Workflow Guide

Automated Customer Emails

Keep customers informed at every step — real-time tracking updates when their order moves, plus a personal follow-up after it arrives.

📬 Post-Delivery Follow-Up Emails 📦 Tracking Notification Emails
Part 1

Post-Delivery Follow-Up Emails

Send a personalized message 1–7 days after delivery to encourage reviews, drive repeat purchases, and show customers you care.

Why Follow-Up Emails Matter

Turn one-time buyers into loyal customers

More Reviews

Happy customers who receive a thoughtful follow-up are more likely to leave positive reviews.

🔄

Repeat Purchases

Stay top-of-mind and encourage customers to shop with you again.

💬

Catch Issues Early

Give customers a chance to reach out privately before leaving negative feedback.

❤️

Personal Touch

Stand out from big retailers with genuine, personalized communication.

Perfect Timing

Reach customers at the right moment

Order Placed

Customer Buys on Etsy

Order syncs to Shopify via OrderBridge. The journey begins.

You Ship

Order Fulfilled

Tracking number added in Shopify. Customer gets shipping notification.

Package Arrives

Marked as Delivered

Carrier confirms delivery. OrderBridge starts the follow-up timer.

1–3 Days Later

Follow-Up Email Sent

Your personalized message reaches the customer at the perfect moment — after they've had time to enjoy their purchase.

Why wait? Sending immediately after delivery can feel pushy. Waiting 1–3 days gives customers time to open and appreciate their purchase, leading to more genuine, positive responses.

Example Email

What your customers will receive

Requires customer email: Follow-up emails need the customer's email address. Use Delayed Import mode with the browser extension to capture this data from Etsy orders.

Setting Up Follow-Up Emails

Configure once, runs automatically forever

Enable Follow-Up Emails

Go to Settings in your OrderBridge dashboard and turn on "Follow-Up Emails."

Set Your Delay

Choose how many days after delivery to send the email (1–7 days recommended).

Customize Your Message

Write your from name, reply-to address, subject line, and email body. Make it personal!

Add Your Signature

Include your name and shop name for a personal touch.

Enable Unsubscribe Link (Recommended)

Respect customer preferences and stay compliant with email regulations.

Setting Description Example
From Name Who the email appears to be from Sarah at Woodland Crafts
Reply-To Where replies go sarah@woodlandcrafts.com
Subject Email subject line How's your order? 💌
Delay Days Days after delivery to send 2

Message Templates

Inspiration for your follow-up emails

🎯 Review Request Most Popular

Direct but friendly ask for a review, with an offer to fix any issues.

"I hope you love your [product]! If you have a moment, a review would mean so much to my small shop. Not 100% happy? Just reply — I'll make it right!"

💝 Pure Gratitude

Simple thank you without asking for anything. Builds goodwill.

"Just wanted to say thank you for your order! Supporting small makers like me means everything. I hope [product] brings you joy!"

🛍️ Soft Upsell

Thank them and mention related products or upcoming items.

"Thanks for your order! If you loved your [product], you might also enjoy our matching [related item]. Use code THANKS10 for 10% off!"

📸 Photo Request

Ask customers to share photos for social proof.

"I'd love to see your [product] in its new home! Tag us @yourshop or reply with a photo — we might feature you on our page! 📷"

Keep it short: The best follow-up emails are 3–4 sentences. Respect your customer's time and they'll respect you back.

Best Practices

Get better results from your follow-ups

✅ Do This

Be genuine and personal. Write like you're talking to a friend, not a customer.

✅ Do This

Offer to fix problems before asking for a review. Shows you care about quality.

✅ Do This

Include an unsubscribe link. It's required by law and builds trust.

❌ Avoid This

Don't send multiple follow-ups for the same order. One thoughtful email is enough.

❌ Avoid This

Don't use aggressive subject lines like "LEAVE A REVIEW NOW!" Be friendly, not pushy.

❌ Avoid This

Don't send immediately after delivery. Wait 1–3 days for the best response rate.

Part 2

Tracking Notification Emails

Automatically email customers when their package hits key milestones — in transit, out for delivery, or when a delivery attempt is made.

Keep Customers in the Loop

Proactive updates that reduce "where is my order?" messages

📉

Fewer Support Messages

Proactively answering "where is my order?" before the customer even thinks to ask.

🤝

Builds Trust

Customers feel valued and informed. Transparency leads to loyalty.

Fully Automatic

OrderBridge monitors tracking and triggers emails the moment a status changes.

🎛️

You're in Control

Choose exactly which status changes trigger an email. Customize every message.

Three Trigger Points

Enable any combination of these tracking statuses

📦

In Transit

Carrier picks up the package

Sent when tracking confirms the carrier has the package and it's on its way. Reassures customers their order is moving.

🚚

Out for Delivery

On the delivery vehicle today

Sent the morning of delivery. Creates excitement and lets customers know to expect their package that day.

⚠️

Attempted Delivery

Carrier couldn't complete delivery

Sent when the carrier tried but couldn't deliver. Prompts customers to check tracking and arrange re-delivery before the package is returned.

Each status fires only once per order. OrderBridge tracks which emails have been sent and will never send the same notification twice, even if the carrier reports the status multiple times.

How It Works

From package scan to customer inbox

Every 15 Minutes

OrderBridge Checks Tracking

The delivery check worker polls USPS, UPS, and FedEx for every active shipment.

Status Changes

Transition Detected

When a status changes to In Transit, Out for Delivery, or Attempted Delivery, a notification job is queued.

Instantly

Email Sent

The customer receives an email with your custom message and a one-click tracking button.

Later

Delivered → Follow-Up

Once the package is delivered, the post-delivery follow-up timer starts. Both features work hand-in-hand.

Example Email

An "Out for Delivery" notification your customer might receive

Tracking button included automatically. Every tracking notification includes a one-click "Track your package" button linked directly to the carrier's tracking page. No setup required — it's added to the email automatically.

Setting Up Tracking Notifications

Configure in under 5 minutes

Open Settings

In your OrderBridge dashboard, go to Settings and scroll to the "Tracking Notifications" section.

Enable the Feature

Toggle on "Tracking Notifications." You can disable it at any time without losing your settings.

Choose Which Statuses Trigger Emails

Check the boxes for In Transit, Out for Delivery, and/or Attempted Delivery. You can enable any combination.

Set From Name & Reply-To

Emails are sent from Your Shop via OrderBridge. Set a reply-to address so customers can respond directly to you.

Customize Your Messages (Optional)

When you enable a status, expandable fields appear to customize the subject line and message body for that specific trigger. Leave them blank to use the built-in defaults.

Add a Signature

The signature field appears at the end of every tracking email via {{shop_signature}}. Add your name, shop name, or a short sign-off.

Send a Test Email

Use the Test button to send a preview to any address. Choose which status to preview so you can check each template.

Customizing Your Messages

Personalize with template variables

Use these placeholders in your subject lines and message bodies. OrderBridge replaces them automatically with the real order data.

{{customer_name}} The customer's first name
{{order_number}} The Etsy receipt / order number
{{product_name}} Name of the product ordered
{{shop_name}} Your Shopify shop name
{{tracking_number}} The carrier tracking number
{{shop_signature}} Your custom signature block

Default messages are ready to go. If you don't customize a status, OrderBridge uses a polished default message. The tracking button and Etsy order reference are always appended automatically — you don't need to add them.

Default Message Examples

📦 In Transit

Subject: Your order is on its way! 📦

Hi {{customer_name}}, your order #{{order_number}} has been picked up and is on its way to you. We'll keep you posted!

🚚 Out for Delivery

Subject: Your order is out for delivery today! 🚚

Hi {{customer_name}}, great news — your order #{{order_number}} is out for delivery today! Keep an eye out.

⚠️ Attempted Delivery

Subject: We tried to deliver your order

Hi {{customer_name}}, our carrier attempted to deliver your order #{{order_number}} but wasn't able to complete the delivery. Please check your tracking for next steps.

Tips & Best Practices

Get the most from tracking notifications

✅ Enable Out for Delivery

This is the highest-value trigger. Customers love knowing their package is arriving today — it creates anticipation and reduces failed deliveries.

✅ Always Set a Reply-To

Tracking emails are sent from OrderBridge's address. A reply-to ensures customers can reach you directly if they have questions.

✅ Use Attempted Delivery

This email can save an order. Prompting the customer to act before the package is returned prevents headaches for both parties.

❌ Don't Over-Message

Tracking notifications are one-per-status. Combined with your follow-up email, the total is at most 4 emails per order — still reasonable.

❌ Don't Skip the Signature

Without a signature the email can feel cold and automated. Even a simple "— The [Shop] Team" makes a big difference.

❌ Don't Forget to Test

Use the test button to preview each status before going live. Check that your from name, reply-to, and message look right across email clients.

Requires customer email: Like follow-up emails, tracking notifications require a captured email address. Make sure Delayed Import mode is set up so OrderBridge has email addresses for your Etsy orders.

Ready to Automate Your Customer Emails?

Both features are included in all OrderBridge plans. Enable them in Settings and let OrderBridge handle the communication while you focus on making great products.

Get Started