Growth In Reverse: Newsletter & Email Growth
3 Steps To A Perfect Subscriber Onboarding
· Summarized
Key takeaways
- Email onboarding is essential for engaging new subscribers and should not be overlooked.
- Landing pages should have three key qualities: clarity, credibility, and compelling content.
- An 'Almost There' page should effectively guide new subscribers to their inbox to find welcome emails.
- Welcome emails should focus on a single, actionable request to increase engagement.
- Ongoing review and optimization of onboarding processes are critical for long-term growth and retention.
Summary
Introduction to Email Onboarding
In this episode, Dylan and Chenell dive into the often-overlooked aspect of newsletter growth: email onboarding for new subscribers. They emphasize the importance of onboarding to build trust and engagement right from the start. Chenell introduces a simple yet effective three-step onboarding process that every newsletter creator should implement.
The Three Cs of Landing Pages
The episode outlines three critical components for a successful landing page—clarity, credibility, and compelling content. Listeners are reminded that landing pages should clearly communicate the value of what subscribers will receive, supported by credibility indicators like testimonials and experience. The hosts also stress the necessity of making landing pages compelling to entice subscriptions without complicated jargon.
The Almost There Page
The hosts discuss the 'Almost There' page that subscribers see after signing up. They advocate for redirecting new subscribers to a more engaging page rather than leaving them on a dead-end thank you page. This page should encourage subscribers to check their inbox and increase the chances of engagement with the welcome email.
Crafting Effective Welcome Emails
Dylan and Chenell dive into the importance of the welcome email as part of the onboarding process, emphasizing on actionable outcomes. They recommend focusing the welcome email on one clear call to action, such as encouraging subscribers to reply. The conversation touches on creating an inviting atmosphere to get new subscribers engaged from day one.
Advanced Onboarding Strategies
The discussion hints at a more complex five-step onboarding process that includes additional components like an 'almost there' email. The hosts encourage listeners to consider ongoing optimization of their onboarding processes to ensure they keep up with industry standards and subscriber expectations.
Final Thoughts and Continuous Improvement
The episode wraps up by reinforcing the need for podcast listeners to continuously review and refine their onboarding processes. Chenell and Dylan urge creators to analyze subscriber data, message effectiveness, and responsiveness to enhance long-term retention.
Sponsors
- The Growth Vault · Chenell's brand-new offer for newsletter creators is here! The Growth Vault is filled with newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.
- Katelyn Bourgoin's Why We Buy · Mentioned her landing page as a good example of a clear and compelling onboarding process.
- Eddie Shleyner's Social Proof Avalanche · Referenced as a noteworthy example relevant to the discussion of social proof in onboarding.
- Tom Alder's Strategy Breakdowns · Cited in relation to good practices for onboarding and subscriber engagement.
- Growth.Design · Suggested as a valuable resource for newsletter strategies and onboarding best practices.
- Senja · A tool recommended for capturing social proof easily and effectively.
- RightMessage · A tool mentioned that helps in capturing and utilizing user data for newsletters.
Show notes
The Growth Vault is LIVE: Chenell's brand-new offer for newsletter creators is here! The Growth Vaultis filled with newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.
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“One of the worst things you can do is send new subscribers to a dead-end thank you page. That kills engagement immediately." — Chenell
We're breaking down the most overlooked (yet critical) part of growing a newsletter: onboarding new subscribers.
We'll take you through Chenell's 3-step onboarding process every newsletter creator should have in place—and show how to optimize each for higher engagement, deliverability, and long-term retention.
We also tease an advanced 5-step version and share examples from top creators like Katelyn Bourgoin, Tom Alder, and Eddie Shleyner. Whether you’re just starting out or already running a large newsletter, you’ll learn how to avoid common pitfalls and set up onboarding that actually works.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The 3 Cs of a high-converting landing page
- Why default Thank-you pages kill engagement (and what to do instead)
- How "sniper links" can push new subscribers directly into their inbox to find your email
- The #1 mistake welcome emails make
- The most important job your welcome email has
- A simple incentive trick to encourage replies
- The difference between a “true” and “false” double opt-in
- How (and why) to include surveys in your onboarding
- What top creators do with their “almost there” pages to hook new subscribers
LINKS MENTIONED
- The Growth Vault →
- Katelyn Bourgoin's Why We Buy landing page →
- Eddie Shleyner's 'Social Proof Avalanche' →
- Tom Alder's Strategy Breakdowns →
- Growth.Design →
- Senja →
- RightMessage →
- Growth In Reverse PRO Community →
- Want your newsletter roasted?Submit it here.
- Ask us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questions
- Check out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/
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