If you’re staring at a pile of new leads and thinking, "I should probably follow up, but who has time to chase everyone down?", you’re in the right place. Setting up automated email sequences can save your sanity, help you convert more leads, and keep your follow-ups from falling through the cracks. This guide is for anyone using Packedwithpurpose who wants to nurture leads without babysitting every email.
Let’s get to it—no fluff, just the steps, the pitfalls, and what actually works.
Why Automated Email Sequences Matter (and When They Don’t)
Before you get lost in settings and templates, let’s be honest: automation isn’t magic. A good email sequence keeps you top-of-mind with leads, nudges them toward a decision, and frees you up for more important work. But if your emails are boring or irrelevant, no amount of automation will rescue you. Use automation to handle the grunt work, not to replace real connection when it matters.
When it works:
- You have a steady drip of new leads.
- You want to educate, not just sell.
- You’re tired of copy-pasting the same email 50 times.
When to skip it:
- You’re dealing with a handful of high-touch leads—manually craft those.
- Your product or service needs custom follow-ups every time.
Okay, still with me? Let’s set it up.
Step 1: Get Your Lead Sources Sorted
Automated emails are only as good as your list. If you’ve got a messy spreadsheet or leads spread across a dozen sources, tidy up first. Packedwithpurpose lets you import leads directly or connect with CRMs (if you’ve got that set up).
Pro tips: - Only import leads who’ve given permission to be contacted. No one likes spam. - Tag your leads based on how they came in (event, website, referral, etc.). It makes targeting much easier later.
To do: 1. Export your leads as a CSV if they’re not already in Packedwithpurpose. 2. Use the import tool or CRM sync to bring them in. 3. Double-check for duplicates or outdated contacts—clean lists get better results.
Step 2: Map Out Your Nurture Sequence Before You Click Anything
Don’t let the software dictate your strategy. Sketch out your sequence on paper or in a doc first. Think about: - How many emails? Most nurture sequences run 3–6 emails over 2–4 weeks. - What’s the goal? Book a call, download a guide, reply with questions—pick one. - What’s the story? Each email should build on the last. Start with value, not a sales pitch.
A basic structure that works: 1. Welcome — Thanks for signing up/connecting. 2. Resource — Helpful content, not a hard sell. 3. Social proof — Quick case study or testimonial. 4. Soft offer — Invite them to a call, demo, or next step. 5. Reminder — Nudge if they haven’t responded.
Skip:
- Huge walls of text.
- Overly generic “just checking in” emails.
Step 3: Build Your Sequence in Packedwithpurpose
Now, get into the tool and translate your plan into actual emails. Here’s how:
1. Open the Email Automation/Sequences Section
- Log in to your Packedwithpurpose dashboard.
- Find the “Automations” or “Email Sequences” tab (naming may change, but it’s usually obvious).
- Hit “Create Sequence” or similar.
2. Set Up Triggers
Decide what starts your sequence. Usually: - When a lead is added to a list or tagged. - When a form is filled out. - After a specific event (like a download).
If in doubt, start simple: trigger on new lead added to your main list.
3. Write and Schedule Each Email
- Use your mapped-out sequence.
- Write directly in the email editor, or paste from your doc.
- Set delays between emails (e.g., Day 1, Day 4, Day 8…).
What works: - Short subject lines that sound human, not market-y. - Clear calls-to-action (just one per email). - Personalization—use the person’s name or company where possible, but don’t overdo it. “Hey [First Name]” is fine; “Hey [First Name], how’s the weather in [City]?”... not so much.
What to ignore: - Fancy HTML templates unless you’re in e-commerce. Simple text gets better replies. - Overloading with images or gifs—these often get flagged as spam.
4. Set Exit Conditions
You want people to drop out of the sequence if they reply, book a meeting, or take your main action. - Look for “Remove from sequence if…” options. - At minimum, remove folks if they reply or convert.
Step 4: Test Everything Before Going Live
This is where most people get burned. Don’t trust the preview—send test emails to yourself and a colleague.
- Check for typos, broken links, and weird formatting.
- Test personalization tags: make sure “Hi [First Name]” doesn’t turn into “Hi {LEAD_FNAME}.”
- Click every link. Every. Single. One.
Bonus: Try signing up as a lead using a different email and see the full flow. You’ll spot issues you’d miss otherwise.
Step 5: Turn It On (But Keep a Close Eye)
Once you’re happy with your tests, hit the launch button. But don’t walk away just yet.
- Monitor for bounces, unsubscribes, or angry replies the first week.
- Tweak subject lines and copy if open rates or replies are low.
- If you get the same confused question from leads, add clarification to your next email.
Pro tip:
Don’t obsess over unsubscribes. They usually mean your message wasn’t relevant—better to focus on the people who stick around.
Step 6: Iterate Based on Real Results
No sequence is perfect out of the gate. Here’s how to improve:
- Track your numbers: Open rates, reply rates, conversions. Ignore “vanity metrics” like how many people clicked a random link.
- A/B test a subject line or call-to-action if you have enough leads (100+ per sequence).
- Ask for feedback: If someone replies but doesn’t convert, politely ask what held them back.
What doesn’t work?
- Changing everything at once. You’ll have no idea what helped.
- Obsessing over small changes. If your sequence is getting replies and bookings, you’re on the right track.
What to Watch Out For
Let’s be real—automation can backfire if you set it and forget it. Here’s what to avoid:
- Sending too often: You’re nurturing, not nagging. 2–4 days between emails is usually safe.
- Over-personalization: If it feels creepy, it probably is.
- Ignoring replies: If someone responds, stop the automation and reply like a human.
Automation is a tool, not a replacement for genuine interaction. The best sequences feel personal, not robotic.
Wrapping Up
Automated email sequences in Packedwithpurpose can seriously lighten your workload and help you convert more leads—if you keep things simple, test before launching, and stay ready to tweak. Don’t overthink it: start with a basic sequence, watch what happens, and improve from there. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s progress—and a little less inbox chaos.