Maximize Your Marketing: 15 Email Automation Workflows for Better Results

Standard marketing strategies are full of important (yet boring and repetitive) tasks that need to be done, like sending out email newsletters or posting to social media.

Fortunately, there are a number of email automation tools that can help you automate at least one of the tasks I mentioned: email marketing.

I’ve written about how to choose an email automation tool in another article; give that page a visit if you’re still on the fence about an email automation tool.

With email automation workflows, businesses can create a personalized and timely experience for their subscribers, leading to higher engagement rates and increased revenue via triggered emails. These can help users get those boring, repetitive tasks done for them so they can focus their energy on tasks that can’t be automated (yet).

This is by no means the limit to email automation workflows’ benefits, there are many more benefits of email marketing automation as well.

Email automation workflows are one of the most efficient ways to minimize effort and maximize profit. All the work you need to do is set up the email workflow, choose what triggers you want to send emails after (e.g. after a subscriber clicks a link, views a page, submits a form, etc.), and you’re done.

However, not all email automation workflows are equal. There are situations where your automated workflow should be changed in order to maximize conversions or reach whatever goal you’re looking to achieve.

For example, if a customer isn’t interacting with your emails, you may either want to reduce your email frequency if you’re appearing spammy or increase your email frequency so your business stays top of mind with the customer. It depends on the situation, and it’s hard to say which way you should adjust in this scenario, but there is some adjustment that needs to be made to regain your customer’s attention.

Overall, there isn’t one email automation workflow to rule them all; you’ll want to create several for different situations to engage and convert your customers.

This is an advanced email automation tactic, and it requires thought and effort put into it to get results out of it.

In this article, we’ll explore 15 email automation workflows that businesses can use to improve their email marketing efforts and automate the customer journey for maximum conversions.

15 Email Automation Workflows to Maximize Your Marketing

1. Welcome Emails

Triggered by: subscription to an email newsletter OR registration on website
The welcome email series is a critical campaign for building relationships with new subscribers. This series should consist of a sequence of emails that introduce the brand, set expectations, and provide valuable content. The first email should be sent immediately after a subscriber signs up, and subsequent emails should be spaced out over the following days or weeks.

2. Abandoned Cart Emails

Triggered by: customer cart abandonment
Abandoned cart emails are an effective way to recover lost revenue from customers who have left items in their shopping carts without completing their purchase. These emails can include a reminder of the items left in the cart, a discount code, or a call to action to complete the purchase.

3. Post-Purchase Follow-Up Emails

Triggered by: customer purchase, physical or digital
After a customer has made a purchase, a post-purchase follow-up email can be sent to thank them for their purchase, provide order confirmation details, and encourage them to leave a review. This email can also include related products or upsells to encourage repeat business.

4. Re-Engagement Campaigns

Triggered by: customer lack of engagement
Re-engagement campaigns are designed to win back subscribers who have stopped engaging with your emails. These campaigns can include a series of targeted emails that offer a discount or other incentive to encourage the subscriber to re-engage with the brand.

5. Birthday/Anniversary Emails

Triggered by: customer info
Sending a personalized email to subscribers on their birthday or anniversary is an excellent way to show them that you value their business. These emails can include a special discount or gift, or simply a personalized message wishing them a happy birthday or anniversary.

6. Feedback & Review Requests

Triggered by: customer purchase, physical or digital
Sending an email requesting feedback or a product review after a customer has made a purchase can help to build trust and credibility with your audience. These emails can include a link to a survey or review site, or simply ask the customer to reply with their feedback.

7. Lead Nurturing Emails

Triggered by: top-of-funnel conversion events
Lead nurturing emails are designed to move subscribers through the sales funnel by providing them with relevant and valuable content. These emails can include blog posts, e-books, webinars, or other content that addresses the subscriber’s pain points and interests.

8. Cart Abandonment Prevention

Triggered by: customer cart abandonment
Rather than waiting until after a cart has been abandoned, cart abandonment prevention emails are sent to customers who have added items to their cart but haven’t yet checked out. These emails can include a reminder of the items in the cart, along with a sense of urgency or an exclusive offer to encourage the customer to complete the purchase.

9. Replenishment Reminders

Triggered by: time after customer purchase
Replenishment reminders are a great way to encourage customers to make repeat purchases of consumable products. These emails can be triggered based on the customer’s previous purchase history and can include a reminder to reorder, along with a discount or other incentive.

10. Seasonal Campaigns

Triggered by: seasonal events (e.g. Christmas, Black Friday, New Years, etc.)
Seasonal campaigns are a great way to keep your brand top of mind during holiday or other seasonal events. These campaigns can include special promotions, themed content, or holiday-themed emails that help to build excitement and engagement with your audience.

11. Upsell and Cross-Sell Campaigns

Triggered by: customer purchase
Upsell and cross-sell campaigns can be used to promote related products or services to customers who have made a purchase. These emails can include personalized product recommendations or special discounts on related products.

12. Event Reminders

Triggered by: time until event (e.g. webinar, convention, etc.)
Event reminders are an excellent way to keep subscribers informed about upcoming events or webinars. These emails can include a reminder of the event details, a link to register or RSVP, or even a special offer for attendees.

13. Reorder Reminders

Triggered by: time after purchase (longer than replenishment reminders)
Reorder reminders are similar to replenishment reminders but are designed for products that need to be replaced less frequently. These emails can be triggered based on the customer’s purchase history and can include a reminder to reorder, along with a discount or other incentive.

14. Win-Back Campaigns

Triggered by: customer lack of engagement
Win-back campaigns are designed to win back customers who haven’t made a purchase in a while. These campaigns can include a series of targeted emails that offer a special discount or other incentive to encourage the customer to make a purchase.

15. VIP or Loyalty Campaigns

Triggered by: high customer engagement; purchase or repeated purchases
VIP or loyalty campaigns are designed to reward and retain your most loyal customers. These campaigns can include exclusive offers, early access to sales, or personalized content that is tailored to the customer’s preferences and interests.

Conclusion

Overall, email automation workflows are the simplest way to minimize your work and maximize your results, simply because you can create the automated workflow and forget about it; it’ll keep running unless you tell it to stop.

However, when implementing email automation workflows, it’s important to keep in mind the best practices for email marketing. Some tips to keep in mind include:

• Personalize the content and subject line of your emails.
• Use segmentation to target your campaigns to the right audience.
• Keep your emails short and to the point.
• Make sure your emails are mobile-friendly.
• Include a clear call to action in every email.
• Use A/B testing to optimize your campaigns over time.

In conclusion, email automation workflows are an essential part of any successful email marketing strategy. By implementing these 15 email automation workflows, businesses can improve their engagement rates, build stronger relationships with their subscribers, and increase revenue. Remember to follow email marketing best practices and continually test and optimize your campaigns for the best results.