E72: Engage New Email Subscribers with a Welcome Series

Have you ever joined a group or a community, or maybe started a new job … and they just threw you in, expecting you to know how things work?  That’s what it’s like for your new email subscribers.  They sometimes feel like they’ve dropped into an ongoing conversation and they aren’t quite sure how to catch up.  In Episode 72 of Just One Simple Thing, you’ll learn how to create a simple email welcome series to develop a relationship with your new subscribers and get them engaged.

Let’s think about why you need a welcome series. There are three main reasons:

• It Introduces you and your message to your new audience member and develops your relationship with them.  
• It “trains” them to open your email. 
• It weeds out unsubscribers, which increases deliverability of your main emails.

Before you start writing your welcome series, you need to know the goal of your specific series.  What is the main thing you want readers to do when they complete your series?
 
People are more likely to do what you want them to do if they know, like, and trust you.

The basic welcome series has four emails ... the Know email, the Like email, the Trust email, and the Wrap Up or Buy email.

The Know email tells them who you are, what they can expect from you, and why it matters.

The Like email demonstrates your style and your voice. It is highly relatable, with links to your most helpful content.

The Trust email shows your experience and expertise, including feedback and testimonials from other readers, clients, or students.

The Wrap-up or Buy email is a gentle ask for what you want to happen next.

Tips for a Successful Welcome Series

• Be sure to let them know what to expect
• End each email with an opportunity to respond
• Leave a “cliffhanger” for the next email
• Give your current subscribers an opportunity to read your new series

Levitcus 19:33-34 says  “Do not take advantage of foreigners who live among you in your land.  Treat them like native-born Israelites, and love them as you love yourself. Remember that you were once foreigners living in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God."

I think that’s really good advice. I know I have felt like a foreigner in a new space, and in those situations, I tend to hold back around the edges until I feel like I know, like and trust the new people I am around.  So that’s what you want from your email welcome series … to help your new subscribers go from foreigners to friends.

ACTION STEP:

Head over to my free Facebook group Plan & Pray with Do A New Thing and grab your free Welcome Series planner.  It’s a handy worksheet that will help you map out your Know, Like and Trust emails before you start writing.

RESOURCE:

You’re Welcome Webinar – A training webinar that goes into more detail about creating your welcome series.

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Are you tired from trying to share your God-inspired message while working your full time job? Do you wonder if it’s worth it, or even possible, to build a ministry or business on the side?

I have good news for you. It is possible. It is worth it. You can do it.

Download the Honor System Guide, to help you honor all the work God has given you to do.