💡Convert One-Time Buyers Without Discounts

Hey, it’s Ray.

Here’s a stat that should keep you up at night: most brands lose 70% of first-time buyers within 90 days.

And the knee-jerk response?

“Let’s give them 15% off to come back.”

But here’s the truth: if your best idea to drive repeat purchases is a discount, you’re building a promo-trained customer base, one that waits, hesitates, and churns the second you stop feeding the sale cycle.

There’s a smarter, margin-friendly way to turn first-time buyers into loyalists and it doesn’t involve a single discount code.

Let’s break it down.

Why First-Time Buyers Don’t Come Back

Your product might’ve been great. The delivery might’ve been fast.

But none of that matters if they don’t feel connected to your brand after the first purchase.

Repeat buying is emotional. If they don’t feel:

• Seen (you understand what they care about),

• Confident (they know how to get the most from what they bought), and

• Curious (they’re excited about what’s next)...

They disappear. 

And no “20% off your next order” can fix it.

Build Loyalty Without a Single Discount

Here’s a step-by-step, retention-first journey that actually converts, not just “reminds.”

1. Rebuild the Post-Purchase Flow

Your current one probably looks like:

• “Order Confirmed ✅”

• “Your Order Shipped 📦”

• ...and then nothing, or a generic “Buy Again” CTA.

That’s transactional. 

You need relational.

Instead, send:

• Day 2: “You Picked This, Here’s How to Win With It”
  → Product education, setup tips, bonus features

• Day 5: “How’s it going?”
  → Light check-in, request for UGC or review

• Day 10+: “People Who Bought That Also Loved...”
  → Smart cross-sells based on affinity, not urgency
  

2. Make Onboarding Feel Personal

They made a choice. 

Make it feel smart.

• Add QR code inserts that link to welcome videos or tutorials

• Use Klaviyo’s predictive analytics to recommend a “next best” product

• Show how others use their product (UGC carousel, styled looks, before/afters)
  

3. Replace the Discount With a Status Ladder

Your goal isn’t a second sale. It’s the start of a habit.

Try:

• “You’re one order away from Insider Access”

• “Want early access to our limited run drops?”

• “Spend $X more to unlock your loyalty perk (free shipping, surprise gift)”

Make the second purchase feel like a membership, not a transaction.

✅ Quick Launch Checklist

☑ Segment one-time buyers from past 90 days
☑ Build a three-step post-purchase education flow
☑ Use delivery, not order date, as trigger
☑ Tag high-margin collections for behavior-based follow-up
☑ Track second purchase conversion + time delay
☑ Never lead with a promo code

Your Next Big Move

One-time buyers don’t hate your product.

They just didn’t get a good enough reason to come back.

If you want to scale sustainably in 2025, your real growth lever isn’t new customers, it’s turning first-timers into loyalists without discounting your brand’s value.

Need help setting this up?

I’ll map your flows, write the copy, and build your second-purchase engine from scratch, so you earn more with every new buyer.

Just hit reply and we’ll talk.

Raymond Chen
Founder & CEO, 11 Agency

More Ways to Level Up Your Email Game

If this sounds like a lot to manage, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.

There’s a lot that goes into building a high-converting email strategy. 

If you’re serious about optimizing your email marketing, let’s talk. 

Here’s what we can do:

✅ Done-for-You Email Strategy: If you’re ready to scale but don’t have the time, we’ll build out a full email system that maximizes your revenue. You can book a call with me here. 

✅ Or, if you just want to grab a free resource, get a FREE 10-page KPI audit and a 128-point health scorecard to optimize your email marketing. Get it here!

Extra Tips to Boost Your Email Strategy

If you’re up about boosting your email game, I’ve got a few more gems for you:

📺 Check Out My YouTube Tutorial
Want to create a high-converting popup form that actually drives results?

In my newest YouTube video, I walk you through the process of designing popups in 2025 that boost email deliverability, grow your list, and drive more conversions. Using tools like Klaviyo and platforms like Shopify, I’ll show you exactly how to optimize your forms for success. 👉 Watch it here: 

📝 Win Back Shoppers with These 10 High-Impact Abandoned Cart Subject Lines
A lot of brands lose potential sales due to ineffective subject lines that don’t grab attention.

We've compiled a list of 10 powerful subject lines that will help you win back those shoppers and boost conversions. Want to see the subject lines that work? 👉 Check out the full list here: 10 High-Impact Abandoned Cart Subject Lines to Win Back Shoppers

💡 Let’s Connect on LinkedIn
I share daily email marketing tips, behind-the-scenes insights, and strategies that actually work. If you’re looking for extra value beyond this newsletter, let’s connect!👉  Follow me here.