Best Email Automation Examples to Get Inspired in 2024

Email automation is the proven approach to boosting sales, lead generation, user experience, and more. Building out a triggered campaign is a great way to ensure you're always capturing responses from your customers. 

Sending triggered outreach also requires a lot of trial and error, so make sure to start with automation that's similar to your business needs. Automation ensures you send email nurture campaigns at the right time to the right person. 

We will outline some ways that automation can help drive engagement and revenue with your business. It takes a little bit of strategy and creativity. In this blog post, we shall see how exactly automation works and different email automation examples. 

What Is A Triggered Email Campaign?

The trigger campaign effectively captures the potential buyer's response. There are different kinds of emails that marketers send out. Some are one-time messages, like email newsletters, while others come in the form of a series. These sequences are usually sent automatically after a customer or subscriber completes a specific task. That task is called the trigger, and the email sent is called the triggered campaign. Trigger email campaigns require many trials and errors, and starting with automation similar to your business needs is important.

What Is Email Automation?

Automation helps marketers automate their outreach that is triggered by actions. Examples include a welcome email sent when someone subscribes or a quick reminder about the customer leaving items in their shopping cart without checkout. Automated outreach allows marketers to spend less time managing contact lists and focusing more on the other integral parts of their business like customer service or building relationships is also vital.

Email automation workflow helps businesses connect with current and potential customers. It automates the sales outreach by sending automated messages to user's inboxes. Automation allows companies to reach out to customers when they are most likely to engage with their brand and when not. For example, if a company offers on their online store, it could automatically send out an email to its customers about a sale. Or, if a company sells products through social media channels, it might automatically respond to comments on Facebook posts.

How Do Triggered Emails & Automation Work Together?

Triggered emails are a helpful marketing technique; automation can provide a seamless customer service experience. Automated enterprise email marketing software can help you reach your goals. The triggered message and automated campaign will go hand in hand. Sending content tailored to each user's interests and needs enables you to increase engagement and conversions. You will also save time when sending relevant emails as it is difficult to maintain high engagement and conversion rates when sending irrelevant messages.

Email automation and triggered marketing will go hand in hand. Using AI email marketing tools like SmartLead you can schedule your port unlimited times and customize the relevant content for each prospect. We've found businesses using automation or triggered outreach for their product have seen a 50% conversion rate.  With the mix of both techniques, companies can automate their outreach that is more likely to have highly targeted content based on a subscriber's interests.

How Marketing Automation Works & Their Benefits 

The marketing automation for a business will benefit in Nemours ways. If a company does automation correctly, it can result in 80% of ROI and 26% more leads, and 46% more business growth. The top benefits of marketing automation software are as follows. 

• Automation will reduce your reductive task. The marketing and the sales team can focus on the important tasks. 
• You can send personalized product recommendations to give the customer a personal connection with your brand.
• You can do segmentation on your email list and can send relevant content to the reader by specifically targeting. 

Automations are great because they help you connect with customers. You can automate messages like welcome emails, thank you notes, and reminders about upcoming events. Automations also allow you to send personalized messages to groups of users. And for nurturing leads and growing relationships.

Unlike the one-off campaign, automated marketing campaigns are triggered when a specific person meets the criteria you set. You could send an automated message to someone who has bought something from your store as a follow-up.

Smartlead automation software offers several automation types with inbuilt basic triggers for commonly repeated tasks, but if these options don't cover your needs, you can always build custom automation instead.

Once you've chosen automation, added your content, and set your parameters, the tool will manage your subscriber queue. Your subscriber will receive all the messages in sequence unless they are removed from the automation.

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Best Email Automation Examples For Your Next Automated Campaigns

Setting up the action of the trigger with the automated message enables your business to engage with the targeted prospects in numerous ways. It is made simple once you've chosen the right automation software where you can add your content and set your parameters. The software will have to manage your complete subscriber queue. Your subscribers will receive all the messages in sequence unless they are removed from the automation. Investing the time following these email automation examples will help you create qualified leads that will help your sales team to boost their conversion.

1. Welcome Email Campaign

Welcome messages are triggered emails sent automatically as a drip campaign after a new subscriber has finished the opt-in process. A welcome message typically makes the reader feel welcome while also giving them the next steps. Around 75% of the subscribers expect a welcome email after their sign-up. If you introduce yourself in the first email, you'll be able to keep your subscribers' interest for a longer time.

Welcome emails are a great way to engage with subscribers and make a professional impression on your subscribers. With a marketing automation system, you can create a great experience for your subscribers with a one-time email or a series of emails to get them started. 

Using customer onboarding outreach, you can optimize the customer experience. The onboarding series is for when you don't want to bombard your customer with information at the start but want to introduce them to the platform in stages. 

Here is a Broadway.com perfect example of a welcome message outreach. The contact form captures the subscriber and sends a welcome message to the first-time customer with a special offer on their first purchase. By sending outreach messages instantly after somebody subscribed, they have achieved the highest open and click-through rates. Through the intuitive discounts for their subscribers, they can be on the top of the customer's minds and easily grow their revenue. 

2. Transactional Emails 

Transactional emails come in types of email marketing and can be broadly defined as those triggered by a purchase. Receipts are the most common transactional outreach following a purchase you make on an online store. Businesses use digital receipts to provide a better experience with their email address and are sent at the time of checkout.

A purchase is the most important transactional email we can send your customers. We have a variety of other emails which you can send to your customers, including your registration confirmation, trial expiration, feedback requests, cart abandonment, password reset notifications, email confirmation, and more.

After the above transaction completes, the automated acknowledgment email is sent to the customers to verify the action. Automated tractional outreach in the marketing has around 8 times more clicks and open rates compared with other emails and also generates 6 times more revenue for the business.  You can increase the engagement of your email marketing campaign and your ROI through a bulk email marketing campaign. 

Microsoft's post-purchase transactional email is an example of an effective strategy for connecting with consumers personally. In the email, they have the added useful source of information for the customer, which will encourage them to follow the threads of posts.

3. User Onboarding Email Automation Examples

New customer onboarding takes the welcome series to a whole new level. The objective is for your new customers to get started on their success by providing introductory content and directing them towards additional resources so they can self-serve any problems themselves if needed. This email series can help new customers with onboarding while learning more about your company and your products/services. 

Two of the most common emails in the automated welcome series are the welcome and the onboarding email. Sometimes both the welcome and the new customer on-board emails are clumped together with the automatic message series. The difference between these two types of emails is that the onboarding is part of a process to get your new subscribers started in their purchase cycle, while the welcome email welcomes them to the brand. But both the emails are distinguished from each other. 

In this example, the onboarding email may have been triggered when a subscriber once signed up. The brand now wants to show the subscriber just how simple getting started can be.

4. Event Announcements Example

Automated event announcements are an excellent opportunity to reach your audience with targeted messages. Many marketers choose not only to send these out automatically but also give users a preference center where subscribers can pick which lists receive notifications about upcoming events and triggers for future ones once available. Effective event automated marketing campaigns need relevant information such as event time, location, etc, to the right people. 

One great way to retain customers is to send them timely reminders about certain events, upcoming meetings, or sales. For Instance: Nissan collects relevant information about their customers and sends a reminder email after the set date. The setting is six months after the date of purchase to schedule their first service appointment.

5. Personalized Email Outreach

Interactive and email marketing personalization is a great way to increase your response rate and get more qualified leads. You can personalize your outreach message by using the recipient’s name, referencing their company or product, or even including something specific that you noticed about their website. 

When possible, try to make your outreach interactive by asking questions or providing choices for the reader to select from. By accepting these additional steps, you can set yourself apart from other marketers and create a connection with potential customers that may lead to future business opportunities. 

You're responsible for gathering relevant customer information. You conduct market research to determine what customers need and like about your products and services. With the marketing automation platform SmartLead & Smartwriter, you can ensure you deliver the best possible to the customer by sending them personalized messages based on customer behavior.

To improve your open rate and response rates then, it's important to ensure you're delivering messages to your audience tailored to their needs at the right time. 

6. Thank You Emails

Thank you emails are a type of triggered email sent automatically in response to a specific action taken by a customer, such as making a purchase, signing up for a service, or attending an event. These emails express gratitude and acknowledge the recipient's action, reinforcing positive engagement and fostering a stronger relationship between the customer and the brand. Approximately 70% of customers appreciate receiving a thank you email after a purchase, as it enhances their overall experience and satisfaction.

Incorporating thank you emails into your customer journey can significantly enhance the customer experience. For example, after a purchase, a thank you email can include details of the order, an estimated delivery date, and contact information for customer support. This reassures the customer and provides them with relevant information, all while expressing gratitude. Additionally, thank you emails can be personalized with the customer's name and specific details about their interaction, making the message feel more sincere and tailored.

7. Offers and discounts

Offers and discounts emails are targeted messages sent automatically to subscribers to inform them about special promotions, discounts, and limited-time offers. These emails are designed to encourage customers to make a purchase by presenting them with attractive deals and savings. Research indicates that 60% of consumers look forward to receiving promotional emails, especially those offering exclusive discounts.

Offers and discounts emails are a highly effective way to boost sales and drive engagement. With a marketing automation system, you can segment your audience based on their behavior, preferences, and purchase history to send personalized offers that resonate with each subscriber. This not only increases the likelihood of conversion but also enhances customer satisfaction.

By integrating offers and discounts emails into your email marketing strategy, you can create a sense of urgency and excitement among your subscribers. For example, a flash sale email with a countdown timer can create a feeling of urgency, prompting immediate action. Additionally, exclusive offers for loyal customers or first-time buyers can make your audience feel valued and appreciated.

Check out this example:

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8. Cross-sell and up-sell

Cross-sell and up-sell emails are automated messages designed to recommend additional products or upgrades to customers based on their previous purchases or browsing behavior. These emails aim to increase the average order value and enhance the customer experience by suggesting relevant products that complement their initial purchase or offer a superior alternative. Studies show that cross-selling and up-selling strategies can increase revenue by up to 30%.

Cross-sell and up-sell emails are a smart way to maximize the value of each customer interaction. Using an email automation system, you can analyze customer data to identify opportunities for cross-selling and up-selling. For instance, if a customer buys a laptop, you can send an email suggesting accessories like a mouse, laptop bag, or extended warranty. Similarly, if a customer subscribes to a basic plan, you can offer an upgrade to a premium plan with additional features.

By incorporating cross-sell and up-sell emails into your marketing strategy, you can provide personalized recommendations that enhance the customer's purchase experience. These emails not only drive additional sales but also demonstrate that you understand the customer's needs and preferences.

Here's an example:

9. Product Recommendation Emails

Product recommendation emails are automated messages that suggest products to customers based on their previous purchases, browsing history, or preferences. These emails aim to enhance the shopping experience by providing personalized recommendations that are relevant and appealing to each customer. Personalized product recommendations can increase click-through rates by up to 50%.

Product recommendation emails are an excellent way to engage customers and drive repeat purchases. With an advanced email automation system, you can leverage data analytics and machine learning to deliver highly targeted product suggestions. For example, if a customer recently bought a camera, you can recommend compatible lenses, tripods, or memory cards. Personalized recommendations can make the shopping experience more convenient and enjoyable for the customer.

Integrating product recommendation emails into your marketing strategy can significantly boost sales and customer retention. These emails show that you understand the customer's preferences and are committed to providing them with relevant options. Additionally, including customer reviews and ratings in the recommendations can build trust and encourage purchases.

10. Birthday Emails

Birthday emails are automated messages sent to customers on their birthday to celebrate their special day and offer them a personalized gift, discount, or special offer. These emails are a great way to show appreciation and strengthen the emotional connection between the customer and your brand. Around 80% of customers are more likely to do business with a company that offers personalized experiences, and birthday emails are a perfect example of such personalization.

Birthday emails are an effective way to make customers feel valued and appreciated. Using an email automation system, you can set up birthday emails to be sent automatically on each customer's birthday. These emails can include a warm birthday greeting, a special discount code, or a free gift to make the customer feel special. The personal touch of a birthday email can create a lasting impression and encourage customer loyalty.

By incorporating birthday emails into your marketing strategy, you can enhance customer satisfaction and foster a positive relationship with your audience. These emails not only celebrate the customer's special day but also provide an opportunity to drive sales and engagement. For example, offering a limited-time discount or a freebie can motivate the customer to make a purchase and feel appreciated.

Conclusion

Email automation can help you iincrease sales. Using the email automation examples we shared in this blog, you can create a series of triggered emails that will be sent automatically to customers based on their actions. This can help you keep in touch with customers interested in your product and encourage them to purchase with product updates. If you’re not using email automation, now is the time to start. 

FAQs

1. What are some common types of email automation workflows?

Common types of email automation workflows include welcome series, abandoned cart reminders, post purchase follow-ups, re-engagement campaigns, birthday and anniversary emails, lead nurturing sequences, etc.

2. How can I personalize my automated emails?

You can personalize your automated emails in several ways:

• Use the Recipient's Name: Addressing the recipient by their first name can make the email feel more personal.
• Segment Your Audience: Group your subscribers based on their behavior, preferences, or demographics, and send targeted emails to each segment.
• Tailor Content to Interests: Use past purchase history or browsing behavior to recommend relevant products or content.
• Dynamic Content: Include dynamic content blocks that change based on the recipient’s profile or actions.
• Personalized Subject Lines: Craft subject lines that resonate with the recipient’s interests or recent interactions with your brand.
• Anniversaries and Milestones: Celebrate customer milestones such as anniversaries, birthdays, or loyalty program achievements with personalized messages and offers.

3. How to track the performance of automated emails?

To track the performance of automated emails, consider the following metrics:

• Open Rate: The percentage of recipients who open your email. It indicates the effectiveness of your subject line and the timing of your send.
• Click-Through Rate (CTR): The percentage of recipients who clicked on links within your email. It measures the engagement and relevance of your content.
• Conversion Rate: The percentage of recipients who completed a desired action (e.g., making a purchase) after clicking through your email.
• Bounce Rate: The percentage of emails that couldn't be delivered. High bounce rates may indicate issues with your email list quality.
• Unsubscribe Rate: The percentage of recipients who opt out of your emails. A high unsubscribe rate could signal that your content isn't meeting subscriber expectations.
• Revenue Generated: The total sales or revenue attributed to your email campaigns, helping you measure the direct financial impact of your emails.
• Engagement Over Time: Monitor how engagement metrics change over time to understand the long-term effectiveness of your email automation strategies.

4. What are some best practices for email automation?

To take your email automation to the next level, consider these best practices: Segment your audience for targeted messaging based on behavior, preferences, and demographics. Personalize content to make emails more relevant and engaging.  Regularly test different aspects of your emails (subject lines, content, send times) to optimize for best results. Maintain a clean list by removing inactive subscribers and invalid addresses. Design emails for mobile-friendliness, as many emails are opened on smartphones. Ensure compliance with regulations like GDPR, CAN-SPAM, and CASL to avoid legal troubles and build trust. Finally, monitor key metrics to understand what's working and identify areas for improvement.

5. How can I ensure my automated emails don't get flagged as spam?

Sending emails that land safely in inboxes can feel like navigating a minefield.  Earning recipient trust is key: start with a recognizable sender name and a clear, concise subject line that avoids spammy tricks.  Ensure you only send emails to those who have explicitly opted-in, and make it easy for them to unsubscribe if their needs change. Don't stop there! Regularly monitor your email deliverability and implement technical safeguards like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. But the secret weapon?  Focus on providing valuable content your subscribers will appreciate. This combination of trust-building tactics and valuable content will ensure your emails reach the intended audience, fostering stronger connections.

6. Can I use email automation to improve customer retention?

Email automation can be a game-changer for customer retention. By segmenting your audience, you can send targeted messages that resonate with each customer's interests and purchase history. This personalized approach fosters a sense of connection and value.  Automation also allows for timely outreach, sending welcome emails to new customers or re-engagement campaigns to win back inactive ones.  Most importantly, it frees up your team's time by handling repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on more strategic initiatives while still maintaining consistent communication.  In short, email automation empowers you to nurture customer relationships, deliver value, and ultimately drive repeat business and boost customer lifetime value.