This simple email tweak made 3 brands an EXTRA $15,000

Hey there,

Welcome to ADvantage, our weekly newsletter! While everyone else is busy slapping { user_first_name } into their subject lines and calling themselves "email gurus," you're about to learn how to REALLY make money from your emails. (It’s the highest ROI channel for a reason, and we're here to show you why every week!)

What if we told you that 3 of our brands unlocked an extra $15,000+ in revenue last month just by giving their transactional emails a little makeover? That’s right—those plain ol’ order confirmation emails are sitting on a goldmine of revenue, and here’s how you can tap into it.

What Are Transactional Emails, Really?

According to the CAN-SPAM Act, transactional emails are the messages your customers expect to see in their inbox after taking an action on your site or app. They’re highly specific and sent one-by-one. Examples include:

• Order Cancellation emails

• Shipping confirmations

• Payment invoices

• Order confirmation emails

• Payment failure notifications

The thing about transactional emails? People actively refresh their inboxes waiting for these to come through!

But aren't you supposed NOT to add marketing to these emails? Legally, you can’t load these emails with marketing content—but here’s the fine print nearly everyone overlooks: The 80/20 rule. This means that while 80% of the email should focus on the action the customer took, but you can add in 20% of marketing content at the very end - as long as it’s relevant. Sneaky, right? But totally legit (as long as you follow the rules).

These emails go to everyone, even those who have unsubscribed, so be extra careful about how you approach them.

Why take this extra effort?

Well, transactional emails boast jaw-dropping engagement rates—think 80%+ open rates and 30%+ click rates. That little 20% of subtle marketing at the end? It’s how smart brands are unlocking additional revenue without lifting a finger.

Examples of Savvy Marketing Pushes in Transactional Emails

Here’s where the magic happens. Keep your email looking transactional and sprinkle in relevant, subtle marketing messages. Not sure where to start? Let’s give you a few easy wins:

1. Order Tracking Emails
   “Want real-time tracking? Download our app!”— This is what AllFreshSeafood is doing to boost app downloads.
   

   

2. Subscription Pitch in Shipping Confirmations
   “Did you know? You could have saved 15% by subscribing!”—A light reminder that opting in for a subscription could have saved them on this very purchase. Savings + subscriptions = long-term revenue. This is exactly what NOOMA is doing.

3. Cross-Sell Opportunity
   “Others who bought this also loved…”—Order confirmation or payment success emails are prime real estate to offer complementary products. It’s the digital equivalent of, “Would you like fries with that?”

3. Promote your socials
   Give your Instagram a shout-out and encourage new buyers to follow along. People love seeing relatable content and real customers using your products—it builds trust and engagement.
   

   

What’s Stopping You?

Now that you know this little industry secret, there’s no reason not to start squeezing in subtle, but relevant, marketing messages into your transactional emails. It’s time to sit back and watch the extra revenue flow in.

Draft up your sweet new transactional email and apply for transactional status, the Klaviyo team will review your content to see if it’s compliant and grant you the status - which typically happens in under 24 hours.

Important: US vs. EU Laws

This goldmine only applies to emails sent under the CAN-SPAM Act in the US. If you're dealing with customers in the EU and under GDPR regulations—unfortunately, fellows across the pond are not fans of this practice, and you could be in violation. So, play it safe and always know your audience!

In case you do have customers buying from the EU, you should split your transactional emails for them and keep them vanilla.

Ready to Unlock Hidden Revenue? Let’s Chat!

Now that you know how to turn transactional emails into revenue-generating machines, why not take it a step further?

We’re offering a FREE consultation to help you optimize your email setup, ensure compliance, and maximize conversions—without adding extra work to your plate.