Building Your First Campaign

Learn how to create and send targeted email or SMS campaigns to your customer segments. Drive sales, boost engagement, and build customer relationships with effective campaigns.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

✅ Your WooCommerce store connected to Growffinity
✅ At least one customer segment created
✅ Customer data synced with valid email addresses
✅ Email sending configured (or SMS if using text campaigns)
✅ A clear campaign goal in mind

Time Required: 15-20 minutes

What Are Campaigns?

Campaigns are one-time or scheduled messages sent to a specific group of customers. You can use campaigns to:

Promote products with special offers
Announce sales and limited-time deals
Re-engage customers who haven’t purchased recently
Share news about your brand or new products
Educate customers about product usage
Build relationships with personalized content

Campaign Types:

Email Campaigns: Rich HTML emails with images, links, and styling
SMS Campaigns: Short text messages for urgent or high-impact messages
A/B Test Campaigns: Test different versions to optimize performance

Step 1: Access Campaigns Page

Log in to your Growffinity dashboard
Click Campaigns in the left sidebar
You’ll see any existing campaigns and their performance
Click Create New Campaign (top right)

Result: The campaign builder opens.

Step 2: Choose Campaign Type

Select the type of campaign you want to create:

Email Campaign (Most Common)

Best for: Product promotions, newsletters, detailed content
Character limit: None (recommended under 500 words)
Rich formatting: Images, links, buttons, HTML styling
Cost: Typically included in plan or low per-email cost
Delivery time: Usually within minutes

Select Email Campaign for this tutorial.

SMS Campaign

Best for: Flash sales, urgent alerts, appointment reminders
Character limit: 160 characters (or 70 with emojis)
Formatting: Plain text only
Cost: Higher per-message cost
Delivery time: Usually within seconds
Open rates: Typically 90%+ (much higher than email)

When to use SMS:

Time-sensitive offers (flash sale ending in 2 hours)
Cart abandonment (item still in cart)
Order updates (shipped, delivered)
Appointment reminders

Step 3: Campaign Details

Fill in the basic campaign information:

Campaign Name (Internal Only)

Enter a descriptive name for your records
Example: “Spring Sale 2024 - High Value Customers”
Example: “Win-Back Campaign - Lapsed 90 Days”
Note: Customers don’t see this name

Campaign Goal (Optional but Recommended)

Select what you want to achieve:

Drive Sales: Promote products/services
Build Engagement: Increase brand awareness
Retain Customers: Win back inactive customers
Educate: Share valuable information
Gather Feedback: Request reviews or surveys

Why this matters: Helps you measure success later!

Step 4: Select Your Audience

Choose who will receive this campaign:

Option A: Use a Segment (Recommended)

Click Select Segment dropdown
Choose from your existing segments
- Example: “High-Value Customers”
- Example: “Lapsed Customers - 90 Days”
You’ll see the customer count update
Click Preview Audience to see sample recipients

Benefit: Targeted messaging to specific customer groups

Option B: All Customers

Select All Customers (use sparingly!)
You’ll see your total customer count
Consider: Does everyone really need this message?

Warning: Sending to everyone can lead to:

Lower engagement rates
More unsubscribes
Less relevant messaging
Worse overall performance

Option C: Import Custom List

Click Import CSV
Upload a CSV file with email addresses
Map columns to Growffinity fields
Useful for one-time external lists

Audience Size Recommendations:

Minimum: 10 recipients (for testing)
Optimal: 100-10,000 for most campaigns
Large: 10,000+ may take longer to send

Step 5: Design Your Email

Now create your email content. Growffinity offers two design options:

Option A: Visual Email Builder (Recommended for Beginners)

Click Use Visual Builder
Drag and drop components:
- Text blocks: Body content
- Images: Product photos, hero images
- Buttons: Call-to-action links
- Dividers: Separate sections
- Product blocks: Showcase products from your store
Click any element to edit:
- Change text
- Adjust colors
- Modify spacing
- Add links

Drag-and-drop tips:

Start with a hero image or headline
Add 2-3 text sections (keep it scannable)
Include 1-2 clear call-to-action buttons
End with footer information

Option B: HTML Editor (For Advanced Users)

Click Use HTML Editor
Write or paste custom HTML
Use merge tags for personalization:
- {{first_name}} - Customer’s first name
- {{last_name}} - Customer’s last name
- {{email}} - Email address
- {{total_spent}} - Lifetime value
Preview to ensure it renders correctly

Step 6: Craft Your Email Content

Subject Line (Critical!)

Your subject line determines if emails get opened:

Good subject lines:

“{{first_name}}, your exclusive 20% discount expires tonight!”
“Back in stock: The product you loved”
“We miss you! Here’s 15% off your next order”
“Your personalized product recommendations”

Bad subject lines:

“Newsletter #47” (boring, not compelling)
“BUY NOW!!!” (spammy, all caps)
“Check this out” (vague, no value)

Subject line best practices:

40-50 characters (mobile-friendly)
Use personalization: {{first_name}}
Create urgency when appropriate
Be specific about the value
Avoid spam trigger words (FREE, URGENT, ACT NOW)
Test emoji (can increase opens 20%+)

Preview Text

This appears below the subject line in most email clients:

Example:

Subject: “Spring Sale: 25% Off Everything”
Preview: “Shop our biggest sale of the season. All products 25% off through Sunday.”

Tips:

85-100 characters optimal
Complement (don’t repeat) the subject line
Add additional value or urgency
Don’t leave blank (email clients pull from body text)

Email Body

Structure your email for maximum impact:

1. Greeting (Personalized)

Hi {{first_name}},

[or]

Hey {{first_name}}, we noticed you haven't shopped with us lately...

[or]

{{first_name}}, as one of our VIP customers...

2. Main Message (Above the Fold)

Put your key message and value proposition first:

Our Spring Sale is here! Get 25% off everything in the store for the next 48 hours.

No exclusions. No minimum purchase. Just great savings on all your favorites.

3. Call-to-Action (Clear & Prominent)

Use button(s) with action-oriented text:

“Shop Now”
“Claim My Discount”
“See What’s New”
“Get My 20% Off”

Not: “Click Here” or “Learn More” (too vague)

4. Supporting Content (Optional)

Product highlights
Customer testimonials
Limited-time urgency
Benefit statements

5. Footer

Include:

Unsubscribe link (legally required)
Your business address
Contact information
Social media links

Step 7: Personalization & Merge Tags

Make your campaign more relevant with merge tags:

Available Merge Tags:

Customer Info:

{{first_name}} - Sarah
{{last_name}} - Johnson
{{email}} - sarah@example.com
{{phone}} - (555) 123-4567

Purchase Data:

{{order_count}} - 7
{{total_spent}} - $1,245.00
{{last_purchase_date}} - January 15, 2024
{{average_order_value}} - $177.86

Store Info:

{{store_name}} - My Awesome Store
{{store_url}} - https://mystore.com
{{support_email}} - support@mystore.com

Personalization Examples:

Basic:

Hi {{first_name}},

Purchase-based:

{{first_name}}, you've ordered from us {{order_count}} times. Thank you for being a loyal customer!

Behavioral:

We noticed you haven't shopped in a while, {{first_name}}. Here's 15% off to welcome you back!

VIP Treatment:

{{first_name}}, as someone who's spent {{total_spent}} with us, you're eligible for exclusive early access...

Step 8: Add Call-to-Action

Every campaign needs a clear next step:

Button Best Practices:

Text:

Action-oriented verbs
Specific about the outcome
Creates urgency when appropriate

Examples:

“Shop Spring Sale” (not “Click Here”)
“Get My 20% Discount” (not “Learn More”)
“Browse New Arrivals” (not “See Products”)

Design:

High contrast color (stands out from background)
Large enough to tap on mobile (44px+ height)
Plenty of padding around text
Place above the fold

Multiple CTAs: You can have 2-3 CTAs, but they should:

All support the same goal
Lead to the same or similar pages
Appear at logical points (top, middle, bottom)

Step 9: Preview & Test

Before sending, thoroughly review your campaign:

1. Preview in Builder

Click Preview to see how it looks:

Desktop view
Mobile view (toggle using device icons)
Different email clients (Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail)

2. Check Merge Tags

Verify personalization works:

Switch to different preview customers
Ensure merge tags display real data (not {{first_name}})
Check for formatting issues

3. Send Test Email

Click Send Test
Enter your email address
Check your inbox
Review on both desktop and mobile
Click all links to ensure they work
Check image loading

Test checklist:

Step 10: Schedule or Send

You have three options:

Option A: Send Now (Immediate)

Click Send Now
Confirm you want to send immediately
Campaign begins sending within minutes

Best for:

Time-sensitive offers
Quick promotions
Small audiences

Option B: Schedule for Later

Click Schedule
Choose date and time
Select timezone
Click Schedule Campaign

Best for:

Optimal send times (Tuesday-Thursday, 10am-2pm)
Coordinating with other marketing
Planning ahead

Optimal send times (generally):

Tuesday-Thursday: 10am - 2pm local time
Avoid Monday mornings (inbox overwhelm)
Avoid Friday afternoons (weekend mindset)
Avoid late nights (buried by morning)
Test your audience (they may differ from averages)

Option C: Save as Draft

Click Save Draft
Return later to finish
Find in Campaigns → Drafts

Best for:

Incomplete campaigns
Awaiting approval
Future use

Step 11: Monitor Performance

After sending, track how your campaign performs:

Campaign Analytics Dashboard

Navigate to Campaigns → Click your campaign name

You’ll see:

Delivery Metrics:

Sent: Total emails sent
Delivered: Successfully delivered (usually 95-99%)
Bounced: Failed delivery (invalid emails)
Failed: Other delivery issues

Engagement Metrics:

Opens: How many recipients opened
Open Rate: Percentage of delivered emails opened
Clicks: How many clicked links
Click Rate: Percentage of delivered emails clicked
Click-to-Open Rate: Percentage of openers who clicked

Conversion Metrics:

Orders: Purchases attributed to campaign
Revenue: Total sales from campaign
ROI: Return on investment

List Health:

Unsubscribes: People who opted out
Spam Reports: Marked as spam

Understanding Your Metrics:

Open Rates:

Excellent: 25%+
Good: 15-25%
Average: 10-15%
Poor: below 10%

Click Rates:

Excellent: 5%+
Good: 2.5-5%
Average: 1-2.5%
Poor: below 1%

What to track:

Compare to your previous campaigns
Industry averages vary widely
Segment performance can differ significantly

Step 12: Analyze & Improve

Learn from each campaign to improve the next:

What Went Well?

High open rate? Subject line worked!
High click rate? Content and CTA were compelling
Good conversions? Offer resonated with audience
Low unsubscribes? Right message to right people

What Could Improve?

Low open rate? Try different subject lines
Low click rate? Improve CTA or content
Few conversions? Adjust offer or landing page
High unsubscribes? Re-evaluate audience targeting

A/B Testing Ideas:

Test one variable at a time:

Subject lines: With vs without emoji
Send time: Morning vs afternoon
CTA text: “Shop Now” vs “Get 20% Off”
Personalization: With vs without first name
Content length: Short vs detailed

Campaign Best Practices

Do’s:

✅ Segment your audience - Send relevant messages ✅ Personalize content - Use merge tags ✅ Mobile-optimize - 50%+ read on mobile ✅ Clear CTA - One primary action ✅ Test first - Always send test emails ✅ Monitor unsubscribes - They’re valuable feedback ✅ Respect frequency - Don’t email too often ✅ Provide value - Every email should benefit the reader

Don’ts:

❌ Don’t spam - Respect unsubscribes and preferences ❌ Don’t use all caps - Looks unprofessional and spammy ❌ Don’t hide unsubscribe - It’s illegal and annoying ❌ Don’t use tiny fonts - Accessibility matters ❌ Don’t forget mobile - Test on phones ❌ Don’t mislead - Subject must match content ❌ Don’t overload images - Many clients block by default ❌ Don’t purchase lists - Only email opted-in customers

Email Frequency:

Ecommerce: 2-4 times per week max
B2B: 1-2 times per week
Newsletters: Weekly or bi-weekly
Promotional: Based on offers (not daily)

Rule of thumb: If you wouldn’t want to receive it that often, don’t send it.

Common Campaign Types

1. Welcome Series

Sent to: New customers/subscribers Goal: Introduce brand, set expectations, drive first purchase Timing: Immediately after signup

Example:

Subject: “Welcome to [Store Name]! Here’s 10% off your first order”
Content: Brand story, bestsellers, discount code

2. Promotional Sale

Sent to: Active customers or specific segment Goal: Drive sales with limited-time offer Timing: When you have a sale

Example:

Subject: “48-Hour Flash Sale: 30% Off Everything!”
Content: Sale details, top products, clear CTA

3. Win-Back Campaign

Sent to: Lapsed customers (haven’t bought in 60-90+ days) Goal: Re-engage and drive repeat purchase Timing: After inactivity period

Example:

Subject: “We miss you! Here’s 15% off to come back”
Content: Personal message, incentive, new products

4. Product Launch

Sent to: Interested segment or all customers Goal: Announce and promote new products Timing: Day of or before launch

Example:

Subject: “Introducing [Product Name] - Available Now!”
Content: Product benefits, features, pre-order/buy CTA

5. Cart Abandonment

Sent to: Customers who added items but didn’t buy Goal: Recover lost sales Timing: 1-24 hours after abandonment

Example:

Subject: “You left something in your cart…”
Content: Cart items, easy checkout link, possible incentive

6. Post-Purchase

Sent to: Recent buyers Goal: Thank customer, gather feedback, cross-sell Timing: 3-7 days after purchase

Example:

Subject: “How’s your [Product]? We’d love your feedback”
Content: Thank you, review request, related products

7. Re-Engagement

Sent to: Subscribers who haven’t opened recent emails Goal: Win back attention or clean list Timing: After 3-6 months of no engagement

Example:

Subject: “Are you still interested in hearing from us?”
Content: Option to stay subscribed or preference center

Verification Checklist

Before sending any campaign:

Troubleshooting

Problem: “Low open rates”

Possible causes:

Weak subject line
Sending at wrong time
Audience not engaged
Emails going to spam

Solutions:

A/B test subject lines
Try different send times (Tue-Thu, 10am-2pm)
Re-evaluate audience targeting
Ask subscribers to whitelist your email
Check spam score before sending

Problem: “Low click rates”

Possible causes:

Unclear or weak CTA
Content doesn’t match subject line
Too much content (overwhelming)
Offer not compelling

Solutions:

Make CTA more prominent and specific
Ensure content delivers on subject promise
Simplify message to one clear action
Test different offers
Improve email design (buttons, layout)

Problem: “High unsubscribe rate”

Possible causes:

Sending too frequently
Content not relevant to audience
Expectations not set properly
Wrong segment targeting

Solutions:

Reduce email frequency
Better segment targeting
Send preference center (let them choose topics)
Review welcome email (sets expectations)

Note: 0.1-0.5% unsubscribe rate is normal. >2% is concerning.

Problem: “Emails going to spam”

Possible causes:

Spam trigger words in subject/content
Poor sender reputation
No authentication (SPF, DKIM)
Too many links or images

Solutions:

Avoid spam words (FREE, URGENT, BUY NOW)
Keep consistent sending pattern
Verify email authentication (Settings → Email)
Balance text and images (60/40 text/images)
Ask subscribers to whitelist your address

Problem: “Images not loading”

Possible causes:

Image URLs broken
Email client blocks images by default
File size too large

Solutions:

Use alt text for all images (describes image if it doesn’t load)
Don’t rely solely on images for message
Optimize image file sizes (under 200KB each)
Use reputable image hosting

Need More Help?

If you’re having trouble with campaigns:

Review the Getting Started guide
Check our campaign templates (click “Use Template” in campaign builder)
Review successful campaign examples in your dashboard
Contact support through your Growffinity dashboard

Pro tip: Start with simple campaigns (product promotion to a single segment) before creating complex multi-variant campaigns!

Creating Your First Segment Setting Up Automated Workflows