Why Emails Matter More Than Popups
When a user wins “20% Off” on the popup, they are excited. But 10 minutes later, their phone rings, or the baby cries. They close the tab. The coupon is lost.
Unless you sent an email. The Winner Notification Email is your insurance policy. It puts the code permanently in their inbox, allowing them to search for “Spin Wheel” 3 days later when they are actually ready to buy.
This guide covers how to customize these emails and ensure they land in the Primary Inbox, not Spam.
1. The Default Template
Out of the box, the plugin sends a “Plain Text” (lightly styled) email.
- Pros: High deliverability (looks like a personal email).
- Cons: Not very “branded.”
- Content:
- Subject: “Congratulations! You won [Prize Name]”
- Body: “Here is your coupon code: [Code]. Click here to shop.”
2. Custom HTML Template (Pro Feature)
To look like a real brand, you need your logo and colors.
- Go to Settings > Email.
- Toggle “Use Custom HTML”.
- Editor: Use the built-in HTML editor or load our “Starter Template.”
- Dynamic Tags: You MUST include these tags, or the email is useless:
{{coupon_code}}– The hero of the email.{{prize_label}}– “Free Shipping” or “10% Off”.{{site_url}}– A link back to the store.
Branding Strategy
Keep it simple. A logo, a big headline “You Won!”, a massive button with the coupon code, and a “Shop Now” link. Complex layouts often break in Outlook.
- The “Urgency” Hack: Add a line: “This code expires in 24 hours.” Even if it doesn’t really expire (technically), saying it does increases the Click-Though Rate (CTR).
3. Ensuring Deliverability (SMTP)
The #1 complaint we hear is: “The emails are not arriving.” 99% of the time, this is your server, not the plugin.
- PHP Mail: By default, WordPress uses
wp_mail(), which sends via your host’s PHP server. These IPs are often blacklisted. - The Solution: You MUST use an SMTP plugin (like WP Mail SMTP or FluentSMTP).
- Why: This routes the email through a trusted provider (Gmail, SendGrid, Amazon SES) instead of your cheap hosting server.
- Testing: Use the “Send Test Email” button in our settings. If it says “Sent” but you don’t receive it, your server is blocking PHP mail. Install SMTP immediately.
4. Subject Line Optimization
The subject line determines if they open it.
- Bad: “Spin Wheel Notification” (Boring).
- Good: “You won! Here is your 20% Off Code inside…” (Curiosity + Value).
- Personalization: If you collected their name, you can use
{{customer_name}}in the subject line (e.g., “John, your prize is waiting…”).
5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I turn off these emails? A: Yes. In the settings, there is a specialized toggled “Send Winner Email”. If you prefer to let Mailchimp handle the welcome email, turn this OFF to avoid double-emailing the user.
Q: Can I send a different email for different prizes? A: Currently, the plugin uses one global template for all winners. However, you can use the {{prize_label}} tag to dynamically change the text shown. If you need totally different emails (e.g., one for losers, one for winners), we recommend using the Zapier integration to trigger external workflows.
Q: Can I attach a PDF (e.g., a guide) to the email? A: Not directly as an attachment. We recommend uploading the PDF to your Media Library and including a standard download link (<a href="...">Download Guide</a>) in the HTML body.
Q: Can I use emojis in the subject line? A: Yes! Subject lines like “🎉 You just won!” work great. But don’t overdo it—too many emojis can trigger spam filters.
Conclusion
The Transational Email containing the prize is the most opened email you will ever send. Don’t waste the opportunity. Brand it, test it, and ensure it delivers.
Need Help?
Emails not arriving? (Check your Spam folder first!) 👉 Contact Our Support Team