WooCommerce Email Marketing: Complete Setup & Plugin Guide (2026)

WooCommerce powers over 25% of all online stores, but its email capabilities out of the box are limited. Transactional emails are basic, marketing automation is nonexistent, and delivery reliability depends on your hosting provider.

This guide covers everything you need to set up professional email marketing for your WooCommerce store.

WooCommerce Email Problems (And How to Fix Them)

Common Issues

• Emails not sending: WordPress uses PHP mail, often blocked by hosts
• Emails going to spam: No authentication (SPF/DKIM)
• Basic transactional emails: Plain templates, no branding
• No marketing automation: No abandoned cart, no post-purchase flows
• No newsletter capability: Can’t send campaigns to customers

The Fix: Connect to a Proper Email Service

Use Brevo’s WooCommerce plugin (free) to:

• Route all emails through authenticated SMTP
• Send branded transactional emails
• Add marketing automation
• Send newsletters and campaigns
• Track opens, clicks, and conversions

Best WooCommerce Email Plugins

Setting Up Brevo for WooCommerce

Step 1: Install the Plugin

1. Go to WordPress → Plugins → Add New
2. Search “Brevo” (formerly Sendinblue)
3. Install and activate
4. Connect with your free Brevo API key

Step 2: Configure Transactional Emails

• Enable SMTP for all WordPress emails
• Customize order confirmation, shipping, and refund templates
• Set up SPF/DKIM authentication

Step 3: Sync Customers

• Automatically sync WooCommerce customers to Brevo
• Include purchase history and order data
• Enable real-time sync for new orders

Step 4: Set Up Automation

• Welcome emails for new customers
• Abandoned cart recovery
• Post-purchase follow-ups
• Re-engagement for inactive customers

Step 5: Send Newsletters

• Use Brevo’s drag-and-drop editor
• Segment by purchase history and behavior
• Schedule campaigns and track results

WooCommerce Email Automation Workflows

1. Abandoned Cart Recovery

Recover 5-15% of abandoned carts with a 3-email sequence:

1. Reminder (1 hour after abandonment)
2. Social proof (24 hours)
3. Incentive (48 hours)

2. Post-Purchase Sequence

Build loyalty and drive repeat purchases:

1. Order confirmation (immediate)
2. Shipping update (when shipped)
3. Review request (7 days after delivery)
4. Cross-sell (14 days after delivery)

3. Welcome Series

Onboard new customers:

1. Welcome + brand story (immediate)
2. Best-seller recommendations (Day 3)
3. Loyalty program invitation (Day 7)

4. Win-Back Campaign

Re-engage inactive customers:

1. “We miss you” (90 days inactive)
2. Exclusive offer (97 days)
3. Final reminder (104 days)

Fixing WooCommerce Email Delivery

If WooCommerce emails aren’t sending or going to spam:

1. Install WP Mail SMTP or Brevo — Routes emails through proper SMTP
2. Authenticate your domain — Add SPF, DKIM, DMARC records
3. Check hosting — Some hosts block PHP mail; SMTP bypasses this
4. Test delivery — Send test emails and check spam folder
5. Monitor bounce rates — Keep under 2% (bounce guide)

WooCommerce + Brevo: Complete Stack

All free up to 300 emails/day. Get started with Brevo →

Related Guides

• Email Marketing for Ecommerce
• Best Shopify Apps (for Shopify alternative)
• Bulk Email Service Guide
• Email Deliverability Guide