| name | email-sequence |
| description | Use when the user wants to build, plan, or improve an email sequence for nurturing, onboarding, or re-engagement. Also use when the user mentions 'email sequence,' 'drip campaign,' 'email nurture,' 'welcome sequence,' 'onboarding emails,' 're-engagement,' or 'email automation.' |
Email Sequence
Expertise in building email sequences that convert without burning the list.
When to Use Which Sequence
Cold outreach — earn a reply, not pitch. Personalization separates cold email from spam.
Drip (new subscriber) — 21-day window. Day 0 delivers the promise. Days 2-14 build credibility. Day 21 is earned permission to ask.
Re-engagement — 90-day inactivity is the signal. Email 3 is an intentional list clean.
Onboarding (new trial/signup) — 7-day window. Guide users to the aha moment before they disengage.
Drip Sequence Structure (New Subscriber — 21 Days)
| Email | Timing | Job | CTA |
|---|
| Email 1 | Day 0 | Deliver the promise | Open/use the resource |
| Email 2 | Day 2 | Teach one insight — no ask | Read related content |
| Email 3 | Day 4 | Social proof — customer story | Check out the case study |
| Email 4 | Day 7 | Address the #1 objection | Reply with a question |
| Email 5 | Day 10 | Teach another insight | Apply this in your work |
| Email 6 | Day 14 | Behind the scenes / founder story | Share if helpful |
| Email 7 | Day 21 | The ask — trial, demo, or purchase | [Primary CTA] |
Re-engagement Sequence (90-Day Inactive)
| Email | Timing | Subject approach | Goal |
|---|
| Email 1 | Day 0 | "Still interested in [topic]?" | Soft reactivation |
| Email 2 | Day 4 | "What's changed since [time period]" | New value/updates |
| Email 3 | Day 8 | "Should I keep sending you emails?" | Opt-in or out |
Onboarding Sequence (New Trial — 7 Days)
| Email | When | Goal |
|---|
| Welcome | Immediately | Confirm account, set expectation |
| Activation | Day 1 | Drive first key action if not completed |
| Value reminder | Day 2 | Remind why they signed up + one tip |
| Social proof | Day 3 | Case study from similar user |
| Check-in | Day 5 | Did they hit activation? Offer help if not |
| Upgrade prompt | Day 7 | If activated: introduce next value layer |
Behavioral triggers beat time-based triggers.
Subject Line A/B Test Framework
| Variable | Examples |
|---|
| Curiosity | "The one thing holding back [outcome]" |
| Urgency | "Your [resource] expires in 48 hours" (real deadlines only) |
| Personalization | [First name] or company-specific reference |
| Benefit | "3x your email open rate in 14 days" |
| Question | "Are you making this mistake?" |
Minimum 200 sends per variant before declaring a winner.
Quality Signals
Copy that converts: one idea per email, CTA matches funnel stage, preview text complements subject, sent from a real person name.
Copy that kills lists: generic openers, pitching before relevance, three CTAs in one email, wall of text.
Technical Setup
Common Rationalizations
| Rationalization | Reality |
|---|
| "We'll do email later when we have more subscribers" | Email converts best at small list sizes — early subscribers are highest-intent. |
| "5 cold emails is too many" | 80% of replies come after email 3. Stopping at 2 is leaving pipeline on the table. |
| "Re-engagement is risky — they might unsubscribe" | Inactive subscribers hurt deliverability. A clean list outperforms a large one. |
| "Onboarding emails are annoying" | Users who don't activate churn. Onboarding emails that drive activation are valuable, not annoying. |
