email-writing

What this skill does

# Email Writing

> Master email marketing from subject lines to sequences. Templates for welcome emails, nurture campaigns, sales emails, and newsletters that get opened, read, and clicked.

## When to Use This Skill

- Writing email subject lines that get opens
- Creating welcome email sequences
- Building nurture and sales sequences
- Writing newsletters that engage
- Re-engagement and win-back campaigns
- Reviewing and improving email performance

## Methodology Foundation

**Source**: Compiled from Copyhackers, Really Good Emails, Val Geisler, Joanna Wiebe, and direct response email best practices.

**Core Principle**: Email is a conversation, not a broadcast. Every email should feel like it came from a person, provide value, and respect the inbox.

**Why This Matters**: Email still delivers the highest ROI of any channel ($36 for every $1 spent). But only if it gets opened, read, and clicked.


## What Claude Does vs What You Decide

| Claude Does | You Decide |
|-------------|------------|
| Structures production workflow | Final creative direction |
| Suggests technical approaches | Equipment and tool choices |
| Creates templates and checklists | Quality standards |
| Identifies best practices | Brand/voice decisions |
| Generates script outlines | Final script approval |

## What This Skill Does

1. **Writes subject lines that get opens** - Curiosity, value, or urgency
2. **Crafts email body copy** - Engaging, scannable, action-oriented
3. **Builds email sequences** - Welcome, nurture, sales, launch
4. **Creates newsletter formats** - Consistent, valuable, efficient
5. **Optimizes send strategy** - Timing, frequency, segmentation

## How to Use

### Write Subject Lines
```
Write 10 subject lines for:
Email type: [welcome, newsletter, sales, etc.]
Content/offer: [what the email is about]
Audience: [who receives it]
```

### Write a Complete Email
```
Write a [type] email for:
Product/service: [description]
Goal: [click, reply, buy, etc.]
Recipient context: [new subscriber, past customer, etc.]
```

### Build an Email Sequence
```
Create a [number]-email [type] sequence for:
Product: [description]
Trigger: [opt-in, purchase, abandoned cart, etc.]
End goal: [purchase, demo, engagement, etc.]
```

### Audit Email Performance
```
Review this email and suggest improvements:
[paste email]
Current open rate: [%]
Current click rate: [%]
```

## Instructions

When writing emails, apply these frameworks:

### Subject Line Mastery

```
## Subject Line Formulas That Work

### Category 1: Curiosity
Create a gap between what they know and want to know

**Formulas:**
- "[Unexpected thing] about [topic]"
- "I was wrong about [topic]"
- "This changes everything"
- "Quick question"
- "Weird thing happened..."

**Examples:**
- "I was wrong about cold email"
- "This surprised me about [product]"
- "The $100K email (not clickbait)"

---

### Category 2: Benefit/Value
Promise clear value for opening

**Formulas:**
- "[Number] ways to [achieve outcome]"
- "How to [achieve result]"
- "The [adjective] way to [do thing]"
- "[Resource] inside"

**Examples:**
- "7 ways to fix your landing page"
- "Your [Month] marketing calendar is ready"
- "The lazy way to write better emails"

---

### Category 3: Personal/Conversational
Feels like it came from a person

**Formulas:**
- "Quick question about [topic]"
- "Thoughts on [topic]?"
- "This made me think of you"
- "Re: [previous topic]" (use sparingly)

**Examples:**
- "Quick question about your goals"
- "Thoughts on this approach?"
- "Made me think of you"

---

### Category 4: Urgency/Scarcity
Time-sensitive (only if genuine)

**Formulas:**
- "[X] hours left"
- "Last chance: [offer]"
- "Closing [timeframe]"
- "Before you miss this"

**Examples:**
- "24 hours left (then price goes up)"
- "Closing at midnight"
- "Last call for [offer]"

---

### Category 5: List/Story
Promise organized content

**Formulas:**
- "[Number] [things] you need to [outcome]"
- "A story about [topic]"
- "How I [achieved result]"

**Examples:**
- "3 emails that made us $50K"
- "A story about my worst launch"
- "How we fixed our churn problem"

---

## Subject Line Power Words

**Open-Boosters:**
- Quick, Fast, Easy
- New, Now, Today
- How, Why, What
- You, Your
- Free, Save
- [Numbers]

**Spam-Triggers to Avoid:**
- FREE!!! (all caps + exclamation)
- URGENT!!!
- Act now!!!
- Buy now
- Click here
- Too many emojis
```

---

### Email Body Structure

```
## The Anatomy of a High-Performing Email

### Opening Line (The Hook)
- First 1-2 sentences determine if they read on
- NO "Hope this finds you well"
- Start with curiosity, story, or direct value

**Good Opens:**
- "I made a mistake last week."
- "Quick question for you:"
- "You asked for this, so here it is."
- "[Name], I noticed something about your [X]..."
- Direct statement of value

**Bad Opens:**
- "Hope this email finds you well!"
- "Just checking in..."
- "I wanted to reach out because..."
- "As per my last email..."

---

### Body (The Value)
- One idea per email (focused)
- Short paragraphs (1-3 sentences max)
- White space is your friend
- Write for mobile (52% open on mobile)
- Use bold for emphasis sparingly
- Bullets for lists

**Reading Length Guidelines:**
- Newsletter: 200-400 words
- Sales email: 150-300 words
- Welcome email: 150-250 words
- Promotional: 100-200 words

---

### CTA (The Action)
- One primary CTA per email
- Make it button or obvious link
- Tell them exactly what happens when they click
- CTA above and below long emails

**CTA Templates:**
- "Click here to [get specific thing]"
- "Grab your [offer] →"
- "[Action verb] now →"
- "Reply and let me know"

---

### Signature (The Close)
- Consistent, personal sign-off
- Photo optional but humanizing
- Keep it short
- P.S. line for second pitch (optional but effective)
```

---

### Email Sequence Frameworks

```
## Welcome Sequence (5-7 Emails)

### Email 1: Deliver + Introduce (Immediately)
- Deliver what they signed up for
- Quick intro to who you are
- Set expectations (email frequency)
- Single CTA: consume the content

### Email 2: Your Story (Day 2)
- Why you do what you do
- Relatability and trust building
- Light value add
- CTA: Read, watch, or reply

### Email 3: Quick Win (Day 4)
- One actionable tip they can use today
- Show your expertise
- CTA: Implement the tip

### Email 4: Common Problem (Day 6)
- Address common mistake/misconception
- Position yourself as authority
- CTA: Related content or resource

### Email 5: Social Proof (Day 8)
- Customer story or testimonial
- Make success tangible
- CTA: See more success stories / take next step

### Email 6: The Pitch (Day 10)
- Introduce your offer clearly
- Connect to value you've provided
- CTA: Learn more / start trial

### Email 7: Q&A / Objections (Day 12)
- Handle common questions
- Reassure and reduce friction
- Final CTA + close the loop

---

## Nurture Sequence (Ongoing Weekly)

**Purpose**: Provide value, stay top of mind, build relationship

**Content Mix:**
- 80% value (tips, insights, stories)
- 20% promotion (offers, products)

**Templates:**
- "One thing I learned this week..."
- "Quick tip for your [problem area]"
- "This worked for [customer], might work for you"
- "Curated: 3 things worth your time"

---

## Sales Sequence (5-7 Emails Over 7-14 Days)

### Email 1: Problem Aware
- Acknowledge the problem deeply
- Show you understand
- Hint at solution
- CTA: Learn more

### Email 2: Solution Aware
- Introduce your solution
- Explain the mechanism
- Why it works
- CTA: See how it works

### Email 3: Social Proof
- Customer stories
- Results and outcomes
- Make it real
- CTA: Read the case study / start trial

### Email 4: Deep Dive
- Features and benefits detailed
- FAQs answered
- Objections handled
- CTA: Get started

### Email 5: Urgency
- Deadline or scarcity (real)
- Recap of value
- Last chance messaging
- CTA: Buy now

### Email 6: Final Call
- Straight-up last chance
- Summary of what they're missing
- Risk reversal reminder
- CTA: F