Email Writing

Master email marketing from subject lines to sequences. Templates for welcome emails, nurture campaigns, sales emails, and newsletters that get opened, read, and clicked.

When to Use This Skill

• Writing email subject lines that get opens
• Creating welcome email sequences
• Building nurture and sales sequences
• Writing newsletters that engage
• Re-engagement and win-back campaigns
• Reviewing and improving email performance

Methodology Foundation

Source: Compiled from Copyhackers, Really Good Emails, Val Geisler, Joanna Wiebe, and direct response email best practices.

Core Principle: Email is a conversation, not a broadcast. Every email should feel like it came from a person, provide value, and respect the inbox.

Why This Matters: Email still delivers the highest ROI of any channel ($36 for every $1 spent). But only if it gets opened, read, and clicked.

What Claude Does vs What You Decide

What This Skill Does

1. Writes subject lines that get opens - Curiosity, value, or urgency
2. Crafts email body copy - Engaging, scannable, action-oriented
3. Builds email sequences - Welcome, nurture, sales, launch
4. Creates newsletter formats - Consistent, valuable, efficient
5. Optimizes send strategy - Timing, frequency, segmentation

How to Use

Write Subject Lines

Write 10 subject lines for:
Email type: [welcome, newsletter, sales, etc.]
Content/offer: [what the email is about]
Audience: [who receives it]

Write a Complete Email

Write a [type] email for:
Product/service: [description]
Goal: [click, reply, buy, etc.]
Recipient context: [new subscriber, past customer, etc.]

Build an Email Sequence

Create a [number]-email [type] sequence for:
Product: [description]
Trigger: [opt-in, purchase, abandoned cart, etc.]
End goal: [purchase, demo, engagement, etc.]

Audit Email Performance

Review this email and suggest improvements:
[paste email]
Current open rate: [%]
Current click rate: [%]

Instructions

When writing emails, apply these frameworks:

Subject Line Mastery

## Subject Line Formulas That Work

### Category 1: Curiosity
Create a gap between what they know and want to know

**Formulas:**
- "[Unexpected thing] about [topic]"
- "I was wrong about [topic]"
- "This changes everything"
- "Quick question"
- "Weird thing happened..."

**Examples:**
- "I was wrong about cold email"
- "This surprised me about [product]"
- "The $100K email (not clickbait)"

---

### Category 2: Benefit/Value
Promise clear value for opening

**Formulas:**
- "[Number] ways to [achieve outcome]"
- "How to [achieve result]"
- "The [adjective] way to [do thing]"
- "[Resource] inside"

**Examples:**
- "7 ways to fix your landing page"
- "Your [Month] marketing calendar is ready"
- "The lazy way to write better emails"

---

### Category 3: Personal/Conversational
Feels like it came from a person

**Formulas:**
- "Quick question about [topic]"
- "Thoughts on [topic]?"
- "This made me think of you"
- "Re: [previous topic]" (use sparingly)

**Examples:**
- "Quick question about your goals"
- "Thoughts on this approach?"
- "Made me think of you"

---

### Category 4: Urgency/Scarcity
Time-sensitive (only if genuine)

**Formulas:**
- "[X] hours left"
- "Last chance: [offer]"
- "Closing [timeframe]"
- "Before you miss this"

**Examples:**
- "24 hours left (then price goes up)"
- "Closing at midnight"
- "Last call for [offer]"

---

### Category 5: List/Story
Promise organized content

**Formulas:**
- "[Number] [things] you need to [outcome]"
- "A story about [topic]"
- "How I [achieved result]"

**Examples:**
- "3 emails that made us $50K"
- "A story about my worst launch"
- "How we fixed our churn problem"

---

## Subject Line Power Words

**Open-Boosters:**
- Quick, Fast, Easy
- New, Now, Today
- How, Why, What
- You, Your
- Free, Save
- [Numbers]

**Spam-Triggers to Avoid:**
- FREE!!! (all caps + exclamation)
- URGENT!!!
- Act now!!!
- Buy now
- Click here
- Too many emojis

Email Body Structure

## The Anatomy of a High-Performing Email

### Opening Line (The Hook)
- First 1-2 sentences determine if they read on
- NO "Hope this finds you well"
- Start with curiosity, story, or direct value

**Good Opens:**
- "I made a mistake last week."
- "Quick question for you:"
- "You asked for this, so here it is."
- "[Name], I noticed something about your [X]..."
- Direct statement of value

**Bad Opens:**
- "Hope this email finds you well!"
- "Just checking in..."
- "I wanted to reach out because..."
- "As per my last email..."

---

### Body (The Value)
- One idea per email (focused)
- Short paragraphs (1-3 sentences max)
- White space is your friend
- Write for mobile (52% open on mobile)
- Use bold for emphasis sparingly
- Bullets for lists

**Reading Length Guidelines:**
- Newsletter: 200-400 words
- Sales email: 150-300 words
- Welcome email: 150-250 words
- Promotional: 100-200 words

---

### CTA (The Action)
- One primary CTA per email
- Make it button or obvious link
- Tell them exactly what happens when they click
- CTA above and below long emails

**CTA Templates:**
- "Click here to [get specific thing]"
- "Grab your [offer] →"
- "[Action verb] now →"
- "Reply and let me know"

---

### Signature (The Close)
- Consistent, personal sign-off
- Photo optional but humanizing
- Keep it short
- P.S. line for second pitch (optional but effective)

Email Sequence Frameworks

## Welcome Sequence (5-7 Emails)

### Email 1: Deliver + Introduce (Immediately)
- Deliver what they signed up for
- Quick intro to who you are
- Set expectations (email frequency)
- Single CTA: consume the content

### Email 2: Your Story (Day 2)
- Why you do what you do
- Relatability and trust building
- Light value add
- CTA: Read, watch, or reply

### Email 3: Quick Win (Day 4)
- One actionable tip they can use today
- Show your expertise
- CTA: Implement the tip

### Email 4: Common Problem (Day 6)
- Address common mistake/misconception
- Position yourself as authority
- CTA: Related content or resource

### Email 5: Social Proof (Day 8)
- Customer story or testimonial
- Make success tangible
- CTA: See more success stories / take next step

### Email 6: The Pitch (Day 10)
- Introduce your offer clearly
- Connect to value you've provided
- CTA: Learn more / start trial

### Email 7: Q&A / Objections (Day 12)
- Handle common questions
- Reassure and reduce friction
- Final CTA + close the loop

---

## Nurture Sequence (Ongoing Weekly)

**Purpose**: Provide value, stay top of mind, build relationship

**Content Mix:**
- 80% value (tips, insights, stories)
- 20% promotion (offers, products)

**Templates:**
- "One thing I learned this week..."
- "Quick tip for your [problem area]"
- "This worked for [customer], might work for you"
- "Curated: 3 things worth your time"

---

## Sales Sequence (5-7 Emails Over 7-14 Days)

### Email 1: Problem Aware
- Acknowledge the problem deeply
- Show you understand
- Hint at solution
- CTA: Learn more

### Email 2: Solution Aware
- Introduce your solution
- Explain the mechanism
- Why it works
- CTA: See how it works

### Email 3: Social Proof
- Customer stories
- Results and outcomes
- Make it real
- CTA: Read the case study / start trial

### Email 4: Deep Dive
- Features and benefits detailed
- FAQs answered
- Objections handled
- CTA: Get started

### Email 5: Urgency
- Deadline or scarcity (real)
- Recap of value
- Last chance messaging
- CTA: Buy now

### Email 6: Final Call
- Straight-up last chance
- Summary of what they're missing
- Risk reversal reminder
- CTA: Fi