What is Klaviyo? A Beginner’s Guide to Email Marketing

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Have you ever opened your inbox and seen an email that felt like it was written just for you, mentioning a product you were eyeing last week or reminding you about the cart you forgot to check out? It’s almost like the brand read your mind. That’s not magic, it’s smart marketing automation at work. And if you’re wondering how brands pull this off so effortlessly, chances are, they’re using Klaviyo. 

In this beginner-friendly guide, we’ll explore how Klaviyo helps brands create that personal touch at scale so your emails don’t just land in inboxes, they get noticed.

What is Klaviyo? 

Klaviyo is a customer data and marketing automation platform designed for ecommerce brands. It enables businesses to collect, analyze, and use customer data to create highly targeted email and SMS marketing campaigns.

Let’s say you run an online clothing shop. Klaviyo can connect to your store and track what your customers are doing, like what they’re browsing or buying. This helps you send messages that feel more personal, like a “thank you” email after a purchase or a reminder if they left something in their cart.

How to Set Up Klaviyo

A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Create Your Klaviyo Account
Head over to Klaviyo’s website, sign up with your basic details, and access your dashboard.

Step 2: Connect Your Store
Integrate Klaviyo with your ecommerce platform to sync customer, product, and order data. For complex backend setups, you may need a developer or expert support.

Step 3: Build Your Email List
Import existing contacts or use Klaviyo’s signup forms and popups to collect new ones. Organize your list using “segments” based on user behavior, purchase history, or engagement level.

Step 4: Design Your First Email
Use Klaviyo’s drag-and-drop templates to design your emails. Customize them with your brand’s logo, colors, and dynamic content like customer names or product recommendations.

Step 5: Automate Your Emails
Set up automated flows for common customer actions like signups, cart abandonment, or purchases. These help you stay in touch without manual effort.

Step 6: Test Before Sending
Preview your emails on desktop and mobile. Run A/B tests like different subject lines or images, to find what resonates best with your audience.

Step 7: Track & Improve
Review open rates, click-throughs, and sales to evaluate performance. Use these insights to refine future campaigns for stronger engagement and ROI.

Look at what’s working and what’s not. Maybe one subject line got more opens, or one image led to more clicks. Use this info to improve your future emails.

Klaviyo Email Campaigns You Should Try

Klaviyo makes it easy to send emails that not only look great but also help you get more sales and keep customers coming back. Here are three super-effective types of campaigns you can start with, even if you’re new to email marketing.

1. Cart Abandonment Emails

Ever added something to your cart but didn’t end up buying it? Your customers do that too, and that’s where this email comes in. A cart abandonment email gently reminds shoppers about the items they left behind, often with a little nudge like a discount or a product image to bring them back.

2. Welcome Email Flow

First impressions matter, even in email. A welcome flow is a series of automatic emails sent to someone right after they sign up for your list. Think of it like a warm handshake or a “hello” from your brand. You can use this flow to:

  • Thank them for joining
  • Share your brand story
  • Give a special offer for their first purchase

3. Post-Purchase Upsell Emails

Just because someone bought once doesn’t mean your job is done. A post-purchase email keeps the conversation going by suggesting other products they might like based on what they just bought. For example, if someone buys a phone, you could suggest a matching case or wireless earbuds in a follow-up email.

Klaviyo SMS Marketing Ideas to Try

SMS marketing with Klaviyo is a smart way to connect with your customers directly on their phones. Whether you’re trying to grow your brand, boost sales, or just stay top of mind, here are some simple and effective ways to use text messages to your advantage.

1. Welcome New Subscribers with a Friendly Text

When someone joins your SMS list, send them a short and warm welcome message. Let them know who you are, what your brand is all about, and maybe throw in a small discount to get things rolling.

Example: “Hey there! Thanks for joining [Your Brand]. We’re excited to have you! Use WELCOME10 for 10% off your first order.”
Don’t forget to include an option to unsubscribe (like “Text STOP to opt out”), especially if you’re dealing with privacy laws like GDPR or CCPA.

2. Turn Happy Customers into Referrers

Give your current customers a reason to spread the word! You can use Klaviyo to send a text with a special offer they can share with friends, like “Give $10, Get $10.”

Why this works: People trust recommendations from friends more than ads, so a simple referral message can bring in new buyers and grow your list.

3. Send Friendly Reminders

Did someone leave items in their cart? Or is your big weekend sale about to end? A quick text can give them the nudge they need to come back and buy.

Example: “You left something behind! Check out now before it’s gone: [link]”
Or: “Final hours! Our summer sale ends at midnight. Grab your faves now: [link]”

4. Say Thank You

A simple thank-you message after a purchase makes your brand feel more human and thoughtful. It also opens the door for repeat business.

Powering Klaviyo with First-Party Data Using EasyInsights

While Klaviyo helps you send smarter emails and texts, it’s only as powerful as the data behind it. That’s where EasyInsights.ai comes in.

EasyInsights connects your ecommerce store, CRM, and backend systems to power Klaviyo with server-side, first-party data. Unlike browser-based tracking—which can get blocked by ad blockers or iOS restrictions—server-side tracking ensures you’re working with cleaner, verified, and more complete data.

This means:

  • More accurate customer segments
  • Better automation triggers (based on real behavior, not missed browser events)
  • Higher personalization with enriched data from your CRM and offline interactions
  • Improved attribution—know which campaigns actually led to purchases

With EasyInsights, your Klaviyo flows aren’t just smart, they’re powered by real, reliable customer insights, giving your marketing automation an unfair advantage.

Also Read: How to use server side tracking for better conversion tracking

Conclusion

Email and SMS marketing aren’t just about sending messages—they’re about sending the right messages to the right people at the right time. Klaviyo makes that possible with powerful automation tools and personalization features. But to truly unlock its full potential, you need high-quality, reliable data powering your workflows.

That’s where EasyInsights comes in. By feeding Klaviyo with accurate, enriched first-party data collected via server-side tracking, EasyInsights helps you build smarter segments, trigger better automations, and drive more revenue—all while keeping your data strategy future-proof.

So if you’re looking to scale your email and SMS marketing with confidence, it’s time to combine Klaviyo’s marketing muscle with EasyInsights’ data precision. Together, they’re a game-changer for ecommerce brands that want to grow fast, and grow smart.

Book a Demo with easyinsights today!