So you want to actually get replies to your emails—not just send another message into the void. If you’re using Allegrow, you’re probably chasing better deliverability and more real conversations, not just a prettier dashboard. This guide is for people who want to send personalized follow-ups that don’t feel like spam, and who want to spend less time fiddling with software and more time getting actual responses.
Here’s how to schedule and send follow-up emails that don’t suck, step by step.
1. Get Your Account Set Up Right
If you’re new to Allegrow, don’t skip the basics. Spam filters are getting pickier by the day, and Allegrow’s whole schtick is helping your emails look less like spam and more like real outreach.
- Warm up your inbox. Allegrow offers automated inbox warming. Turn it on. This builds a reputation for your sending address.
- Connect your email account. Use OAuth if you can (it’s more secure and less hassle). If you’re using a custom SMTP, double-check your settings—mistyped ports or passwords will waste hours.
- Check your sending limits. Don’t try to blast hundreds of messages on day one. Even if Allegrow lets you ramp up, start slow. If you’re coming from nowhere, 20–50 a day is reasonable.
Pro tip: Don’t ignore your DNS records. If you see any “missing SPF/DKIM/DMARC” warnings, fix them. Those acronyms aren’t sexy, but they’re the difference between inbox and spam.
2. Import or Build Your Contact List
Personalization starts with a good list. Garbage in, garbage out.
- Import CSVs. Allegrow lets you upload contacts via CSV. Clean your lists first—duplicates, typos, and weird formatting will trip you up.
- Map custom fields. The more data you map (like First Name, Company, Last Interaction), the more personal you can get. Don’t just settle for “Name” and “Email.”
- Tag or segment your contacts. Allegrow isn’t a full-blown CRM, but simple tags (like “Leads – March” or “Webinar Attendee”) make follow-ups much smarter.
What to skip: Don’t bother with lists scraped off the internet. They’re mostly dead addresses or spam traps. If you’re buying a list, you’re already losing.
3. Write Your Initial Email (Keep It Human)
Before you think about scheduling a follow-up, your first email needs to sound like you—a person, not a robot.
- Keep it short. Two or three sentences is plenty.
- Use merge fields. Allegrow’s placeholders (like
{First Name}or{Company}) make each email feel one-to-one. But don’t overdo it—bad merge fields stick out like a sore thumb. - Ban the buzzwords. No “cutting-edge solutions” or “synergies.” Write the way you’d talk to a real human.
Example:
Hi {First Name},
Saw your recent post about {Topic}. Curious—are you still dealing with {Pain Point}? If it’s easier to chat, let me know.
Pro tip: Send a copy to yourself first. If it sounds fake or awkward, rewrite it.
4. Set Up Your Follow-Up Sequence
Now for the meat of it: scheduling personalized follow-ups in Allegrow.
a. Create a Sequence
- Navigate to the “Sequences” or “Campaigns” tab (Allegrow calls this “Sequences” as of this writing).
- Click “New Sequence.”
- Name your sequence something you’ll recognize later. (“March Demo Requests” beats “Sequence 1.”)
b. Add Your First Follow-Up Step
- After your initial email, add a new step.
- Choose “Send Email” as the action.
- Set the timing—waiting 2–4 days is typical. Don’t follow up the next morning; give people space.
What works: - Reference your first email, but don’t guilt-trip the recipient for not replying. - Make each follow-up shorter than the last. - Vary your subject lines if Allegrow allows it—“Just following up” is boring.
Example follow-up:
Hi {First Name},
Just checking if you saw my note below. If this isn’t relevant, let me know—I won’t bug you again.
c. Personalize Each Step
- Allegrow lets you edit each email step individually. Use this.
- Drop in custom fields where they fit, but don’t force it. “Hi {First Name} at {Company},” feels robotic.
- If you uploaded extra data (like “Last Product Used” or “Location”), weave it in naturally.
Pro tip: Don’t overthink personalization. One well-placed detail beats a wall of generic merge fields.
5. Schedule and Review
Now, let’s actually get these emails out the door.
- Schedule send times. Allegrow will let you pick days and times for each email. Stick to weekdays and working hours for B2B. For B2C, test what works—there’s no magic hour.
- Set sending windows. Staggering sends (e.g., only send between 8am–5pm, local time) helps avoid spam filters and looks more natural.
- Preview your sequence. Always use the preview function. Allegrow shows you exactly what your emails look like with real data plugged in.
- Test with your own address. Send a few test emails to yourself or a teammate before launching the whole campaign.
What to skip: Don’t obsess over hyper-precise send times. Recipients open emails when they open them—your subject and timing matter, but not as much as the message itself.
6. Set Up Reply and Opt-Out Handling
If your follow-ups are any good, people will reply—or ask you to stop.
- Automatic removal: Allegrow can remove contacts who reply from future steps. Make sure this is turned on, or you’ll look like a pest.
- Easy opt-out: Include a simple opt-out line (“Just reply ‘no’ if you’re not interested” works; you don’t need fancy unsubscribe links unless you’re in a regulated industry).
- Monitor replies: Don’t trust any automation to be perfect. Check your inbox for actual replies, not just “opens” and “clicks” in the dashboard.
7. Launch and Monitor
You’re ready to launch. This is where most guides would say “sit back and watch the replies roll in”—but let’s be honest, it usually takes some tweaking.
- Monitor deliverability. Allegrow gives you spam and bounce stats. If you see a spike in bounces or sudden drops in opens, pause and investigate.
- Tweak your copy. If no one’s replying, your message probably needs work. Try new subject lines, shorter bodies, or better personalization.
- Don’t chase vanity metrics. Opens and clicks are nice, but replies are what matter. One thoughtful reply beats 100 opens.
8. Tips, Pitfalls, and What to Ignore
A few truths about follow-up emails that the marketing gurus won’t tell you:
- More isn’t always better. Three emails is usually enough. If someone doesn’t reply after that, they’re probably not interested.
- Don’t fake urgency. “Last chance!” subject lines rarely work and can trash your reputation.
- Avoid generic templates. If you found a template online, so did 10,000 other people. Personalize or risk sounding like spam.
- Don’t rely on automation for everything. Allegrow automates the sending, not the relationship. If a real conversation starts, take it out of the tool and into your inbox.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate, and Don’t Overthink It
Personalized, scheduled follow-ups in Allegrow aren’t rocket science, but they do take some thought. Start with a clean list, write like a human, and automate only what makes sense. Pay attention to the replies—not just the stats. If you’re not getting traction, tweak your message, not just your sending schedule.
And remember: less is more. A short, relevant follow-up beats a 10-step sequence every time. Good luck—now get out there and actually get some replies.