Building AI-Powered Email Journey for Shopify: A Beginner-Friendly Setup

We have discussed a lot about how sending just one-off marketing emails is no longer effective. To drive sales, you need a true connection with your customers, and for that, you need a consistent AI-powered email journey for Shopify. 

The automated sequences of emails that respond to a shopper’s actions or behaviors increase your chances of repeated sales. A welcome email when someone joins your list or a gentle thank-you note after purchase helps keep your brand a trustworthy option. 

That’s why AI is the key to taking your email journeys to the next level, especially in Shopify. It can

• Personalizes each message
• Predict the best time to send
• Recommend products based on the customer’s behavior

In this beginner-friendly guide, we will discuss how to build your first AI-powered email journey for your Shopify store. You don’t need any coding skills. Just use simple tools and a no-code/low-code approach. 

Why Use AI in Shopify Email Journeys?

AI-powered email journey gives your email marketing a brain. It helps you send smarter and more personalized emails to bring better results to your Shopify store. Brands using AI-powered email tools see up to 41% higher click-through rates compared to generic campaigns. They also noticed that personalized product recommendations can drive up to 29% more conversions. Not only that, but the send-time optimization can lead to 18% higher open rates simply by emailing at the right moment.

At a basic level, AI uses machine learning algorithms to analyze customer data. It assesses the browsing history, cart behaviors, purchase activity, and much more. After that, it uses this data to trigger emails or adjust content based on what is most likely to work for individual customers. 

For example 

• A customer keeps browsing skincare products but hasn’t bought anything. The AI will note it and might trigger a reminder email featuring top-rated items in that category.
• If another customer always opens emails at 8 PM, AI will automatically schedule future emails to hit their inbox at just the right time.

Beginner-Friendly Tools You’ll Need

You do not need to be a technical specialist to install an AI-operated email journey for your Shopify store. There are easy-to-use platforms that provide plug-and-play integration with Shopify. Therefore, they make the setup and automation easy and comfortable. When choosing your email tool, consider the following:

• Does it offer pre-built or customizable email journeys?
• Send smart and on-time product recommendations?
• Is the interface user-friendly with a drag-and-drop tool?
• Are there email templates for e-commerce and mobile-friendly design?

Here’s a quick look at some popular options:

1. Klaviyo

It is one of the best AI-powered personalization and automation tools. Klaviyo is a favorite among Shopify sellers because of its features. It offer

• Product recommendations
• Optimizes send times
• Segment audiences based on real-time behavior
• Drag-and-drop email builder
• Powerful pre-built flows 
• Predictive analytics and revenue tracking

2. Mailchimp (with Shopify Integration)

Mailchimp is an excellent selection for beginners switching from manual email to automation. It connects with Shopify using a third-party app and offers

• AI-powered content suggestions
• Smart product recommendations
• Easy-to-use templates and subject line helpers

3. Omnisend

Omnisend is best for quick setup with built-in e-commerce features. It offers the best Shopify experience using AI-lite features such as 

• Product pickers
• Cart recovery
• Birthday automation
• Pre-built workflows tailored for Shopify
• Dynamic content blocks based on behavior
• Send-time optimization

4. Shopify Email

Shopify email is best for absolute beginners or stores with small lists. Shopify Email is built right into your Shopify dashboard. While AI features are limited, they still allow for simple automations like welcome emails and abandoned carts. It offers

• Basic and user-friendly email builder
• Seamless integration
• Basic automation flows
• Budget-friendly (first 10,000 emails/month free)
  

Choose the Right Goal

Before you build anything, decide what you want to accomplish with your email journey. Start with just one clear objective, such as:

• Abandoned cart recovery reminds shoppers who left items in their cart. It suggests they come back and complete the purchase.
• First purchase conversion emails, which nurture new subscribers or browsers. It turns them into paying customers with a welcome series, product highlights, or a special offer.
• Win back inactive customers’ emails, reengage with customers who haven’t purchased in a while with product updates and limited-time discounts. 

Build Your Trigger

An AI-powered email journey for Shopify must trigger customers using their behavioral data. Common triggers include

• Sign-up triggers, which are a welcome series or onboarding flow
• The cart is an abandoned trigger that sends a reminder after a purchase delay
• Product is purchased, trigger that starts a post-purchase flow with thank-you notes or care tips.

Design Your AI-powered Email Series 

After choosing your goal and setting the trigger, it’s time to create your emails. This is where AI helps. It is especially essential for those who are not a designer or a copywriter.

• Use prebuilt templates with AI tools like Klaviyo and Omnisend. These tools offer ready-to-use flows for a common goal.
• Add dynamic product recommendations with the help of AI. AI automatically includes products that are relevant to each customer based on their behavior.
• Set timing with AI send-time optimization. Let the AI choose the perfect time for each individual to receive the message when they’re most likely to open and click.

Perks of Personalizing Your Email Journey for Shopify with AI

AI personalizes your emails while giving them a human touch. Instead of sending the same message to everyone, it helps you to customize each email. AI-powered email segmentation helps you to do

• Smart Segmentation of high spenders, bargain hunters, or frequent browsers
• Dynamic content blocks to create sections in your email that change depending on the recipient. 
• Predictive send times and frequency to suggest the best moment when each customer is most likely to open emails and adjust delivery accordingly.

Conclusion

For a beginner-friendly AI-powered email journey, go for Klaviyo or Omnisend. With the help of AI tools, you can create smart, automated campaigns that drive real results. However, focus on choosing clear goals and let AI personalize and optimize your emails.