Cart Abandonment Checklist: 10 Steps to Recover Abandoned Carts

Nearly 70% of online shopping carts are abandoned, costing businesses billions annually. But you can recover lost sales with the right strategies. This checklist outlines 10 actionable steps to reduce cart abandonment and boost conversions.

Key Takeaways:

• Why Customers Abandon Carts: Hidden fees (39%), slow delivery (21%), and security concerns (19%) are top reasons.
• Quick Fixes:
  • Simplify checkout with guest options and fewer form fields.
  • Show all costs upfront to avoid surprises.
  • Offer free shipping - 93% of shoppers expect it.
• Recovery Strategies:
  • Use SMS and email reminders with urgency and discounts.
  • Launch retargeting ads featuring abandoned items.
  • Add exit popups with last-minute offers.
  • Save carts for cross-device access and future purchases.
• Track Results: Monitor recovery rates, revenue, and message performance to optimize efforts.

Quick Tip: Start with tools like Bombocart to automate SMS, emails, and analytics for faster results.

By addressing common pain points and using targeted recovery tactics, you can turn abandoned carts into completed sales.

How to Reduce & Recover Your Shopify Abandoned Carts

Step 1: Common Cart Abandonment Reasons

Recent U.S. data from 2025 highlights the top reasons shoppers abandon their carts.

Unexpected Costs Are a Dealbreaker

Hidden fees like shipping, taxes, or other charges drive 39% of shoppers to abandon their purchases. This is especially critical since 73% of customers say free shipping is essential to completing a purchase.

Delivery and Security Issues

Slow delivery times (21%) and credit card security concerns (19%) also play a major role in cart abandonment. Offering faster shipping options and ensuring robust security measures can help address these concerns. Additionally, the design and functionality of the checkout process greatly influence conversion rates.

Here's a quick look at the main reasons shoppers leave their carts behind in 2025:

These numbers highlight the importance of simplifying the checkout process and addressing hidden costs.

Checkout Process Frustration

The average U.S. checkout process contains 23.48 form elements, which can overwhelm shoppers and contributes to an 18% abandonment rate.

"Nothing frustrates customers more than reaching checkout only to discover unexpected charges like shipping fees, taxes, or additional processing costs." - CartBoss

Window Shopping and Price Comparisons

A significant 43% of online shoppers abandon their carts simply because they are browsing or comparing prices. This creates an opportunity for targeted recovery campaigns to bring these shoppers back.

Limited Payment Options

Not offering enough payment methods accounts for 10% of cart abandonments. Ensuring multiple payment options can make a big difference.

The Power of Free Shipping

Free shipping is a game-changer for 93% of shoppers, encouraging them to complete their purchases. Many successful retailers now bake shipping costs into product pricing or offer free shipping above a certain order value to meet this expectation.

Step 2: Make Checkout Simple

A complicated checkout process can drive away 22% of customers. Simplifying this step is essential to improve conversions and keep buyers engaged.

Add Guest Checkout

Forcing account creation at checkout causes 26% of shoppers to abandon their carts. Offer a guest checkout option while subtly promoting the perks of creating an account.

Tips for an effective guest checkout:

• Place the guest checkout option prominently above the account creation section.
• Keep form fields to a minimum - ask only for what's absolutely necessary.
• Allow guest information to be saved for future purchases.
• Highlight benefits like order tracking and faster checkout for account holders.

Show All Costs Upfront

Hidden costs are a major reason for cart abandonment. Be transparent about all fees to build trust and avoid unpleasant surprises.

Costs to display clearly:

• Product price
• Shipping fees
• Tax estimates
• Additional handling charges
• Discounts (if applicable)
• Total cost, including all fees
• Real-time updates to cart totals

Offer More Payment Methods

A lack of payment options leads to 13% of cart abandonments. Providing a variety of payment choices ensures customers can use their preferred method, increasing the likelihood of completing the purchase.

Key payment options to include:

"When customers know that they can get their money back just as easily as they can spend it, they'll shop more confidently and spend more." - Sanaz Hajizadeh, former director of product management at Happy Returns

Prioritize Security

Security concerns cause 25% of shoppers to abandon their carts. Reassure customers by displaying trust indicators throughout the checkout process:

• SSL certificates
• Secure payment badges
• Logos of trusted payment providers
• Links to clear refund and return policies

Aim for a checkout time of four minutes or less. Every additional step increases the risk of abandonment. By reducing friction in the checkout process, you'll not only retain more customers but also set the stage for recovery strategies discussed later.

Step 3: Set Up SMS Recovery

SMS messages have an impressive 98% open rate and are typically read within just 5 minutes. A well-designed SMS recovery system can significantly improve conversion rates.

Write Custom SMS Messages

Tailor your SMS messages by adding personal touches like the customer's name and specific product details. This approach makes the message feel more relevant and engaging.

Create Urgent Offers

Once you've personalized your messages, add urgency to encourage immediate action. Research shows that urgency in SMS messages can increase click-through rates by up to 35%.

Here are some ways to create urgency:

• Set short time limits (2–4 hours) for special discounts.
• Highlight products with limited stock.
• Use countdown timers on landing pages.
• Promote exclusive, time-sensitive deals.

Use Bombocart SMS Tools

Bombocart's automated SMS platform ensures 99% deliverability through dedicated numbers. It offers features like pre-made templates optimized for conversions, one-click checkout links, auto-generated discount codes, real-time delivery tracking, and compliance safeguards.

For instance, Avena Originals utilized a delayed SMS strategy during their "Friday Flash Sale." By incorporating conditional splits and tweaking their call-to-action messages, they achieved an extraordinary 313X return on investment.

Step 4: Build Email Follow-ups

After implementing SMS recovery tactics, enhance your approach with targeted email follow-ups. These emails are a proven method for recovering abandoned carts. Studies reveal that customers receiving multiple abandoned cart emails are 2.4 times more likely to complete their purchase compared to those receiving just one follow-up.

Set Email Schedule

Timing plays a key role in email effectiveness. Consider this three-email sequence:

Add Personal Details

Personalization can make your emails more engaging. Include these elements:

• The customer's name in the subject line and greeting
• Images of the items left in their cart
• Product names and prices
• The total value of their cart
• A direct link that restores their cart with a single click

Design Clear Buttons

Make your call-to-action (CTA) buttons stand out to encourage clicks. Follow these tips:

• Placement: Position the main CTA button above the fold for immediate visibility.
• Text: Use action-driven phrases like:
  • "Complete Your Purchase"
  • "Return to Cart"
  • "Continue Shopping"
  • "Checkout Now"
• Visuals:
  • Use blue underlined text for secondary links.
  • Choose high-contrast colors for primary buttons.
  • Ensure buttons are mobile-friendly for easy access on any device.

Well-crafted cart recovery emails can significantly boost revenue. For instance, a recent email sequence generated $19.6K from the first email alone, with follow-up emails adding another $19.2K over 30 days.

Step 5: Create Recovery Discounts

Offering discounts with a short expiration window - like 24 to 48 hours - encourages customers to act quickly. Make sure to clearly communicate the deadline by using countdown timers in emails or SMS messages. This adds urgency and increases the likelihood of a purchase.

Match the discount to the cart's value. For smaller carts, consider modest perks like free shipping or a small percentage off. For larger carts, bigger discounts can be more appealing. Experiment with different offers to find the right balance between boosting conversions and protecting your profit margins.

Step 6: Launch Retargeting Ads

Retargeting ads add another layer to your recovery strategy, working alongside SMS and email campaigns to win back lost sales. These ads remind customers about their abandoned carts by showing personalized ads featuring the items they left behind.

Highlight Cart Items in Ads

Use dynamic ads to showcase the specific products a customer abandoned. This makes your ads feel more relevant and increases the chance of engagement. Include product images, names, prices, and any discounts available. Keep the selection limited - fewer items per ad ensure the message stays clear and focused, making it easier for viewers to take action.

Write Clear and Direct Ad Copy

Your ad copy should be short, to the point, and designed to drive action. Personalization is key, but also address concerns such as shipping, delivery, or returns. As Jordan Pritikin, former Marketing Leader at HubSpot, puts it:

"When crafting abandoned cart ad copy, personalization is key."

Here's what to include in your ad copy:

• Mention the specific items left in the cart to make the reminder feel personal.
• Highlight the product's benefits to address any doubts or hesitations.
• Create urgency with limited-time offers or discounts.
• Add a clear call-to-action like "Complete Your Purchase" or "Return to Cart."

Timing is everything - launch your retargeting ads soon after the cart is abandoned. Also, carefully manage how often ads are shown to avoid overwhelming potential customers. Combining personalized visuals with targeted messaging can significantly boost your chances of recovering lost sales, complementing your email and SMS campaigns effectively.

Step 7: Create Exit Popups

Exit popups give you one last shot to save abandoned carts by presenting targeted offers or gathering contact details. When used well, they work alongside SMS, email, and retargeting to boost your recovery efforts.

Offer Last-Minute Deals

Tailor your offers based on device type, cart value, and location. Here's how to make them more effective:

• Use device-specific designs to ensure mobile users have a smooth experience.
• Offer tiered discounts that increase with cart totals.
• Add location-based messaging to make offers more relevant.

Adding urgency and personalization can make a big difference. For example, using tiered discounts with countdown timers has been shown to cut cart abandonment by 28%.

Gather Contact Information

Exit popups aren't just for discounts - they're also a great way to collect contact details for follow-ups. Try these strategies:

• Dynamically show cart items to make the popup feel personalized.
• Set targeting rules based on campaign goals, page activity, or user location.

One retailer saw a 29.3% engagement rate with dynamic product displays, and over 80% of those visitors completed their purchases during the same session.

To make your popups effective, include these key elements:

• Trigger the popup when users show exit intent.
• Use clear, action-oriented messaging.
• Include an enticing offer like free shipping or a discount.
• Keep form fields to a minimum.
• Ensure the design works well on mobile devices.

Step 8: Add Cart Saving Options

Make it easy for shoppers to save their carts so they can finish their purchase whenever it suits them. By providing simple tools to store and retrieve their carts later, you increase the chances of turning those saved carts into completed orders. Here's how you can set up effective cart-saving options.

Send Cart Reminders

Automated cart reminders help keep your products on the shopper's radar. To make these reminders more effective, include:

• Clear product images for quick recognition.
• Social proof like ratings or reviews to build trust.
• Price details showing the original price alongside any discounts to emphasize savings.
• Urgency cues, such as limited-time offers, to encourage action.

The goal is to provide value while making it easy for customers to return and complete their checkout.

Simplify Cart Storage

Make saving and retrieving carts hassle-free with these features:

• One-click save option: Add a visible "Save for Later" button that works without requiring an account.
• Cross-device access: Let shoppers access their saved carts on any device, whether they browse on mobile or shop on desktop.
• Smart notifications: Send reminders at well-timed intervals, including personalized product recommendations or special deals.

These features keep saved carts accessible and relevant, helping shoppers finalize their purchases when they're ready.

Step 9: Measure and Improve Results

Keep an eye on how well your recovery efforts are working and test different approaches to fine-tune your strategies.

Run Split Tests

Experiment with elements that influence conversion rates, such as:

• Timing of your messages
• Subject lines
• Types of offers
• Call-to-action buttons
• Visual design

Once your tests are set up, focus on tracking the most important metrics.

Track Key Metrics

Use these metrics to evaluate the success of your recovery campaigns:

• Compare how different customer groups respond to your efforts.
• Look for patterns over time, like seasonal trends.
• Keep track of what you learn and adjust your approach based on the data.

Step 10: Track Results with Bombocart

Use Bombocart's analytics to monitor and improve your cart recovery efforts.

Check Live Data

Keep an eye on key metrics like recovery rates, SMS performance, revenue impact, and customer responses - all from a real-time dashboard. Bombocart's dashboard updates instantly, allowing you to filter data by time periods, customer groups, or message types. You can also track the dollar value of recovered sales and calculate your ROI.

These insights make it easier to refine and scale your recovery strategy.

Grow Your Recovery Program

• Start with 25 free SMS credits to establish a baseline for performance.
• Upgrade to the Professional plan for $59.99 to access more SMS credits and advanced tools.
• Use analytics to pinpoint when customers are most likely to engage and adjust your messaging schedule for better results.
• Customize SMS templates to create messages tailored to specific customer groups or cart sizes.
• Take advantage of dedicated phone numbers to ensure high delivery rates for your messages.

Regularly reviewing your analytics will help you spot trends and fine-tune your approach for even better results.

Conclusion: Start Recovering Carts Today

Cart abandonment costs businesses billions, with nearly 70% of carts left incomplete. Each step in this guide can help recover those lost sales. Be upfront about fees to build trust and create a smoother checkout experience.

Kick off your recovery efforts with Bombocart's free plan, which includes 25 SMS credits. Their tools - spanning SMS, email, ads, and popups - help you make the most of every chance to recover abandoned carts. Plus, you can track results in real time to fine-tune your approach. As your recovery strategy grows, you can scale up with features like dedicated phone numbers and advanced analytics.

The key is consistent monitoring and making adjustments based on data. Start with small tests, analyze the outcomes, and refine your approach. Every step brings you closer to turning abandoned carts into completed purchases.

With Bombocart's quick 3-minute setup, you can start reclaiming lost revenue today.