Want to know how to write a welcome series for your newsletter sign-ups? One that turns a reader into a potential future customer?
You’re here because you know having an email newsletter list is one of the most important elements of a blog or online business.
A welcome email sequence is the first impression your new subscribers get, and it’s important to introduce yourself properly.
When other marketing platforms and channels (social media, Google or Pinterest) fail or have algorithm changes that affect us, an email newsletter list will keep you going.
But how do you keep people from unsubscribing? From loving what you’re sharing?
You nurture them! Where you start doing this is with the welcome series of emails.
Today you’ll learn how to write a welcome email series that successfully introduces you and attracts attention.
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Why You Need A Welcome Email Series
When I was starting to grow my email newsletter list, I made the mistake of not creating a welcome series of emails.
Heck – I didn’t even have a freebie (lead magnet) to attract subscribers.
Rookie mistakes!
A welcome series of emails for your new subscribers is important for several reasons because it:
- Delivers the free lead magnet
- Introduces them to what you do and the value you offer
- Gives them a connection with you on social media
- Helps you build your personal brand
- Builds a warm, welcoming relationship with your new subscriber (your goal!)
- It begins the journey from subscriber to potential customer
The last one is important if you are monetizing your blog.
A welcome series is you introducing yourself and what you do and showing your value. You want readers to stick around on your newsletter list.
This is your opportunity to make a great first impression and set the brand voice and tone.
Now that we have determined why it’s important, let’s make sure we’re ready for a welcome series.
PRO TIP: Ensure that your welcome series is consistent with your blog brand’s tone of voice.
Tools You’ll Need For An Email Newsletter Welcome Sequence
Another rookie mistake I made as a beginner blogger was to not use an email marketing platform that would easily give me automated emails.
You want to automate so that those emails are sent on autopilot.
Two great email marketing platforms you should consider are: Mailerlite and Convertkit.
Both are easy to use and have up to 1000 subscribers for free. They also have analytics that show the effect of your freebie opt-in and your welcome email sequence.
Upgrading gives you more options for automations and integrations, making your email marketing even more powerful.
That’s all you need to get started with an automated welcome series.
Read more about how to create an automation in Mailterlite.
| RELATED: The Best Blogging Tools And Resources To Grow Your Blog Into A Business
4 Key Emails In A Welcome Email Sequence
While some email marketing experts say to send five to six emails in your welcome sequence, I recommend four.
Why? It’s because we’re getting inundated with emails. People tend to unsubscribe when you bombard them with emails.
There are usually four emails that you’ll send in a welcome email sequence. They all have a purpose behind them.
TIP: Have the emails in your welcome series sent one day apart. This keeps you top-of-mind and people recognize your name as it shows up in their inbox.
Email #1: Deliver The Free Opt-in Incentive
With the first email, you’ll need to immediately send the free lead magnet somebody signed up to receive.
The second thing you do in this email is give your new subscriber some love by addressing their challenges. Make them see that you understand what they’re going through.
Finally, let them know what to expect over the next few days – that you’ll be popping into their inbox. Tell them why they should stick around (what your goal is to help others through your content).
PRO TIP: Some people sign up for newsletters for the free offer and then unsubscribe. That’s fine. They’re not your ideal customer.
Email #2: Introduce Yourself
In this email you tell your reader about yourself, your experience and how you can help them.
Here’s where you focus on your personal branding, and how your blog/business can help your reader.
Talk about your weekly/bi-weekly newsletter and the topics you cover. Share your best blog posts (for example cornerstone posts) on your core categories.
Give them a reason to keep following you!
Showcase something unique that you do that others don’t. Perhaps it’s an opinion or belief.
Sprinkle in some personal anecdotes and stories.
Finally, ask them about their challenges. Engage your subscribers and give them a reason to respond to you.
PRO TIP: Promote your Facebook group in all of your welcome series emails. The best place to do this is in a PS under your sign-off.
| RELATED: What To Include In Your Weekly Email Newsletter
Email #3: Your Best Tips/Content
This is where you can share your best content and once again wow your new subscribers.
Share new useful tips or more free content (an additional freebie) that complements the problem they’re working to solve.
If you have a product that you’re selling, this is where you’re seeding the sale. You can prompt with an anecdote of how you helped somebody with a similar problem.
If you don’t have a product or service, this is where you can stop with your email sequence.
Email #4: Sell The Special Offer
This is where you can share a special offer on a digital product or service.
Remind your subscribers about the key points from the previous emails and how you can help them solve their key challenges.
Add a link to a sales landing page with a special offer. This is where you can do a $9 or $17/$19 sale fairly easily. A low-ticket offer can result in sales faster than a pricier one.
PRO TIP: You can increase the chances of instant sale if you tap into FOMO (fear of missing out) when you add a timer for your special offer.
How To Write A Welcome Email Series In One Day
Is it doable to write a kickass welcome email sequence?
Absolutely yes.
Here are a few tricks:
- Map out your series of emails with post-it notes
- Draft outlines of your emails
- Keep your emails short and to the point
- Create the automations
- Test them out on yourself
Three to four emails should take you about 4 hours maximum the first time around.
PRO TIP: Plan your strategies for an email welcome sequence in advance. Think about what your ultimate goal is and create your series with this in mind.
Be Brief, Be Brilliant, Be Gone (For A Moment)
By the end of the email welcome series, you will have wanted to create a great first impression with your subscribers.
The heading here tells you the best way to do this: the 3 “be’s”.
- Be brief in your email length. This is not the time to write something the length of War and Peace.
- Be brilliant in your messaging: get it across to your readers as to what your mission and vision is, and how you can help them. Build a positive perception of your personal brand.
- Be gone out of their inbox. This is why I say a sequence of four emails is enough. Any more than that and you become obnoxious to many (and get unsubscribers).
You’ll be in their inbox again with your regular newsletter.
Setting up a great welcome email series can take time. However, if done correctly, it can lead to a solid email newsletter subscriber list with potential customers and clients.
Now you’re ready to start planning and writing your email welcome series!
QUESTION: What do you think is the best email in the welcome email series that best introduces you to your new subscribers?
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