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Win-back messages by cancellation reason

Group the cancellations that follow BFCM by reason, then write a win-back for each group.

Topic: Retention & Win-back

The takeaway

Prompts that group December cancellations by reason and write a win-back message and offer for each group.

The prompts

Cancellations rise after the first post-BFCM renewals. A single generic win-back email treats "too expensive" and "too much product" the same way. These prompts sort the reasons first, then answer each one.

What to paste in

  • An export of cancellation reasons and free-text comments since the sale
  • The win-back offers you are willing to make, and their cost
  • Your brand voice rules (see the early-access prompts)

The prompts

Run them in order in one chat, so each prompt builds on the last answer. Replace everything in [BRACKETS].

Here are cancellation reasons and comments from the last [N] weeks: [PASTE EXPORT].
Group them into no more than six themes. For each theme give the share of cancellations, two representative quotes, and what the customer is really asking for.
For the three largest themes, write a win-back email of under 120 words that answers that theme directly. Use these offers where they fit: [OFFERS]. Do not use an offer where it does not address the reason.
For each email, suggest a timing (days after cancelling) and two subject lines. Explain the timing in one sentence.
List the themes a discount will not fix, and suggest a product or operations change for each that the team should review in January.

Check the output

  • Check that quotes are copied from your export and not reworded.
  • A theme under 5% of cancellations does not need its own email yet.
Offers & AcquisitionOffersEarly-access emails for your existing subscribersNextA three-email early-access sequence, subject lines and SMS versions for the subscribers you already have.
Retention & Win-backRetentionWinback by ReasonBring cancelled subscribers back during BFCM with an offer that answers the reason they left.
Retention & Win-backRetentionResults TimelineTell new BFCM subscribers what to expect at each order, so they stay past the price step-up.

The whole season in one place

During and After entries are in the playbook now, and open here when their phase arrives.

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