What to Include in a One-Email Welcome Sequence

When you’re first getting set up online, there are a LOT of things to consider – lead gen, sales, nurturing leads, developing products and opt-ins, creating content, getting set up on Pinterest – but I’d rather have you build your online castle so that it’s beautiful and functional all the way around, instead of focusing all your time and energy on one really awesome turret and nothing else (like an email funnel when you have very few subscribers).

So while I want you to have a great email funnel, there are a few things to put in place first. You have to start somewhere — after all, an amazingly-intricate email funnel doesn’t make sense if there’s no way for subscribers to join your list, right? Or the same way you wouldn’t create and launch a product when you have an audience of 10 subscribers.

Yes, I want you to expand on email when you have the bandwidth, but you don’t have to right now — in fact, building too big too soon, could be a waste of time until you have the audience to benefit from it. Catch my drift?

What you need to focus on first is a Welcome Sequence.

Now, don’t get overwhelmed. A Welcome “sequence” can be as simple as having ONE automated email set up to go out to every new email subscriber.

However you choose to introduce yourself to a new subscriber, it’s important that you do. And I’ve got your back. Here’s how to knock it out of the park with a one-email welcome sequence.

Related: Simple 5-step framework to write your first email welcome sequence

The value of a one-email welcome sequence

If you set up just one email to send to every new subscriber, you can:

• Appease that part of your brain that wants to make sure new subscribers hear from you right away.

• Make a great first impression.

• Split your time doing all the other things that take energy when starting your blog or business online.

Free Training: Create brand loyalty & build lifetime value — with all new subscribers — from Day One.

Whether you include a photo, tell a story or share a video, your one-email welcome sequence will help your new subscribers learn more about you faster and with greater intimacy before you start sharing lots of content or adding them to your weekly email.

What to include in a one-email welcome sequence

Before you jump into writing your first welcome email, take some time to consider what you might include in your note. Here’s what I suggest you think about when drafting your welcome sequence.

01 | Identify what your new email subscribers want or need

Even if this is one sentence, tell your readers something along the lines of, “Most people come to my site looking for ______. If that’s you, you’re in the right place.”

02 | Share some personal notes to connect on a human level

When we first meet someone, we’re always searching for a little bit of context to learn more about them and their world, right?

So share a bit about you (I’m sure there’s a ton of interesting things about you that you can share, but don’t write a novel — seriously, only include the bits that matter to your readers):

• Where are you from?

• What do you spend your time doing?

• Who makes up your community (a club, a church, a neighborhood, an employer, etc.)

• Why do you love what you do

Personal details help us fuse a bond with someone we barely know. When it comes to welcoming yourself through email, the same elements of introduction apply! By sharing about yourself, even briefly, it allows people to know you as more than a NAME@YOURSITE.COM.

For example:

Role play with me a bit — say you’re an online business owner who wants to serve other mothers.

What could you include in a welcome sequence to tell these “strangers” more about you, so they feel like they know you?

• How long you’ve been in business?

• Who do you serve?

• How many kids do you have? And what time do you wake up in the morning to get your crew ready each day?

• Have you also been behind on laundry for 2 years?

These details matter to your audience if it relates to how you’ll serve them.

If I was a mom joining your email list, I’d be like, “Yes, I found someone like me!” I would trust that your future content would serve me well.

03 | Tell email readers how you can — and plan — to help them

Now that they’ve come to you and you’ve introduced yourself — why should they stick around?

Help them anticipate what more you’ll be sending them. Will you be sharing resources or encouragement? Trainings or tutorials? Podcast episodes or blog posts?

And why do these things matter? Say it, but keep it concise (I mean, it is only one email).

Want more writing prompts? Write your first welcome sequence

Build the know, like and trust factor with new email subscribers right away

If new email subscribers don’t feel like they know you, like you or trust you, they’re more likely to unsubscribe. Because who likes getting emails from strangers?

We don’t want people unsubscribing before they get the chance to know you!

Take an hour of your time today to draft your first welcome sequence to officially welcome your new readers! Just one email can go a long way to making them feel like they belong.

Want to take it a step further? Check out my guide to create a simple 5-step framework to write your first email welcome sequence.

Through a Welcome Sequence, you move from you being a “total stranger” to “helpful guide” in a way that’s personable, introduces you and your “brand,” and prepares new subscribers with what to expect.

You are unique, and I’m encouraged to see how sharing your story will connect you authentically with new subscribers.