| name | email-marketing |
| description | Email campaign strategy, automation, and optimization. Use when creating email sequences, improving deliverability, designing automation workflows, or optimizing email performance. |
Email Marketing
Email campaign strategy, automation, and optimization for engagement and conversion.
Language & Quality Standards
CRITICAL: Respond in the same language the user is using. If Vietnamese, respond in Vietnamese. If Spanish, respond in Spanish.
Standards: Token efficiency, sacrifice grammar for concision, list unresolved questions at end.
When to Use This Skill
Apply email expertise when:
- Creating email sequences and automations
- Improving deliverability and inbox placement
- Optimizing open rates and click rates
- Designing lifecycle email workflows
- Segmenting audiences for personalization
- A/B testing email elements
Core Concepts
Email Types & Timing
| Type |
Purpose |
Timing |
Frequency |
| Welcome |
Onboard new subscribers |
Immediate (<5 min) |
Once |
| Nurture |
Build trust over time |
Drip sequence |
1-2x/week |
| Promotional |
Drive sales/signups |
Campaign-based |
1-4x/month |
| Transactional |
Confirm actions |
Triggered |
As needed |
| Re-engagement |
Win back inactive |
30-90 days inactive |
Once per cycle |
Email Performance Benchmarks
| Metric |
Acceptable |
Good |
Excellent |
| Open Rate |
15-20% |
20-25% |
25%+ |
| Click Rate |
1-2% |
2-5% |
5%+ |
| Click-to-Open |
10-15% |
15-20% |
20%+ |
| Unsubscribe |
<1% |
<0.5% |
<0.2% |
| Bounce Rate |
<5% |
<2% |
<0.5% |
| Spam Complaint |
<0.1% |
<0.05% |
<0.01% |
Email Anatomy
From: [Name] from [Brand] <email@domain.com>
Subject: [Hook + Benefit] (50 chars optimal)
Preview: [Extends subject curiosity] (90-100 chars)
[Personalized greeting]
[Hook - address pain/desire in first line]
[Value delivery - main content]
[Social proof - testimonial/stat - optional]
[Single CTA button - clear action]
[P.S. - additional hook or urgency]
[Signature with human touch]
Subject Line Formulas
| Formula |
Example |
Best For |
| Question |
"Still struggling with [pain]?" |
Engagement |
| How-to |
"How to [achieve outcome] in [time]" |
Education |
| Curiosity |
"[X] thing [audience] forget about [topic]" |
Opens |
| Social Proof |
"How [customer] got [result]" |
Conversion |
| Urgency |
"[X] hours left: [offer]" |
Promotions |
| Personal |
"{{first_name}}, quick question" |
Response |
Sequence Framework
Welcome Sequence (7 days, 5 emails):
- Day 0: Welcome + deliver lead magnet
- Day 1: Quick win / immediate value
- Day 3: Brand story / why we exist
- Day 5: Social proof / case study
- Day 7: Engagement check / preferences
Nurture Sequence (6 weeks):
- Week 1-2: Problem awareness
- Week 3-4: Solution education
- Week 5-6: Product introduction + offer
Segmentation Strategy
| Segment Type |
Criteria |
Use For |
| Engagement |
Open/click behavior |
Re-engagement targeting |
| Interest |
Content consumed |
Topic personalization |
| Lifecycle |
Lead stage |
Funnel-appropriate content |
| Demographic |
Role, company size |
Message customization |
| Behavioral |
Website actions |
Trigger-based emails |
Best Practices
Deliverability Excellence
- Warm Up New Domains: Gradual volume increase
- Authentication: SPF, DKIM, DMARC properly configured
- List Hygiene: Remove bounces and inactive regularly
- Engagement Signals: Encourage replies, adds to contacts
Copy Excellence
- Mobile First: 60%+ read on mobile
- Scannable: Short paragraphs, bullets, bold
- One CTA: Don't compete with yourself
- Personal Tone: Write to one person, not a list
Testing Excellence
- Subject Lines: Always A/B test
- Send Times: Find optimal windows per segment
- Content Length: Test short vs. long
- CTA Buttons: Text, color, placement
Agent Integration
| Agent |
How They Use This Skill |
email-wizard |
Sequence design, automation setup |
copywriter |
Email copy creation |
lead-qualifier |
Segmentation criteria, triggers |
continuity-specialist |
Re-engagement strategies |
Anti-Patterns to Avoid
| Anti-Pattern |
Why It's Wrong |
Do This Instead |
| Buying email lists |
Destroys deliverability |
Build organic list |
| No segmentation |
Irrelevant content = unsubscribes |
Segment by behavior |
| Too many CTAs |
Confuses reader, dilutes clicks |
One primary CTA |
| No unsubscribe |
Illegal + spam complaints |
Clear, easy unsubscribe |
| Batch and blast |
No personalization |
Behavior-triggered emails |
Workflow Integration
crm-workflow.md - Lead lifecycle stages, MQL/SQL definitions
sales-workflow.md - Lead scoring thresholds for email triggers
Related Commands
/sequence/welcome - 7-day welcome sequence
/sequence/nurture - 6-week lead nurture
/sequence/re-engage - 21-day win-back
/content/email - Email copy creation
References
references/sequence-design.md - Email sequence blueprints
references/deliverability.md - Getting to inbox
references/segmentation.md - Audience segmentation
references/automation.md - Automation workflows
references/lead-nurturing-workflows.md - Lead nurturing sequences