great way to grow without wasting $$$ on ads

Shopify Discussion

Topic summary

A store owner shares how paid ads became unprofitable due to tight margins and low average order value ($25 AOV, $17 profit vs. $40 customer acquisition cost = -200% ROI).

Instead of scaling ads, they shifted focus to customer retention and re-engagement:

  • Targeted past customers, abandoned carts, and engaged browsers
  • Used AI-powered tools to send personalized, support-style messages (not salesy)
  • Offered small incentives (free shipping, bundles) only after customers replied
  • Sent helpful content like product tips and usage guides

Results: Increased repeat purchases, improved brand trust, and generated organic word-of-mouth growth without heavy ad spend.

Key recommendations:

  • Write messages that feel like support, not marketing
  • Avoid spamming; only discount after engagement
  • Focus on being helpful rather than pushy
  • Track ROI closely, especially when bootstrapping

The discussion remains open with one user expressing interest in trying similar automation strategies.

Summarized with AI on October 26. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

when i just started back in 2018, i thought the best way to grow was to throw money at ads.

but if your margins are tight and your AOV is low — that’ll kill you real fast.

here’s what i mean:

  • average CPC: $2–$3

  • average conversion from ads: ~5% (1 sale per 20 visitors if you’re lucky)

  • my AOV was $25

  • profit after product + shipping = $17

  • cost to get a single conversion = ~$40

  • so… $17 profit for $40 ad spend = -200% ROI ?‍ :male_sign:

obviously, i had to fix something.

so i started looking at what bigger brands with low AOVs were doing and surprisingly, most of them weren’t running ads aggressively
instead, they doubled down on customer retention and organic content.

but i was terrible at TikTok.
so i went all-in on retention.

that meant talking to people who already showed interest like old customers, abandoned checkouts, even visitors who clicked around but didn’t buy.

i don’t see many people talk about this. and it’s wild.

so i found a tool that helps me reconnect with those customers automatically
I set it up to send support style messages like:

“hey, just checking in how’s everything going with that LED lamp you ordered last month? all good?”

if they replied, the AI suggested another product they might like, and i’d send a small offer like free shipping or a bundle.

this small change boosted repeat orders, customer happiness, and honestly, brand trust too.
people started saying stuff like “my girlfriend told me about this brand” or “my mom has one, so i grabbed the same in another color.”

it turned into a word-of-mouth loop and i didn’t have to rely so hard on paid ads anymore.

not saying it’s the only strategy, but it was a gamechanger for me.

here’re my recommendations:

  1. write like support, not sales
    those “you forgot something” or new summer sale emails people ignore them

  2. don’t spam

  3. only offer discounts if they reply
    never led with offers. just added a little bonus after they engaged.

  4. send helpful emails
    tips, how-tos, suggestions on how to use what they bought.

if you want to automate it try this.

im not saying stop all your ad campaigns, but be smart, always track your ROI especially when you’re bootstrapping.

2

@Dima254

Thank you very much for your innovative retention strategy.

— It was a great idea to come up with ways of reaching out to former clients as well as clients who did not follow through with their purchases, by sending them unique, friendly messages.

— It’s really clever how you make use of artificial intelligence in proposing goods and giving discounts under certain conditions so as to stimulate additional sales and enhance consumer confidence in the brand.

I think I might automate some useful email messages that don’t annoy people but help me grow naturally so I don’t have to spend money on ads.

1 Like