When someone subscribes to your mailing list, you have the opportunity to make a positive first impression by following up with an automated welcome email. If you don’t typically send a welcome email, consider setting one up, and if you do have one in place, now is a good time to review that email to make sure it provides a warm introduction to your business.

Many email marketing providers offer the option to send welcome emails automatically. You can contact your provider for information on activating and/or customizing a welcome email, or click on the name of a provider in this list for specific instructions: MailChimp, Vertical Response, Constant Contact.

We suggest creating a welcome email that achieves the following goals:

• Fosters familiarity by using brand elements such as logos, color palettes, and fonts that will help customers recognize your business and emails.
• Provides the new subscriber with accurate and up-to-date contact information, including social media links.
• Lets subscribers know what kinds of information and offers they can expect to receive from you in future emails.
• If possible, thanks customers with a discount or other bonus, helping you get your relationship off to a good start.

To build a solid foundation for a relationship with your subscribers, start off with a welcome email that provides them a fast, favorable, and informative response to their interest in your mailing list.

Marketing Bites are short actionable tips to help you market your business. Each Bite contains a marketing idea and an easy to complete action. The Marketing Bite is emailed weekly to subscribers.