18 Solid Ways To Recover BigCommerce Abandoned Carts

Abandoned carts can be frustrating.

But it also means that shoppers are showing interest in your products and adding them to cart.

With a few tweaks and optimizations, you can recover carts and get those sales!

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10 reasons why shoppers abandon your BigCommerce store cart

18 Top BigCommerce Strategies To Boost Cart Recoveries

10 reasons why shoppers abandon your BigCommerce store cart

Before diving into cart recovery strategies, take a moment to understand why shoppers abandon your BigCommerce shopping cart.

The key reasons behind BigCommerce cart abandonment are:

Your pop-ups are too intrusive or inconvenient
There’s a lack of personalization
You don’t show enough product descriptions
There’s a lack of payment transparency
You have a slow customer support response
There are hidden costs
You require mandatory account creation
The discount codes don’t work
You have unclear return policies
There’s a lack of social proof

18 Top BigCommerce Strategies To Boost Cart Recoveries

Re-engage shoppers with BigCommerce’s abandoned cart saver
Set up timely emails
Enable persistent cart for uninterrupted shopping
Show targeted pop-ups
SMS for BigCommerce cart recovery
Set up persuasive notifications
Implement guest checkout options
Recover BigCommerce abandoned carts with a wishlist feature
Turn on buy-now, pay-later options
Set smart limits on your discount codes
Create a solid return and refund policy
Add convincing social proof
Speed up your BigCommerce store
Enable browser compatibility
Simplify cart navigation
Make any extra costs visible
Keep the cart easily accessible
Offer different shipping options

1. Re-engage shoppers with BigCommerce’s abandoned cart saver

When a customer adds items to their shopping cart but leaves your online store before completing the checkout process, BigCommerce identifies this as an abandoned cart.

Once an abandoned cart is detected, BigCommerce triggers automated email reminders to be sent to the customer.

Automated emails typically include personalized content such as the items left in the cart, product images, descriptions, and prices.

This way, you can remind the customer of their interest in the products and encourage them to complete their purchase.

How to use this feature for BigCommerce cart recovery?

BigCommerce has a built-in feature called Abandoned Cart Saver, but it’s only available on certain plans (Pro and Enterprise).

First, ensure your plan supports this feature.

So, how can you configure abandoned cart emails on BigCommerce?

Go to Marketing > Abandoned Cart Notifications.

Enable Abandoned Cart Notifications: Toggle the switch to enable the feature.

2. Set up timely emails

You can configure up to 3 emails to send to customers who abandon their carts.

Here’s how to set them up:

First Email: Sent a few hours after abandonment (e.g., 1-3 hours). This email should be a gentle reminder.

Second Email: Sent a day later. This email can offer more details or emphasize the urgency.

Third Email: Sent a few days later (e.g., 3-5 days). This email can include a discount code or other incentive to encourage completion.

Here’s how to customize the cart recovery emails:

✔️Click on the Customize Email button next to each email slot.

✔️Write a compelling subject line and email body.

✔️Include the cart contents, a strong call to action, and a link back to the cart.

✔️Consider personalizing the email with the customer’s name and specific product details.

✔️Save Your Settings.

BigCommerce abandoned cart recovery email subject line examples:

Friendly Reminder: Complete Your Purchase!

Oops, You Left Something Behind!

Your Cart is Waiting – Finalize Your Order Now

Don't Miss Out: Your Items Are Still in Your Cart

Still Thinking It Over? Your Cart Misses You!

Ready to Checkout? Your Cart is Ready!

We Saved Your Cart for You – Complete Your Purchase

Exclusive Offer: Come Back and Save Your Cart

Hurry! Your Cart Items are Going Fast

Last Chance: Complete Your Purchase Today!

Forgot Something? Your Cart is Waiting!

Your Favorite Items are Still Available – Finish Your Purchase

Just a Few Clicks Away: Complete Your Order

Special Deal Inside – Complete Your Cart Now

Need Help? Your Cart is Ready to Go!

3. Enable persistent cart for uninterrupted shopping

Persistent carts help reduce cart abandonment rates and let customers return to their carts at a later time and complete their purchases.

When a customer adds products to cart, by default, BigCommerce saves it in their browser’s cache for 7 days.

Customers who have logged into your store can access their cart from any device and browser for 30 days.

So, what are the requirements for BigCommerce persistent carts?

Your store must be on a Plus, Pro, or Enterprise plan.
To enable or disable Persistent Cart, you must have the Manage Settings permission enabled on your user account.

Here’s how to enable persistent carts on your BigCommerce store account:

✔️Click on the "Store Setup" option in the left-hand menu.

✔️Under the "Store Setup" menu, select "Checkout".

✔️Scroll down to find the "Cart & Checkout" section.

✔️Look for the option labeled "Persistent Cart" and click on it to enable the feature.

BigCommerce Strategies To Boost Cart Recoveries - persistent carts

✔️Save your changes to activate Persistent Cart on your storefront.

4. Show targeted pop-ups

While many online retailers focus on email campaigns or retargeting ads, pop-ups can be highly effective in engaging visitors at critical moments in the shopping journey and reducing cart drop-offs.

You can set up targeting rules based on various criteria such as:

Time on site
Exit intent
Page or URL
Referral source
Shopping cart contents
Geographic location
Previous interactions or behavior

BigCommerce store example for targeted pop-ups:

We love Cutter and Buck shows an interactive pop-up that offers shoppers a good way to discover products eligible for the sitewide discount.

Furthermore, the pop-up is condensed to a teaser which expands when clicked on, even on the cart page.

5. SMS for BigCommerce cart recovery

SMS messages have significantly higher open rates compared to emails.

Studies show that over 90% of SMS messages are opened and read within minutes of receipt, making it a reliable channel for reaching customers.

SMS messages are delivered instantly, so you can send timely reminders to customers who have abandoned their carts.

This immediacy increases the chances of catching customers while they are still considering their purchase.

Here are some tips on how to write effective SMS messaging for BigCommerce cart recovery:

✔️Start with a "Hi there!" or "Hey!" to make the message feel more personal and inviting.

✔️Mention the product or products left in the cart to jog the recipient's memory. Include key details such as the product name, description, or any unique selling points.

✔️Add a sense of urgency to encourage immediate action with limited stock, a special offer, or a deadline.

✔️Test different variations of your SMS to see which ones perform best.

✔️Pay attention to metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates, and use this data to optimize your messages over time.

Here are some examples of effective SMS messaging for your BigCommerce abandoned cart recovery:

Hey [Name]! Forgot something in your cart? Don't worry, we're holding onto your [Product Name] for you! Finish your purchase now and enjoy it soon. Tap here [link] to complete your order. Happy shopping! 🛒

Oops! Looks like you forgot about the [Product Name] in your cart. No worries, it's still available for you! Click here [link] to complete your purchase and make it yours. Hurry, before it's gone! 😄

🚨Hey there! Your [Product Name] is in high demand! Finish your order now to secure it before it's sold out. Click here [link] to complete your purchase. Don't wait! ⚡️

Quick reminder, [Name]! Finish your order of [Product Name] now and enjoy [% Discount] off as a token of our appreciation! Simply use code [Discount Code] at checkout. Tap here [link] to return to your cart and redeem your discount. Happy shopping! 💸

6. Set up persuasive notifications

An average smartphone user in the USA receives around 46 app push notifications every day.

So, it’s important to send cart recovery notifications that will ‘convince’ shoppers to return to your BigCommerce store.

Here are some tips on how to craft persuasive cart recovery notifications:

Convey scarcity by indicating when a product is low in stock or available for a limited time.
Use emojis (a proven way to increase open rates by 9%)
Include rich formats like GIFs, videos, etc. (known to increase open rates by 25%)
Use location data to send targeted push notifications.
Send timely push notifications (Wednesdays between 3-4 PM receive the best responses)

Pro Tip 🚀

In the case of push notifications, more can be merrier.

A report showed that sending 3-6 push notifications a week led to 43% of the shoppers disabling push notifications.

However, 6-10 weekly push notifications led to 32% of the shoppers disabling them.

Push notification template for your BigCommerce store:

BigCommerce Strategies To Boost Cart Recoveries - push notifications

How do you configure push notifications on BigCommerce stores?

Setting up push notifications on BigCommerce requires integrating a third-party push notification service with your store.

While BigCommerce doesn't offer native push notification functionality, you can use services like PushEngage, Aimtell, or OneSignal to send push notifications to your store visitors.

7. Implement guest checkout options

Research shows that 69.82% of online shopping carts are abandoned.

And the most common reason? Creating an account.

To circumvent this problem, guest checkout or alternatives can really make a difference.

Even with guest checkout, you can still collect essential information such as email addresses, which can be used for marketing purposes.

BigCommerce store example - One Kings Lane

We love how One Kings Lane shows a pop-up on the checkout page that offers guest checkout to new shoppers and an easy sign-in for repeat customers.

BigCommerce Strategies To Boost Cart Recoveries - guest checkout

Guest checkout requirements on BigCommerce store:

Enhanced guest customer and checkout features are supported only on Optimized One-Page Checkout.

If you are using Legacy Checkout, then you’ll have to move to the current checkout experience to take advantage of these features.

Note: If the store setting for Enable Account Creation is disabled, shoppers will be unable to create accounts, regardless of the configuration in Checkout Settings.

However, customer accounts can still be created in the control panel via CSV import.

To enable guest checkout on BigCommerce:

Setting up guest checkout on BigCommerce is relatively straightforward.

The platform offers built-in features to enable guest checkout, making it an easy enhancement to your store.

Step 1 - Log in to your BigCommerce account.

Step 2 - Go to "Store Setup" and then "Checkout."

Step 3 - Set "Account Creation" to "Optional" or "Disabled."

Step 4 - Save changes.

Step 5 - Test guest checkout to ensure it works as expected.

8. Recover BigCommerce abandoned carts with a wishlist feature

Encourage visitors to use the wishlist feature by prominently displaying the wishlist button on product pages and highlighting its benefits, such as saving items for later or receiving notifications about price drops.

Keep track of wishlist activity in your BigCommerce dashboard to identify trends and opportunities for cart recovery.

Next, set up automated email reminders to customers who have added items to their wishlist but haven't completed their purchase.

BigCommerce requirements and configurations for wishlist feature

To save products to their wish lists, your shoppers must first log in or create an account.

Shoppers who are not logged in will still see the Add to Wish List button, but they will be taken to the Sign In or Create an Account page if they attempt to add an item to a wish list.

You can also display a ‘share’ button.

When clicked on, the button is linked to a unique URL which customers can use to send to their friends and family.

This way, you can promote your products to a wider audience and encourage engagement and collaboration among customers.

9. Turn on buy-now, pay-later options

What’s better than multiple payment methods? Buy Now, Pay Later.

Research shows that almost half of US citizens are interested in BNPL services.

BNPL is most popular amongst younger shoppers, like Millennials and Gen Z.

In the past four years, even millennial use of BNPL has tripled.

How to choose the right BNPL provider for your BigCommerce store

Research the provider’s history, financial stability, and customer reviews.
Ensure easy integration and good technical support.
Understand both merchant and customer fees.
Most BNPLs have limits for the amount of credit offered. Evaluate BNPL limits compared to your AOV to see what will work best for your business.
Different BNPL providers operate in different markets. Where your business is located could mean the difference between one provider and another.
Choose a provider with a smooth, user-friendly interface and fast approval process.
Look for varied repayment options and reasonable interest rates.
Utilize promotional tools and co-branding opportunities offered by the provider.
Select a BNPL provider with strong reporting tools and performance tracking.
Ensure reliable support and efficient dispute resolution.

BigCommerce store example - Ted Baker

See how the online store outlines its installment plan with PayPal on the product page.

BigCommerce Strategies To Boost Cart Recoveries - example - ted baker

Furthermore, the BigCommerce store offers multiple payment options on the checkout page, including PayPal and Klarna.

BigCommerce Strategies To Boost Cart Recoveries - multiple payment options

10. Set smart limits on your discount codes

BigCommerce lets you set up various discount rules to tailor promotions for different scenarios.

Here are some types of discount rules you can use:

Offer discounts that apply to the entire cart based on the total order value or quantity of items.

Example: "10% off orders over $100" or "Buy 3, Get 1 Free".

Set discounts for specific products or categories.

Example: "20% off all winter coats" or "15% off when you buy 2 or more of the same item".

Offer free or discounted shipping based on order criteria.

Example: "Free shipping on orders over $50".

Add the different quantity levels and the corresponding prices.

Example:

Buy 1-3 units at $20 each.

Buy 4-8 units at $18 each.

Buy 10+ units at $15 each.

Set conditional BOGO with an offer for the second product.

Example: "Buy one, get the second at 50% off".

Use customer behavior data to create groups. For instance, you can have groups for frequent buyers, high spenders, or customers who haven’t made a purchase in a while.

Example: Exclusive 20% discount just for our VIPs!

11. Create a solid return and refund policy

Consider extending the return period for first-time shoppers to give them more time to evaluate their purchase and return it if necessary.

This provides additional peace of mind and encourages them to make a purchase.

Show options to receive partial refunds or store credit for returned items.

This flexibility will retain customers who may prefer to exchange their purchases or make future purchases instead of receiving a full refund.

12. Add convincing social proof

Instead of just displaying text-based testimonials, incorporate visual testimonials directly on product pages.

This could include images or videos of customers using or unboxing your products, providing visual evidence of their satisfaction.

Share behind-the-scenes content that gives customers a glimpse into your company culture, manufacturing process, or day-to-day operations.

This transparency humanizes your brand and fosters a connection with customers.

13. Speed up your BigCommerce store

Studies show that even a one-second delay in page load time can significantly impact conversion rates.

Here are some tips on how to optimize your BigCommerce store speed:

i. Set up automatic redirects

This ensures shoppers don’t see 404 pages if they somehow click or type out a dated URL or wrong domain name.

To set up automatic redirects for your BigCommerce store:

Step 1 - Go to server settings on the left side of your dashboard

Step 2 - Go to “Add redirects” under the topic “301 redirects

Step 3 - Adjust the old URL link to flow into the new URL link

ii. Use Google AMP

Google AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) is an open-source framework designed to optimize the performance of web pages by simplifying your HTML code.

This results in faster-loading, lightweight web pages.

Why Google AMP boosts your BigCommerce store’s performance:

Restricts JavaScript to 150KB, minimizing load times and improving speed.
Caps CSS at 75KB, ensuring stylesheets are lightweight and quick to render.
Streamlines critical rendering paths, reducing the time it takes for pages to become interactive.

iii. Upgrade from Blueprint to Stencil

The Stencil theme on BigCommerce offers several advantages that enhance your store’s performance.

Here's why making the switch ensures faster web page loading:

Stencil themes provide robust support for Google AMP, which streamlines your pages for faster loading on mobile devices.
mages are optimized automatically, reducing load times and improving overall site speed.
Utilizes YAML Front Matter, which speeds up rendering by efficiently managing metadata.
Enhances search engine readability with rich snippets, so search engines can process and display your pages more quickly.

14. Enable browser compatibility

Since Google Chrome is the #1 most-used browser on mobile and desktop, you might think to skip this optimization.

But, Safari, largely thanks to being the default browser on iOS devices, comes in at a relatively close second.

Furthermore, If your store doesn’t work well on certain browsers, you risk losing customers who experience issues and may decide to shop elsewhere.

Here’s a common problem faced by BigCommerce store owners sourced from the forum:

BigCommerce Strategies To Boost Cart Recoveries - Enable browser compatibility

How to enable browser compatibility for a better experience:

Use pop-up banners asking shoppers to enable cookies. Clearly explain why enabling cookies will improve their shopping experience.

Example Message:

"Enable cookies for a smoother shopping experience! By allowing cookies, you can save your shopping cart, receive personalized recommendations, and enjoy faster checkouts."

Encourage shoppers to shop from the same device as before in your cart recovery emails.

When customers use the same device, their cart items and session data are more likely to be preserved due to cookies and local storage.

This ensures that when they return, their cart is exactly as they left it, making it easier for them to complete their purchase without having to re-add items.

15. Simplify Cart Navigation

A complicated or lengthy checkout process can lead to cart abandonment.

Simplifying navigation helps keep customers engaged and reduces the likelihood of them leaving the site without completing their purchase.

Remember: Keep all sections of your checkout page in familiar places.

How to simplify navigation to reduce cart abandonment:

Reduce the number of steps by consolidating all necessary fields (shipping, billing, payment) onto a single page.
Implementing one-click checkout for returning customers, similar to Amazon's process, can significantly speed up the process.
Let customers log in using their social media accounts to save time filling out forms.
Enable auto-fill options for address and payment details to speed up the process.
Make “Continue” or “Complete Purchase” buttons large and easy to find.
Provide clear links to privacy policies and terms of service.
Offer real-time shipping and tax calculations to avoid any last-minute surprises.

16. Make Any Extra Costs Visible

Show a detailed summary of all costs in the shopping cart, including product prices, taxes, shipping fees, and any additional charges.

Clearly display the subtotal and an estimated total including all extra costs before the shopper proceeds to checkout.

Use bold text or different colors to highlight any additional costs such as shipping and taxes, ensuring they are not overlooked.

When selecting a shipping method, display the cost of each option alongside estimated delivery dates.

Ensure that any changes (e.g., adding/removing items, changing shipping methods) dynamically update the total cost displayed.

17. Keep the Cart Easily Accessible

Here are some practical ways to ensure the cart remains visible and easy to access throughout your BigCommerce store to reduce cart abandonment:

i. Sticky cart icon

Place a cart icon in the navigation bar that remains visible as shoppers scroll through the site.

This way, shoppers can access their cart from anywhere on the site without having to navigate back to the cart page.

ii. Mini cart

Implement a mini cart that appears when users hover over or click the cart icon.

This mini cart should show a brief summary of the items in the cart, including images, prices, and quantities.

iii. Slide-out cart

Use a slide-out cart that opens from the side of the screen, providing more detailed information about the cart contents without taking the user away from the current page.

Display a cart summary in a sidebar on product pages and category pages.

This summary can be collapsed or expanded and should show the total number of items and the subtotal.

vi. Cart notifications

Show a confirmation message or mini cart update when an item is added to the cart.

This reassures users that their item has been successfully added.

Use non-intrusive popups or messages to remind users about items in their cart if they navigate away from the cart page.

v. Cart visibility on mobile

On mobile devices, use a fixed cart icon that stays at the top or bottom of the screen as shoppers scroll.

Implement a swipe gesture to quickly view the cart on mobile devices, enhancing accessibility without navigating away from the current page.

18. Offer Different Shipping Options

Multiple shipping options are a great way to reduce BigCommerce cart abandonment.

Here are several shipping options you can implement:

Use BigCommerce apps like ShipStation, ShipperHQ, or Shippo to manage and optimize your shipping options.
Charge a single flat rate for all orders, making shipping costs predictable for customers.
Offer different flat rates based on order size or weight.
Provide next-day delivery for customers who need their items urgently.
Offer two-day shipping as a more affordable express option.
Provide a slower, more affordable shipping option for budget-conscious customers.
Let local customers pick up their orders in-store, saving on shipping costs and time.

Frequently Asked Questions - BigCommerce abandoned cart recovery

1. What is abandoned cart recovery in BigCommerce?

Abandoned cart recovery in BigCommerce refers to the process of identifying and reaching out to customers who have added items to their online shopping cart but have not completed the purchase.

The goal is to encourage them to return to the website and complete their purchase.

2. How does abandoned cart recovery work in BigCommerce?

BigCommerce has various in-built tools and features to facilitate abandoned cart recovery.

This typically includes sending automated email reminders to customers who have abandoned their carts, offering incentives or discounts to encourage them to complete their purchases, and providing a seamless checkout process to make it easier for customers to return and buy.

3. Does BigCommerce provide analytics for abandoned cart recovery?

Yes, BigCommerce offers analytics and reporting tools so you can track the performance of your abandoned cart recovery efforts.

You can monitor metrics such as conversion rates, revenue generated from recovered carts, and the effectiveness of different email campaigns.

4. Does BigCommerce offer any integrations or third-party apps for abandoned cart recovery?

Yes, BigCommerce has a marketplace of integrations and apps that you can use to enhance your abandoned cart recovery efforts.

These may include email marketing platforms, retargeting tools, and CRM systems that integrate seamlessly with BigCommerce to help you recover more abandoned carts.

5. Can I automate the abandoned cart recovery process in BigCommerce?

Yes, BigCommerce lets you set up automated workflows for abandoned cart recovery.

You can create rules and triggers to send out email reminders automatically when a customer abandons their cart, streamlining the process and saving you time.

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