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Email Inspiration – opt-in with Sandra van der Lee

This week’s inspiration is a little different. We’re going to talk about opt-ins.

I found a truly exceptional example from a web designer and get-sh*t-done coach, Sandra van der Lee.

Her opt-in is clear, valuable, designed very well and has a lovely landing page to boot.

Take a scroll, check out this opt-in offer and then read the 3 things that are worth repeating.

Homepage

Landing Page

Welcome Email

Here’s what you should copy from this opt-in: 

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HOMEPAGE LOCATION: 

We all know you need to get those email address when someone visits your website. 

I see people making the huge mistake of embedding their opt-in form at the bottom of the page. Who scrolls all of the way to the bottom!?

I do, but that’s because I’m looking for an opt-in form to sign up for emails.

Keep it right at the top with a nice beautiful button.

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LANDING PAGE:

Brilliant. I love her opt-in landing page. (Also, I kind of love her. Amazing copy!)

It’s simple with clear benefits of signing up for her mini-course.

Added benefit? She can link out to this page from anywhere to get people to sign up for her emails.

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WELCOME EMAIL: 

I love an excited gif. And this one was a great choice.

Sandra comes off as human in her copy throughout her website and her welcome email is no different.

Before she launches into her opt-in she gives a brief intro on what she does and her value.

OK, I’m not gonna lie, I partly signed up for her opt-in because I need all of these things in my life.

The only thing I’d change from her email is the small hyperlink to booking a call. I often see people bury this in their emails. Make it a nice BIG button so the eye is drawn to it. It’s the next natural step in her sales cycle so make sure people know how to take it.

GOT IT?

Now, what can you do to play with your emails this week?

Email Inspiration – nDash Onboarding

This week’s email comes from nDash.

They’re a content creation platform to hire freelancer writers and influencers. Genius company idea, right?

I loved this new customer onboarding email. As much as people neglect welcoming new email subscribers, they neglect onboarding new clients and customers.

Any time you need more information from a new customer or client, sending them an automated message requesting that information is key.

We often assume too much of our customers. We forget that they are inundated with messaging throughout their day.

Taking a few extra steps to set up their account or make the most out of your product or service isn’t intuitive. 

Customers appreciate some handholding. (And who doesn’t love holding hands!? ?)  

Take a scroll, check out this New Client Onboarding email and then read the 3 things that are worth repeating.

Credit: Really Good Emails

Here’s what you should copy from this email: 

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STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE: 


They offer clear steps on how to complete an account with explicit calls-to-action.

Do you innately know how to complete an account every time you sign up for something? 

If you answered yes, please stop bragging. No one likes it. ?

If you answered no, you’re like 99% of the rest of us.

Don’t assume your clients or customers know how to use that fancy new product or service you just sold them. Make sure they know what to expect after placing their order or booking your service.

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ICONS: 

Look at their icons! They greyed out the incomplete steps.

And look how they made the first one a green check mark!

Clever, no?

I bet as they complete each step, they get a new email with a pretty green check mark next to the item they just completed.

And who doesn’t love a green check!? 

It’s like the adult equivalent of a gold star sticker. So satisfying to check something off of your to-do list.

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CTA Button: 

? I like big buttons and I cannot lie.?

Oh, boy. I just did that. In a blog post. That is read by professional people. Yikes.

It’s okay. I can recover from that.

But seriously. Look at the clear call-to-action in this email. 

Do I know exactly what they want me to do? YES! They want me to complete my profile, and in order to do that, I need to sign in to my accounts.

Good one, nDash. Just telling the people how to make the most out of the account they just signed up for.

GOT IT?

Now, what can you do to play with your emails this week?

Email Inspiration – TheHustle Welcome

This week’s email comes from The Hustle.

Their business is newsletters. Literally news-letters.

They’re part of the recent boom of daily email news digests. Too busy/tired to read/listen to the news?

Their daily emails send you the headlines plus a little extra from the business world.

Take a scroll, check out this copy heavy Welcome email and then read the 3 things that make it worth repeating.

Here’s what I love about this email:

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ALL COPY: There is a lot of discussion about images in email. I get asked about it frequently from people managing their own email campaigns. How many images do you use? How much copy?

It depends on your industry. If you’re a design-driven brand, then yes, visuals are a must.

A copy-only email has its time and place. They can improve your inbox placement for one. They also have a shorter load time on devices. (images take longer to load). That’s important for people experiencing slow internet connections.

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FRIENDLINESS: Look how friendly this email is!

I feel like I’m already friends with the CEO of The Hustle. Sam is directly addressing me, the reader and what it means for someone to sign up for emails. 

Giving someone your personal information (i.e. email address) is a trust thing at the end of the day, and Sam put my fears at ease (and makes me LOL)

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SHORT AND SWEET:  This email is concise. 

Big, long blocks of text make people’s eyes glaze over. You expect me to read all of that!?

This email includes LOTS of line breaks and plenty of spacing between the lines. (It’s also called line height.)

Got it? Now. What can you do to play with your emails this week?

Email Inspiration – Moosejaw Welcome Email

This week’s email comes from Moosejaw.

I have to give this Michigan-based company a shout out for a couple of reasons.

  1. They’re in Michigan (duh.)
  2. Their email game is STRONG. They send out some of the most fun and entertaining emails. If you’re not signed up for them, go. do. it. now.


Take a scroll, check out this amazing Welcome email and then read the 3 things that make it worth repeating.

Here’s what I love about this email:

HEADLINE:  Look at the big, beautiful headline. They are using simple typography and graphic elements to really make it shine.

THE OFFER: It’s simple, straight forward and right up top in a graphic that immediately gets a reaction from me. Those girls look like they’re having fun. How do I hang out with them????

But seriously. I often find welcome offers buried. Make sure they are visible. It’s usually why someone signs up in the first place. 

SUPPLEMENTAL CONTENT: This welcome email has graphic banners at the bottom that highlights specific elements about the brand they want you to know. They’re proud of the brands they carry and want you to check out their rewards program. 

They are using graphic images for this part of their content. You can also just include large text if visual design isn’t your thing.

Got it? Now. What can you do to play with your emails this week?

Email Inspiration – WePresent

This week’s email comes from WePresent.

Take a scroll, check out its amazingness and then read the 3 things that make this email amazing. And how you can replicate those elements today.

Here’s what I love about this email:

WHITESPACE:  Look at all of that white space. Do not be afraid of it. It lets all of the content stand out so incredibly well – including headlines, subheads and links.

Here’s how you can add more white space to your emails:

  1. Add more padding around blocks of text, headlines and links.
  2. Add spacers between each section of the email. That white space will effectively work as a divider. 

ILLUSTRATIONS: I love these big, beautiful illustrations that are wrapped in white space to emphasize a specific theme with the email. It’s a great way to break up different sections of the email. Alternatively, icons work really well to get the same effect. 

Don’t have access to an illustrator? Canva has a ton of different graphics and icons you can use for free.

BEAUTIFUL AND SIMPLE HEADER IMAGE: Did that header image get your attention? Mine too. It’s big, beautiful and simple. It leads your eye down to the introductory paragraph that gets you write into the visually appealing and simple content

Got it? Now. What can you do to play with your emails this week?