You do not need a huge ad budget to scale a dropshipping store. You need automated flows that reach shoppers at the right moment. With nearly 70 percent of carts abandoned online, the opportunity is massive. The Baymard Institute’s analysis pegs average cart abandonment at about 70.22 percent, which means every new visitor you earn can be recovered or nurtured with the right sequence.

Even better, automated messages outperform one-off campaigns by a wide margin. In its 2024 benchmark report, Klaviyo notes that automations like abandoned cart can generate up to 30 times more revenue per recipient than campaigns, driven by a jump from an average $0.11 RPR for campaigns to $3.65 for abandoned cart flows. The claim appears in the Klaviyo 2024 Email Benchmarks.

If you are launching with WooCommerce or Shopify, WooDropship makes this simple. Import AliExpress products in one click, optimize titles with AI, and fulfill with a Chrome extension using the WooDropship dropshipping plugin. If you want to skip setup, choose a prebuilt Shopify dropshipping store delivered in 7 days.

The benchmarks you should aim for in 2025

You need realistic targets to know when a flow is working. Omnisend analyzed more than 23 billion emails and 175 million SMS to create 2024 benchmarks. According to the Omnisend email, SMS, and push report and its detailed PDF study, automated email flows crushed campaigns with 42.1 percent open rate, 5.4 percent click rate, and 1.9 percent conversion, and generated 41 to 47 percent of email orders from only 2 percent of sends. The PDF includes flow-level metrics:

• Welcome flow email: 36.9 percent open, 4.9 percent click, 2.74 percent conversion PDF report
• Abandoned cart email: 46.6 percent open, 5.7 percent click, 2.56 percent conversion PDF report
• Post purchase email: 50.3 percent open, 4.5 percent click, 1.09 percent conversion PDF report
• Win back or lapsed purchase email: 31.6 percent open, 1.9 percent click, 0.50 percent conversion PDF report
• Automated SMS: 9.4 percent click, 0.28 percent conversion vs campaign SMS at 7.6 percent click, 0.13 percent conversion PDF report

For context, average promotional email campaigns sat around 25.1 percent open and 1.5 percent click in 2023, per the Omnisend analysis. That is why flows are where the revenue lives.

Four flows that print money for dropshipping

The sequences below work for both WooCommerce and Shopify. For WooCommerce, set them up through your ESP and connect your store. For Shopify, you can start quickly with native integrations or begin your trial via Shopify and use an SMS or email app. If you are brand new, WooDropship’s prebuilt Shopify stores include conversion features like bundles, countdowns, and “bought together” to maximize the lift from your automations.

1. Welcome series

Benchmark target: 36 to 40 percent open, 4 to 6 percent click, about 2.7 percent conversion.

Timing: Send immediately after signup, then +2 days, +5 days.

Email copy template:

• Subject: “Welcome to [Brand]! Your 10 percent off is inside”
• Body: “Hey [First Name], thanks for joining [Brand]. Here is your code: WELCOME10. Top sellers customers love: [3 products]. Free shipping over $50 and 30 day returns. Browse now [link].”

SMS copy template:

• “Welcome to [Brand]! Use WELCOME10 in the next 48 hours. See bestsellers: [short link] Reply STOP to opt out.”

Why it works: Welcome emails convert about 1 in 2 clickers, according to the Omnisend 2024 study. Add social proof and a first purchase incentive to hit goal.

2. Abandoned cart

Benchmark target: 45 to 50 percent open, 5 to 7 percent click, about 2.5 percent conversion.

Timing: Email at 1 hour, SMS at 3 hours, second email at 24 hours, last chance at 48 hours.

Email copy template:

• Subject: “Still thinking it over, [First Name]?”
• Body: “Your [Product Name] is still in your cart. Checkout takes 60 seconds and orders ship in 24 to 48 hours. Complete your order: [link]. Need help? Reply to this email.”

SMS copy template:

• “You left [Product] behind. Grab it before it sells out: [short link] Use CART10 for 10 percent off. Reply STOP to opt out.”

Why it works: With 70.22 percent abandonment and automations converting 1 in 3 clickers, per Omnisend’s research, this is the highest ROI flow for most stores. For more tactics, see our abandoned cart guide and conversion optimization wiki.

3. Post purchase

Benchmark target: about 50 percent open, 4 to 5 percent click, around 1 percent conversion.

Timing: Order confirmation instantly, shipping confirmation on dispatch, cross-sell at +7 days, review request at +14 days.

Email copy template:

• Subject: “Order confirmed: #[Order Number]”
• Body: “Thanks, [First Name]. We are prepping your order. Track anytime here: [tracking link]. Customers also bought: [3 complementary products]. Questions? We’re here to help.”

SMS copy template:

• “Thanks for your order #[Order]. We will text your tracking link once shipped. View your order: [short link] Reply STOP to opt out.”

Why it works: Transactional emails are high engagement moments, and Omnisend’s data shows post purchase emails still drive over 1 percent conversion. Use them to grow customer lifetime value with smart bundles.

4. Win back or lapsed purchase

Benchmark target: 30 to 35 percent open, 2 percent click, around 0.5 percent conversion.

Timing: Trigger when a customer has not purchased in 45 to 90 days.

Email copy template:

• Subject: “We miss you, [First Name]. A gift to come back”
• Body: “It has been a while. Here is 15 percent off your next order: COMEBACK15. New arrivals we think you will love: [3 items]. Offer expires in 72 hours.”

SMS copy template:

• “We saved 15 percent off for you, [First Name]. Use COMEBACK15 in 72 hours: [short link] Reply STOP to opt out.”

Why it works: As the Omnisend PDF shows, lapsed purchase automations re-engage with modest conversion but strong incremental revenue at scale.

Setup tips, compliance, and fast implementation

• Consent-first SMS: As Shopify’s SMS guide explains, you must obtain express written consent under the TCPA and honor opt-out requests. Add “Reply STOP to opt out” to every SMS and document consent. Align your copy with your Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
• A/B test your levers: Improve opens with subject-line testing, and test incentive types on clicks and orders. Our A/B testing guide shows how to structure clean tests.
• Keep your offer tight: Percent-off works well in welcome and win back. Free shipping or a timer boosts abandoned cart. See our email marketing wiki for creative angles.
• Make it turnkey: If you operate on WooCommerce, the WooDropship plugin gives you AI-assisted product optimization and automated order sync to maximize the lift from your flows. If you want to start on Shopify, launch quickly with a prebuilt store or begin your trial via Shopify.
• Measure what matters: Track revenue per recipient and placed order rate by flow. Klaviyo’s 2024 benchmarks show automations can deliver outsized RPR, as highlighted in the Klaviyo report.

If you want help mapping these flows to your niche or product mix, reach our team through Contact WooDropship. Ready to build? Explore WooDropship for WooCommerce or pick a Shopify store ready in 7 days. Use our wikis to get up to speed on dropshipping, WooCommerce, and AliExpress sourcing.

Happy WooDropshipping!