Stop Leaving Money on the Table
If you run an online shop here in Brisbane, you know how hard it is to get someone to actually click 'buy'. You spend money on ads, you spend time on social media, and you finally get them to your site. Then, they leave.
Most business owners think that’s the end of the road. They think they need to spend more on ads to find new people. That is a massive mistake. It’s expensive, it’s exhausting, and it’s why so many e-commerce businesses struggle to stay profitable.
The real money isn't in the first sale; it's in the follow-up. But you’re busy. You don’t have time to sit there and email every person who looked at a pair of boots or a lawnmower.
That’s where automatic emails come in. I’m not talking about those annoying newsletters that go straight to spam. I’m talking about a system that sends the right message, to the right person, at the exact moment they are most likely to spend money with you.
At Local Marketing Group, we’ve seen this work for everyone from boutique clothing shops in Paddington to industrial equipment suppliers in Rocklea. Once it’s set up, it runs in the background. It makes you money while you’re sleeping, while you’re at the footy, or while you’re actually out there delivering your products.
The "Big Three" Emails That Actually Make Money
Don’t get bogged down in trying to send 50 different types of emails. If you’re a small business owner, you only need to focus on three things to see a massive jump in your bank balance.
1. The "Don't Forget This" Email (Abandoned Carts)
Roughly 70% of people who put something in a cart on your website will leave without buying. Think about that. For every $1,000 in sales you make, there is another $2,300 sitting in abandoned carts.
Most of the time, they didn't change their mind about your product. The kids started screaming, the dog barked, or they got a phone call. An automatic email sent 1 hour later saying "Hey, did you forget something?" is often all it takes to close the deal.
The Strategy: - Email 1 (1 hour later): A friendly reminder. No discount needed yet. Just show them the item they liked. - Email 2 (24 hours later): Ask if they have questions. Mention your great shipping or return policy. - Email 3 (48 hours later): This is where you might offer a small discount or free shipping to get them over the line.
2. The "Welcome to the Family" Sequence
When someone signs up for your list (maybe for a 10% discount code), that is when they are most interested in you. Don't just send them a code and disappear.
Use this time to tell them why your business is better than the big-box retailers. If you’re a local Brisbane business, talk about that! People love supporting locals, but you have to remind them that you’re a real person, not a faceless corporation. This is the perfect time to make more sales on autopilot by introducing them to your best-selling items immediately.
3. The "Come Back Soon" Email (Post-Purchase)
It is five times cheaper to sell to an existing customer than to find a new one. Yet, most shop owners send a receipt and then never talk to the customer again.
If you sell something that runs out (like coffee beans or skincare) or something that has accessories (like tools or bikes), you should have an email that goes out automatically a few weeks after they buy.
Advanced Tactics for More Profit
Once you have the basics down, you can start getting a bit smarter. This is how you move from "making a few extra bucks" to "dominating your market."
Bundle Your Way to Higher Sales
If someone buys a specific item, don't just suggest random stuff in your next email. Suggest things that actually go with what they bought. If they bought a drill, suggest a drill bit set. If they bought a dress, suggest the matching belt.
You can significantly increase the amount people spend by knowing how to bundle products effectively in your follow-up emails. This isn't being pushy; it's being helpful.
Stop Sending the Same Email to Everyone
This is the biggest mistake I see. A tradie doesn't want to see the same email as a stay-at-home mum. If your website allows it, group your customers based on what they buy.
If you sell gardening supplies, group the people who buy indoor plants separately from the people who buy lawn mowers. When you send an email about "How to keep your lawn green in the QLD summer," the indoor plant people won't care and will probably unsubscribe. But the lawn people? They’ll click and buy.
Fix Your Photos
I have to be blunt here: if your product photos look like they were taken in a dark garage on an old iPhone, no amount of clever emailing will help you. Your emails will show these photos. If the photos are bad, the emails will fail. We often tell our clients that bad studio shoots are the silent killer of online sales. Use clear, bright, lifestyle shots that show the product being used in the real world.
What Will This Cost You?
Let’s talk brass tacks. You have two costs here: the software and the setup.
1. Software: For a small to medium shop, expect to pay anywhere from $30 to $150 a month for a good email platform (like Klaviyo or Mailchimp). Do not use the free versions for long; they lack the automation tools you need to actually make money. 2. Setup: If you do it yourself, it costs your time. If you hire an agency like Local Marketing Group, you’re paying for expertise. A proper setup might cost a few thousand dollars upfront, but it’s a one-time investment that generates revenue every single day for years.
Realistic Timeline: You can have the "Big Three" emails running in a week. You’ll usually see the first "Recovered Cart" sale within 48 hours of turning it on.
What Most People Get Wrong (And How to Avoid It)
Most business owners treat email like a chore. They send one "Monthly Newsletter" that is full of boring news about their staff or their new office.
Nobody cares about your newsletter.
Customers care about how you can help them. Every email should have a clear goal: - Make a sale. - Get a review. - Educate them on how to use the product they just bought.
If your email doesn't do one of those three things, don't send it. You’re just annoying your customers and training them to ignore you.
Your Action Plan
If you want to grow your Brisbane business without spending your entire weekend on a laptop, do this:
1. Check your cart recovery: Does your website send an email when someone leaves without buying? If not, turn it on today. Most platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce have a basic version built-in. 2. Write like a human: Stop using corporate speak. Write like you’re talking to a mate at the pub. "Hey, saw you looking at this – it's one of our best sellers, did you have any questions about it?" 3. Offer a "Lead Magnet": Give people a reason to give you their email. A 10% discount is standard, but a "How-to Guide" related to your product works even better for professional services or high-end goods. 4. Stop overthinking it: A simple email that goes out is better than a perfect email that never gets sent.
Is it Worth the Effort?
I’ve seen businesses in South East Queensland go from struggling to pay their lease to opening second locations just by getting their email automation right. It is the most consistent, highest-return activity you can do in marketing.
Why? Because you own the list. Facebook can change their rules. Google can change their rankings. But your email list is yours. It’s a direct line to people who have already shown interest in what you do.
If you’re too busy running the day-to-day of your business to set this up properly, that’s where we come in. We don't care about "brand awareness" or "engagement metrics" – we care about how many extra sales we can put through your checkout.
Ready to stop losing sales?
Let’s get your shop working as hard as you do. Contact Local Marketing Group today at https://lmgroup.au/contact and let’s talk about building a system that sells while you sleep.