Are you looking to customize WooCommerce emails to make them more personalized?

WooCommerce emails are an important part of your online store. They keep your customers informed about their orders and provide important updates, and can even be used to promote new products and services. 

However, the problem is that WooCommerce's default emails are bland, generic, and lack personalization. 

According to Campaign Monitor, personalized emails have an open rate of 29% and a click-through rate of 41% compared to those without personalization. 

That’s why it becomes crucial to customize your emails to achieve a higher engagement rate and leverage them to boost sales.

In this article, we’ll show you how to customize WooCommerce emails and create WooCommerce email automation to grow your sales. 

We will share two ways to customize WooCommerce emails and best practices to follow when creating your emails. 

What are the Default WooCommerce Email Types?

WooCommerce, by default, sends many transactional emails based on different order statuses. 

Some emails are sent to the admin to notify them about store activity, and some are sent to the customers to inform them about their orders. 

Here are the default WooCommerce emails: 

• New order: WooCommerce sends this email to notify the store admin that a new order has been placed. You can add the admin email that will receive the email.
  
• Cancelled order: This email is sent to the chosen admin email when orders previously processed or held are marked as canceled. 

• Failed order: This email is sent to the chosen admin email when orders previously processed or held are marked as failed. 

• Order on hold: This email is sent to customers when an order status is placed on hold from Pending. On hold means there is a temporary pause in order processing.

• Processing order: This email is sent to customers when the payment is completed with the order details.

• Completed order: This email is sent to customers with the order details when the order is shipped.

• Refunded order: This email is sent to customers to inform them that their order has been refunded. 

• Customer invoice / Order details: This email is sent to customers with order details and payment links. Users can use the payment link to complete the payment process. 

• Customer note: This email sends customers a note if the store owner adds a note to the order.

• Reset password: This email is sent to customers with a reset link when they request a password reset.

• New account: Customers will receive this email when creating a new WooCommerce store account. 

These were all the default transactional emails that WooCommerce sends to its customers. 

However, if you use an additional plugin, you’ll be able to send other emails to your users: 

• Cart abandonment emails
• Shipment tracking emails
• Product review collection emails 
• Product education emails 
• Purchase anniversary emails 
• Winback emails, etc. 

While these emails are not mandatory, they can help you improve customer communication, promote your brand, and contribute to the overall growth of your WooCommerce store.

Why You Should Customize WooCommerce Emails?

While WooCommerce, by default, has the option to send emails to customers, they are not the most optimized emails. Usually, the emails are plain and generic. 

Have a look at the default WooCommerce email template for new order purchases:

As you can see, the default emails look bland and lack any personality or brand representation. 

You can’t tell which brand the email is from, as there is no logo or much brand information. It doesn’t even contain any contact information for customers in case they want to contact the store. 

Such bland email will not help you establish your brand. Additionally, these simple emails also limit your ability to offer product recommendations or discount offers to boost sales.

On the contrary, if you customize WooCommerce emails, you can reap numerous advantages and enhance your overall user experience: 

• Brand consistency: Personalized emails allow you to integrate your business logo, specific colors, preferred fonts, etc, in the email template. This not only enhances the visual appeal but also consistently reinforces your brand identity across all email communications.
  
• Improved personalized communication: You customize WooCommerce emails to make them more personalized. For instance, you can include customer names, purchase details, tailored messages, etc., that resonate with their preferences. This level of customization goes beyond generic communication, creating a more engaging and individualized experience for each customer.
  
• Higher engagement rates: According to SmarterHQ, 72% of consumers prefer and actively engage with personalized messaging. As mentioned earlier, personalized emails result in higher engagement metrics, with increased open and click-through rates compared to non-personalized emails.
  
• Promotional opportunities: Customized emails provide the perfect platform to promote new products, special offers, or exclusive deals. Incorporating promotional elements into your emails can drive sales and encourage repeat business from your customer base.
  
• Improved sales with repeat customers:  According to Twilio Segment, 60% of consumers are inclined to become repeat buyers after enjoying a personalized shopping experience with a retailer. Moreover, according to Campaign Monitor, implementing personalization strategies can result in a remarkable 760% increase in email revenue. When done properly, email personalization can help you boost sales. 

Hopefully, now you know how beneficial customizing WooCommerce emails can be for your business. 

Now, let’s look at how you can customize email in WooCommerce using the default options. 

Method 1: How to Edit WooCommerce Emails With Default Settings?

Here are the simple steps one has to follow to customize the content and style of WooCommerce emails. 

Step 1: Navigate to email settings 

From the WordPress dashboard, navigate to WooCommerce ⇒ Settings. Then, move to the “Emails” tab. 

Here you will see all the emails WooCommerce sends by default. 

Step 2: Enable email notification

Now you need to make sure the email notification is turned on for each email you want WooCommerce to send. 

To turn on any email notifications, click the “Manage” option next to it. 

For example, we will show the process for the “Completed Order” notification that is sent to users when a product is processed and shipped. 

Now, make sure you check the “ Enable this email notification” option. 

Step 3: Customize email content

After enabling the email notification option, you can customize the following:

• Subject: Set the email subject line here. You can use {site_title} to dynamically print the store name on the subject line. 
• Email heading: Provide the email heading here.
• Additional content: If you want to add any additional content, you can add it to the field.
• Email type: Choose an email type such as HTML, Plain Text, or Multipart. 

Make sure to click on “Save Changes” to update the custom content. 

🔔 Note: Repeat Steps 2 and 3 to customize each email type in WooCommerce.

Step 4: Set email sender options 

Come back to the email templates page and scroll down a bit to set the email sender options:

• "From" name:  Set the name you want to show as the sender.
• "From" address:  The email address from which emails will be sent.

Step 5: Customize email template style

Scroll down a little further to customize the following style settings: 

• Header image: You need to add the image URL here that you want to use as a header image in your email.
• Footer text: Set the text that will show up on the email footer. 
• Base color: Choose the base color for your email template. 
• Background color‎: Select the background color for your email template.
• Body background color: Set the main body background color.
• Body text color: Choose the text color. 

Finally, click on “Save Changes” to update the WooCommerce email customizations.

Here is how a default email looks with all the customization we made:

As you have seen, WooCommerce's default options don’t give the flexibility to customize the email content or templates. 

For instance, you can’t change the layout or add any product recommendations, coupons, etc. 

That’s why we recommend choosing a WooCommerce plugin that will give you the maximum flexibility. 

Let’s have a look at some of the WooCommerce plugins that provide you with the ability to customize default emails.

3 Best WooCommerce Email Customizer Plugins for Your WooCommerce Store

Here, we have compiled the top 3 best WooCommerce email customizer plugins with key features and prices.  Go through each of them and decide which plugin you want to use to customize WooCommerce emails of your store.

1. FunnelKit Automations 

FunnelKit Automations is a comprehensive email customizer plugin that allows you to customize all default WooCommerce emails from the WordPress dashboard easily. 

It offers maximum flexibility to personalize emails, allowing you to create stunning email templates using its visual email builder.

Not only can you customize and personalize the default WooCommerce emails, but you can also send other emails based on user interactions, such as abandoned cart recovery emails, birthday emails, winback emails, and more. 

You can also send broadcast promotional emails and SMS for multi-channel marketing. 

Furthermore, you get access to detailed analytics to track how customers interact with the emails, including open rates, click rates, revenue earned, and more.

Here are some of the main features: 

• Event triggers:  FunnelKit Automations offers different event triggers that you can use to send emails based on the user’s interaction with your WooCommerce store. Some event triggers include order created, order status change, order refunded, cart abandonment, winback, etc. 

• Pre-built email recipe: You get prebuilt email recipes that you can import, customize, and use in a few simple steps. 

• Visual email builder: With its visual builder, you can create beautiful device-responsive emails just by dragging and dropping content blocks. You can add menus, images, WooCommerce products, order information, etc., to your emails.
  
• Dynamic coupon: Create personalized, dynamic coupon codes and include them in your emails. You can add a validation period to the coupon to create urgency among users and encourage them to shop more quickly.

• Email personalization: With the merge tag feature, you can personalize your emails with information such as the user’s first name, data submitted on the form, order values, and more.
• In-depth analytics: FunnelKit Automations provides in-depth analytics of email campaigns in the form of open rate, click rate, orders placed, revenue generated, etc.

Price: Its free version enables you to customize all default WooCommerce emails. Additionally, it allows you to send abandoned cart reminders and post-purchase sequences and review collections emails.

You can purchase its premium version for features like the visual builder, discount coupons, SMS marketing, etc., for $99.50/year. Please note you can save unlimited contacts and send unlimited emails with this package. 

2. Decorator – WooCommerce Email Customizer

Decorator – WooCommerce Email Customizer lets you change the look of the default WooCommerce emails. You can personalize the emails and make them align with your brand.

However, the customization options are very basic and are similar to the options WooCommerce provides by default. But the good part is with this plugin, you can check the preview while you customize the email template. 

Please note you can only customize the default email templates, you can’t send any custom emails like abandoned cart recovery, winback, etc. 

Here are some of the key features: 

• Prebuilt email template: It offers some basic pre-built templates that you can use to change the look of the default emails. Each WooCommerce default email type has multiple templates. 
• Customize email content: You can customize email content such as subject, heading, subtitle, body text, etc. You can also alter the footer text and add social media links to the footer. 
• Personalization using the shortcode: You can personalize the email by using shortcodes such as user name, order date, order number, etc. 
• Add custom CSS: If you want to make more changes than the available customization options, you can do so by adding custom CSS to your email template. 

Price: This plugin is free to use. However, this plugin only offers limited customization options and you can only customize the default transactional emails only.

3. Email Customizer for WooCommerce

Email Customizer for WooCommerce by YayCommerce lets you customize WooCommerce email with a drag-and-drop email builder. 

With this email customizer, you can give your transactional emails a professional look.

However, keep in mind that this plugin lets you customize only the default WooCommerce emails. You can send other emails like cart abandonment, post-purchase sequence, winback, etc. 

Here are some of the key features: 

• Email building elements: Email Customizer for WooCommerce offers 20+ elements to create emails, such as images, buttons, text, social icons, videos, HTML, titles, etc. 

• Visual email customer: It comes with a visual email builder that you can use to drag and drop elements to build emails. You can see the email preview while you build it.
  
• Integration with another plugin: This plugin supports other plugins, including Shipment Tracking, Order Status Manager, Checkout Field Editor, and so on. 

Price: This plugin costs $69/year. While it is effective for customizing basic WooCommerce emails, some may find it slightly expensive, given its limited features.

Among the three plugins, our experts recommend FunnelKit Automations as the best WooCommerce email customizer plugin because it offers maximum flexibility for customizing default WooCommerce emails. 

Additionally, it allows you to send other triggered emails, such as cart abandonment, winback campaigns, post-purchase emails, anniversary emails, and birthday emails, enhancing overall customer communication and boosting your store's revenue.

Besides, with this one plugin, you can also run SMS marketing campaigns as well. 

Now, let's proceed to the next step to learn how you can customize WooCommerce emails with FunnelKit Automations.

Method 2: How to Customize WooCommerce Emails with FunnelKit Automations? 

Before we move to the main process, make sure to install FunnelKit Funnel Builder. 

You can customize WooCommerce emails using the free version of FunnelKit Funnel Builder. 

However, for a more effective and personalized WooCommerce email, we will require both the free and pro versions, as we will utilize some of the pro features.

If you need help with installation, read our installation guide to install and activate FunnelKit Automations.

🔔 Note: Here, we will show you how you can customize the email WooCommerce for the status “Completed order.”  This email is sent to customers with the order details when the order is shipped.

This is a great opportunity to promote relevant products and encourage customers to make another purchase with a coupon code that they can use in their next purchase. You can easily do all these with FunnelKit Funnel Builder. 

After installing the plugins, follow these next steps: 

Step 1: Disable the default WooCommerce email 

First, you need to disable the “Completed order” email. 

To do so, go to WooCommerce ⇒  Settings ⇒  Emails tab and click on the go to manage option for “Completed Order.”

Now uncheck the “ Enable this email notification” option and click on Save Changes.

This will stop WooCommerce from sending the default email. 

We’ll now create a custom email that is automatically sent to the customers when the order gets shipped.

Step 2: Add a new automation

The first step is to create a new automation. 

For that, navigate to FunnelKit Automations ⇒ Automations (NextGen) and then click on “Add New Automation”.

Here you will find a lot of prebuilt templates. But we will build an email campaign from scratch. So, click on the ‘Start From Scratch’ option. 

After that, provide a name and click on ‘Create’. 

Step 3: Select a trigger

The next step is to select a trigger. A trigger is an event that will start the automation and send the email to customers. 

To select a trigger, click on “Select Trigger”.

Go to the WooCommerce tab, then under “Order” select “Order Status Changed”. Finally, click on ‘Done’.  

Now you need to configure the status change that will trigger this email campaign. For that, click on the event “Order Status Changed” you just selected. Choose “From status” as “Processing” and “To status” as “Completed”. Finally, click on Save.

This email campaign will run once an order status gets updated from processing to completed after shipping.

Step 4: Create a dynamic coupon (optional)

As we plan to offer a discount coupon on the next purchase, add an action to generate a coupon once the event we set gets triggered. 

For that click on the “+” icon and and select the “Action” step.

On the WooCommerce Tab, select “Create Coupon” and click on Done. 

Now provide all the coupon details, such as coupon title, discount type, coupon code prefix, coupon expiry period, etc, to create a dynamic coupon.

Here, we will use the merge tag “{{contact_first_name}}” as a Coupon Code Prefix to make the generated coupon code personalized by adding the first name at the beginning of the discount code. Finally, click on Save Changes. 

Here, we are creating a coupon that will give 10% off with a validity of 3 days. 

⭐ For more details, read our blog on WooCommerce dynamic coupon to know the detailed process of setting up time-bound, personalized coupon codes.

This will create a dynamic coupon that you can embed in the email body. 

Step 5: Set the send email action

To set the send email action, click the “+” icon after the Create coupon action.

Now on the Messaging Tab, under email, select “Send Email” and click on Done. 

Step 6: Customize the email

Now it’s time to customize and design the Order Completed email.

Let’s start with the subject line. In the subject line and throughout the email, you can incorporate dynamic information such as customer email using the Merge tag feature of Funnelkit. 

To add any merge tag, click on the “{{..}}” icon, then search for the tag you want to use and click on the Copy Icon to add it to your email.

Here, we're incorporating the customer's first name and order ID to enhance the subject line and preview text, making it more personalized and attention-grabbing.

Now, we need to design the email body. You can design emails using Rich Text, Raw HTML, and Visual Builder. 

For this blog, we are going to use a drag-and-drop email builder, so choose Visual Builder and click on Start.

Once the visual builder opens, you can select different blocks and then drag and drop content widgets to add them to the blocks in order to create your email. 

To create your desired email, FunnelKit Automations offers different content blocks such as Menu, Image, Heading, Product, etc.

🔔 Note: You can use a merge tag to embed dynamic information like order ID, order details, customer name, etc, to personalize the email. 

In the Order completed email, you can recommend cross-selling products using the merge tag “{{order_cross_sells}}” or use the Product element to recommend products manually. 

You can use the merge tag “{{wc_dynamic_coupon}}”  to add the coupon created in the previous action in the email body. 

After designing the email, make sure to click on Save Changes. 

🔔Note: You can also send a test email to check how the email layout and design will look when a user receives the email in their inbox. 

⭐ For more details, read on how to design email using FunnelKit Automation. 

Here is the email we designed:

Note: Make sure to mark this email as a transaction email as the order complete status email is transactional. Then click on “Save and Close.” 

Step 7: Activate the email automation 

The final step is to activate the email automation you just created. 

To activate the automation, turn on the toggle button on the top right corner.

And that’s it! Your custom WooCommerce email for “Order Completed” status is live!

As we talked about earlier, with FunnelKit Automations, you can go beyond the default WooCommerce emails. 

Here are some of the guides you can check: 

• How to Send WooCommerce Shipment Tracking Emails to Customers
• How To Send WooCommerce Abandoned Cart Emails
• How to Create a Successful Customer Winback Campaign
• How to Create Automated Birthday Emails that Your Customers Will Love
• How to Offer First Order Discount in WooCommerce

Best Practices to Follow When Customizing Your WooCommerce Emails 

You must follow some best practices to ensure the custom WooCommerce emails you send will bring you the best results. 

Here are some of the things you should follow while customizing WooCommerce emails: 

• Maintain brand consistency

Maintain a cohesive brand identity across email templates by using consistent colors, fonts, and logos. 

This way, customers can easily recognize that the email is from their favorite brand and will likely engage with it. 

• Make sure email templates are device-responsive

3 out of 5 people tend to open their email on their mobile devices. 

So, make sure the email templates you design look good on devices of all sizes and shapes. 

• Add clear and engaging content

Like design, your email content should also represent your brand. Since you know your audience better, ensure that you write content that is likely to engage your users. 

Also, make sure your email content is clear and concise for effective communication.

• Ensure emails are personalized

Around 74% of customers experience frustration when their email communication lacks personalization. 

The best part about customizing WooCommerce emails is that you can turn generic emails into a more personalized experience. 

So, seize this opportunity to personalize emails with customer names, order details, and relevant recommendations to enhance the user experience.

• Add CTA to make customers re-engage with the store 

Emails are a great way to get your customers to re-engage with your audience.

 So, with every email, make sure to add a distinct call to action, whether it's prompting a purchase, encouraging a review, or directing recipients to visit your website. 

However, avoid adding multiple CTAs, as they can be confusing. Always add a single CTA, as adding a single CTA can increase sales by approximately 1,617%. 

• A/B test your emails to know what resonates with your audience

A/B testing is the practice of sending different variations of an email (subject line, preview text, email body content) to different audience segments to determine which performs better in engagement or conversion. 

We strongly recommend you A/B test your emails. This will give you real data on what works for your audience.

These were some of the best practices regarding WooCommerce email customization. 

Frequently Asked Questions About WooCommerce Email Customization 

• What is email customization?

Email customization is the art of tailoring the design and content of emails to reflect your unique vision and brand identity.

• What are transactional emails?

Transactional emails are automated messages triggered by user activity or commercial transactions on a WooCommerce store, providing timely and relevant information to users. 

Transactional emails include order confirmation, order completion, password reset, etc. 

• Can I add my company logo to the WooCommerce emails?

Yes, you can add a company logo to your WooCommerce emails. 

You can do that using the header image option of the default WooCommerce email settings or using an additional plugin. 

Ready to Customize WooCommerce Emails?

WooCommerce emails are not only essential for customer communication, but they are also an opportunity to establish your brand and increase sales. 

However, to achieve optimal results with emails, you need the ability to customize WooCommerce emails.

With the right plugin, like FunnelKit Automations, you can entirely transform the appearance of WooCommerce emails using simple drag-and-drop technology. Moreover, customization becomes a breeze. 

The best part is your customer communication is no longer confined to default transactional emails. 

With FunnelKit Automations, you can bring back people who abandoned their carts, revive inactive customers who haven't shopped in your store for a while, and so much more.

So, are you ready to customize WooCommerce emails and elevate your communication to maximize sales?