---
name: email-sequence
description: When the user wants to create or optimize an email sequence, drip campaign, automated email flow, or lifecycle email program. Also use when the user mentions "email sequence," "drip campaign," "nurture sequence," "onboarding emails," "welcome sequence," "re-engagement emails," "email automation," or "lifecycle emails." For in-app onboarding, see onboarding-cro.
---

# Email Sequence Design

You're helping create email sequences that nurture relationships and drive action. I've built email sequences for WordPress product launches, SaaS onboarding flows, and content marketing campaigns. The sequences that work share common traits: they respect the reader's time, deliver genuine value, and make the next step obvious.

## Initial Assessment

Before creating a sequence, understand:

1. **Sequence Type**
   - Welcome/onboarding sequence
   - Lead nurture sequence
   - Re-engagement sequence
   - Post-purchase sequence
   - Event-based sequence
   - Educational sequence
   - Sales sequence

2. **Audience Context**
   - Who are they?
   - What triggered them into this sequence?
   - What do they already know/believe?
   - What's their current relationship with you?

3. **Goals**
   - Primary conversion goal
   - Relationship-building goals
   - Segmentation goals
   - What defines success?

---

## Core Principles I Follow

### 1. One email, one job
- Each email has one primary purpose
- One main CTA per email
- Don't try to do everything

### 2. Value before ask
- Lead with usefulness
- Build trust through content
- Earn the right to sell

### 3. Relevance over volume
- Fewer, better emails win
- Segment for relevance
- Quality beats frequency

### 4. Clear path forward
- Every email moves them somewhere
- Links should do something useful
- Make next steps obvious

---

## Email Sequence Strategy

### Sequence Length
- Welcome: 3-7 emails
- Lead nurture: 5-10 emails
- Onboarding: 5-10 emails
- Re-engagement: 3-5 emails

Depends on:
- Sales cycle length
- Product complexity
- Relationship stage

### Timing/Delays
- Welcome email: Immediately
- Early sequence: 1-2 days apart
- Nurture: 2-4 days apart
- Long-term: Weekly or bi-weekly

Consider:
- B2B: Avoid weekends
- B2C: Test weekends
- Time zones: Send at local time

### Subject Line Strategy
- Clear beats clever
- Specific beats vague
- Benefit or curiosity-driven
- 40-60 characters ideal
- Test emoji (they're polarizing)

**Patterns that work:**
- Question: "Still struggling with X?"
- How-to: "How to [achieve outcome] in [timeframe]"
- Number: "3 ways to [benefit]"
- Direct: "[First name], your [thing] is ready"
- Story tease: "The mistake I made with [topic]"

### Preview Text
- Extends the subject line
- ~90-140 characters
- Don't repeat subject line
- Complete the thought or add intrigue

---

## Sequence Templates

### Welcome Sequence (Post-Signup)

**Email 1: Welcome (Immediate)**
- Subject: Welcome to [Product], here's your first step
- Deliver what was promised (lead magnet, access, etc.)
- Single next action
- Set expectations for future emails

**Email 2: Quick Win (Day 1-2)**
- Subject: Get your first [result] in 10 minutes
- Enable small success
- Build confidence
- Link to helpful resource

**Email 3: Story/Why (Day 3-4)**
- Subject: Why we built [Product]
- Origin story or mission
- Connect emotionally
- Show you understand their problem

**Email 4: Social Proof (Day 5-6)**
- Subject: How [Customer] achieved [Result]
- Case study or testimonial
- Relatable to their situation
- Soft CTA to explore

**Email 5: Overcome Objection (Day 7-8)**
- Subject: "I don't have time for X", sound familiar?
- Address common hesitation
- Reframe the obstacle
- Show easy path forward

**Email 6: Core Feature (Day 9-11)**
- Subject: Have you tried [Feature] yet?
- Highlight underused capability
- Show clear benefit
- Direct CTA to try it

**Email 7: Conversion (Day 12-14)**
- Subject: Ready to [upgrade/buy/commit]?
- Summarize value
- Clear offer
- Urgency if appropriate
- Risk reversal (guarantee, trial)

---

### Lead Nurture Sequence (Pre-Sale)

**Email 1: Deliver + Introduce (Immediate)**
- Deliver the lead magnet
- Brief intro to who you are
- Preview what's coming

**Email 2: Expand on Topic (Day 2-3)**
- Related insight to lead magnet
- Establish expertise
- Light CTA to content

**Email 3: Problem Deep-Dive (Day 4-5)**
- Articulate their problem deeply
- Show you understand
- Hint at solution

**Email 4: Solution Framework (Day 6-8)**
- Your approach/methodology
- Educational, not salesy
- Builds toward your product

**Email 5: Case Study (Day 9-11)**
- Real results from real customer
- Specific and relatable
- Soft CTA

**Email 6: Differentiation (Day 12-14)**
- Why your approach is different
- Address alternatives
- Build preference

**Email 7: Objection Handler (Day 15-18)**
- Common concern addressed
- FAQ or myth-busting
- Reduce friction

**Email 8: Direct Offer (Day 19-21)**
- Clear pitch
- Strong value proposition
- Specific CTA
- Urgency if available

---

### Re-Engagement Sequence

**Email 1: Check-In (Day 30-60 of inactivity)**
- Subject: Is everything okay, [Name]?
- Genuine concern
- Ask what happened
- Easy win to re-engage

**Email 2: Value Reminder (Day 2-3 after)**
- Subject: Remember when you [achieved X]?
- Remind of past value
- What's new since they left
- Quick CTA

**Email 3: Incentive (Day 5-7 after)**
- Subject: We miss you, here's something special
- Offer if appropriate
- Limited time
- Clear CTA

**Email 4: Last Chance (Day 10-14 after)**
- Subject: Should we stop emailing you?
- Honest and direct
- One-click to stay or go
- Clean the list if no response

---

### Onboarding Sequence (Product Users)

Coordinate with in-app onboarding. Email supports, doesn't duplicate.

**Email 1: Welcome + First Step (Immediate)**
- Confirm signup
- One critical action
- Link directly to that action

**Email 2: Getting Started Help (Day 1)**
- If they haven't completed step 1
- Quick tip or video
- Support option

**Email 3: Feature Highlight (Day 2-3)**
- Key feature they should know
- Specific use case
- In-app link

**Email 4: Success Story (Day 4-5)**
- Customer who succeeded
- Relatable journey
- Motivational

**Email 5: Check-In (Day 7)**
- How's it going?
- Ask for feedback
- Offer help

**Email 6: Advanced Tip (Day 10-12)**
- Power feature
- For engaged users
- Level-up content

**Email 7: Upgrade/Expand (Day 14+)**
- For trial users: conversion push
- For free users: upgrade prompt
- For paid: expansion opportunity

---

## Email Types Reference

### Onboarding Emails

**New Users Series**
- Trigger: User signs up (free or trial)
- Goal: Activate user, drive to aha moment
- Typical sequence: 5-7 emails over 14 days
- Key metrics: Activation rate, feature adoption

**New Customers Series**
- Trigger: User converts to paid
- Goal: Reinforce purchase decision, drive adoption, reduce early churn
- Typical sequence: 3-5 emails over 14 days
- Key point: Different from new user series. They've committed. Focus on reinforcement and expansion, not conversion.

**Key Onboarding Step Reminder**
- Trigger: User hasn't completed critical setup step after X time
- Goal: Nudge completion of high-value action
- Format: Single email or 2-3 email mini-sequence

### Retention Emails

**Upgrade to Paid**
- Trigger: Free user shows engagement, or trial ending
- Goal: Convert free to paid
- Typical sequence: 3-5 emails

**Upgrade to Higher Plan**
- Trigger: User approaching plan limits
- Goal: Upsell to next tier
- Format: Single email or 2-3 email sequence

**Ask for Review**
- Trigger: Customer milestone (30/60/90 days, key achievement)
- Goal: Generate social proof on G2, Capterra, app stores
- Best timing: After positive support interaction, after achieving result

**Proactive Support**
- Trigger: Signs of struggle (drop in usage, failed actions)
- Goal: Save at-risk user, improve experience
- Copy approach: Genuine concern, offer direct help, no sales pitch

**Product Usage Report**
- Trigger: Time-based (weekly, monthly, quarterly)
- Goal: Demonstrate value, drive engagement, reduce churn
- Key point: Make them feel good and remind them of value delivered

### Billing Emails

**Switch to Annual**
- Trigger: Monthly subscriber at renewal time
- Goal: Convert monthly to annual (improve LTV, reduce churn)
- Value prop: Calculate exact savings, lock in current price

**Failed Payment Recovery**
- Trigger: Payment fails
- Goal: Recover revenue, retain customer
- Typical sequence: 3-4 emails over 7-14 days
- Copy approach: Assume it's an accident, clear and direct, no guilt

**Cancellation Survey**
- Trigger: User cancels subscription
- Goal: Learn why, opportunity to save
- Format: Single email (immediate)

### Win-Back Emails

**Expired Trials**
- Trigger: Trial ended without conversion
- Goal: Convert or re-engage
- Typical sequence: 3-4 emails over 30 days
- Segmentation: Different approach based on trial engagement level

**Cancelled Customers**
- Trigger: Time after cancellation (30, 60, 90 days)
- Goal: Win back churned customers
- Copy approach: No guilt, no desperation, genuine updates

### Campaign Emails

**Monthly Roundup / Newsletter**
- Trigger: Time-based (monthly)
- Goal: Engagement, brand presence, content distribution
- Content mix: Product updates, customer stories, educational content

**Seasonal Promotions**
- Trigger: Calendar events (Black Friday, New Year)
- Goal: Drive conversions with timely offer
- Format: Campaign burst (2-4 emails)

**Product Updates**
- Trigger: New feature release
- Goal: Adoption, engagement, demonstrate momentum
- What to include: What's new, why it matters, how to use it

---

## Email Copy Guidelines

### Structure
1. **Hook**: First line grabs attention
2. **Context**: Why this matters to them
3. **Value**: The useful content
4. **CTA**: What to do next
5. **Sign-off**: Human, warm close

### Formatting
- Short paragraphs (1-3 sentences)
- White space between sections
- Bullet points for scannability
- Bold for emphasis (sparingly)
- Mobile-first (most read on phone)

### Tone
- Conversational, not formal
- First-person (I/we) and second-person (you)
- Active voice
- Match your brand but lean friendly
- Read it out loud. Does it sound human?

### Length
- Shorter is usually better
- 50-125 words for transactional
- 150-300 words for educational
- 300-500 words for story-driven
- If it's long, it better be good

### CTA Buttons vs. Links
- Buttons: Primary actions, high-visibility
- Links: Secondary actions, in-text
- One clear primary CTA per email
- Button text: Action + outcome

---

## Personalization

### Merge Fields
- First name (fallback to "there" or "friend")
- Company name (B2B)
- Relevant data (usage, plan, etc.)

### Dynamic Content
- Based on segment
- Based on behavior
- Based on stage

### Triggered Emails
- Action-based sends
- More relevant than time-based
- Examples: Feature used, milestone hit, inactivity

---

## Segmentation Strategies

### By Behavior
- Openers vs. non-openers
- Clickers vs. non-clickers
- Active vs. inactive

### By Stage
- Trial vs. paid
- New vs. long-term
- Engaged vs. at-risk

### By Profile
- Industry/role (B2B)
- Use case / goal
- Company size

---

## Testing and Optimization

### What to Test
- Subject lines (highest impact)
- Send times
- Email length
- CTA placement and copy
- Personalization level
- Sequence timing

### How to Test
- A/B test one variable at a time
- Sufficient sample size
- Statistical significance
- Document learnings

### Metrics to Track
- Open rate (benchmark: 20-40%)
- Click rate (benchmark: 2-5%)
- Unsubscribe rate (keep under 0.5%)
- Conversion rate (specific to sequence goal)
- Revenue per email (if applicable)

---

## Output Format

### Sequence Overview
```
Sequence Name: [Name]
Trigger: [What starts the sequence]
Goal: [Primary conversion goal]
Length: [Number of emails]
Timing: [Delay between emails]
Exit Conditions: [When they leave the sequence]
```

### For Each Email
```
Email [#]: [Name/Purpose]
Send: [Timing]
Subject: [Subject line]
Preview: [Preview text]
Body: [Full copy]
CTA: [Button text] → [Link destination]
Segment/Conditions: [If applicable]
```

### Metrics Plan
What to measure and benchmarks

---

## Questions I'll Ask

If I need more context:
1. What triggers entry to this sequence?
2. What's the primary goal/conversion action?
3. Who is the audience?
4. What do they already know about you?
5. What other emails are they receiving?
6. What's your current email performance?

---

## Related Skills

- **onboarding-cro**: For in-app onboarding (email supports this)
- **copywriting**: For landing pages emails link to
- **ab-test-setup**: For testing email elements
- **popup-cro**: For email capture popups
