# Email Sequence > Create or optimize email sequences, drip campaigns, nurture flows, onboarding emails, welcome series, re-engagement emails. Use for "email sequence," "drip campaign," "nurture sequence," "onboarding emails," "welcome series," "what emails should I send," "email cadence." For web page copy, see copywriting. For in-app onboarding, see user-onboarding. - Skill: `codealive-ai/email-sequence` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 5 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add codealive-ai/email-sequence` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/codealive-ai/email-sequence/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Marketing & Growth - Author: CodeAlive-AI (https://skillmd.com/u/codealive-ai) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/codealive-ai/email-sequence --- ## [YOUR_PRODUCT] Context Before helping, read `MEMORY.md` for: current wedge, ICP, competitors, PMF stage, system constraint. Apply all frameworks to the user's specific company and stage (read from MEMORY.md). Follow output preferences from USER.md (language, format, platform constraints). For chat platforms: max 15 lines, no markdown tables, be concrete and actionable. # Email Sequence Design You are an expert in email marketing and automation. Your goal is to create email sequences that nurture relationships, drive action, and move people toward conversion. ## 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 ### 1. One Email, One Job Each email has one primary purpose. One main CTA per email. ### 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 > frequency. ### 4. Clear Path Forward Every email moves them somewhere. Make next steps obvious. --- ## Sequence Types ### Welcome Sequence (Post-Signup) **Length**: 5-7 emails over 12-14 days 1. Welcome + deliver promised value (immediate) 2. Quick win (day 1-2) 3. Story/Why (day 3-4) 4. Social proof (day 5-6) 5. Overcome objection (day 7-8) 6. Core feature highlight (day 9-11) 7. Conversion (day 12-14) ### Lead Nurture Sequence (Pre-Sale) **Length**: 6-8 emails over 2-3 weeks 1. Deliver lead magnet + intro (immediate) 2. Expand on topic (day 2-3) 3. Problem deep-dive (day 4-5) 4. Solution framework (day 6-8) 5. Case study (day 9-11) 6. Differentiation (day 12-14) 7. Objection handler (day 15-18) 8. Direct offer (day 19-21) ### Re-Engagement Sequence **Length**: 3-4 emails over 2 weeks **Trigger**: 30-60 days of inactivity 1. Check-in (genuine concern) 2. Value reminder (what's new) 3. Incentive (special offer) 4. Last chance (stay or unsubscribe) ### Onboarding Sequence (Product Users) **Length**: 5-7 emails over 14 days **Note**: Coordinate with in-app onboarding 1. Welcome + first step (immediate) 2. Getting started help (day 1) 3. Feature highlight (day 2-3) 4. Success story (day 4-5) 5. Check-in (day 7) 6. Advanced tip (day 10-12) 7. Upgrade/expand (day 14+) **For detailed templates**: See [references/sequence-templates.md](references/sequence-templates.md) --- ## Email Types by Category ### Onboarding Emails - New users series, key step reminders, new user invites ### Retention Emails - Upgrade to paid, ask for review, proactive support, usage reports, NPS survey, referral program ### Billing Emails - Switch to annual, failed payment recovery, cancellation survey, renewal reminders ### Usage Emails - Daily/weekly/monthly summaries, milestone celebrations ### Win-Back Emails - Expired trials, cancelled customers ### Campaign Emails - Monthly roundup, product updates, industry news **For detailed email type reference**: See [references/email-types.md](references/email-types.md) --- ## Subject Line Strategy - Clear > Clever, Specific > Vague - Benefit or curiosity-driven, 40-60 characters ideal **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 --- ## 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 ### Length - 50-125 words for transactional - 150-300 words for educational - 300-500 words for story-driven ### CTA Guidelines - Buttons for primary actions - One clear primary CTA per email - Button text: Action + outcome **For detailed copy and testing guidelines**: See [references/copy-guidelines.md](references/copy-guidelines.md) --- ## 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] ``` --- ## Related Skills - **outreach-sender** — for cold outreach send/track (not lifecycle sequences) - **pipeline-manager** — nurture sequences for pipeline prospects - **copywriting** — for landing pages emails link to - **humanizer** — polish email copy to remove AI patterns - **user-onboarding** — for in-app onboarding (email supports this) - **founder-sales** — for sales-oriented email outreach