So, you’ve been trying to build an active, engaged list for a while now.
You read the blog posts about the others who have done it. It sounds like it should be so easy.
But for whatever reason, success is just beyond your grasp. Every time you get a new subscriber you feel that rush of accomplishment, but your newsletters go unopened and you end up back where you started.
We’re going to change that.
That’s because this time you’re going to have in your arsenal the same tactics successful marketers use to craft a welcome email that facilitates engagement.
Why are welcome emails so important? Subscribers who receive a welcome email show 33% more engagement with the brand. [Source]
In fact, the average open rate for a welcome email is 50%. This is higher than any other marketing email in your sequence. [Source]
Follow the tips to in this article to create a stand-out welcome email so that you can engage new subscribers from the start.
7 Tips for an Engaging Welcome Email
Tip #1 Say thank you and introduce yourself.
Admit it. It’s pretty awesome that someone has shown interest in what you are doing and taken the time to subscribe to your list. Let them know it by saying “thank you.” Expressing gratitude goes a long way in building a long-term relationship with your subscriber.
Example:
My name is (your name) and I’m the creator of (your blog/website). I wanted to take a second to say thank you for signing up and welcome you to (name of your list).
Tip #2 Timing is everything.
Remember the 74% mentioned earlier? Your welcome email should be sent shortly after a subscriber confirms their email address with your email provider. By using the autoresponder tool found in major email platforms you can set a specific time for the welcome email to go out once the email confirmation comes in.
Tip #3 Set expectations.
Be sure to let subscribers know what they can expect to receive from you and how frequently. This is also the perfect time to remind them of the benefit they will receive as being a subscriber on your list.
Example:
Here’s what’s next…
Once a week (change to appropriate frequency) you will receive valuable free content about (your niche), that will help you (describe benefit i.e. what’s in it for them).
Tip #4 Know your audience.
Don’t write your welcome email until you 100% are clear on who your audience is and the problem your list updates will help them to solve. Knowing your audience helps you to better align your content to address their needs. This is what makes the difference between talking to your subscribers versus at them.
Struggling to get to know your audience? Check out the section on identifying your audience and solving their problems in this post here.
Tip #5 Make sure your future emails don’t get lost.
If you’re like most people, you have likely signed up to a list only to find the information you requested either in the Spam folder or hiding in the clutter of your Promotions tab. I cannot tell you how many honest, beneficial emails I have lost this way.
Adding the following line to your email can help new subscribers ensure they receive your future updates:
Here’s how to make sure you’re receiving the (describe content) you requested!
Simply add (email address) to your email whitelist. If using Gmail, just move this email from your “Promotions” folder to the “Priority” folder.
Tip #6 Tell them how to reach you.
If your goal is a responsive list that engages with you, make it a point to tell new subscribers how to get in touch with you. Whether it’s “hit the reply button” or a specific email address, it reminds them that a real person is behind the screen.
Example:
If you need to get in touch with me directly, simply send an email to: (your email).
Tip #7 Make it personal.
Personalizing welcome email with your subscriber’s name simply makes sense. After all, emails are nothing more than digital conversations. It’s why the core of a successful email campaign is relationship building.
Have you ever had a moment when you were talking with someone and you suddenly couldn’t place their name to save your life? I am talking full-on brain swipe.
The panic alarm goes off and you desperately rack your brain. Why? Easy.
You understand the value of a person’s name and using it when speaking to them. It’s important and the stats support this. Personalized email messages improve click-through rates by an average of 14% and conversions by 10%. [Source]
If you have collected your subscriber’s name, the major email platforms have short codes you can add to your email to automatically their name into the greeting.
Example:
Hello {firstname}, would display Hello Jane,
The Final Result
So, there you have it. Cultivating an active, engaged list is easier when you apply the above 7 tips. Here’s what it looks like in action:
Hello {firstname},
My name is (your name) and I’m the creator of (your blog/website). I wanted to take a second to say thank you for signing up and welcome you to (name of your list).
Here’s what’s next…
Once a week (change to appropriate frequency) you will receive valuable free content about (your niche), that will help you (describe benefit i.e. what’s in it for them).
Here’s how to make sure you’re receiving the (describe content) you requested!
Simply add (email address) to your email whitelist. If using Gmail, just move this email from your “Promotions” folder to the “Priority” folder.
If you need to get in touch with me directly, simply send an email to: (your email).
(Sign off)
(Your name)
Keep Building,
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