A behavior-based email sequence guides every new user from signup to their first key action, lifting activation without any manual work.
Typical results
0
onboarding emails sent by hand
100%
of new users enter the sequence instantly
6 hrs
of founder time back every week
Figures reflect typical results for this kind of automation.
The challenge
New users signed up but rarely reached the product's core value, and the small team had no time to send timely follow-ups by hand.
Before and after
First-week activation rate
+22%Time to first key action
−56%Hours on manual follow-ups per week
−100%The automation
We built a multi-step email sequence in which messages adapt to each user's progress, so people who complete a step skip ahead and stalled users get a focused nudge.
How it works
- 01
User signs up
Every new signup enters the onboarding sequence automatically.
- 02
Behavior tracked
The flow watches which onboarding steps each user actually completes.
- 03
Emails adapt
Users who finish a step skip ahead; stalled users get a focused nudge.
- 04
User reaches core value
Well-timed pointers guide each person to their first key action.
- 05
Activation climbs
First-week activation rises 22% — with zero manual sends from the team.
Starts from
- New signup
Delivers
- Onboarding emails
The impact
Activation within the first week rose by 22%, and the founders no longer manage onboarding messages by hand.
Questions about this automation
How does the sequence know what each user has done in the product?
The product sends events, such as account created, first project set up or teammate invited, to the email platform through an API or a webhook. Each email in the sequence checks those events before sending, so a user who already finished a step skips that email and gets the next relevant one instead.
What does a typical onboarding sequence include?
Usually five to seven emails over the first two weeks: a welcome with one clear first step, short guides for the next key actions, a nudge for users who stall for a few days, and a check-in that offers help. Each email points to one action and links straight to the right screen.
What is needed to get started?
Access to the email platform, a list of the product events that mark real progress, and a short definition of the first key action that counts as activation. Existing email copy can be reused or rewritten. Simple automations like this are usually live within days once the events are flowing.