10 Powerful Email Automation Examples to Inspire Your Next Campaign
Keith Kipkemboi
10 Powerful Email Automation Examples to Inspire Your Next Campaign
Workflows for Welcoming and Onboarding
1. The Welcome Series
2. The Customer Onboarding Workflow
Workflows for Nurturing and Sales
3. The Lead Nurturing Workflow
4. The Abandoned Cart Reminder
5. The Free Trial Nurture Sequence
Workflows for Retention and Loyalty
6. The Post-Purchase Follow-Up
7. The Re-engagement (or Win-Back) Campaign
8. The Milestone Celebration
Advanced and Event-Based Workflows
9. The Event/Webinar Reminder Series
10. The Behavioral Trigger Workflow
References
10 Powerful Email Automation Examples to Inspire Your Next Campaign
Email automation has completely changed how businesses connect with their customers. It's not just about scheduling emails anymore. Today's email marketing automation creates timely, personalized experiences that feel like one-on-one conversations. Whether you're using the best mass email service or diving into business to consumer marketing automation, the right workflows can transform your marketing results.
In this guide, I'll walk you through ten proven email automation examples that actually work. These aren't theoretical concepts - they're real workflows that businesses use every day to engage audiences, nurture leads, and boost conversions. You'll discover strategies for every stage of the customer journey, from that crucial first hello to keeping loyal customers coming back for more.
Workflows for Welcoming and Onboarding
First impressions matter, especially in email marketing. When someone joins your list or becomes a customer, those initial emails set the tone for your entire relationship. Let's explore two essential workflows that help you nail that first impression.
1. The Welcome Series
A welcome series is like rolling out the red carpet for new subscribers. It starts the moment someone signs up and typically includes three to five emails spread over a couple of weeks.
Your first email should arrive immediately - within minutes of signup. This instant confirmation shows you're on the ball and builds trust right away. Keep it simple but warm. Thank them for joining, deliver any promised content (like a free guide), and set expectations about what they'll receive from you.
The second email, sent a day or two later, is where you share your brand story. People connect with stories, not sales pitches. Tell them why you started your business, what drives you, or share a customer success story. This email builds emotional connection.
Email three showcases your best stuff. If you're a content creator, link to your most popular posts. Running an online store? Feature your bestsellers or customer favorites. The goal is showing immediate value without being pushy.
Your final welcome email sets the stage for ongoing communication. Let subscribers know how often they'll hear from you and what kind of content to expect. Include links to your social media and encourage them to whitelist your email address.
2. The Customer Onboarding Workflow
While a welcome series greets subscribers, an onboarding workflow guides new customers through using your product or service. This sequence is crucial for reducing buyer's remorse and ensuring customer success.
Start with an enthusiastic thank-you email immediately after purchase. Include their order details, but go beyond the transactional basics. Add quick-start tips or link to a getting-started video. Make them feel excited about their decision.
Day three brings the "how to get the most value" email. Share insider tips, hidden features, or creative ways to use your product. For service businesses, this might include scheduling their first appointment or accessing their client portal.
One week in, check their progress with a friendly "how's it going?" email. Include links to FAQs, tutorial videos, or your support team. This proactive approach prevents frustration and shows you care about their experience.
The sequence wraps up around day 14 with success stories from other customers. Seeing how others benefited reinforces their purchase decision and inspires them to fully engage with your offering.
Workflows for Nurturing and Sales
Moving prospects through your sales funnel requires patience and strategy. These automation workflows help you build relationships gradually, providing value while gently guiding people toward a purchase decision.
3. The Lead Nurturing Workflow
Lead nurturing is where email automation really shines. This workflow activates when someone downloads a resource like an ebook, checklist, or webinar recording. They've shown interest but aren't ready to buy yet.
Your nurture sequence should span 4-6 weeks, with emails every 3-5 days. Start by delivering the promised resource immediately, then follow up two days later asking if they found it helpful. This creates dialogue, not monologue.
The next few emails share related content that builds on their initial interest. Downloaded a guide about social media marketing? Send them your best blog posts about Instagram strategies or Facebook advertising tips. Each email provides standalone value while subtly demonstrating your expertise.
Around email four or five, introduce a soft sell. Maybe it's a case study showing how your service helped a similar business, or a special offer on a related product. The key is making it feel helpful, not pushy.
Your final nurture emails should create urgency without being manipulative. Share limited-time bonuses, highlight seasonal relevance, or simply remind them why solving this problem matters. Always include clear next steps.
4. The Abandoned Cart Reminder
Cart abandonment emails are e-commerce gold. About 70% of online shoppers abandon their carts, but a well-crafted reminder sequence can recover 10-30% of those lost sales.
The first reminder should arrive within 2-4 hours. Keep it simple: "You left something behind!" Show the abandoned items with clear product images and a prominent "Complete Your Purchase" button. Sometimes people just got distracted.
Email two comes 24 hours later with a different angle. Address common concerns like shipping costs, return policies, or product quality. Include customer reviews or trust badges. Consider adding a small incentive like free shipping, but don't jump to discounts too quickly.
If they still haven't purchased after 72 hours, send your final reminder. This is where you can offer a modest discount (10-15%) or highlight scarcity if applicable. Include customer testimonials specific to the abandoned products.
Some brands add a fourth email after a week, asking for feedback about why they didn't complete their purchase. This provides valuable insights while keeping the door open for future sales.
5. The Free Trial Nurture Sequence
Free trials are powerful for SaaS and subscription businesses, but only if users actually engage with your product. This workflow ensures trial users discover your value before their trial expires.
Day one starts with a warm welcome and clear first steps. Don't overwhelm them with every feature. Focus on one key action that delivers quick wins. Include screenshots or a short video walkthrough.
By day three, share a customer success story relevant to their use case. If they signed up for project management software, show how a similar team streamlined their workflow. Make the benefits tangible and relatable.
Week two introduces more advanced features through bite-sized tutorials. Send these every other day to maintain engagement without overwhelming. Each email should focus on one specific feature and its practical application.
As the trial end approaches, increase urgency while maintaining value. Share what they'll lose access to, but frame it positively. Offer a demo call, extended trial, or special pricing for converting before expiration.
Workflows for Retention and Loyalty
Keeping existing customers engaged costs far less than acquiring new ones. These retention workflows help you build lasting relationships that drive repeat business and referrals.
6. The Post-Purchase Follow-Up
Your relationship with customers shouldn't end at checkout. A thoughtful post-purchase sequence enhances their experience and encourages future purchases.
Start with an immediate order confirmation that goes beyond the basics. Include estimated delivery dates, but also add value with care instructions, recipe ideas, or styling tips relevant to their purchase.
Three days post-delivery, check in with a "How's everything?" email. Ask about their unboxing experience and provide links to helpful resources. This is perfect timing to address any issues before they become complaints.
Two weeks later, request a product review. Make it easy with direct links and consider offering a small incentive. Reviews build social proof and help customers feel heard. Include tips for getting the most from their purchase.
One month post-purchase, surprise them with related product recommendations or exclusive customer perks. This keeps your brand top-of-mind without being pushy about immediate sales.
7. The Re-engagement (or Win-Back) Campaign
Every email list has dormant subscribers. Rather than letting them gather dust, a re-engagement campaign can revive these relationships or clean your list for better deliverability.
Start by defining "inactive" - typically no opens or clicks for 3-6 months. Your first re-engagement email should acknowledge the gap: "We've missed you!" Share what's new since they last engaged, focusing on improvements or new offerings.
Email two takes a different approach. Ask if they still want to hear from you, but make staying subscribed appealing. Offer to adjust email frequency, let them choose content preferences, or provide an exclusive "welcome back" offer.
The third email creates urgency. Let them know you'll remove inactive subscribers soon, but give them one final compelling reason to stay. This might be your best content, biggest discount, or most exciting news.
For those who don't respond, send a final "goodbye" email. Keep it positive and leave the door open for future re-subscription. This cleanup improves your sender reputation and email performance.
8. The Milestone Celebration
Milestone emails create personal connections by celebrating customer-specific dates. These automated touches feel special because they're unique to each recipient.
Birthday emails are the most common, but don't stop there. Celebrate their first purchase anniversary, membership milestones, or usage achievements. The key is making it feel genuine, not just another marketing message.
Send milestone emails a few days early to ensure they arrive on time. Include a special offer, but make the celebration the focus. A heartfelt message with a modest discount outperforms a big discount with generic copy.
Get creative with your milestones. A fitness app might celebrate workout streaks. An online course platform could acknowledge course completions. These behavior-based celebrations reinforce positive actions.
Always include shareable elements. People love sharing achievements and celebrations. Add social sharing buttons or create a special hashtag for your community.
Advanced and Event-Based Workflows
These sophisticated workflows respond to specific behaviors and events, delivering incredibly relevant messages at the perfect moment.
9. The Event/Webinar Reminder Series
Event automation ensures registered attendees actually show up. With no-show rates often exceeding 50%, a good reminder sequence is essential for event success.
Registration triggers an immediate confirmation with calendar links and key details. Make it easy to add to their calendar with one click. Include what they'll learn and why it matters.
One week before, send a preparation email. Share the agenda, introduce speakers, or provide pre-event resources. This builds anticipation and demonstrates the event's value.
Send reminders 24 hours and 1 hour before the event. Include direct access links and troubleshooting tips. The one-hour reminder should create urgency: "Starting soon!"
Post-event follow-up is equally important. Within 24 hours, thank attendees and provide promised resources. For no-shows, send the recording with key takeaways. This maintains engagement and can lead to future conversions.
10. The Behavioral Trigger Workflow
Behavioral triggers create hyper-relevant emails based on specific actions. These workflows feel almost magical to recipients because they address exactly what they're interested in.
Email marketers set up triggers for key behaviors like viewing specific product categories, downloading certain resources, or reaching usage milestones. Each behavior indicates interest or intent that you can address.
For example, someone who views the same product category three times clearly has interest. Trigger an email showcasing bestsellers from that category with customer reviews and styling tips.
Content consumption triggers work well for B2B. If someone reads three blog posts about email marketing, trigger an email offering your comprehensive email marketing guide or consultation.
The key to behavioral workflows is timing and relevance. Strike while interest is high - usually within 24-48 hours. Make the connection obvious: "We noticed you were checking out our running shoes..."
Keep behavioral emails helpful, not creepy. Focus on providing value related to their demonstrated interest rather than just pushing sales.
References
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Posted Jun 20, 2025
Unlock the power of automation with these 10 email automation examples. From welcome series to re-engagement campaigns, discover workflows that drive results.
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