If you want your dropshipping store to make sales while you sleep, automation is the unlock. According to the latest analysis from Omnisend, automated emails generated 41 percent of all email orders despite being only 2 percent of sends, and automated SMS accounted for 26 percent of SMS orders from just 13 percent of messages. The math is simple. Set up the right flows once, and they keep paying you back.

The opportunity is even clearer when you factor in cart abandonment. The Baymard Institute puts the average shopping cart abandonment rate at roughly 70 percent worldwide. Recovering a slice of that with automated emails and texts can become your most profitable growth lever. The 2024 benchmarks from Klaviyo show automated flows can drive up to 30x higher revenue per recipient than campaigns, with abandoned cart emails averaging 3.65 dollars RPR and a 3.33 percent placed order rate in their abandoned cart report.

Below you will find 10 high ROI email and SMS flows built for WooCommerce and Shopify dropshipping stores, with copy templates, benchmarks, and practical setup steps. You can build them on top of WooCommerce using the WooDropship plugin or launch fast with a prebuilt Shopify store from WooDropship Dropshipping Stores. If you are new to Shopify, you can also start a store with Shopify.

Before you automate: deliverability and compliance quick check

Email deliverability requirements tightened in 2024. Google’s sender rules explain that bulk senders must authenticate with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, keep spam rates low, and support easy one click unsubscribe, as outlined in Google’s sender guidelines. Yahoo reiterates DMARC alignment and easy unsubscribe in its Sender Best Practices, and summaries like MxToolbox’s guide note the 0.3 percent spam complaint threshold and one click unsubscribe requirement.

For SMS in the United States, the FCC clarified in 2024 that consumers can revoke consent in any reasonable manner, and that senders must honor it promptly, per the FCC’s 2024 ruling. The CTIA Messaging Principles emphasize clear opt in, identifiable sender, and opt out instructions with each message. Keep your legal pages clear and accessible. You can add or review policies in your store’s footer and reference WooDropship’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service as examples.

If you are new to lifecycle marketing, skim WooDropship’s guides on email marketing, abandoned carts, and conversion optimization to ground your strategy.

How WooDropship fits into your stack

For WooCommerce, the WooDropship plugin imports AliExpress products in one click, speeds up copywriting with AI, and syncs orders through a Chrome extension. It is a one time fee with no recurring charge, which keeps your marketing budget flexible for lifecycle tools. For Shopify, WooDropship’s prebuilt stores ship in 7 days with vetted products, a premium theme, conversion boosters, and SEO basics already in place so your automations have something solid to convert.

Once your store foundation is ready, integrate your ESP and SMS provider. Omnisend, Klaviyo, Mailchimp, and similar tools have native connectors for both WooCommerce and Shopify. If you want a refresher on cart types and metrics, check the WooDropship wiki entries on shopping carts, conversion rate, and click-through rate.

The 10 flows that move the revenue needle

Each flow below includes a benchmark note, a quick copy template, and core setup steps for both platforms. Adapt the voice for your niche and A/B test timing and incentives. The Klaviyo abandoned cart benchmarks and Omnisend 2024 study are good performance guardrails.

1) Welcome series

Benchmark insight: Omnisend reports that automated Welcome and Cart Abandonment emails convert roughly 1 in 2 clickers, and that automations overall accounted for 41 percent of email orders while being only 2 percent of sends.

Copy template:

• Email subject: Welcome to [Brand]! A gift for your first order
• Body: Thanks for joining. Here are our bestsellers and a 10 percent code FIRST10. Free returns and tracked shipping on all orders.
• SMS: Welcome to [Brand]! Your 10 percent code FIRST10 is live. Shop now: [short link] Reply STOP to opt out.

Setup steps:

• WooCommerce: Connect your ESP, trigger on List Subscription. Create 2 to 3 messages over 5 days. Segment by source if you have different popups.
• Shopify: Use the platform connector to trigger on newsletter opt in. Insert a dynamic collection block for bestsellers and test the incentive size.

2) Abandoned cart

Benchmark insight: Klaviyo finds abandoned cart flows average 3.65 dollars RPR and 3.33 percent placed order rate, with a 50.5 percent open rate. Their 2024 benchmarks also show abandoned cart is the top revenue per recipient flow.

Copy template:

• Email subject: You left this behind, [First Name]
• Body: Your cart is saved for 48 hours. Finish checkout and your order ships with tracking. Need help choosing a variant? Hit reply.
• SMS: Still eyeing [Product]? Your cart is ready. Checkout here: [short link] Reply STOP to opt out.

Setup steps:

• WooCommerce: Trigger on Added to Cart with no purchase after 2 hours. Add a second message at 24 hours and a final at 48 hours. Consider a small incentive only on carts above your margin threshold.
• Shopify: Trigger on Checkout Started. Include dynamic cart items and a direct checkout link. Exclude users who already purchased from the same automation.

3) Browse abandonment

Benchmark insight: Omnisend notes that 88 percent of automated email orders came from Welcome, Browse Abandonment, and Cart Abandonment combined. This is low friction and high intent traffic.

Copy template:

• Email subject: Still thinking about [Product]?
• Body: Here is how customers are using it. Low stock on popular options. See alternatives if your size is out.
• SMS: Loved [Product]? It might sell out. See live availability: [short link] Reply STOP to opt out.

Setup steps:

• WooCommerce: Track Viewed Product events. Trigger if viewed 2 times in 7 days without add to cart. Show that product plus 3 alternatives.
• Shopify: Use Viewed Product trigger and suppress recent buyers. Test a one email plus one SMS pattern.

4) Checkout abandonment

Benchmark insight: Performance often lands between cart and browse abandonment since intent is high. Use it to reinforce trust and remove friction.

Copy template:

• Email subject: Your checkout is almost done
• Body: Secure payment with PayPal and Stripe. Free returns and buyer protection. Any questions before you place the order?
• SMS: Need help at checkout? We can hold your items for 12 hours. Complete here: [short link] Reply STOP to opt out.

Setup steps:

• WooCommerce: Trigger when Checkout Started without Order Placed within 1 hour. Include payment badges and reassurance. Link to your return policy.
• Shopify: Trigger on abandoned checkout. Include direct checkout link and live chat link if available.

5) Post purchase cross sell

Benchmark insight: Omnisend highlights that transactional emails such as order and shipping confirmations have high open rates and can be effective for cross selling when done tastefully.

Copy template:

• Email subject: Order received. A few add ons you might love
• Body: Thanks for your order. Customers who buy [Product A] often add [Product B]. Add to your order in 24 hours for free shipping.
• SMS: Thanks for your order, [Name]. Want to add something and ship together? See picks: [short link] Reply STOP to opt out.

Setup steps:

• WooCommerce: Trigger on Order Placed. Use product recommendations based on category. Test a 24 hour free shipping add on window.
• Shopify: Trigger right after order confirmation. Add a dynamic bundle block and link to a one click add to order page if your stack supports it.

6) Shipping and delivery updates with review queue

Benchmark insight: Order and shipping notifications see strong engagement. Use them to increase satisfaction and set up your review request that follows delivery.

Copy template:

• Email subject: Your order is on the way. Track it here
• Body: Track your package anytime. If you have questions, reply to this email. When it arrives, we will send a quick review link.
• SMS: Your [Brand] order shipped. Tracking: [short link] Reply STOP to opt out.

Setup steps:

• WooCommerce: Trigger on Fulfillment Created. Insert your tracking link and set a delay for the review request based on average transit time. Reference your order tracking page.
• Shopify: Use Fulfillment and Delivered events. Queue a review request 5 to 10 days after delivery. If you use PayPal, see WooDropship’s guide to sync order tracking information with PayPal to reduce disputes.

7) Back in stock alerts

Benchmark insight: Omnisend identifies Back in Stock as one of the highest converting automations because intent is extremely high.

Copy template:

• Email subject: It is back in stock, but not for long
• Body: Your requested item is available again. Inventory is limited. Grab it now to avoid another sellout.
• SMS: Back in stock: [Product]. Get yours before it sells out: [short link] Reply STOP to opt out.

Setup steps:

• WooCommerce: Add a back in stock form on product pages. Trigger immediately on restock and suppress users who already purchased.
• Shopify: Enable back in stock notifications via your ESP or app. Send an instant alert and a 24 hour reminder if stock remains.

8) Win back and replenishment

Benchmark insight: This is where you protect your customer lifetime value. Use it to re engage lapsed shoppers or prompt replenishment for consumables.

Copy template:

• Email subject: We saved something for you, [First Name]
• Body: It has been a while. Here is what is new and a personal 10 percent thank you code to come back. Free returns make it risk free.
• SMS: We miss you at [Brand]. 10 percent off is active for 48 hours: [short link] Reply STOP to opt out.

Setup steps:

• WooCommerce: Create segments at 45, 90, and 180 days since last purchase. Vary incentive and messaging. If you sell consumables, time the reminder to average usage.
• Shopify: Use Last Order Date triggers. Offer a small incentive on high margin categories. Suppress VIPs if you run a separate loyalty program.

9) Price drop or sale alert

Benchmark insight: Price sensitive shoppers respond well to timely notifications. Test an SMS first strategy for time sensitive offers because texting often drives faster action.

Copy template:

• Email subject: Price dropped on your favorites
• Body: Items on your wishlist or recently viewed just went on sale. This ends soon. Your picks are pre saved below.
• SMS: Price drop alert. [Product] is now [new price]. Shop the sale: [short link] Reply STOP to opt out.

Setup steps:

• WooCommerce: Track wishlist and Viewed Product. Trigger when price decreases on viewed items. Include scarcity if stock is limited.
• Shopify: Build a collection of discounted products and segment by product interest. Send SMS on day 1 and email on day 2 to those who did not click.

10) Review and UGC request

Benchmark insight: Social proof lifts conversions and reduces returns. Tie the request to delivery timing and make it effortless.

Copy template:

• Email subject: How did we do? 20 seconds to rate your order
• Body: Tap a star rating, add a photo if you like, and you are done. Your review helps other shoppers and unlocks a small thank you.
• SMS: Got a second to rate your order? Tap to review: [short link] Reply STOP to opt out.

Setup steps:

• WooCommerce: Trigger 7 to 14 days after delivery, depending on product usage. If your ESP supports it, embed star ratings directly in the email.
• Shopify: Trigger post delivery. Offer a bonus entry into a monthly giveaway for photo reviews. Publish selected UGC on your product pages to improve conversion rate.

Benchmarks to watch and how to iterate

You will not hit every benchmark on day one, and that is fine. What matters is clear measurement and steady iteration. Klaviyo’s 2024 benchmark report shows average email campaign RPR around 0.11 dollars compared to 3.65 dollars for abandoned carts, which is why flows deserve early attention in your roadmap. Use your ESP’s A/B testing to adjust subject lines, incentives, and timing, a best practice that Klaviyo’s abandoned cart report suggests can meaningfully lift results. If you are new to testing, WooDropship’s wiki on A/B testing gives a simple starting framework.

Maintain deliverability hygiene. Follow Google’s sender guidelines and Yahoo’s best practices, keep complaint rates under control, and always include one click unsubscribe. For SMS in the US, honor opt out commands and consent revocation per the FCC’s 2024 ruling and align with CTIA principles. Clear compliance is not only required, it also protects your customer retention.

Connect automation to your store experience. Strong product pages, transparent shipping, and responsive support raise the conversion ceiling of your flows. If you need help building that foundation fast, you can launch in a week with a pre configured WooCommerce store using the WooDropship plugin, or buy a turnkey Shopify dropshipping store delivered in 7 days with 30 vetted products, conversion boosters, and payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe set up for you. For extra guidance, browse WooDropship’s playbooks on email and SMS flows and performance benchmarks, or reach out via Contact Us.

Happy WooDropshipping!