A Beginners Guide to Email Automation

Savvy marketers embrace automation for both efficiency and effectiveness, and in this beginner’s guide to email automation, you’ll see why.

If you’re ready to take your email marketing to the next level in terms of results, you’re in the right place.

Get Excited about the Power of Email Automation

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of email automation, let’s look at some of those results. According to recent studies, businesses that use email automation experience the following benefits:

• Increased Revenue. According to Campaign Monitor, automated emails generate 320% more revenue than non-automated emails.
  
  
• Higher Open and Click Rates. In fact, an Omnisend study revealed that automated emails achieved 84% higher open rates and 341% higher click rates.
  
  
• Majorly Increased Conversion Rates. The same Omnisend study found that automated emails achieved a massive 2,270% increase in conversions. That’s not a typo. Two thousand, two hundred, seventy percent.
  
  
• More Customers Buying. The data also showed that one out of every three customers who opened an automated email made a purchase.

With stats like these, it's no wonder email automation is a game-changer for marketers.

What is Email Automation?

At its core, email automation is the practice of sending targeted, personalized emails to your audience based on specific triggers or actions they take. Instead of manually sending each email, automation allows you to set up predefined workflows that deliver the right message to the right person at the right time.

How Does Email Automation Work?

Email automation works by leveraging marketing automation software to streamline and automate the process of sending emails. Here's how it typically works:

1. Trigger: A user takes a specific action, such as signing up for your newsletter, making a purchase, or abandoning their cart.
   
   
2. Automation Workflow: Based on the trigger, an automated workflow is initiated, which consists of a series of predefined emails.
   
   
3. Personalization: Each email in the workflow is personalized based on the recipient's behavior, preferences, or demographics.
   
   
4. Delivery: The emails are sent automatically, according to the schedule and criteria set in the workflow.
   
   
5. Tracking and Analysis: Performance metrics, such as open rates, click-through rates, and conversions, are tracked and analyzed to optimize future campaigns.

Demystifying Email Automation Jargon

Now, before we dive into examples, let's define some common terms you'll encounter in the world of email automation:

• Trigger: The action or event that initiates an automated email campaign.
• Workflow: A series of automated emails that are triggered by a specific event or user behavior.
• Segmentation: Dividing your audience into smaller groups based on demographics, behavior, or other criteria.
• Personalization: Tailoring email content to individual recipients based on their preferences, behavior, or demographics.
• Drip Campaign: A series of automated emails sent at predetermined intervals to nurture leads or guide customers through the sales funnel.

Examples of Email Automation in Action

Here are a few examples of how you might use email automation to connect with customers more efficiently and with better results:

1. Lead Generation: Send a series of welcome emails to new email subscribers, offering valuable content and incentives to encourage engagement.
   
   
2. Customer Retention: Re-engage inactive customers with targeted emails offering exclusive discounts or promotions.
   
   
3. Abandoned Cart Recovery Emails: Remind customers who have abandoned their carts to complete their purchase with a series of automated follow-up emails.
   
   
4. Post-Purchase Follow-up Emails: Show appreciation to customers after they make a purchase by sending automated thank-you emails. Include order details, shipping information, and contact details for customer support. You can also use this opportunity to request product reviews or feedback, which can help build trust and credibility with potential customers.
   
   
5. Upsell and Cross-sell Campaigns: After a customer makes a purchase, set up automated follow-up emails recommending related or complementary products. By leveraging customer purchase history and behavior data, you can tailor these recommendations to their interests and preferences, increasing the likelihood of additional purchases.
   
   
6. Event or Webinar Reminders: If you're hosting an event or webinar, use email automation to send reminders to registered attendees leading up to the event. You can also send follow-up emails after the event with recordings, resources, or next steps.
   
   
7. Birthday or Anniversary Emails: Make customers feel special by sending them personalized emails on their birthdays or anniversaries. Consider offering special discounts or rewards to acknowledge their special days.
   
   
8. Re-engagement Campaigns: Identify inactive subscribers or customers who haven't engaged with your emails or made a purchase in a while. Set up an automated re-engagement campaign to reconnect with them, offering incentives or personalized content to encourage them to re-engage with your brand.
   
   
9. Feedback and Survey Requests: Gather valuable insights from your audience by sending automated emails requesting feedback or participation in surveys. Use this feedback to improve your products, services, and overall customer experience. Personalize the survey questions based on the recipient's previous interactions or purchase history for better response rates.
   
   
10. Loyalty Program Updates: Keep your loyal customers engaged and informed about your loyalty program with automated email updates. Notify them about their current points balance, upcoming rewards, exclusive offers, and ways to earn additional rewards. Encourage them to stay active in the program by highlighting the benefits and perks they can enjoy.

Ready to Harness the Power of Email Automation?

Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience already with email automation, now is the time to harness the full power of email automation for your business.

And we’re here to help.

Contact the email automation experts at WorldLight Media today to learn how we can help you create personalized, targeted email campaigns that drive results. From strategy development to implementation and optimization, we're here to support you every step of the way.

Click here to contact us and get the conversation started.