A welcome sequence should deliver the promise, help the subscriber use it and offer a relevant next step. The four emails here are an adaptable example for a service business, not a proven optimum or a guarantee of enquiries.
Use this only for people eligible to receive the messages you intend to send. A resource request alone does not authorise a marketing sequence. Set up the permission and confirmation journey first.
Email 1: deliver the resource
Subject: Your [resource name] is here Hello [first name or a neutral greeting], Thanks for subscribing to [business name]’s [topic] emails. Here is the [resource] you requested: [working link]. Start with [one small action]. You do not need to complete every section today. Over the next week I will send a few practical notes to help you use it, including [accurate topic]. After that, expect [actual ongoing frequency], including occasional information about my services. [Your name and business] [Working unsubscribe link]
Email 2: help them use it
Subject: Start with this part of [resource name] Hello [name], If you have ten minutes, complete [specific section] in your [resource]: [link]. For example, [clearly labelled hypothetical example]. The point is to make [one decision] before you spend time on [later task]. If you are stuck, reply with the question you are trying to answer. Please do not include confidential client or personal information. [Your name and business] [Working unsubscribe link]
Email 3: explain a relevant approach
Subject: How I approach [specific problem] Hello [name], When working on [type of task], my approach is to [brief description you can honestly substantiate]. Here is an example: [link to authorised work, or an explicitly labelled self-initiated example]. Notice [decision visible in that work] and why it matters to [reader’s task]. [State the outcome only if you have evidence. If it is an illustrative exercise, explain what it demonstrates without claiming client results.] You can use the same question when reviewing your own [work]. [Your name and business] [Working unsubscribe link]
Email 4: offer a proportionate next step
Subject: Need help with [specific next task]? Hello [name], If the [resource] has helped you identify [problem], the next step may be [small, concrete action]. I offer [accurate service and scope] for [suitable client]. It is most useful when [fit criteria]. If [poor-fit condition], [helpful alternative] may be enough for now. To discuss it, [reply with a short summary / use a working enquiry link]. I will explain whether I can help and the next step before any commitment. You are welcome to keep using the resource without buying anything. [Your name and business] [Working unsubscribe link]
Entry, timing and exits
| Step | Trigger / timing | Exit or check |
|---|---|---|
| Enter once | Eligible subscriber joins the specific group after required confirmation | Exclude unsubscribed, suppressed or already-completed contacts |
| Email 1 | Immediately after entry | Check the resource URL and subscriber status |
| Email 2 | Wait two days | Stop if unsubscribed or suppressed |
| Email 3 | Wait another two days | Use only substantiated claims; pause for a human conversation where appropriate |
| Email 4 | Wait another three days | Exclude people already in the enquiry/client path |
| Finish | Mark sequence complete | Do not restart merely because the form is submitted again |
These intervals are an editorial starting point. Match the frequency promised at signup. Do not make an email open the only condition for progressing; privacy protections and automated scans distort open data.
Check the automation limits
MailerLite’s current free plan lists five steps per automation and three active automations. Four email actions plus three delays already require seven actions before additional conditions, so do not assume this complete sequence fits. Use one immediate welcome email initially, or confirm a suitable paid plan through MailerLite’s plan comparison. Its documentation provides a welcome-workflow example, but your account’s available controls determine the exact setup.
Test the actual journey
Replace all bracketed copy. Check links, fallback greetings, sender identity and the unsubscribe route using an address you control. Test entry once, a repeated form submission and an unsubscribe between messages. Keep the automation off until the intended behaviour is observed. This article provides a test procedure; it does not claim that emails have been delivered from your account.
Measure helpful replies, useful link actions, qualified enquiries and unsubscribes. A sale belongs in your actual sales records; it cannot be inferred from an email open.
Sources
- MailerLite: Welcome workflow example
- MailerLite: Current automation limits
- ICO: Electronic mail marketing rules
Sources were checked on 9 September 2026. External information can change.
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