A trigger-based email is a term for emails sent automatically to subscribers after they took some action on the website, or after any trigger you determine, such as a subscription anniversary or a subscriber’s birthday. This goes a long way towards making your customers feel valued and ultimately can make a huge difference for your sales.
Trigger-based emails are always sent out to existing customers; hence, it is either an up-sell or a re-sell. To make it effective, make sure to use the data you have about your customers, which means not only the info they have entered upon subscribing but also their search history and buying habits. By doing so, you’ll be able to define their needs and interests and tailor the selling offer to them individually.
We would advise you to establish 4-5 triggers and time limits on the frequency of the emails being sent out, so customers’ inboxes don’t get flooded with your emails simply because they’ve browsed your store more than once this week.
Here are three types of basic triggers in email marketing:
1. Transactional triggers. These emails are sent out based on established direct transactions with users – the most common are when the users make purchases, profile updates, or the act of subscribing (for example, a Welcome Email is a sort of a transactional trigger). They are great opportunities to introduce or reinforce your brand and make your customers feel valued.
2. Recurring triggers are sent out based on specific dates and periods relevant for the users – customers’ birthdays, dates of renewal for a service, or re-orders for products. They do wonders for customers’ goodwill and can be used to showcase special customized offers like birthday discounts.
3. Threshold triggers are sent out when users reach a particular threshold, such as a purchase amount, or anniversaries of their subscriptions. They are also great for showcasing special offers and are a good opportunity to give the customers presents, in the form of discount coupons or one-time-only offers.