If you’re tired of sending “one-size-fits-all” emails that land with a thud, you’re not alone. This guide is for anyone who wants to stop blasting generic newsletters and actually connect with people—without getting lost in a maze of confusing features. We’ll walk through setting up personalized email sequences in Magicallygenius, dialing in what matters, and skipping the fluff.
Why bother with personalized email sequences?
Let’s get one thing out of the way: most marketing emails are boring. People ignore them because they aren’t relevant. But if your emails feel like they were written for a real person (not a spreadsheet), you’ll see more replies, clicks, and actual engagement.
Personalized email sequences aren’t magic, but when done right, they:
- Warm up new leads without annoying them.
- Onboard new users with info they actually need.
- Re-engage people who’ve gone quiet.
- Move deals forward (if you’re in sales).
But you’ve got to keep it human and not go overboard with creepy personalization (“Hey, saw you bought socks last Tuesday at 4:32pm…”).
Step 1: Get clear on your goal (seriously, don’t skip this)
Before you even log into Magicallygenius, get specific about what you want your sequence to do. “Boost engagement” is vague. Better examples:
- Get new trial users to actually use a key feature.
- Nudge leads to book a demo.
- Bring back existing customers who haven’t logged in for a month.
Write your goal down. Refer to it as you set up your sequence. If you try to do everything, you’ll end up with a mess.
Pro tip: If you can’t describe your desired outcome in one sentence, you’re not ready to write any emails.
Step 2: Map out your sequence (on paper, not in the app yet)
Don’t start building in Magicallygenius yet. Grab a sheet of paper or open a blank doc and sketch out:
- How many emails? (Usually 3–5 is enough. More than 7 and people get annoyed.)
- Timing: How many days between each email?
- Triggers: Does the next email send only if they don’t reply? Or no matter what?
- What does each email do? (Welcome, teach a tip, offer help, ask for feedback, etc.)
Example for onboarding new users:
- Welcome email (immediately): Friendly hello, what to expect.
- Quick win (Day 2): Show a feature that saves time.
- Proof (Day 5): Share a short case study or testimonial.
- Nudge (Day 7): Reminder to finish setup or reach out with questions.
Keep it simple. You can always add more later.
Step 3: Write your emails (keep it human)
Write your emails like you’d send them to a real person. Forget fancy graphics or corporate speak.
Things that work: - Use the recipient’s name, but don’t overdo it. - Reference something specific to them (e.g. “Saw you signed up yesterday…”). - Keep it short. 2–4 sentences usually beats a wall of text. - End with a clear, simple call-to-action (“Reply and let me know…” or “Click here to book a call”).
Things that don’t work: - Overusing merge tags (“Hi {{firstname}}, as a {{jobtitle}} at {{company}}…” just feels robotic). - Fake urgency (“Only 2 spots left!” when there aren’t). - Writing like a robot or trying to sound “disruptive.”
Pro tip: Read each email out loud. If it makes you cringe, rewrite it.
Step 4: Set up your sequence in Magicallygenius
Alright, now open up Magicallygenius and log in.
- Go to the Sequences section.
- Usually, this is under “Automation” or “Campaigns.” If you can’t find it, use search. (The UI changes sometimes.)
- Create a new sequence.
- Give it a clear name, like “Onboarding – July 2024” or “Win-back – Q2 leads.” Don’t get clever—you’ll thank yourself later.
- Add your emails.
- Paste in your emails, set the subject lines, and double-check personalization fields. Preview what each email looks like with sample data.
- Set delays between emails (e.g., “Send 2 days after previous”).
- Choose triggers (e.g., skip next email if user replies).
- Assign your audience.
- Pick a segment or upload a list. If you’re not sure about your data, test with a small group first.
- Make sure you’re not blasting your entire list with an onboarding series.
- Set up tracking and goal actions.
- Magicallygenius lets you track opens, clicks, and replies. Set up a goal (e.g., “User logs in” or “Books a demo”) so you can see if your sequence is working.
- If a user hits the goal, you can automatically stop future emails.
What to ignore: - Fancy “AI subject line” suggestions. Half the time they’re generic or weird. - Overly complicated branching logic—start with a straight line, then add complexity if you need it.
Step 5: Test your sequence (don’t skip this)
Send every email to yourself and a teammate. Click every link. Reply to at least one. Here’s what to look for:
- Does the email actually make sense with your sample data?
- Are there any embarrassing typos or broken links?
- Does the timing feel natural, or is it too aggressive?
- Do replies go where you expect?
Pro tip: If you’re nervous about annoying people, cut one email from your sequence. Less is usually more.
Step 6: Launch with a small group, then expand
Don’t blast your whole list right away. Pick a small, forgiving segment (like colleagues or “friendly” customers). Watch what happens:
- Are people replying?
- Any complaints or unsubscribes?
- Are you hitting your goal (e.g., more logins, demo bookings)?
- Is anything breaking?
Tweak as needed, then roll out to a bigger group.
What to watch out for: - Sudden spike in unsubscribes? Your emails might be too frequent or irrelevant. - Zero replies or clicks? Your content might be too generic—or your list is stale.
Step 7: Check results, then iterate
After a week or two, look at your stats:
- Open rates: If it’s below 30%, your subject lines need work.
- Click rates: Under 2%? Maybe your call-to-action isn’t clear.
- Replies: If you’re getting them, you’re on the right track.
But don’t obsess over every metric. If your sequence moves people closer to your goal, that’s success.
What works, what doesn’t, and what to ignore
Works: - Short, friendly emails written like a person. - Clear, specific calls-to-action. - Keeping your sequence focused on one goal.
Doesn’t work: - Sending 10+ emails and hoping for the best. - Relying on “personalization” that’s just a bunch of merge fields. - Blindly following marketing “best practices” without testing for yourself.
Ignore: - Shiny new features that promise “hyper-personalization.” Most are just more ways to annoy people. - Over-complicated analytics dashboards. Look at big trends, not every tiny stat.
Keep it simple—and iterate
Don’t overthink it. Set up a basic sequence, send it to a small group, and see what happens. Tweak your emails based on real feedback. If you’re not sure what to write, start with fewer emails and make them as human as possible. You can always add more later.
Personalized email sequences in Magicallygenius aren’t about showing off every feature—they’re about actually connecting with people. Stick with what works, and don’t be afraid to keep things simple.