You’ve spent money getting traffic. You’ve got people clicking, browsing, even adding products to their cart…
Then — nothing.
They leave. No sale. No explanation.
On average, 70% of carts are abandoned across all eCommerce platforms.
That’s a massive hole in your revenue.
But what if you could bring a good percentage of those people back — automatically — and turn them into paying customers?
In this blog post, I’ll walk you through:
- Why cart abandonment happens
- The simple funnel that can recover lost sales
- How to build it with zero code using Systeme.io
Let’s recover those missed opportunities.
🧠 Why People Abandon Carts (And It’s Not What You Think)
Here are the top reasons people abandon their cart:
- Unexpected costs (shipping, tax)
- Complicated checkout process
- Required account creation
- Website errors or slow load times
- Simply got distracted or not ready
Here’s the key insight:
Most people did want your product — they just needed a reminder.
That’s where your abandoned cart funnel comes in.
🔄 What Is a Cart Recovery Funnel?
A cart recovery funnel is an automated sequence that:
- Detects when someone starts checkout but doesn’t complete it
- Sends them a series of follow-up messages via email
- Recaptures the sale with reminders, urgency, and incentives
Instead of losing the sale forever, you turn that interest into revenue — on autopilot.
🧱 What Your Funnel Should Include
Your cart recovery funnel should have:
🔹 1. Trigger
- Someone starts the checkout process
- Leaves before paying
🔹 2. Email Sequence
Email 1: Reminder + value (1–2 hours after abandonment) Email 2: Scarcity (“Only a few left!” or “Your cart will expire soon”) Email 3: Incentive (“Here’s 10% off — but only for the next 24h”)
Optional: Email 4: Social proof or FAQ
🔹 3. Checkout Page (Ready to Buy)
- Return users to the pre-filled checkout page
- Reduce friction with 1-click checkout if possible
🔹 4. Analytics + Testing
- Track open rates, click-through rates, and conversions
- A/B test subject lines and discount offers
🛠️ How to Set Up a Cart Recovery Funnel With Systeme.io
Systeme.io lets you build this entire sequence without coding or plugins.
Step-by-Step:
- Create your free Systeme.io account
- Create a checkout page for your product
- Add automation rules:
- Trigger: User visits checkout but doesn’t complete
- Action: Add tag → Trigger cart recovery sequence
- Go to “Emails” → Set up your 3–4 message follow-up
- Link emails to the exact checkout page
Boom — it’s live.
💡 Bonus Tips to Improve Recovery
- Add urgency in subject lines (“Your cart is expiring!”)
- Include product images in emails
- Offer a small discount (even 5% can help)
- Use first names in the copy for personalization
- Make CTA buttons clear and action-based (e.g. “Complete Your Purchase Now”)
📈 Real Results From Cart Recovery Funnels
One brand using Systeme.io recovered:
- 21% of their abandoned carts in the first 30 days
- $1,180 in extra revenue from 3 emails
- 5-star reviews by following up and offering help
That’s revenue most stores would have lost forever.
🧠 Systeme.io vs Other Tools
| Feature | Systeme.io | Shopify Apps | Klaviyo + Zapier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abandoned cart emails | ✅ Included | ✅ (paid) | ✅ (complex setup) |
| Funnel automation | ✅ Drag & drop | ❌ | ✅ (via multiple tools) |
| Email sequences | ✅ Unlimited | ❌ (limits) | ✅ (pricing tiers) |
| Price | ✅ Free plan | ❌ Monthly fees | ❌ Expensive bundle |
❓FAQ – Cart Recovery Funnel Essentials
How soon should I send the first recovery email?
The ideal time is within 1–2 hours of abandonment. That’s when intent is still high.
Do I need to offer a discount to recover a cart?
Not always. Many people just need a simple reminder. But a time-limited discount can improve recovery rates.
Can I use Systeme.io’s free plan for this?
Yes — you can build full cart recovery funnels, automate emails, and track performance even on the free plan.
Will this work for digital products too?
Absolutely. You can recover digital course or ebook purchases the same way as physical goods.
What if someone doesn’t open the first email?
That’s why a sequence helps — the second and third emails give you multiple chances to reconnect.
✍️ Final Thoughts
Cart abandonment is normal. Losing those sales forever doesn’t have to be.
Use a simple recovery funnel to:
- Remind people who were interested
- Nudge them back to buy
- Grow your revenue on autopilot
👉 Start building your cart recovery funnel for free with Systeme.io
Don’t just recover carts. Recover revenue — smartly.
