Published Jun 04, 2025
14.810K
How to Use Squarespace Abandoned Cart Recovery Effectively
Introduction
Cart abandonment is one of the most frustrating hurdles for online store owners. Imagine a customer adding items to their cart, getting all the way to checkout — and then vanishing. Unfortunately, this scenario is common, with average cart abandonment rates reaching nearly 70% across e-commerce platforms.
Squarespace offers a built-in Abandoned Cart Recovery feature, giving you the chance to win back some of those lost sales. But using this tool effectively takes more than just enabling it. In this guide, you'll learn how to craft a recovery strategy that converts hesitation into sales by using personalization, smart timing, compelling messaging, and ongoing optimization.
1. Enable Abandoned Cart Recovery in Squarespace
- Before you can recover any sales, you need to ensure the feature is turned on:
- Navigate to Commerce > Customer Notifications in your Squarespace dashboard.
- Find the Abandoned Cart Recovery toggle and turn it on.
- Customize the content of the recovery email to align with your voice and brand.
Note: This feature is available only on the Advanced Commerce Plan — so make sure you’re on the right subscription.
Once enabled, Squarespace will automatically send a recovery email 24 hours after a cart is abandoned, provided the customer has entered their email during checkout.
2. Personalize Your Recovery Emails
A generic email is easy to ignore. The more personal and specific your message, the higher your chances of bringing the customer back.
- Use the customer’s first name if Squarespace has captured it.
- Mention the specific products left in their cart - showing you're aware of their interest.
- Highlight the value of the items (“This bestseller is almost gone!”).
- Add a strong call-to-action, such as “Return to Your Cart” or “Complete Your Purchase Now.”
- Keep the tone friendly, helpful, and on-brand.
Pro tip: Personalization builds trust and makes customers feel seen, which boosts the likelihood of conversion.
3. Time It Right
The timing of abandoned cart emails is critical. Squarespace automatically sends the recovery email 24 hours after abandonment. While this window is fixed for now, you can still influence effectiveness by fine-tuning your content.
- Craft an irresistible subject line: Keep it short and urgent (e.g., “Your cart misses you” or “Still thinking it over?”)
- Use the preview text to reinforce urgency, offer value, or make the message more relatable.
- Test different combinations over time and monitor results through analytics.
Even with just one chance to re-engage, the timing + message synergy is what drives results.
4. Offer Incentives (Strategically)
Sometimes shoppers abandon carts due to pricing doubts, shipping fees, or simple distraction. A well-placed incentive can tip the scales back in your favor.
- Consider including a discount code (e.g., “Take 10% off — just for coming back!”).
- Offer free shipping if your margin allows.
- Promote limited-time bundles or bonuses.
Warning: Avoid offering discounts every time, or you might unintentionally train your audience to wait for a better deal. Use incentives sparingly and consider reserving them for high-value or repeat customers.
5. Make the Design Match Your Brand
Your email should feel like a seamless extension of your website — not an afterthought.
- Use your brand’s logo, colors, and fonts consistently.
- Incorporate product images that reflect the cart contents.
- Keep the layout clean, mobile-optimized, and easy to skim.
- Ensure the CTA button is bold and visible.
The goal is to reduce friction and inspire action. A polished, trustworthy design reinforces your professionalism and builds buyer confidence.
6. Track Performance and Adjust
Even after launching your recovery emails, the work isn’t done. You need to monitor and iterate for long-term success.
- Head to Analytics > Commerce to track metrics such as:
- Open rates
- Click-through rates
- Recovery success (how many carts were converted)
- Try A/B testing different subject lines or CTA wording to find what performs best.
- Analyze which product categories have the highest abandonment — and tailor your approach accordingly.
Data-driven adjustments can compound over time, turning a modest recovery rate into a significant revenue booster.
Conclusion
Abandoned cart recovery isn’t just a safety net — it’s a strategic opportunity to re-engage motivated buyers at a critical decision point. With Squarespace’s built-in tools and your thoughtful execution, you can recover lost sales, build customer loyalty, and improve overall store performance.
By activating the feature, writing emails with a human touch, offering value without over-discounting, and optimizing through analytics, you'll turn more “almost customers” into repeat buyers.
Start today by reviewing your abandoned cart email, optimizing the copy and layout, and measuring the results. Every recovered cart is revenue you didn’t have to lose.
