Lightweight self-serve welcome (1+2 emails)

Welcome sequenceSelf-serve free-tier signupshort lengthsequencefree-tiersaas

Subject

You're in — fastest path to value

Preheader

One thing to do today.

Body

(See sequence steps.)

Suggested CTA

Take the first step

Full sequence (3 steps)

Step 1Day 0

Subject: You're in — fastest path to value

Preheader: One thing to do today.

Hi {{firstName}},

You signed up for {{product}}. One thing to do today, and that's it: {{firstActivationStep}}.

[Take the first step]

If you do that, the rest of {{product}} works. If you don't, you'll forget you signed up. Your choice.

— {{senderName}}

Step 2Day 5

Subject: Five days in — how's it going?

Preheader: Reply with one word if you're stuck.

Hi {{firstName}},

Five days since you signed up. Two possibilities:

1. You're using {{product}}. In which case, awesome — reply if you want a feature deep-dive.
2. You're not using it. In which case — reply with one word telling me what stopped you. I read every reply.

— {{senderName}}

Step 3Day 14

Subject: Two weeks. Should we keep emailing?

Preheader: Reply with 'yes' or 'no'.

Hi {{firstName}},

Two weeks. You've used {{product}} {{usageCount}} times so far.

If you'd like to hear from us as we ship new features, reply 'yes' and we'll add you to the product newsletter. Otherwise, we won't email you again unless you log in.

— {{senderName}}

Why this works

For free-tier signups, restraint wins. Two emails over the first week respects the user's time and earns the right to send a third on day 14 if they're actually using the product. Heavy welcome sequences for non-paying users mostly train them to filter you out.

What to do with this

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Score the final draft against our rubric (clarity, CTA, persuasion, spam, AI-likeness).
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Hi {{firstName}}, You signed up for {{product}}. One thing to do today, and that's it: {{firstActivationStep}}. [Take the first step] If you do that, the rest of {{product}} works. If you don't, you'll forget you signed up. Your choice. — {{senderName}}

Hi {{firstName}}, Five days since you signed up. Two possibilities: 1. You're using {{product}}. In which case, awesome — reply if you want a feature deep-dive. 2. You're not using it. In which case — reply with one word telling me what stopped you. I read every reply. — {{senderName}}

Hi {{firstName}}, Two weeks. You've used {{product}} {{usageCount}} times so far. If you'd like to hear from us as we ship new features, reply 'yes' and we'll add you to the product newsletter. Otherwise, we won't email you again unless you log in. — {{senderName}}