A good welcome email series does more than just say hello.
It solves the problems of cold starts, poor first impressions, and low engagement by giving your new subscribers exactly what they need right when they need it.
The first email in the series should be a welcome message. No brainer.
What about the rest of the series? How can you create brand awareness and also prompt the customer to make the first purchase?
We explain:
- Why send a welcome email series?
- Essential elements of a great welcome email series
- Welcome email series examples
- How to automate the welcome email series?
Automate welcome emails series in a few clicks with Retainful’s easy-to-setup automation.
Why send a welcome email series?
First impressions matter. In ecommerce email marketing, they can be the difference between a one-time visitor and a lifelong customer. That’s where the welcome email series comes in.
Here are the reasons why you should send a welcome email series:
320% More Revenue
Welcome emails generate 320% more revenue on a per-email basis than other promotional emails. That’s why it is one of the most important emails one can send in email marketing.
Because it has:
- 50-60% Open Rate
- 2-4% Conversion Rate
Higher than other promotional and transactional emails.
Building trust from day one
When someone hands over their email address, they’re taking a leap of faith. They’re saying, “I’m interested, but I’m not sure yet.”
A welcome email series is your opportunity to build that trust. It’s where you introduce yourself, share your story, and start to establish a relationship. Without it, you’re leaving that trust up to chance.
First impressions matter
The moment someone subscribes, they’re interested. They’ve given you a chance.
An ecommerce welcome email series capitalizes on the initial interest by making a great first impression, ensuring that you don’t waste the opportunity to connect.
Establishing expectations
A single welcome email is like a handshake. It’s polite, but it doesn’t really tell you much. A series, on the other hand, lets you set the stage.
You can tell your new subscribers what to expect, how often you’ll be in touch, and what kind of value you’re going to bring to their inbox. It’s your chance to align expectations so there are no surprises down the road.
Engaging right off the bat
The sooner you can get someone to engage with your brand, the better.
Whether it’s clicking a link, visiting your website, or making a purchase, early engagement sets the tone for a long-term relationship.
Essential Elements of a Welcome Email Sequence
What makes a welcome email sequence truly stand out?
It’s about nailing the essentials – those elements that turn a simple welcome email sequence into a lasting connection.
Here are the essential elements of a great email welcome series:
A genuine, personal introduction
Your first email in the best welcome series emails should feel personal, almost like a conversation.
It’s your chance to introduce yourself, your brand, and why you do what you do. People connect with people, not logos.
Clear expectations
Don’t leave your subscribers guessing.
Lay out what they can expect from you in your welcome series flow – how often you’ll be in their inbox, what kind of content you’ll share, and why it’s worth their time. Set the stage early, so there are no surprises down the road.
A Call to Action
The best welcome series examples don’t just talk to customers – they invite them to take the next step.
Whether it’s exploring your website, following you on social media, or making their first purchase, give them something to do in welcome series flow. A clear, compelling call to action turns passive readers into active participants.
A warm welcome offer
For ecommerce businesses, a welcome discount can be the nudge that turns a new subscriber into a first-time customer.
That first purchase is critical because it’s often the hardest to secure.
Social Proof
People trust what others trust.
Include testimonials, case studies, or user-generated content in your welcome series emails to show that others are already benefiting from what you offer.
Social proof isn’t just about bragging; it’s about building credibility and reassuring your subscribers that they’re in good company.
An easy way out
This might sound counterintuitive, but giving subscribers an easy way to unsubscribe in your welcome series emails shows confidence.
You’re not desperate to keep them if they’re not interested. And oddly enough, it builds trust – they’re more likely to stay when they know they can leave.
4-Part Welcome Email Series Example
A well-crafted welcome email series is designed to engage new customers, build a relationship with them, and guide them toward becoming loyal customers.
The best welcome email series flow example is:
- Email 1: Welcome Email (Sent Immediately)
- Email 2: Value Proposition (Sent 3-4 Days Later)
- Email 3: How to guide
- Email 4: Social proof
Let’s look at these examples of the welcome email series in detail.
Email 1: Welcome Email (Sent Immediately)
Purpose: Introduce your brand and set expectations
What to include:
- A warm, personalized welcome message.
- Brief introduction to your brand, mission, or story.
- A call to action (CTA) such as exploring your website or following on social media.
- Optionally, a welcome offer (e.g., discount code or free shipping)
Here is how Glossier does it in their welcome email sequence example.
Why this welcome series email example stand out?
The offer of “free returns and exchanges on skincare and makeup within 30 days” is a strong value proposition that reduces the perceived risk of trying the products.
Instead of bombarding the reader with a hard sell, this email welcome series example focuses on starting a relationship. It introduces the brand and showcases popular products.
Email 2: Value Proposition Email (Sent 3-4 Days Later)
Purpose: Explain what sets your brand apart.
What to include:
- Detail the unique benefits of your products.
- Include case studies or success stories.
- Share your brand values, commitment to quality, or customer satisfaction guarantees.
Here is how Feals does it.
Why this welcome email series example stand out?
The concise, impactful heading of this welcome series email example communicates the primary benefits of the product right off the bat.
The language used in the CTA is action-oriented and taps into the urgency and need for stress relief.
The section “Why the Mints?” provides a clear and concise breakdown of the product’s key benefits.
Email 3: How-to guide
Sharing expert tips or a how-to guide in an e-commerce welcome email series establishes your brand as an authority in your industry.
It shows that you’re knowledgeable and committed to helping your audience succeed or get the most out of your products.
What to include:
- Instructional content like tutorials or guides
- FAQs
- Product spotlights and examples
Here is how Dossier does it.
Why this welcome series email example stand out?
Dossier’s welcome series email example includes a list of four practical tips, each clearly numbered and easy to follow.
While this welcome series flow example’s primary focus is on providing tips, it subtly promotes the product by featuring it prominently in the image and in the context of the advice.
Email 4: Social proof
Purpose: Build trust and foster community.
What to include:
- Highlight customer testimonials, reviews, or user-generated content.
- Invite subscribers to join your community (social media groups, forums, etc.).
- Share stories of how others are using and benefiting from your products/services.
Here is how Pulp and Press does it.
Why this welcome series email example stand out?
The testimonials featured in the welcome series email example are concise and specific and focus on different aspects of the brand’s value – quality, taste, customer service, and health benefits.
This welcome email series example ends with a clear and irresistible offer: “Don’t Miss This Deal – Get 20% Off Your First Order.”
The image at the top of this welcome email sequence example shows happy, healthy individuals enjoying the product, which aligns with the brand’s message of health and wellness.
Send personalized welcome email series using Retaiful and convert more.
Email Welcome Series Best Practices
To write a welcome email series that converts more, you have to follow some best practices like below.
Email automation
Use email automation to send welcome email series automatically at well-timed intervals.
With automation, you don’t have to worry about missing the optimal window of engagement.
Automating email marketing welcome series ensures that every new subscriber receives the same high-quality welcome experience, no matter when they sign up.
It’s consistent, reliable, and frees you up to focus on other things.
Segment the customers
Not all subscribers are created equal, and your ecommerce welcome email series shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all.
Segment your customers based on how they signed up, what they’re interested in, or even where they’re located.
Time it right
The first email in the email marketing welcome series should hit the inbox immediately after someone subscribes – when their interest in your brand is at its peak. But don’t stop there.
Spread out the rest of the welcome series email flow over the next week or two.
Lead with value, not the hard sell.
People don’t sign up for your emails to be sold to; they want value. Your email welcome series should give them just that. Share useful tips, exclusive content, or a behind-the-scenes look at your brand.
Build trust first, sell later.
Encourage Interaction
Don’t let your welcome email sequence be a one-way street.
Encourage your subscribers to visit the site, explore products, and buy.
How to Setup a Welcome Email Series?
Retainful is an all-in-one email marketing software used to acquire, nurture, and retain customers. It is tailor-made for ecommerce store owners like you.
Use its easy-to-setup email automation to send personalized emails that convert and sell more.
With Retainful, you can send an automated welcome email series easily using:
- Pre-built welcome email automation workflow
- Ready-made welcome email templates
- Drag-and-drop email editor
- Dynamic coupons
The steps to setup the welcome email series are:
Step 1: Install Retainful
Step 2: Setup triggers and wait time
Step 3: Customize the welcome email template
Step 4: Create a welcome email sequence
Step 4: Send test email
Let’s see the steps to set up a welcome email sequence in detail.
Step 1: Install Retainful
Install Retainful and connect your ecommerce store.
Go to Retainful Dashboard -> Automation. Select the automation “Welcome new customers with Dynamic coupon”.
Step 2: Setup triggers and wait time
Two things setup the welcome email flow – triggers and wait time.
The trigger lets you determine when a customer can enter into the workflow. In Retainful’s welcome email workflow, the trigger is set in such a way that first-time customers alone can enter into the workflow.
Click the Trigger block to view the trigger rules applied. You can add more rules like product ID, product name, order status, and more.
The ‘Wait’ block allows you to set up a time delay, that is, when you want to send the welcome email after the customer has made the purchase.
You can also set customer rules based on the customer properties like name, country, number of reentries allowed, and more.
Step 3: Customize the welcome email series template
After the wait block, you will find the 1st ‘Email’ block of the workflow.
Click on it to customize the welcome email flow subject line, preview text, and email content.
To change the email template, you can click on the ‘Change template’ button.
You can customize every element of your email marketing welcome series design using a drag-and-drop email editor. Click an element on the right side, you will have options to change dimensions, background color, typography, and more.
You can also personalize the ecommerce welcome email flow design using shortcodes like,
- {{billing_address.first_name}} – The first name of the customer.
- {{billing_address.last_name}} – The last name of the customer.
- {{customer_name}} – The full name of the customer (the first and the last name)
Step 4: Create a welcome email sequence
To create a welcome email sequence, you can add more email blocks and their corresponding wait block to the workflow just by clicking the plus symbol at the end of it.
Step 5: Send test email
To check if your automated welcome email has come out as intended, click “Send Test email.”
There you go. You automated an ecommerce welcome email series flow that is poised to convert more.
Customize welcome email series easily with Retainful’s drag-and-drop email editor and pre-designed templates.
Wrapping up!!
In a world where first impressions matter more than ever, your welcome email series isn’t just important – it’s essential.
When done right, like the welcome email series example above, yours can lead to the first purchase and set the stage for more.
With email automation tools like Retainful, you can send automated welcome emails that don’t feel like one. You can personalize the ecommerce welcome email series and convert more.
A welcome series typically includes 3-5 emails. This provides enough touchpoints to introduce your brand, offer value, and guide subscribers toward their first purchase without overwhelming them.
A welcome sequence usually starts with an introduction to your brand, followed by emails that offer value (like tips or discounts), showcase popular products, and encourage engagement or purchase.
Identify your goals, draft a friendly introduction, offer value in each email (tips, discounts, content), and end with a strong call to action.
Email 1: Introduction and brand story.
Email 2: Highlight popular products with a discount.
Email 3: Share tips or a guide related to your product.
Email 4: Invite to engage on social media or leave feedback.
A good welcome series is timely, relevant, and value-driven. It builds trust, offers actionable insights, and gently guides subscribers toward a desired action, like making a purchase or engaging with your content.
Welcome emails typically have a conversion rate of 2-4%, though it can be higher with a well-optimized series.
A welcome sequence helps establish a strong first impression, builds trust, and sets the tone for your relationship with new subscribers.
A welcome series flow is the automated sequence of emails sent to new subscribers. It typically starts with a welcome email, followed by value-driven content, product showcases, and a final call-to-action.
Step 1: Choose an email marketing platform.
Step 2: Draft your welcome series content.
Step 3: Set up triggers based on sign-up.
Step 4: Schedule the timing for each email.
Step 5: Test the sequence and launch it.
