I've just reviewed 100s of other welcome emails in prep for sending the first welcome email for my product, so I'd like to share my learnings with any of you in the same place.
You will start receiving updates right here in your inbox. You can also log in to the website to read the full archives and other posts as they are published.
Expect to hear from 2 kinds of makers:
Successful Makers talking about their first profits.
Young Makers bubbling with passion.
As I interview these 2 types of makers, Iāll be dissecting what separates successful makers from the ones who have yet to succeed, like a forensics expert.
š„ Newsletter OKRs
Who said Newsletters couldnāt have OKRs? Theyāre still a work in progress, but this is a rough idea of what Iāll try to achieve:
Inspire 5000 makers by the end of 2020
Create a Junto for driven makers to get their first profits and beyond
To get there, Iām going to need all the help I can get. From maker to maker, I sincerely seek your help. Weāll get there together, and level up together, one newsletter at a time.
Get Interviewed for visibility;Inspire other makers
For Young Makers
Do you have a side project youāre working on? I would love to interview you. Get visibility in front of other makers who can help to spread word about your product. Youāll also get your product in front of successful makers who might be able to advise you on how to get to your first profits. Every bit of help and advice goes a long way.
Successful Makers
Iād love to interview you as well. I will work with you to craft a story thatās going to inspire many more makers. Youāll be paying it forward, and building a personal brand.
Contact me
You can reach out to me in any of the following ways:
If you canāt find the newsletter, check your spam folder. And please mark this address as ānot spam.ā If the newsletter isnāt in your spam folder, either, you should look in the Promotions tab.
You can always see everything on the website.
Thanks again, and please tell a few friends if you feel like it.
Thank you @gczh :) I've summarised my feedback below, let me know if you have any queries.
Subject line: if you haven't already, think of a catchy header and remember to include your product/company name (sounds obvious I know)
2: Intro: always good to start with thanking or welcoming your readers so it's good you've covered that - you could also add the scheduling of your newsletters (weekly, monthly, etc.) if you have that confirmed and if you don't then you could say they're shared "regularly" or the regularity isn't confirmed yet
Content: I like how you've detailed the OKRs so you're clear upfront with your readers - both in terms of what they'll get and what you're looking to achieve - and I believe this will help in building rapport with your readers
Contact: the social links you've shared are great! I notice that interview scheduling is key for you so using a scheduling tool here might be efficient (I've seen calendly used quite frequently)
Conclusion: the housekeeping note is useful and it's a good idea to suggest for readers to share the newsletter - perhaps you can have a drafted tweet to make it easier for readers to share
Images: including a picture of yourself or of you conducting an interview (or anything else which is personable) would work well for this email as it's all about getting to know each other so I think it's important for you to do that from the first interaction
Unsubscribe: you've probably considered this already but just as a reminder, be sure to provide an unsubscribe option - it's very common and it'll avoid users having to ask you to remove them (of course I hope this doesn't happen but I think its nice to give the user a choice)
Our product is in private beta stage. So I'm sending early access email to people who requested early access. I make some changes based on the information they provided. But I use the following format as a base.
-----------------------
Subject: Early access to Dorik.io (Beta)
-----------------------
Hi Name,
My name is Mizan, Co-founder of Dorik. Last week you've signed up for early access to the beta version of Dorik. I would like to thank you and excited to give you access to it. Here is the registration link for the early access [link].
To get started with Dorik, you can follow our onboarding video [link]. We also have extensive documentation on getting started [link].
If you need any help you can contact via live chat on the dashboard or just sent me an email.
Hi @mizan, no problem, happy to help! Thank you for sharing the context and landing page.
Subject line: this is clear and contains the relevant information
Intro: it's nice to give a personal introduction so it's good you shared your name and title/relation to the product - perhaps you could start by thanking the user and then introduce yourself
Conclusion: it's good that you've provided various levels of support so that the user can answer questions themselves as much as possible and know how to get in touch if they have further queries - I think you could extend this to the feedback as it may be better to include details on how feedback can be shared (via a call, survey, email, etc.) in the body of the email rather than an afterthought
Images: 1-2 images may break up the email and could make it more personal and exciting - your email isn't a lengthy one so it's not a big deal to leave out images if you prefer
Social media: if you're present on social media then it may be helpful to share these links in your email.
Hey @krupali, this is a great idea. Do you think you can share what are the key components that make a great Welcome Email? Currently in the process of trying to figure some out.
Hi @gordon, thank you :) I've read lots of articles and newsletters and concluded on the components below for the welcome email I'm sending, I should highlight that there could be more (or less) and it may be different for you depending on your product. All the best!
Header: make it catchy to encourage users to open the mail
Introduction: maybe add something personal to build rapport (about you, your company mission, etc.)
Content: don't overload the reader (for the first mail at least) and if its lengthy (>5 min read) then perhaps suggest how long the read will be
Conclusion: summarise your mail and key points/actions
Images: have some to break up the text or make it interesting or just to intro yourself
Social media: include relevant links
Unsubscribe: provide this option
Measures of success: think about these before sending your mail and remember to measure yourself against them after you've sent the mail
Thank you for this :) I'm quite new in SaaS so I wonder how people will read this:
------------------------------------
Hi there,
Thanks for signing up at https://targetaudience.app! My name is Sjors and I'm currently building targetaudience.app. I've been a developer and marketer for several years now and I'm gonna help you find the right tone of voice for your copyš„
First, let me know in a quick reply what your biggest challenge currently is with copywriting.
Creating content that converts;
Getting traffic to my content;
...
Just email me the number or what your biggest challenge is. Also if you like you can send me a link of your landing page or blog post and I take a look a the content personallyš
Remember, with the current situation with COVID-19 there are a lot of people bored and looking for good content. This is the time to make your website famous!
I've understood the purpose of your email to be understanding your users' pain points, please do correct me if I'm wrong though. I've summarised some of my thoughts below:
Header: if you haven't already, think of a catchy header as this will encourage more people to open the email
Introduction: I think it's really nice to provide a personal background as it can help to build rapport with the reader
Content: I read the request for action a few times but I don't fully understand what is required of the reader, some questions which came to my mind were:
It says "First, let me know..." so is there a second question?
Should I pick from the list of challenges? Or provide my own answer for the challenge?
What "number" should I be emailing?
Conclusion: I like that you've ended by reminding readers why this is important and relevant now
Bits to add: you may have considered these bits already but just in case I've listed a few items you can add to your email if you like:
Images: either of the logo, tool or even yourself (you'll probably need context to a pic of yourself lol - it could go with the intro where you've shared your personal background)
Social media: if you/your product are active on social media then I'd include links to these
Unsubscribe: providing this option is very common and it'll avoid users having to ask you to remove them (of course I hope this doesn't happen but I think its nice to give the user a choice)
I think overall you might benefit from someone proof reading the email, just to help with grammar and language. I can help if needed :)
Thank you so much for your detailed feedback! And good to know that the CTA is not clear enough right now. I want people to reply with the number corresponding to the challenge they have. So this can either be 1 or 2 or 3 "fill in your own challenge".
I think I'll add a photo to the email as well to make it a little bit more personal. I might send you a new version when I'm ready ^^
Thank you for signing up for Excepticon! I trust you'll find this service valuable in identifying and eliminating exceptions in your .NET applications and services.
Getting started with Excepticon is as easy as 1-2-3:
Install the appropriate Nuget package for your project type.
Add line or two of configuration code.
For more detailed instructions on how to get up and running, refer to the Excepticon documentation here.
Don't hesitate to reach out to me if you run into any issues using Excepticon or you have any feedback. I want Excepticon to be a valuable tool in your toolbox!
I forgot to mention one other point... on the user guide, it might be useful to get a friend or current user to give feedback on the guide to do a sense check. Again you might have done this already but I just had the thought so I wanted to let you know.
Thanks for sharing! I love how small this world is :)
This is a really well structured and understandable email. I must say I've been reviewing more welcome newsletters so some of my feedback may not be applicable but I've shared my thoughts:
Header: if you haven't already, think of a catchy header as this will encourage more people to open the email - I guess people will open your email as they've signed up to use it already so this may not be as crucial
Greeting: I like the idea of making it personal like you've done with "Hi [insert name]"
Content: the 1-2-3 guide makes it simple for the user which is good and the link for the further guides is great - this way they are able to answer as many questions as possible on their own
Conclusion: it's a lovely idea to offer support and request feedback - I'd highlight here how users can do this e.g. twitter, email, chatbot, etc. as this will not only help the user find the best route in but it'll also help you to think of the best support channel you can provide
Bits to add: you may have considered these bits already but just in case I've listed a few items you can add to your email if you like:
Post note: a short note to given some background to yourself and the product - this could potentially go in line with your feedback request as making it personal can encourage readers to respond
Images: either of the logo, tool or even yourself (you'll probably need context to a pic of yourself lol - it could go next to the note about your background for example)
Social media: if you/your product are active on social media then I'd include links to these
Unsubscribe: providing this option is very common and it'll avoid users having to ask you to remove them (of course I hope this doesn't happen but I think its nice to give the user a choice)
Thank you for your feedback - this is all great advice and you've given me several things to think about.
I especially like your suggestions that would make it more personable, especially since I'm trying to position myself as an indie-hacker-run-service and not a faceless company.
Great initiative @krupali!
Thanks for subscribing!
You will start receiving updates right here in your inbox. You can also log in to the website to read the full archives and other posts as they are published.
Expect to hear from 2 kinds of makers:
Successful Makers talking about their first profits.
Young Makers bubbling with passion.
As I interview these 2 types of makers, Iāll be dissecting what separates successful makers from the ones who have yet to succeed, like a forensics expert.
š„ Newsletter OKRs
Who said Newsletters couldnāt have OKRs? Theyāre still a work in progress, but this is a rough idea of what Iāll try to achieve:
Inspire 5000 makers by the end of 2020
Create a Junto for driven makers to get their first profits and beyond
To get there, Iām going to need all the help I can get. From maker to maker, I sincerely seek your help. Weāll get there together, and level up together, one newsletter at a time.
Get Interviewed for visibility;Inspire other makers
For Young Makers
Do you have a side project youāre working on? I would love to interview you. Get visibility in front of other makers who can help to spread word about your product. Youāll also get your product in front of successful makers who might be able to advise you on how to get to your first profits. Every bit of help and advice goes a long way.
Successful Makers
Iād love to interview you as well. I will work with you to craft a story thatās going to inspire many more makers. Youāll be paying it forward, and building a personal brand.
Contact me
You can reach out to me in any of the following ways:
My email zhchuan.2016 <at> gmail <dot> com
My twitter at twitter.com/gabrielchuan
Telegram me here.
Some housekeeping...
If you canāt find the newsletter, check your spam folder. And please mark this address as ānot spam.ā If the newsletter isnāt in your spam folder, either, you should look in the Promotions tab.
You can always see everything on the website.
Thanks again, and please tell a few friends if you feel like it.
Thank you @gczh :) I've summarised my feedback below, let me know if you have any queries.
2: Intro: always good to start with thanking or welcoming your readers so it's good you've covered that - you could also add the scheduling of your newsletters (weekly, monthly, etc.) if you have that confirmed and if you don't then you could say they're shared "regularly" or the regularity isn't confirmed yet
Thanks, @krupali ! I've sent the email to your address. The product is : https://www.reschedule.app . Look forward to your feedback.
No problem @girishw - I've replied to your email :)
Thank you so much! I have implemented your recommendations.
Iād love to read your findings
[email protected]
I've shared most of my findings on this post :)
Hey @krupali, Thanks for starting this.
Our product is in private beta stage. So I'm sending early access email to people who requested early access. I make some changes based on the information they provided. But I use the following format as a base.
-----------------------
Subject: Early access to Dorik.io (Beta)
-----------------------
Hi Name,
My name is Mizan, Co-founder of Dorik. Last week you've signed up for early access to the beta version of Dorik. I would like to thank you and excited to give you access to it. Here is the registration link for the early access [link].
To get started with Dorik, you can follow our onboarding video [link]. We also have extensive documentation on getting started [link].
If you need any help you can contact via live chat on the dashboard or just sent me an email.
Thanks,
Mizan
-----------------------
I would love to know your feedback to improve it.
I just noticed one type - in the second sentence it should say "last week you signed up..." - perhaps get a friend to proof read before sending :)
Hi @mizan, no problem, happy to help! Thank you for sharing the context and landing page.
Thanks a lot for your feedback. Really helpful for us. š
Hey @krupali, this is a great idea. Do you think you can share what are the key components that make a great Welcome Email? Currently in the process of trying to figure some out.
Hi @gordon, thank you :) I've read lots of articles and newsletters and concluded on the components below for the welcome email I'm sending, I should highlight that there could be more (or less) and it may be different for you depending on your product. All the best!
This is great @krupali. Thanks for these tips.
Hi Krupali,
Thank you for this :) I'm quite new in SaaS so I wonder how people will read this:
------------------------------------
Hi there,
Thanks for signing up at https://targetaudience.app! My name is Sjors and I'm currently building targetaudience.app. I've been a developer and marketer for several years now and I'm gonna help you find the right tone of voice for your copyš„
First, let me know in a quick reply what your biggest challenge currently is with copywriting.
Just email me the number or what your biggest challenge is. Also if you like you can send me a link of your landing page or blog post and I take a look a the content personallyš
Remember, with the current situation with COVID-19 there are a lot of people bored and looking for good content. This is the time to make your website famous!
Stay safe,
Sjors
Hi Sjors,
Thank you for sharing!
I've understood the purpose of your email to be understanding your users' pain points, please do correct me if I'm wrong though. I've summarised some of my thoughts below:
Header: if you haven't already, think of a catchy header as this will encourage more people to open the email
Introduction: I think it's really nice to provide a personal background as it can help to build rapport with the reader
Content: I read the request for action a few times but I don't fully understand what is required of the reader, some questions which came to my mind were:
Conclusion: I like that you've ended by reminding readers why this is important and relevant now
Bits to add: you may have considered these bits already but just in case I've listed a few items you can add to your email if you like:
I think overall you might benefit from someone proof reading the email, just to help with grammar and language. I can help if needed :)
Hope this is helpful for you!
Thank you so much for your detailed feedback! And good to know that the CTA is not clear enough right now. I want people to reply with the number corresponding to the challenge they have. So this can either be 1 or 2 or 3 "fill in your own challenge".
I think I'll add a photo to the email as well to make it a little bit more personal. I might send you a new version when I'm ready ^^
Hi Krupali,
Here's mine. My goals with it were to help the new user with getting started using the service while keeping it personable and warm.
I'd welcome any feedback.
Jon
(Hello to a fellow First 100 Club member!) :-)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hi X,
Thank you for signing up for Excepticon! I trust you'll find this service valuable in identifying and eliminating exceptions in your .NET applications and services.
Getting started with Excepticon is as easy as 1-2-3:
For more detailed instructions on how to get up and running, refer to the Excepticon documentation here.
Don't hesitate to reach out to me if you run into any issues using Excepticon or you have any feedback. I want Excepticon to be a valuable tool in your toolbox!
Sincerely,
Jon from Excepticon
[email protected]
I forgot to mention one other point... on the user guide, it might be useful to get a friend or current user to give feedback on the guide to do a sense check. Again you might have done this already but I just had the thought so I wanted to let you know.
Hi Jon,
Thanks for sharing! I love how small this world is :)
This is a really well structured and understandable email. I must say I've been reviewing more welcome newsletters so some of my feedback may not be applicable but I've shared my thoughts:
Header: if you haven't already, think of a catchy header as this will encourage more people to open the email - I guess people will open your email as they've signed up to use it already so this may not be as crucial
Greeting: I like the idea of making it personal like you've done with "Hi [insert name]"
Content: the 1-2-3 guide makes it simple for the user which is good and the link for the further guides is great - this way they are able to answer as many questions as possible on their own
Conclusion: it's a lovely idea to offer support and request feedback - I'd highlight here how users can do this e.g. twitter, email, chatbot, etc. as this will not only help the user find the best route in but it'll also help you to think of the best support channel you can provide
Bits to add: you may have considered these bits already but just in case I've listed a few items you can add to your email if you like:
I hope this helps you!
Yes, it's a small world indeed! :-)
Thank you for your feedback - this is all great advice and you've given me several things to think about.
I especially like your suggestions that would make it more personable, especially since I'm trying to position myself as an indie-hacker-run-service and not a faceless company.
Thanks again!
Jon