DEV Community: Andrew Jackson

Tiiny Host Alternatives: Why Static.app is Better

Andrew Jackson — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 15:41:16 +0000

As a Bootstrap developer, you need a hosting platform that’s simple to use yet powerful enough to complement your responsive designs. Platforms like Tiiny Host and Static.app simplify static website hosting, but Static.app stands out for its developer-focused features, scalability, and overall value.

In this post, we’ll compare both services and explore why Static.app is the superior option for hosting Bootstrap-based projects.

1. Ease of Use: A Developer’s Perspective

Tiiny Host

Tiiny Host offers a straightforward drag-and-drop interface. You can upload your HTML, CSS, and JS files as a .zip archive and go live in seconds. It’s great for quick setups but lacks advanced tools for developers.

Static.app

Static.app matches Tiiny Host’s simplicity but goes further with an integrated code editor. This lets developers tweak HTML, CSS, or JavaScript directly on the platform, making it ideal for iterative workflows.

Why It Matters for Bootstrap Developers

Static.app ensures you can make real-time changes to your responsive designs without re-uploading files. This saves time and allows for more efficient development.

2. Feature Comparison: Optimized for Bootstrap Projects

Custom Domains and Free Subdomains

Both platforms support free subdomains and custom domains, ensuring your Bootstrap projects look professional.

SSL Certificates

Both services offer free SSL certificates, providing secure HTTPS connections and improving SEO rankings.

Password Protection

Tiiny Host: Offers password protection on paid plans, which is useful for sharing private projects.
Static.app: Also provides password protection for securing internal demos.

Form Handling

Static.app: Includes a built-in form handling feature, enabling you to collect data (e.g., contact forms) without additional backend setup.
Tiiny Host: Does not provide form handling, limiting its usability for interactive sites.

Integrated Code Editor

Static.app: Offers a real-time editor, perfect for refining Bootstrap components like grids, modals, or navigation bars.
Tiiny Host: Lacks an integrated editor, requiring file edits to be done locally and re-uploaded.

Analytics

Static.app: Provides detailed visitor analytics on paid plans, offering insights into user behavior.
Tiiny Host: Offers only basic visitor stats, which might not be sufficient for actionable insights.

Storage and Traffic

Tiiny Host: Limited to 100MB on its highest plan, with unspecified traffic limits.
Static.app: Offers up to 10GB storage and unlimited traffic on premium plans.

Why It Matters for Bootstrap Developers

Features like form handling, analytics, and unlimited storage ensure Static.app supports modern, interactive Bootstrap projects seamlessly.

3. Security: Essential for Developers

Both platforms offer free SSL certificates to ensure secure connections. Tiiny Host provides password protection, while Static.app prioritizes scalable architecture and reliability.

Why Static.app Wins

With SSL encryption, scalable infrastructure, and robust hosting, Static.app ensures long-term security and reliability for your projects.

4. Pricing: More Features for Less

Tiiny Host Pricing

Free Plan: 1 live site for 7 days, 3MB file limit, and branding.
Tiny Plan: $9/month or $5/month (billed annually). Includes 1 live site, 50MB uploads, and no branding.
Solo Plan: $18/month or $13/month (billed annually). Supports 5 live sites, custom domains, and 50MB uploads.
Pro Plan: $38/month or $31/month (billed annually). Offers unlimited live sites and 100MB uploads.

Static.app Pricing

Free Plan: 1 site with 50MB storage, free SSL, and a 7-day trial.
Starter Plan: $8/month or $72/year. Offers 1 site, 500MB storage, and unlimited traffic.
Medium Plan: $16/month or $156/year. Includes 5 sites, 3GB storage, and analytics.
Large Plan: $28/month or $276/year. Provides 20 sites, 10GB storage, and premium features.

Why Static.app Wins

Static.app provides more storage, unlimited traffic, and advanced features like analytics and form handling, offering better value for money.

5. Use Cases: Perfect for Bootstrap Developers

Tiiny Host

Best for temporary prototypes, simple portfolios, or quick demos.

Static.app

Ideal for long-term projects like portfolios, business websites, and interactive Bootstrap sites with forms and analytics. Its scalability and developer-friendly features make it a robust choice for modern web projects.

Why Static.app is the Best Hosting Solution for Bootstrap Developers

While Tiiny Host is a good option for beginners, Static.app excels with features tailored for developers. Here’s why:

Real-Time Flexibility: The integrated editor and form handling save time and streamline workflows.
Advanced Features: Analytics, unlimited traffic, and generous storage support growing projects.
Cost-Effective: Competitive pricing makes Static.app accessible for developers managing multiple sites.
Developer-Friendly: Its tools and flexibility make it ideal for Bootstrap-based projects.

Whether you’re deploying a portfolio or a client project, Static.app combines simplicity, scalability, and developer-centric features, making it the top alternative to Tiiny Host.

What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments!

A Must-Have Tool for Real-Time HTML Debugging

Andrew Jackson — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 15:07:03 +0000

Static.app HTML Tester: A Must-Have Tool for Real-Time HTML Debugging

For web developers, an efficient tool for testing and debugging HTML is invaluable. Static.app’s HTML Tester delivers on this need with its real-time rendering, error detection, and privacy-first approach. In this article, we’ll explore how it works and why it deserves a spot in your web development toolkit. Whether you're a beginner exploring the basics or a seasoned developer in need of a quick debugging solution, this tool has something for everyone.

What Makes the Static.app HTML Tester Unique?

1. Real-Time Code Preview

Static.app’s HTML Tester offers a live preview feature, displaying the output of your HTML code as you type or paste it. For developers, this instant feedback is a game-changer, reducing the time spent refreshing or switching tabs.

If you're interested in how real-time rendering enhances workflows, check out Exploring the Best Tools for Real-Time Code Collaboration.

2. Built-In Error Detection

Debugging is easier when errors are highlighted in real-time. Static.app’s HTML Tester scans your code for syntax issues and flags them, making it especially beginner-friendly.

Not sure how to approach debugging? You might find Top 10 Tools for Beginner Programmers to Improve Coding and Reduce Bugs a helpful resource.

3. Privacy-Focused Processing

Unlike many online tools that process code on their servers, Static.app handles everything in your browser. This privacy-first approach is a huge plus for those working with sensitive or proprietary code.

For more insights on secure web development practices, see 17 Best Developer Productivity Tools to Try.

Final Thoughts

Static.app’s HTML Tester is an excellent tool for anyone looking for a quick, secure, and efficient way to test HTML. Its real-time rendering, error highlighting, and ease of use make it an essential resource for developers, whether you're just starting or need a lightweight debugging tool.

Ready to experience the benefits of real-time HTML testing? Head over to Static.app HTML Tester and see how it can simplify your workflow. Let’s talk about your favorite debugging tips in the comments below!

2021 Best Black Friday Deals for Web Developers

Andrew Jackson — Mon, 22 Nov 2021 08:44:57 +0000

As Halloween has come and gone, Thanksgiving and Black Friday are upon us. The holiday season is quickly approaching and this leaves no room for procrastination or waiting when it comes to your holiday shopping. Before you know it, the season of giving has arrived and nobody wants to be the person who waited too long to shop and is short on gifts.

The recent study showed that 51% of those surveyed for the study said they have plans to start their holiday shopping before Thanksgiving. With all of the rumors and anxiety around running out of goods before the shopping season is done, this isn’t surprising.

Thankfully, Santa comes a little earlier now to help out a bit. Many retailers offer a variety of deals for customers to take advantage of in the weeks leading up to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. While those two days may be November 26 and 29 respectively, the use of early bird deals means no waiting for deals.

If you or the person you’re shopping for is in design, development, or marketing, there are some really great deals you can take advantage of now.

2021 Best Black Friday Deals for Developers

Slides

Create websites that are highly optimized, fast, and mobile-friendly to boot. Slides is used to create static websites with clean code and a firm structure. It’s because of these features that the site has been voted Product of the Month.

When you subscribe to Slides, you’re given access to 200 fully-packed website templates, over 100 examples to work from, 30 different panels and other effects to increase interaction. The website builder is designed to easily develop any project and is based on the top web design trends 2022. On top of that, you have a spot to keep in contact their support team.

To take advantage of Slides’ 30% off discount, make sure to use the code “BLACK” before November 30.

Discount: 30%
Expiration date: November 30
Coupon code: BLACK

Startup

For those who need more than just Bootstrap 5 builder to build their website, Startup is a solid contender. The platform is inviting to developers and designers who want a more in-depth website.

Startup is equipped with an intuitive visual editor, a plethora of pre-made blocks and modules, eye-catching styles, engaging fonts, and an easy to navigate customization panel. With Startup, you’re given everything you need to create a successful website for your business. You also have the ability to combine each of your individual projects and export them into a single website

The team at Startup has offered their customers a 30% off discount upon checkout for the Black Friday shopping season. The discount ends on November 30 and can be redeemed using the code “BLACK.”

Discount: 30%
Expiration date: November 30
Coupon code: BLACK

Static App

This one-click hosting platform easily manages your static website. On Static App, you can upload your files into an archive and the app completes everything else for you. Static App will make your site go live automatically, give it a personal domain, ensure the site has a secure HTTPS connection, store all of your content, and give you a back end to work on the website whenever you need to.

When checking out with one of their three plans, use the code “BLACK” to receive 30% off your purchase this Black Friday season. The offer is valid until November 30.

Discount: 30% (lifetime deal)
Expiration date: November 30
Coupon code: BLACK

Pulsetic

This website monitoring tool watches the performance of your website around the clock. While running, it generates alerts and notifies web owners about any website crashes. These alerts come by various means of communication including SMS, call, or email to name a few.

Along with giving you regular reports, Pulsetic also has tools that can show the performance of your website through public status pages. Because it also generates incident management reports, this website tracking device is a must-have to ensure a successful online presence.

You can score a deal of 30% off your purchase from now until November 30 by using the promo code “BLACK.”

Discount: 30% (lifetime deal)
Expiration date: November 30
Coupon code: BLACK

Blocksy by CreativeThemes

As the most innovative, “lightning-fast,” and supercharged theme available on WordPress, Blocksy is perfect for business owners who need a good layout for their online store or agency. There are three plans to choose from and it’s also currently available at a reduced price.

The layout comes with a variety of features. These include integration with all of the most popular page builders, e-commerce integration, customization options, live preview, and a plethora of handcrafted starter sites.

Discount: Up to 40%
Expiration date: December 3
Coupon code: BFCM2021

Postcards

Postcards is an HTML email template builder that gives its users access to a platform that allows them to communicate with their team in a multitude of ways. Your team will have the ability to share things in a joint cloud account, manage different projects, and export any creations to a popular ESP without worrying about a middle man.

The template builder is also considered to be the most popular template site on the internet. They offer unique templates for your email lists while also providing an environment to drive engagement and generate leads. Among the many features that make this email template builder superior are its drag-and-drop builders, hand-crafted styles that are regularly updated, previews, responsive layouts, and a mobile-friendly website.

There are three different plans to choose from: free, business, and agency. Each of the plans cost a varying amount, however, they currently have a sale right now where you can save up to 30% off your purchase. The offer expires on November 30 and can be redeemed by using the promotional code: BLACK.

Discount: 30%
Expiration date: November 30
Coupon code: BLACK

Mailpost

Mailpost is an essential tool for anyone who utilizes email marketing in their business. You can use Mailpost to send each of your email campaigns quickly and efficiently and also customize them completely to your liking. If you choose to create one from scratch, the email marketing template site offers you a variety of templates to choose from.

Pricing plans with Mailpost start at $10 per month for 5,000 emails. You can also utilize a 30% off discount by using the code “BLACK” from now until the last Tuesday of November.

The Mailpost team offers each of its customers a high deliverability rate, data theft security, and privacy compliance. You’re also provided with detailed reports so you can see where you may need to improve your marketing strategies.

Discount: 30% (lifetime deal)
Expiration date: November 30
Coupon code: BLACK

Siter

As essential as it is to utilize a website for an online presence, coding is an intimidating task for many people. Siter.io is popular amongst those who are turned off by the idea of needing to code. This online editing tool gives its users everything they need in order to create an aesthetically pleasing and successful website without the need for code.

Among these tools are design tools for the layout, forms, e-commerce modules, Google fonts, animations, SVG editing, and a familiar workflow.

Siter also comes with a team communication platofrm, integration with Unsplash, a domain, and a web host. You can currently take advantage of a 30% discount by using the promo code “BLACK.” This deal will be active until November 30.

Discount: 30% (lifetime deal)
Expiration date: November 30
Coupon code: BLACK

Unspam

Unspam is a professional email spam tester and heat map prediction website. The checker will screen any email for the following: Domain Blacklist, IP Blacklist, SPF, DKIM, DMARC, Reverse DNS, Accessibility, and other helpful tools.

Unspam is currently available for 30% off with the code “BLACK” until November 30.

Discount: 20% (lifetime deal)
Expiration date: November 30
Coupon code: BLACK

Microanalytics

Paying close attention to website analytics is one of the keystone tasks you need to do in order to ensure a successful online presence. Microanalytics is commonly referred to as an alternative to Google Analytics. This analysis tool uses a multitude of features including real-time stats for your website, user behavior patterns, geographic and technical analyses, email reports, and data exports for your site.

Microanalytics also values user privacy. The site is fully compliant with GDPR, PECR, and CCPA. All clients to Microanalytics have complete control over their data.

From now until November 30, you can utilize a 30% discount without any need for a coupon code. The discount will automatically be applied at check out.

Discount: 30% (lifetime deal)
Expiration date: November 30
Coupon code: None

Feeda

Feeda operates just as it sounds. It’s a user feedback collection and management system that helps entrepreneurs understand their customer base better. Feeda provides insight on how to improve their product or service to fit the needs of their audience.

Feeda will also take comments and reviews from previous customers and document them, along with organizing insights and tracking the customer’s behavior. The tool does this to help you see what you’re doing well with as well as where you may want to improve.

You can utilize a special discount of 30% from now until November 30. No specific discount code is needed and the discount will be taken upon checkout.

Discount: 30% (lifetime deal)
Expiration date: November 30
Coupon code: None

Conclusion

The holiday season is meant to be a time of happiness and cheer. The COVID pandemic took a lot of joy away from us and retailers are trying to restore some of it back with their early bird Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.

The first batch of early bird deals are coming in hot and they won’t last long. Don’t hesitate to take advantage of them while you can. Wipe out your shopping early with these great deals for the entrepreneurial spirit in your life. Whether you’re buying for yourself or a friend, don’t let these deals pass you by.

2020 Best Black Friday Deals for Developers and Designers

Andrew Jackson — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 13:04:41 +0000

Lockdowns, social distance, isolation, 2020 has been tough. Although the Covid pandemic has forced the entire world to slow down and hide at home, still, every cloud has a silver lining. However difficult situation may seem, there is always something good waiting around the corner. Thanksgiving is coming. That means be ready for Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2020. Indeed, if there's one thing that can make our day in such gloom and somberness, it is a good deal on our beloved tools.

This year Black Friday is one of the most anticipated events. After all, online shopping is our life now. The great thing is, the pandemic has pushed the start of the shopping season much earlier this year. Some brands are already treating their loyal customers with huge discounts. BFCM weekend promises to bring lots of good bargains and positive emotions. And we are here to spread the good news.

Buckle up all the deal hunters since we are going to shower you with some Steals on the Real. Website builders, email template builders, hosting plans, professional software, graphics of every kind are already waiting for you in the store.

Let's move to our list of the best deals for developers and designers in 2020 to get helpful stuff for streamlining your work for the best price. Hurry up; deals are available for a limited time only. The majority of offers end on November 27.

Changelog:
27.11.2020: Article updated with new deals!
26.11.2020: Article updated with new deals!
25.11.2020: Article updated with new deals!
24.11.2020: Article updated with new deals!
23.11.2020: Article updated with new deals!

2020 Black Friday Deals for Developers and Designers

Slides

All the web developers who want to simplify their working flow with a powerful yet handy website builder, check out Black Friday deals on Designmodo. The team offers a generous 30% discount on Slides.

As one of the most popular static website generators on the web, it comes with more than 200 slides, 100 examples, 30 panels, a hundred powerful modules, including sliders, sidebars, dialogs, contact forms, navigations, and dropdowns. There is everything you may need to build a modern website within minutes that won't cost a fortune but will look expensive and exclusive.

Startup

If you are one of those who can't imagine your next website without Bootstrap, then you will undoubtedly appreciate this exclusive deal on Startup.

The Startup helps to get the most out of this time-tested framework, even without coding and design skills. You can easily bring to life any idea inside a browser-based drag and drop editor within minutes.

Again, you can enjoy a 30% discount on a full pack including 300 blocks (headers, hero areas, content blocks, forms, showcases, teams, testimonials, contacts, pricing, features, CTAs, and footers), access to the editor, lots of customization options, easy integration with popular platforms and unlimited exports.

Postcards

From website builders to HTML email template builders, we have got you covered. If you are a digital marketer or just an entrepreneur who wants to take his or her online business to the next level by improving email marketing strategies, then you will need the Postcards.

Coming with a handy playground, more than 100 handcrafted modules, and some extra bells and whistles like version history, cloud image hosting, team collaboration tools, more than 900 Google fonts and export to your favorite ESP, it will become your lifesaver in times when you need to build fully responsive good-looking email templates to nurture your target market or promote new goods.

Enjoy a staggering 30% discount and give your email marketing a tremendous boost this winter.

Blocksy WordPress Theme

Receive access to all the great features for designing the most advanced WordPress website. Whatever you might need and then some more is available here in an accessible and intuitive package.

One of the best themes in the market discounted their price by 50%!

Absurd Design

Illustrations of various kinds are a top trend this year. Both website and mobile designs capitalize on this tendency. To join the mainstream without stretching you too much financially, check out Absurd Design that comes with an attractive price these pre-Thanksgiving days.

Absurd Design features incredible illustrations that give food for thoughts and serve as an excellent tool for making an impression on websites, mobile designs, print media, and presentations. This week it has a special 15% discount that makes it affordable for everyone, use coupon code BF2020 during checkout.

Iconscout

Hunt deals on Iconscout this November as well. Several years in a row, the creative team indulges fellow designers in fantastic deals on the annual subscriptions. UI kits, wireframe kits, icon sets, fonts, and even presentation mockups come with reduced prices so that you can refill your toolset with fresh graphical assets and enhance your next project with modern features.

Both plans have drastic reductions. Thus, the basic plan that gives access only to vector graphics costs just under $100, whereas the pro plan that gives full access to the collection, including 3D graphics and a handy color editor, costs only $199.

Adobe Creative Cloud

From Photoshop to Bridge, if you want to use one of Adobe's great products, you will love this deal.

Much like the previous year, Black Friday sales are already on in Adobe. And they will last till November 27.

All the fans of Adobe Creative Suit can get 25% off on all apps. It means you can enjoy more than 20 desktop and mobile apps, services for designing images, graphics, layouts, user experiences, video, and audio. On top of that, you can get 100GB of cloud storage and access to the latest updates and features.

The offer allows you to choose an annual plan with a reasonable price to pay monthly or yearly.

Mockplus

Mockplus is famous for high-quality, realistic assets for presentations that will make any product display a winner in customer's eyes.

This year the team offers a mammoth discount on their plans. Instead of $100 for one user per year, all you need to pay is $29. With this, you will be able to use 600 pages per prototype.

The overwhelming 70% discount also applies to Cloud Ultimate Plan. As a result, you can get unlimited users, unlimited projects, Sketch/PS/XD/Axure design handoff, unlimited hi-fi prototypes, and unlimited pages per prototype for less than $60.

Bluehost

2020 saw Bluehost started their Black Friday campaign earlier to give all those of you who stuck at home a solid foundation for your projects. You can get up to 60% off this sale.

During this week, the hosting giant invites newcomers to enjoy website hosting with 60% discount for 36 months, CodeGuard Backup with 50% off for one year, WooCommerce stores with 40% off for 12 months, free multi-site management, free WordPress migration, and access to hands-on WordPress Experts just for $79. Sounds impressive.

Porkbun

When everything is set with hosting, it is time to get the domain name at the best price. For this, visit Porkbun.

Porkbun features one of the best deals on domain names, including first-year registrations and renewals, and even transfers. From A to Z to IDN, it covers all possible options that come with reduced prices. For example, you can get a popular "com" domain name for just $4.15 and trendy "XYZ" only for $1.00.

Along with that, the provider keeps your private contact information hidden, offers Free SSL Certificates and three months of free email hosting.

NordVPN

Black Friday is already in full swing in NordVPN. Their generous 68% will have everyone gasping for air.

NordVPN is a reliable and stable tool on the web. It offers a safe use of apps and private access to the internet, protecting your data when you use public Wi-Fi. You can get a 2-year plan for just $89 with three free months.

On top of that, you can add to your cart NordPass (a tool for securing your passwords) and Nordlocker (a 10Gb secure cloud for your files) for less than $3 per month.

PixelBuddha

For all the designers out there, this year, PixelBuddha has prepared a special bundle that covers

Mockup templates such as business cards, stationery mockups;
Text effects such as transmission wrap effects, vintage comic effects;
Graphic design brushes such as pencil brushes;
Social media templates such as media booster kit;
Textures, patterns, and vector icons such as shadow overlays, Portuguese geometric patterns;
PS Effects
Actions such as Halftone Photoshop Effect. It is available for just 17$ for personal use and $21 for commercial use.
It feels like a real steal with such a good price for such a vast amount of high-quality graphical assets.

Placeit

Get ready for a golden sales opportunity from PlaceIt that is one of the beloved scene generators with a ton of high-quality mockups from various niches and for different business sectors.

From November 24 to November 30, you can get unlimited access to all professional design templates, thousands of branding assets, and incredible video templates for just $12.7 per month or save 50% when buying an annual plan.

Udemy

Last but not least. Self-isolation is an excellent opportunity for self-improvement. It is time to learn new skills and polish the old ones. Udemy is here to help you. Starting from November 20, it offers courses for as little as $9.99. The deal applies to all the categories.

Therefore, whether you are a web developer who wants to get higher in your career path by moving from front-end to full-stack or a digital entrepreneur who wants to grasp the basics of email marketing, you will find in here video lessons at the best price.

Hurry up; the deal ends on November 27.

Black Friday on Creative Market

Black Friday deals 2020 are kicking off on Creative Market as well. Tons of high-quality graphics from artists all around the World are available for a reasonable price.

You will find in here illustrations with marvelous 50 - 75% off, textures starting at 20% off, scalable objects starting at just $3, seamless patterns great for fabric printing starting at $5, icons of various kinds ideal for web and mobile applications with a 75% off discount, highly-realistic mockups for creating killing presentations under $30, and much much more.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday on Templatemonster

Templatemonster has also released their Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals ahead of Thanksgiving Day, treating their loyal fans with competitive pricing.

Thus, this year you can enjoy some impressive discounts on website templates, presentations, graphics, videos, and audios and get unlimited access to 37400+ items through their membership plans. The basic plan costs just $5,75 per month, whereas the pro version with unlimited download, WordPress, and e-Commerce themes costs only $13,25 instead of $19.

Conclusion

While we are all struggling to get back to normal, waiting for the pandemic to be over, there are still some positive moments that help stick to the right direction and support our spirit. 2020 Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend is one of them.

Whether you are a deal hunter or not, it is always a pleasure to get your special tools at the best price. More so, these days, when more and more brands migrate to online expanses seeking digital services of various kinds, it is always a great idea to fill your toolset with some extra instruments that can do all the heavy lifting for you like website builders, HTML email template editors or scene generators.

eCommerce Transactional Emails What You need to know

Andrew Jackson — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 08:53:24 +0000

Every e-commerce website constitutes a fully-fledged business, and there is no good business without a well thought out marketing strategy.

When it comes to marketing strategies in the e-commerce sphere, the first thing that comes to mind is, of course, promotional email newsletters. They are powerful tools in luring subscribers into the website and increasing your revenue. However, they are not the only ones that can turn subscribers into loyal customers. Transactional emails can be invaluable too. Here is a nice review of the best email template builders.

Remember, you try free one of the best Mailchimp template builder. The Mailchimp integration you can find here.

Read: Email Design Trends 2021 and UI Design Trends 2021](https://designmodo.com/web-design-trends-2021/)

Transactional Emails

Transactional emails are newsletters that are mostly generated automatically. They are used to notify users about their actions on the website. A concise list of transactional emails that are essential for e-commerce platforms is presented below:

Email Address Confirmation email
Shopping Cart Abandonment email
Order Confirmation email
Shipping Notifications
Customer
Feedback email
Thank You email
The Purchase Receipt email
Customer Information email
The After Purchase email
Welcome email
The Cross-sell/Upsell email
Lead Nurturing Email
The Customer Feedback email
The Re-Engagement email

I believe everyone has met them once or twice in their life. Generally, we are glad to see them in our inbox. Some of them are even highly anticipated. Have you ever bought an item online and seen that your card has been charged, but the receipt for your payment hasn’t arrived? Ah, wonderful moments of waiting (sarcasm is implied).

So, the key takeaway is that transactional emails are keenly anticipated. As research shows, their open rate is incredibly high as well as the click-through rate. So why not to use that to your advantage?

How to benefit from the e-commerce transactional emails

There are many transactional emails, and if you’re enthusiastic, then you can probably make all of them work for you. However, if that is not the case, then you should focus on the essential transactional email newsletters. Let’s take a look at them.

Welcome Message and Email Address Confirmation email

Both these email newsletters deal with newcomers to your site. While the first one is generated whenever a new customer makes a purchase (it could be a one-time purchase or a start of a long relationship), the second one signals that the user is ready to become your client.

In the case of welcome messages, it is time to make the first impression. And as we know, we will never have a second chance to make it, so we need to go the extra mile here. It should establish a proper atmosphere, show your company’s best side and include something that will butter up users. Also, it should have all the contact information and some helpful links for example to your blog, favorite products, or some instructions. Do not forget to make it personal and add some support.

An address confirmation email is where you can try some sales tricks. You can offer a discount coupon, free shipping for a newcomer, etc.

Thank You Email

Thank You email is integral in building a healthy relationship between business and client. They are must-haves, even though you may think that it is trivial. Such tiny details can make people’s day, so use them to cement your unique kind of friendship. Here you can write a simple text version of your gratitude, use GIFs to cheer things up or even make a short video using Bonjoro. You can easily adopt one of the fantastic templates available in Postcards to produce a lasting impression.

Order Confirmation Email

This is one hundred percent e-commerce email. While it is self-explanatory, nevertheless, there are some details that you need to bear in mind. First and foremost, it is highly anticipated. People have just paid their money, so they need to know what is going on on the other side. So tell them explicitly. Therefore, it will help to enhance your credibility, reinforce your relationship and reassure them that everything is fine. Here you need to provide all the helpful information, for example when the order will be ready, when the order will be shipped, etc.
What’s more, as studies show you have a better chance to sell to an existing customer rather than to regular onlookers, so it is time to apply some marketing tricks. You can try to

suggest related products
familiarize a customer with referral programs
or give away a bonus for their next order

However, do not be pushy. Remember this customer has already bought something in your store so give him or her time to enjoy your product. Always leave them wanting more.

Shipping Notifications

Even though we all have busy lives with lots of stuff going on, nevertheless when it comes to waiting for something that we have already bought it can be difficult to hide an excitement as well as shift your attention. Therefore, shipping notifications are highly appreciated. They can make our fixation less irritating. Use customers’ excitement to your advantage. For instance, you can

encourage them to buy a gift for their loved ones
encourage them to share the news via social media
engage in a referral program
provide them with a special offer
suggest products that complement the previous purchase, etc

Also, remember that shipping notifications require some customization. They are not regular alerts; they are newsletters, so they need to be carefully treated. They should include a prominent call-to-action to make your offer more powerful and build your brand identity, a well-formatted message and so on. If you do not use an online email newsletter builder like Postcards where everything can be done in a few minutes just by dragging, dropping and editing, then be ready to bury your nose in coding. This email requires your undivided attention.

Shopping Cart Abandonment Email

Cart abandonment emails are the platforms for practicing sales tricks. These newsletters are used to bring the customers back and encourage them to complete the order. Be ready to come up with something that will help to reignite your customers’ interest. So what can you do here?

Make the newsletter visually appealing. Remember, people eat with their eyes. Pale text copy with barely perceptible links won’t do the trick. Make the customers feel like they want to click on the «view order» button right now.
Remind the customer about the products they left. Organize them in a list, including images and names. Make them an eye-catcher that lures the customer in with its fantastic appearance. If you use Postcards, then make the most out of hand-crafted templates that were built with customers in mind. Choose the best option and quickly customize it using intuitive interface.
Offer incentives: a discount on an order, free shipping or some bonuses on the next order. However, be careful with overdoing it. You can make an offer but do not turn it into a regular practice. People are smart and will recognise if an “offer” is simply the norm.
Establish a sense of urgency. Do not be pushy - instead, make people believe that they could miss out. For example, notify users that the product is running out of stock, the mid-season sale ends or current discount is time sensitive.

The Re-Engagement Email

Also known as “Come back” or “We miss you” emails, they are great tools to win the clients back and restore your relationships. Marketers use them all the time since they’re proven to be effective. Here you can use various sales techniques to engage customers. You can start with something unobtrusive, like sending cross-sell products based on the customers’ previous purchase(s)and ending with bonuses and time-sensitive offers.

Other transactional email newsletters

As we have mentioned earlier, there are dozens of e-commerce email newsletters. While we focused on the most popular ones, there are some other valuable tools that can help to improve your online business. For instance,

The Customer Feedback email is an excellent opportunity to enhance your company, product selection, and overall experience.
The After Purchase email lets you unobtrusively remind customers that you still care for them.
The Receipts email show customers that you keep up with the trends and prefer digital proof of purchase instead of paper-based.

Depending on your strategy and things that you want to achieve you may exploit some of them or even all of them.

How to customize e-commerce transactional email newsletter

If you use some kind of CMS - like WordPress - where WooCommerce stands behind every e-store, then everything is done with this tool. You are still able to interact with your emails even though they are created and sent automatically. It requires some coding skills and of course lots of time. If you do not want to waste your precious time or just lack in coding skills then you can address your issue to one of the email newsletter builders like Postcards. It will solve all your problems. The intuitive drag-and-drop interface will help you to build an ideal e-commerce email newsletter in no time.

The last preparations

There are several things you can do to improve your e-commerce email marketing strategy.
Target your audience

First of all, target your audience correctly. There are several categories of customers:
● New customers:
o New subscribers
o Guest buyers
o First-time buyers
● Active customers:
o Steady buyers
o Occasional buyers
● Declining customers (those who have stopped interacting).

Each group should be treated differently. Thus, a group with new customers requires a hand-crafted, personified Welcome email newsletter that will draw them in. After that treat them with a friendly Email Address Confirmation email, as well as a Customer Information email and Lead Nurturing emails.

The group with active customers is the biggest and as a rule sees numerous standard transactional email newsletters including Upsell emails, Delight emails, Reminder emails, Feedback emails and so on.

And last but not least, the group that includes the declining customers requires your proper attention since it is here where you need to figure out how to win the clients back. And that means that you need to seek help from the re-engagement email newsletters in the first place.

Timing

Correct timing is always the key to success. Although it is quite tricky to catch the opportune moment for everyone, since customers vary in their preferences and behavior, nevertheless there are several tips. For example,

Wait for 12-24 hours before sending a Shopping Cart Abandonment email.
Wait for 30 days before sending a Re-engagement email.
Wait for several days before sending Cross-sell emails.
Act immediately when it comes to sending Order Confirmation emails as well as Shipping Notifications.