I added a request for new subscribers to introduce themselves in my welcome email months ago, and it's created such strong connections with my readers. Can't recommend it enough.
When they sign up, they get an email confirming their subscription. That email starts like this:
"Come on in to Shangrilogs, a newsletter about relocation, recreation, and renovation at 10,000 feet.
I know this is unconventional, but I’d love if you replied to this email and told me a little about you. Where ya from? What brought you to Shangrilogs? I’m a person, you’re hopefully a person — let’s be friends.
Yep! I prefer this because it allows me to share more personal details (if we share something in common) that I wouldn’t normally blast to the whole audience.
Your reader receives an automated email when they subscribe to your newsletter, and you can edit that email in your settings. I just edited mine so it includes a line asking people to introduce themselves. Hope that helps!
***Update 2*** I replicated and enhanced a welcome page off Substack to try to get around these limitations, using Mailerlite. It's at www.subscribepage.io/jokes if anyone wants to know what's possible.
Does anyone know how to see stats for welcome emails? Are welcome emails not tracked the way posts are? I would like to see who opens the welcome emails.
Also, I don't think it's the case, but is it possible to automate a series of welcome emails, rather than just the one?
***Update*** I heard from Substack support that no stats are available on welcome emails.
If none of this is possible, I think I will reduce my welcome email to just a simple confirmation of subscription, and separately send an email post to new subscribers, ideally within a day of their subscription. Posts sent to a limited subset of subscribers are tracked the same way as regular posts are, as near as I can tell.
If anyone is interested in knowing how this experiment goes, let me know.
One of the things I liked about Mailerlite is the ability to craft automations. It would be amazing if Substack provided that functionality too. I also agree that seeing welcome email stats would be very useful.
When I welcome free subscribers, I make a point to share how I nurture free content -- that it’s a priority and has a plan (aka they’re not getting leftovers). Message: “You matter!”
I also share about how paying to subscribe will give them access to 15 years of professional experience that others have paid for over the years. I offer a link to a meaty, action-oriented memoir writing outline that offers value and reflects what is being developed behind the paywall. Message: “There’s value in subscribing.”
And finally, I talk about how giving writers access to a developmental editor without the one-on-one premium is part of this experiment and that they can join in making that come to life. Message: “Join the adventure.”
After the first of the year I updated my welcome email to include links to my favorite 2022 posts they missed as new subscribers, and I’m happy to see some of them reading and commenting on those older posts!
I wish it was possible to track stats for a single post over time.
hello jen. can you please tell me how to create a welcome email so that everytime someone subscribes my newsletter, they receive it. i am clueless about it, it would be great if you can help.
I like the welcomes from The Earthworm, Cafe Anna, and Flakphoto. All asked (as I recall) for the subscriber to relay a story or say something about themselves. Good opportunity for engagement. They also included photos and personal touches.
Thanks for sharing! I especially liked the idea of including a CTA in my welcome email. I haven't written any newsletters yet (not until next month), but when I write a few good posts, I think I'll include backlinks to them in my welcome email.
One element I currently have in my welcome email, which I find useful, is a short step-by-step guide to help readers whitelist my emails so they don't end up in their spam folder. I included specific instructions for different devices (mobile and PC) and platforms (Gmail, Apple mail, and Outlook). Hopefully, this will help ensure my emails are always delivered in the right place.
I just updated my welcome emails and I already used some of the tips listed on this post! I didn't think to ask readers why they subcribed so I just updated my welcome emails to get to know my readers more. Thank you!
I believe that each indivudual post has a unique URL; when you go to your dashboard, you should click on the post you want to feature, then simply copy/paste the URL into your welcome-email.
I added a request for new subscribers to introduce themselves in my welcome email months ago, and it's created such strong connections with my readers. Can't recommend it enough.
Wow! This is an excellent idea that I am going to be implementing ASAP. Well done :)
What a wonderful idea. Thanks for sharing, Kelton!
Where do they do the introduction? In any post?
When they sign up, they get an email confirming their subscription. That email starts like this:
"Come on in to Shangrilogs, a newsletter about relocation, recreation, and renovation at 10,000 feet.
I know this is unconventional, but I’d love if you replied to this email and told me a little about you. Where ya from? What brought you to Shangrilogs? I’m a person, you’re hopefully a person — let’s be friends.
Every week, I’ll be talking about things like:"
etc., etc.
Love this tip! Thank you for sharing, Kelton!
thanks for sharing, Kelton 🙏🏼
Oh so it’s an inbox reply rather than a reply in the comments?
Yep! I prefer this because it allows me to share more personal details (if we share something in common) that I wouldn’t normally blast to the whole audience.
Ahh I get it now so you just have a little email chat together that’s so lovely! I had one of those a little while ago!
Great idea!
Awesome 👏
awesome idea - can you explain how this works? (tech newbie)
Your reader receives an automated email when they subscribe to your newsletter, and you can edit that email in your settings. I just edited mine so it includes a line asking people to introduce themselves. Hope that helps!
Honored to be featured here - for anyone starting out - Please steal my welcome email and about page structures!
***Update 2*** I replicated and enhanced a welcome page off Substack to try to get around these limitations, using Mailerlite. It's at www.subscribepage.io/jokes if anyone wants to know what's possible.
Does anyone know how to see stats for welcome emails? Are welcome emails not tracked the way posts are? I would like to see who opens the welcome emails.
Also, I don't think it's the case, but is it possible to automate a series of welcome emails, rather than just the one?
***Update*** I heard from Substack support that no stats are available on welcome emails.
If none of this is possible, I think I will reduce my welcome email to just a simple confirmation of subscription, and separately send an email post to new subscribers, ideally within a day of their subscription. Posts sent to a limited subset of subscribers are tracked the same way as regular posts are, as near as I can tell.
If anyone is interested in knowing how this experiment goes, let me know.
+1 to this feature request—this would be super helpful data!
We're sharing this with our team. Thank you!
One of the things I liked about Mailerlite is the ability to craft automations. It would be amazing if Substack provided that functionality too. I also agree that seeing welcome email stats would be very useful.
I would like to be able to automate, too! +1, bump, Yes yes yes, etc.
When I welcome free subscribers, I make a point to share how I nurture free content -- that it’s a priority and has a plan (aka they’re not getting leftovers). Message: “You matter!”
I also share about how paying to subscribe will give them access to 15 years of professional experience that others have paid for over the years. I offer a link to a meaty, action-oriented memoir writing outline that offers value and reflects what is being developed behind the paywall. Message: “There’s value in subscribing.”
And finally, I talk about how giving writers access to a developmental editor without the one-on-one premium is part of this experiment and that they can join in making that come to life. Message: “Join the adventure.”
After the first of the year I updated my welcome email to include links to my favorite 2022 posts they missed as new subscribers, and I’m happy to see some of them reading and commenting on those older posts!
I wish it was possible to track stats for a single post over time.
That’s a great idea!
hello jen. can you please tell me how to create a welcome email so that everytime someone subscribes my newsletter, they receive it. i am clueless about it, it would be great if you can help.
Hey Komal! Scroll down in your settings and you can edit the free subscriber email and the paid subscriber email separately!
got it. thank you so much!
Thanks, this was super helpful! I plan to implement some of these suggestions!
This is wonderful, I just revised mine this weekend, but these offer some great tips. Thanks!
I like the welcomes from The Earthworm, Cafe Anna, and Flakphoto. All asked (as I recall) for the subscriber to relay a story or say something about themselves. Good opportunity for engagement. They also included photos and personal touches.
🙌🙌
sir help me this platform for earning sources
Would anybody believe me if I said I was considering these topics this morning?
No.
Thanks for sharing! I especially liked the idea of including a CTA in my welcome email. I haven't written any newsletters yet (not until next month), but when I write a few good posts, I think I'll include backlinks to them in my welcome email.
One element I currently have in my welcome email, which I find useful, is a short step-by-step guide to help readers whitelist my emails so they don't end up in their spam folder. I included specific instructions for different devices (mobile and PC) and platforms (Gmail, Apple mail, and Outlook). Hopefully, this will help ensure my emails are always delivered in the right place.
That's a great idea.
I just updated my welcome emails and I already used some of the tips listed on this post! I didn't think to ask readers why they subcribed so I just updated my welcome emails to get to know my readers more. Thank you!
Fantastic suggestions, thank you! I personalized my welcome email but wanted to update it further. Love the idea of embedding the most recent article.
Thank you! Very helpful.
This was very helpful, thank you! I like to include an illustration in my welcome emails!
This was so informative and helpful! Thank you!!!
Hi, how do I link to my latest post like in an example you posted above? I want to do this but couldn't figure it out when I tried.
I wondered that? Coz if you link to your main Substack it’s just everything on there?
I believe that each indivudual post has a unique URL; when you go to your dashboard, you should click on the post you want to feature, then simply copy/paste the URL into your welcome-email.