• Optional discount or incentive
• Unsubscribe link

Example email structure

Hi {customer_name},

You left a few items in your cart.

Click the button below to return to your cart and complete your order.

[Restore Cart]

Need help? Contact our support team.

You are receiving this email because you started checkout on our store.
[Unsubscribe]

Keep the message focused

Avoid making the email too long. The main goal is to bring the customer back to the cart.

Delay value and delay unit

The delay controls when a recovery email should send after the cart becomes abandoned.

A template usually has two timing fields:

Example

Delay Value: 1
Delay Unit: Hour

This means the email can be sent 1 hour after the cart is marked abandoned.

Recommended delay sequence

Email sending order

Recovery emails are sent based on enabled templates and their delay settings.

For example:

Template A: 1 hour
Template B: 24 hours
Template C: 48 hours

If all templates are enabled, the plugin sends each email when the abandoned cart reaches the matching delay time.

Important rules

A recovery email may not send if:

• The template is disabled.
• The cart is not abandoned.
• The customer email is missing or invalid.
• The customer has unsubscribed.
• The sending window is closed.
• The cart reached the max emails per cart limit.
• The cart has already recovered.
• The required license is inactive.

Max emails per cart

The Max Emails Per Cart setting controls how many recovery emails can be sent for the same abandoned cart.

Example:

Max Emails Per Cart: 3

If you have five templates enabled but the max emails per cart is set to three, only up to three emails can be sent for a single cart.

Recommended value

For most stores:

2–3 emails per cart

Sending too many emails can annoy customers. A short, helpful sequence usually works best.

Sending window

The Sending Window controls what time of day recovery emails are allowed to send.

Example:

Sending Window: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

If an email becomes eligible outside the sending window, it should wait until sending is allowed.

Recommended sending window

For most stores:

8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Choose a window that matches your customers’ timezone and avoids sending emails late at night.

Send a test email

Use the test email option before enabling your recovery sequence.

A test email helps you check:

• Subject line
• Email layout
• Restore cart button
• Links
• Branding
• Spacing
• Mobile appearance
• Spam/deliverability
• Sender name and email address

How to send a test email

1. Go to Onpage Checkout → Cart Recovery.
2. Open the Email tab.
3. Choose the template you want to test.
4. Enter a test recipient email address.
5. Click Send Test Email.
6. Check the inbox and spam folder.

If the test email does not arrive

Check:

• Recipient email address
• WordPress email sending
• SMTP plugin settings
• Spam folder
• Hosting mail restrictions
• Email service logs

For best results, use a reliable SMTP plugin or transactional email service.

Email activity

The Email Activity area helps you review what happened after recovery emails were sent.

It may show:

How to use email activity

Use email activity to understand:

• Which templates are sending
• Which emails customers open
• Which emails customers click
• Which emails fail
• Which templates need improvement

If many emails are sent but few are opened, improve your subject lines and deliverability.

If emails are opened but not clicked, improve the email content and restore cart button.

If emails are clicked but carts are not recovered, review checkout usability, payment methods, shipping costs, and restore link behavior.

Resend or retry failed emails

Some email activity actions may allow you to resend an email or retry a failed email.

Resend email

Use resend when:

• The customer says they did not receive the email.
• You want to manually send the same recovery email again.
• You are testing deliverability.

Retry failed email

Use retry when:

• An email failed because of a temporary sending issue.
• SMTP was fixed after the original failure.
• The email service was temporarily unavailable.

Before retrying

Check:

• The customer email address is valid.
• SMTP/email sending is working.
• The template is still available.
• The customer has not unsubscribed.
• The cart is still eligible for recovery.

Best practices for recovery email templates

Use a short sequence

Start with two or three emails. Avoid sending too many messages for one abandoned cart.

Recommended sequence:

Email 1: 1 hour after abandonment
Email 2: 24 hours after abandonment
Email 3: 48–72 hours after abandonment

Make the first email helpful

The first email should feel like a helpful reminder, not a sales push.

Example tone:

Looks like you left something behind. You can return to your cart anytime using the button below.

Use discounts carefully

Do not offer a discount too early unless your store strategy depends on it. If customers learn that abandoning a cart always gives a discount, they may wait for the coupon.

A better approach:

• Email 1: Friendly reminder
• Email 2: Product/value reminder
• Email 3: Optional discount or final reminder

Include a clear restore cart button

The restore cart button should be easy to find. Use clear button text such as:

Return to Cart
Complete My Order
Restore My Cart
Continue Checkout

Keep emails mobile-friendly

Many customers read emails on mobile. Use:

• Short paragraphs
• Large buttons
• Simple layout
• Clear spacing
• Minimal distractions

Avoid spam-like content

Avoid:

• Too many emojis
• Excessive urgency
• All-caps subject lines
• Too many links
• Misleading claims
• Overuse of discount language

Always include unsubscribe option

Recovery emails should include a way for customers to unsubscribe from further recovery messages.

This improves trust and helps with email compliance.

Recommended starter setup

For most WooCommerce stores, use this setup:

Recommended global email settings: