Getting that first order is definitely a reason to celebrate, but it’s just the beginning! More often than not, what happens after that first sale is what sets the tone for building lasting customer loyalty. Post purchase marketing focuses on this, so you can nurture customer relationships and create a brand experience they want to come back to.
We’ve created this guide to help you make the most of this marketing strategy. Today, we’ll walk you through what post purchase marketing is, why it’s crucial, and we’ll share tried-and-tested strategies you can use to delight customers after that first checkout. Pretty exciting, right?
Let’s get started!
What Is Post Purchase Marketing?
Post purchase marketing focuses on building customer relationships after a sale has been made. It includes all the strategies and touchpoints you implement to engage shoppers after they buy from your store. Depending on your marketing goals and setup, this may look like:
- Sending thank you emails
- Requesting product reviews
- Inviting customers to join your loyalty program
- Following up with a feedback request
What are the goals of post purchase marketing?
When done strategically, post purchase marketing can have a positive impact on the long-term growth and sustainability of your business. Below are the key goals it aims to achieve:
- Build customer loyalty and trust: Thoughtful gestures and offers after purchase help deepen trust over time and keep your brand top of mind. Over time, these good experiences add up, making customers more likely to return to your store and choose your brand over competitors.
- Encourage repeat orders: Post purchase strategies such as timely discounts, loyalty rewards, or relevant product recommendations give shoppers a reason to shop again.
- Gather feedback: The best time to ask about a customer’s experience is after they’ve bought from you, when insights are still fresh in their mind. A quick post purchase survey can help you gather valuable feedback about your checkout flow, product quality, shipping speed, and more.
- Reduce customer churn: Post purchase engagement, even as simple as an order confirmation or thank-you email can help ease customer doubts and reduce buyer’s remorse.
6 Effective Post Purchase Marketing Strategies
Now that you know how important post purchase marketing is, let’s talk strategy!
In this section, we list down actionable tactics you can implement in your store to engage customers after that first sale. What’s more, we’ll also introduce you to tools and plugins that make it easy to set up, so keep an eye out for our power tips.
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1. Reward first orders with store credits
Many store owners overlook using store credits, but it’s one of the simplest ways to engage customers after a purchase. Think of store credits as a “virtual balance” – a flexible reward that shoppers can use for their next order.
Unlike other types of discounts, store credits sit in your customer’s account, giving them a solid reason to come back. It’s powerful because it taps into the psychology of ownership. When customers feel that the credit is already theirs, they’re more likely to use it!
There are a lot of creative ways you can implement this strategy. For example, you can:
- Automatically reward first-time shoppers with store credits
- Offer store credits for refunds
- Send friendly email reminders to customers with unused credits
- Run campaigns where shoppers earn store credits after spending a certain amount
💡Good to know: Advanced Coupons’ free plugin allows you to easily set up a store credit system in WooCommerce. If you upgrade to Advanced Coupons Premium, you can also create cashback coupons that reward customers with store credits based on their total spend! Learn more here.
2. Send personalized product recommendations post-sale
Post purchase is a golden timeframe of opportunity for store owners. After buying an item, your customer is excited, engaged, and very receptive to hearing from you! Sending a timely and relevant product recommendation can be what nudges them to make the next order.
The key here is timing and relevance. To make your recommendations effective, try suggesting items based on the product they’ve bought, their category preferences, or their total spend. Here are a few simple examples:
- Recommend add-ons that enhance their recent purchase
- Offer a “you might also” like section in your post-purchase email
- Send a limited-time offer for an item they recently browsed
Here’s a great example from the brand Uniqlo:
Once a customer adds an item to their wishlist, they send a personalized email when new colors for that item are released, complete with visuals, updated pricing, and product ratings. It’s a smart way to keep your shoppers interested without sounding pushy.
3. Launch a loyalty program that rewards repeat purchase
Some of the industry’s most successful brands have nurtured a loyal customer base by launching a compelling rewards program. It’s also one of the most powerful post purchase marketing strategies.
The idea is simple: reward customers every time they engage with your store. This can be through points, exclusive perks, or members-only offers. Aside from motivating customers to engage more, it’s an effective way to create a sense of appreciation and belonging. Check out this example from The North Face:
It’s a great example of a loyalty program that rewards points for purchases and unlocks perks like exclusive gear and early access.
Thankfully, if you’re using an ecommerce platform like WooCommerce, it’s simple and easy to set up and customize! With WooCommerce Loyalty Program, you can launch a points-based rewards system and offer points for shopper actions like making a purchase, spending over a certain amount, or referring their friends.
Want to dive deeper? Check out our complete guide here.
4. Encourage reviews or UGC with a small incentive
The power of reviews and social proof is undeniable! According to industry insights, 90% of customers read reviews before making a purchase. By encouraging new customers to leave a review or share user-generated content (UGC), you can build social proof and keep them engaged even after checkout.
This particular post purchase touchpoint gives shoppers a chance to reflect on their experience with your brand. To further motivate them, make it both easy and rewarding.
Sweeten the deal by offering a small incentive. With WooCommerce Loyalty Program, for example, you can set a specific number of points shoppers can earn when they leave a product review. Some brands offer one-time discount coupons or entries to a giveaway.
5. Offer a limited time perk or discount for their next order
Another effective strategy to bring customers back after they’ve made their first purchase is by giving them an incentive to come back. Pairing these post purchase offers with a deadline makes them even more compelling. This can be a limited-time free shipping perk, a percentage discount, or even an exclusive gift.
Plugins like Advanced Coupons allow WooCommerce store owners to craft specific promotions tailored for post purchase. With its cart conditions feature, you can control who can access the offer, what it applies to, and even how long it stays valid, down to the number of hours after a customer’s last order!
There’s virtually no limit to what kind of post purchase incentive you want to create. Here are just a few examples of what’s possible with Advanced Coupons:
- Offer free shipping valid for the next 72 hours
- Automatically add a bonus product when the cart includes certain products
- Launch auto-apply deals that activate only when shoppers hit a minimum spend
6. Create a post purchase email series
A great post purchase email series can be what ties it all up! It’s the perfect avenue to weave in most of the strategies we’ve talked about, like inviting shoppers to join your loyalty program, leave a review, or explore related products.
Simply put, a post purchase email series guides shoppers toward their next action after they bought something from your brand. Typically, it may include:
- Order confirmation: Let them know you’ve got their order, say thank you, and reassure them
- Shipping updates: Keep them informed as their order moves
- Product tips: Help shoppers make the most of what they’ve bought
- Review request: After they’ve had time to use the product, invite them to share their experience
- Exclusive offer or loyalty program invitation: Encourage them to shop again by offering an incentive or letting them know about your loyalty program
- Product recommendation: Based on what they bought, suggest related or complementary items they might love
You can add or skip emails based on your customer journey or product type. The key is to gently guide your customers toward that next step.
RELATED READ: Email Coupons: 7 Powerful Examples To Boost Conversions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does post purchase mean?
Post purchase encompasses everything that happens after a shopper completes a purchase. For store owners, this includes all the strategies to engage and bring them back. Typical examples include follow-up emails, review requests, exclusive discounts, and inviting customers to join your loyalty program.
Why is it important for marketers to understand post-purchase?
Understanding post purchase is crucial for marketers because it directly impacts long-term customer loyalty and retention. Brands that continue to engage with shoppers even after they buy create deeper emotional connections, leading to more sales, stronger loyalty, and positive word-of-mouth from happy customers.
What is a post purchase offer?
Post purchase offers are exclusive incentives rewarded to customers after they’ve completed a purchase. This can take many forms, including free shipping, bonus store credits, loyalty points, or time-sensitive discounts. These types of offers keep the momentum going and encourage customers to return.
Conclusion
Every new sale is worth celebrating, but so is keeping customers coming back. This is what truly drives the needle for long-term growth. Post purchase marketing assists in this goal by helping you engage shoppers even after checkout. In this guide, we’ve laid down what it entails and shared actionable strategies you can try implementing in your store.
To recap, here are the strategies we covered:
- Reward first orders with store credits
- Send personalized product recommendations
- Launch a loyalty program that drives repeat purchases
- Encourage reviews or UGC with small incentives
- Offer limited-time post purchase offers for the next order
- Create a post purchase email series to tie it all together
If you’re a WooCommerce store owner, plugins like Advanced Coupons make it easier to automate your offers, reward your customers, and create a seamless post purchase experience. This powerful plugin allows you to craft tailored deals using features like cart conditions, store credits, loyalty points, and more!
Hope you enjoyed reading this article. Let us know if you have any questions. ❤️
