After your web presence, a welcome email is the first step in establishing a relationship with your web visitors. It changes the marketing dynamics from a one-sided broadcast of your online message into a two-way interaction, encouraging consumer engagement with your business or organization. It forges credibility to your brand, educates your readers of what you have to offer, and informs them of what to anticipate in the future.

Perhaps your subscribers joined your "inner circle" to receive perks, such as a future discount, a prize drawing, or a free e-book. Or simply to keep up with your brand's latest news. Whatever the reason, give your audience reasons to stay engaged and eagerly looking forward to your next email blast.

Preparing Your Email

1. Send relevant communication. Offer subscribers a perk upon signing up, such as a percentage off a future purchase in exchange for completing a customer profile. This profile information will enable you to customize future emails to their demographics and interests.
2. Set up automatic thank-you emails to acknowledge new subscribers the minute they have opted in. Not only will this immediate response show your appreciation of having them as a new member, but their sign-up will be fresh on their mind when they receive your correspondence.
3. Design your email layout to be unique to your business or organization, reflecting its personality. Is it suit-and-tie professional? Is it outdoorsy and sporty? Is it fun and flirty?

Writing Your Email

4. Provide a concise yet intriguing subject line. As less than 60% of subscribers open their welcome emails, a great subject line will entice your recipient to click and read.
5. Addressing your recipient by first name in the header or in the message's salutation will add a personal touch. After all, wouldn't Mary be more receptive in reading a correspondence beginning with "Dear Mary" than a generic "Dear Valued Customer"?
6. Express a warm welcome and appreciation towards your readers by giving them sincere thanks for joining.
7. Reiterate the benefits of being part of your brand's inner circle. Give an enthusiastic summary of perks they will receive now they are on the mailing list.
8. Introduce yourself as a business and what you do. Explain what makes your products or services stand out from your competitors and how they are beneficial to the reader.
9. Simplify the call to action. Use images that catch the reader's attention to your products or services. Use large hyperlink buttons to encourage a response.
10. Adding social media buttons in your emails will make subscribers more curious and involved in your company or organization.
11. Provide regular communication. Specify in your welcome email how often future communication will arrive, such as weekly or every other week.

QA: Helping Your Communication Reach Its Target

12. At the bottom of your email, request to be whitelisted so future emails can avoid the spam folder. Also include links for those who wish to change email frequency or unsubscribe altogether.
13. Your goal is to encourage subscribers to contact your establishment and keep open communication. Avoid using a "do not reply" address. At the bottom of your email, include an email address and phone number for subscribers to request help and support. This addition will keep your line of communication open.
14. Perform a quality check prior to sending your email. Test it on all devices. Users of smaller screens found on tablets and mobile phones make up approximately 50% of email readership. And don't forget to ensure all your URL links direct properly.