🍯 5 Retention Hacks That’ll Stop Your Subscription Churn Dead in Its Tracks

Hello You DTC Savage,

Buckle up—I'm dropping 5 retention tips this week that’ll stop your subscribers from ghosting faster than a bad Tinder date.

Tip #1: Every email you send is basically a tiny reminder for customers to cancel. Yes, every “Hey, just checking in” message is a chance for them to say “No thanks.” So here’s the move for EXISTING subscribers: talk less, but with more purpose. One of the things we do with our client, AG1, is focus on the critical moments, like the 1st month (just after purchase) or re-bill periods, when they’re most likely to hit that cancel button. Less is more, my friend.

Tip #2: You give ‘em the sweet sign-up discount, but what do you offer to make ‘em stay? I see so many brands forget about their subscribers once they sign up. Offer perks at key points—whether it's during re-bills or even better: milestones. Keep that relationship alive and show 'em you're worth the commitment. For example, what if they got some sort of special gift after staying with you for 4 months?

Tip #3: Immediate churn is like someone showing up to a buffet, taking one bite, and walking out. They grab your discount, then they’re gone. And no amount of “We miss you” emails will fix that. Here’s what does: make them buy more upfront or save the discount for round two. Lock them in, before they realize the exit door is right there.

Tip #4: Want to upsell without coming off like a pushy car salesman? Gently (keyword: gently) introduce complementary products to your active subscribers between deliveries. Analyze their habits—don’t just throw random stuff at them. And hey, surprise ‘em with a gift or discount during peak churn months to keep the love going strong.

Tip #5: If you don’t know why your customers are bailing, what are you even doing? Find out the top 5 reasons people churn, then test win-back offers that make it hard for them to stay away—like a discount or a bonus. Once you know what works, stick it in your win-back flow like you’re baking retention pie. Delicious.

Key takeaway: While chasing new customers, don’t lose focus on keeping the ones who already said “I do.” It’s a lot easier (and cheaper) than you think. There are plenty of ways to keep them around without crushing your bottom line.

P.S. I’ll be speaking on the Creative OS Last Call BFCM: Email Masterclass webinar next week. See you there?

P.S.S. I would love to connect with you guys on LinkedIn and learn more about what you do and don’t want to hear about!

Talk soon,
Feras