Free Shipping Emails: A Must-Have Strategy for Email Marketers

Sending free shipping emails to customers is a very efficient online marketing strategy. In most cases, it will increase brand awareness and sales growth for your business. According to the research conducted by Walker Sands, a PR and digital marketing agency, 79% of online shoppers believe that free shipping is the top thing that would make them more likely to shop online. On the contrary, the same source says that only 42% of consumers choose same-day shipping as the primary reason to shop online.  

A few years ago, I was browsing an online store, debating whether to buy a pair of Nike sneakers. The price was affordable, but when I reached the checkout page, I saw the shipping fee. That extra cost made me hesitate. I must admit I was experiencing “a moment of doubt and pain,” like Mick Jagger put it in one of his songs. Just as I was going to abandon my cart, an email popped up: “Enjoy Free Shipping—Today Only!” I felt a huge relief and clicked back immediately to complete my purchase. Such a simple strategy turned my hesitation into a conversion, turning my moment of weakness into a success story. This is a simple explanation of how the free shipping email strategy works in real-life scenarios.

This review will teach you what free shipping email is. You will learn how you can develop and implement this strategy in your future email marketing campaigns. You will also learn how things are done in this field based on the free shipping email template we recommend studying. Finally, to spark your creativity in email marketing while planning your campaigns, we have developed several great free shipping email subject lines for you. Let’s begin our inspirational journey!

What Is a Free Shipping Email?

A free shipping email is a marketing message sent to customers, offering to waive shipping costs. Free shipping promotion is a powerful online marketing tool for increasing conversions and improving customer satisfaction. Unexpected shipping fees can be an ultimate barrier and one of the top reasons for cart abandonment and conversion decrease.

What can be a solution? Simply eliminate this obstacle! Once you do it, free shipping emails encourage customers to finalize their purchases. Studies show that over 60% of consumers are willing to add more items to their cart to qualify for free shipping. This makes free shipping emails a very effective online marketing tool. So it is 100% worth learning how to create such messages properly.

The Psychology Behind Free Shipping Offers

Why is free shipping so effective? It works because it reduces friction in the buying process. Customers perceive a greater value when they don’t have to pay for shipping, even if the product price is slightly higher. 

Just like in the case of FOMO marketing, free shipping benefits are deeply rooted in psychology and human nature. Moreover, according to The Good, a U.S.-based digital consultancy agency, a free shipping option often sets the tone for marketing behavior. This time, we’re talking about something intangible, “perceived value,” a psychological principle that makes shoppers feel they are getting a better deal. When shipping fees are removed, customers are more likely to complete their purchase than hesitate at checkout. I am sure you can recall it from personal experience. 

Types of Free Shipping Offers

It is very important to understand for any marketer or business owner that there is more than one way to implement free shipping. Each approach is designed to achieve different marketing goals. Let’s look at the variety of options:

• Sitewide free shipping: It is available for all purchases and often used during special promotions or holidays. Here’s an example of a free holiday shipping offer: “Order at least one item during the Christmas holidays and get shipping for free!”
• Threshold-activated free shipping offer: This promotional approach encourages customers to spend more to qualify for the offer: “Get free shipping on orders over $50!”
• Exclusive free shipping for members: It is a nice loyalty perk for subscribers or VIP members. Here’s an example: “Free delivery for our Loyalty Club members only!”
• Limited-time free shipping: The approach creates urgency, making customers rush, such as “Free shipping ends tonight!”
• Abandoned cart free shipping: An incentive to recover lost sales, for example, “Come back and enjoy free shipping on your order!”

These are five main free shipping deals you can use when planning your email marketing campaigns. Be inventive, and you will probably develop another one, a unique free shipping offer that fits your business only.

Free Shipping Email Example

Here’s an example of a real-life free shipping email by Frank Body, an Australian skin care brand. 

Let’s look deeper at its overall message. This email’s design is simple yet effective, with nice readable fonts and clean pastel colors that fit the product. The free shipping holiday offer instantly catches the customer’s attention. The two CTA buttons (“Shop now”) are hard to miss, redirecting the customer to the store to go online shopping. The copy reassures customers of free delivery on time during the holidays. Overall, the communication is simple but visually attractive and comforting without missing the point.

You can use such free shipping email examples to learn how to write efficient, even seductive, offers to your target audience.

Best Practices for Crafting a Free Shipping Email

Let’s now look at what you can take on board when developing your free shipping emails. Here are five golden rules for an ideal free shipping offer:

• Make the offer clear and catchy: Customers must immediately understand that shipping is free. Here it is: “Celebrate National Free Shipping Day!”
• Use a compelling subject line: A nice and simple example of it would be “Free Shipping—For You Only!” Yes, just make it straightforward and brief, right to the customer’s soul. 
• Create urgency: You can always use time-limited language like “Free Shipping Ends at Midnight!” or “Free Shipping Weekend: Last Day!”
• Highlight savings: Show how much customers save by waiving shipping fees. For example, “Save Up to $26.99 on Your Free Shipping!”
• Include a strong CTA: Encourage immediate action with buttons like “Shop Now,” “Start Shopping,” or “Claim Free Shipping!”

You can create magic when crafting your free shipping emails using these five simple yet efficient rules.

Free Shipping Subject Lines That Will Increase Your Open Rates

Our creative department has developed several nice free shipping subject lines for your consideration. Use them as a source of inspiration to craft your creative content. Also, never forget to mention “free shipping” or “shipped for free” in the subject line, ensuring the customer understands your proposal:

• For Your Eyes Only: FREE Shipping!
• Today’s Offer: Get Your Order Shipped for Free!
• Your Cart Qualifies for Free Shipping!
• Wow! Enjoy Your Free Shipping Weekend!
• Hurry! Free Shipping Ends at Midnight!

IMPORTANT: When using the aforementioned free shipping subject lines or crafting your own, please make sure to include an absolute must-have: personalization. Find a way to insert the customer’s name in the subject line to grab their attention. 

The Limitations of Free Shipping: When Speed Matters More

Yes, free shipping is attractive; however, it is not always the top priority for every customer. Some buyers prioritize speed over savings, especially for last-minute gifts, urgent business needs, or perishable products. The trick is to be highly sensible and adaptable to various customer needs.

Let’s study, for instance, the flower delivery approach on Valentine’s Day. The day is a special occasion, so customers don’t need mere free shipping. They want much more: same-day delivery to ensure their gift arrives on time. This email template designed by Sendigram highlights the importance of fast shipping by emphasizing “Same-Day Delivery Available” in its main CTA section:

As you can see, the layout highlights beautiful holiday arrangements such as red roses, mixed bouquets, lilies, and tulips, complemented by strong copy like “The timeless symbol of love and romance” in the case of roses. The email also offers a variety of promotional features, like potted plants, personalized gift options, same-day delivery, and customer favorites. Overall, customers are encouraged to shop for Valentine’s Day gifts, focusing on the same-day delivery option over free shipping. 

This layout showcases that while free shipping is a strong motivational tool, offering expedited options can be just as important, depending on customer needs.

To Sum Up

Now, you are about to cross the finish line! Let’s sum up the takeaways. As you can figure out, free shipping emails are a must-have tool in every online marketer’s strategy. 

Free shipping reduces friction, boosts conversions, and enhances customer satisfaction. By choosing the right type of free shipping offer and crafting compelling emails, you can drive more sales and keep customers coming back. However, it’s essential to recognize when speed matters more than savings and offer the right shipping options accordingly.

From the customer’s side, it’s obvious that the benefit of free shipping is that it saves you money—at least it makes you believe you’re saving money—on your online order. 

However, from the marketer’s or business owner’s side, it is essential to consider both the short-term and long-term advantages. In the short term, offering free shipping can lead to an increase in orders and a higher average order value (AOV). It is especially helpful if you set a minimum order threshold that your customers must reach before they make the free shipping option available.

However, there are compelling long-term benefits, too. Offering free shipping will help your business by increasing customer lifetime value and building a loyal customer audience. Moreover, it can be a great way to maintain your competitive edge in the marketplace, especially if you’re operating in an industry that sells commonly available products like skincare goods.

So, are you ready to boost your sales and increase your market share? Start crafting your free shipping emails today!