Ready to stop manually sending every single email and start building a system that works while you sleep? Email marketing automation is the secret weapon that transforms busy service providers, brand owners, and creators from overwhelmed email senders into strategic business owners with systems that scale.
If you're tired of wondering what to send next or forgetting to follow up with prospects, this guide will show you exactly which email automations to implement first – and how each one grows your business on autopilot.
Email marketing automation is a series of pre-written emails and actions that trigger automatically based on subscriber behavior – no manual sending required. Think of it as your digital assistant that never sleeps, never forgets to follow up, and always delivers the right message at the right time.
Once you set up these email automation sequences (also called email funnels), they run continuously until you turn them off, the time period ends, or specific subscriber actions occur.
Every effective email automation sequence should accomplish at least one of these objectives:
1. Educate and Inform
Position yourself as the expert by sharing valuable insights, industry knowledge, and actionable tips that solve your audience's problems.
2. Nurture and Build Trust
Create authentic connections by sharing your story, values, and approach while consistently providing value without asking for anything in return.
3. Present an Offer Strategically introduce your services, products, or programs when subscribers are most likely to be interested and ready to buy.
The most powerful email automations combine all three elements, creating a seamless journey that transforms strangers into loyal clients.
Your email automation sequences can be triggered by various subscriber actions, including:
Your welcome automation is your digital handshake – the first real interaction subscribers have with your brand after joining your list. This sequence should run immediately when someone subscribes and typically includes 3-5 emails over 1-2 weeks.
What to Include:
Pro Tip: Use subscriber responses to automatically tag and segment your list, enabling more personalized email content moving forward.
While this automation can be combined with your welcome sequence, it's often more effective as a standalone system, especially if you have multiple lead magnets.
The Lead Magnet Automation Flow:
Example: If your lead magnet is "5 Ways to Attract Premium Clients," your follow-up emails might dive deeper into each strategy, then present your signature coaching program as the comprehensive solution.
The sale isn't the end of your relationship – it's the beginning of a deeper connection. This automation ensures every customer feels valued and supported.
Essential Elements:
Timing Tip: Space these emails over several weeks or months, depending on your service delivery timeline.
This automation sequence runs from registration through post-event follow-up, ensuring registrants have an exceptional experience with your brand.
Pre-Event Sequence:
Post-Event Sequence:
Purpose: Convert interested prospects who didn't complete their purchase
This powerful automation targets subscribers who clicked your sales links but didn't complete the purchase – capturing those who were interested but needed additional nudging.
The Retargeting Sequence:
Advanced Tip: Segment retargeting emails based on which specific offer they showed interest in, allowing for highly personalized messaging.
These five email automation sequences form the foundation of a profitable, scalable email marketing strategy. They work together to guide subscribers through your customer journey, from first contact to loyal client and beyond.
The beauty of email marketing automation lies in its ability to deliver personalized, timely communication at scale. While you're focusing on serving clients and growing your business, these systems are nurturing prospects, converting leads, and delighting customers.
Which email automation will you implement first? Start with your welcome sequence – it's the foundation that makes all other automations more effective.
