How to set up an abandoned cart flow in Klaviyo

An abandoned cart flow emails shoppers who started checkout but did not finish. In Klaviyo, connect your store integration, create a flow on the started checkout trigger, add a short series of reminder emails showing the cart contents, and make sure the flow stops once an order is placed.

Have this ready.

• Your ecommerce platform connected to Klaviyo and syncing events
• Confirmation that checkout events are appearing in the activity feed
• A stance on incentives, such as free shipping messaging or none at all
• Product images and descriptions that look right in an email

Steps.

1. 1. Confirm the events are arriving

   Check the metrics list for the started checkout event and look at a recent test. If events are missing, fix the integration before building anything.

2. 2. Create the flow on the checkout trigger

   Open Flows, create a flow and choose the started checkout metric as the trigger. This starts the flow when a known shopper begins checkout.

3. 3. Set the flow filters

   Add filters so the flow only enters people who have not placed an order since starting checkout. This is the main protection against reminding someone who already bought.

4. 4. Add a first delay and email

   Wait a few hours, then send a plain reminder that shows the items left behind with a single button back to the cart. Keep the tone helpful.

5. 5. Add follow-ups

   Add one or two later emails. Use them for objection handling such as delivery and returns information, reviews, or an optional incentive for the final message.

6. 6. Use the dynamic cart block

   Insert the dynamic product block fed by the checkout event so each email shows the exact items. Check the layout with one item and with several.

7. 7. Test and go live

   Run a real test checkout in your store using a test profile, confirm the email arrives with correct items, then set every email live.

Common pitfalls.

• Missing the exit condition, so people who have just paid still receive reminders.
• Offering a discount in the first email, which trains shoppers to abandon on purpose.
• Showing broken or empty product blocks when the cart has only one item.
• Not excluding recent buyers or people already in a similar flow, which doubles up messages.

Check it worked.

• A test checkout triggers the flow
• Cart items, images and prices display correctly
• Completing the order stops further emails
• Links return to the correct cart or checkout
• All emails are live and not in draft

Klaviyo changes its interface from time to time, so treat the steps as the order of work and match the names to what you see on screen.

Rather have this done for you? See our email flows & automation service or book a free audit.