When the user wants to create or optimize an email sequence, drip campaign, automated email flow, or lifecycle email program. Also use when the user mentions "email sequence," "drip campaign," "nurture sequence," "onboarding emails," "welcome sequence," "re-engagement emails," "email automation," "lifecycle emails," "trigger-based emails," "email funnel," "email workflow," "what emails should I send," "welcome series," or "email cadence." Use this for any multi-email automated flow. Emails avoid AI tells like 'it's not X, it's Y' reveals, 'no X, no Y, no Z' lists, and fake 'Re:' subject lines. For cold outreach emails, see cold-email. For in-app onboarding, see onboarding.
Permissions
Just instructions. No commands, network, or file access.
Files
SKILL.md
emails
When the user wants to create or optimize an email sequence, drip campaign, automated email flow, or lifecycle email program. Also use when the user mentions "email sequence," "drip campaign," "nurture sequence," "onboarding emails," "welcome sequence," "re-engagement emails," "email automation," "lifecycle emails," "trigger-based emails," "email funnel," "email workflow," "what emails should I send," "welcome series," or "email cadence." Use this for any multi-email automated flow. Emails avoid AI tells like 'it's not X, it's Y' reveals, 'no X, no Y, no Z' lists, and fake 'Re:' subject lines. For cold outreach emails, see cold-email. For in-app onboarding, see onboarding.
metadata.version
2.1.1
Email Sequence Design
You are an expert in email marketing and automation. Your goal is to create email sequences that nurture relationships, drive action, and move people toward conversion.
Check for product marketing context first:
If .agents/product-marketing.md exists (or .claude/product-marketing.md, or the legacy product-marketing-context.md filename, in older setups), read it before asking questions. Use that context and only ask for information not already covered or specific to this task.
Before creating a sequence, understand:
Sequence Type
Welcome/onboarding sequence
Lead nurture sequence
Re-engagement sequence
Post-purchase sequence
Event-based sequence
Educational sequence
Sales sequence
Audience Context
Who are they?
What triggered them into this sequence?
What do they already know/believe?
What's their current relationship with you?
Goals
Primary conversion goal
Relationship-building goals
Segmentation goals
What defines success?
Core Principles
1. One Email, One Job
Each email has one primary purpose
One main CTA per email
Don't try to do everything
2. Value Before Ask
Lead with usefulness
Build trust through content
Earn the right to sell
3. Relevance Over Volume
Fewer, better emails win
Segment for relevance
Quality > frequency
4. Clear Path Forward
Every email moves them somewhere
Links should do something useful
Make next steps obvious
Email Sequence Strategy
Sequence Length
Welcome: 3-7 emails
Lead nurture: 5-10 emails
Onboarding: 5-10 emails
Re-engagement: 3-5 emails
Depends on:
Sales cycle length
Product complexity
Relationship stage
Timing/Delays
Welcome email: Immediately
Early sequence: 1-2 days apart
Nurture: 2-4 days apart
Long-term: Weekly or bi-weekly
Consider:
B2B: Avoid weekends
B2C: Test weekends
Time zones: Send at local time
Subject Line Strategy
Clear > Clever
Specific > Vague
Benefit or curiosity-driven
40-60 characters ideal
Test emoji (they're polarizing)
Patterns that work:
Question: "Still struggling with X?"
How-to: "How to [achieve outcome] in [timeframe]"
Number: "3 ways to [benefit]"
Direct: "[First name], your [thing] is ready"
Story tease: "The mistake I made with [topic]"
Preview Text
Extends the subject line
~90-140 characters
Don't repeat subject line
Complete the thought or add intrigue
Sequence Types Overview
Welcome Sequence (Post-Signup)
Length: 5-7 emails over 12-14 days
Goal: Activate, build trust, convert
Length: 3-4 emails over 2 weeks
Trigger: 30-60 days of inactivity
Goal: Win back or clean list
Key emails:
Check-in (genuine concern)
Value reminder (what's new)
Incentive (special offer)
Last chance (stay or unsubscribe)
Onboarding Sequence (Product Users)
Length: 5-7 emails over 14 days
Goal: Activate, drive to aha moment, upgrade
Note: Coordinate with in-app onboarding—email supports, doesn't duplicate
Key emails:
Welcome + first step (immediate)
Getting started help (day 1)
Feature highlight (day 2-3)
Success story (day 4-5)
Check-in (day 7)
Advanced tip (day 10-12)
Upgrade/expand (day 14+)
For detailed templates: See references/sequence-templates.md
Email Types by Category
Onboarding Emails
New users series
New customers series
Key onboarding step reminders
New user invites
Retention Emails
Upgrade to paid
Upgrade to higher plan
Ask for review
Proactive support offers
Product usage reports
NPS survey
Referral program
Billing Emails
Switch to annual
Failed payment recovery
Cancellation survey
Upcoming renewal reminders
Usage Emails
Daily/weekly/monthly summaries
Key event notifications
Milestone celebrations
Win-Back Emails
Expired trials
Cancelled customers
Campaign Emails
Monthly roundup / newsletter
Seasonal promotions
Product updates
Industry news roundup
Pricing updates
For detailed email type reference: See references/email-types.md
Email Copy Guidelines
Structure
Hook: First line grabs attention
Context: Why this matters to them
Value: The useful content
CTA: What to do next
Sign-off: Human, warm close
Formatting
Short paragraphs (1-3 sentences)
White space between sections
Bullet points for scanability
Bold for emphasis (sparingly)
Mobile-first (most read on phone)
Tone
Conversational, not formal
First-person (I/we) and second-person (you)
Active voice
Read it out loud. Does it sound like a person?
No AI Tells
Subscribers learn to recognize generated email fast, and they stop reading. Write from the specific thing you want them to know or do.
Never write these:
Contrast reveals: "It's not X, it's Y." "Not because X. Because Y." State Y directly, with the reason.
Negation lists: "No X, no Y, no Z." Say what does happen. One plain absence ("No card required") is fine.
Trailing pile-ons: a full claim, then a comma and more restating clauses. End the sentence at the claim.
Self-answered questions and colon reveals: "The result? 3x faster." "The best part: it learns." FAQ questions and a question in the reader's own voice are fine.
Stock phrases: "Say goodbye to," "X, reimagined," "Unlock the power of," "Take it to the next level," "Here's the thing."
Em dashes in subject lines and preview text, and at most one or two in a long email.
Email-specific tells:
Subject-line bait: fake "Re:" or "Fwd:", "You won't believe...", "🔥 Big news." The subject should hold up if it's the only line they read.
Stock openers: "I hope this email finds you well," "Just checking in," "Great news!" Open with the reason you're writing.
Sign-off filler: "Feel free to reach out if you have any questions." Ask for one specific action, or end.
For the full blacklist, use the copywriting skill's AI-tells reference.
Length
50-125 words for transactional
150-300 words for educational
300-500 words for story-driven
CTA Guidelines
Buttons for primary actions
Links for secondary actions
One clear primary CTA per email
Button text: Action + outcome
For detailed copy, personalization, and testing guidelines: See references/copy-guidelines.md
Output Format
Sequence Overview
Sequence Name: [Name]
Trigger: [What starts the sequence]
Goal: [Primary conversion goal]
Length: [Number of emails]
Timing: [Delay between emails]
Exit Conditions: [When they leave the sequence]
