How to build welcome email sequence on ConvertKit

beginner 8 min read Updated 2026-03-18

Quick Answer

Building a welcome email sequence in ConvertKit involves creating a visual automation that triggers when subscribers join your list. You'll set up multiple emails with delays between them to nurture new subscribers over time.

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Prerequisites

Active ConvertKit account
Basic understanding of email marketing
Content prepared for your welcome emails
Target audience defined

Step-by-Step Instructions

Navigate to Visual Automations

Log into your ConvertKit account and click on Automations in the main navigation menu. Then select Visual Automations from the dropdown. Click the Create New Automation button to start building your welcome sequence.

Visual automations are more flexible than sequences and allow for complex branching logic.

Set Up the Trigger

Click Add Trigger and select Subscribes to form or Added to tag depending on how subscribers will enter your sequence. If using a form trigger, select your specific opt-in form from the dropdown menu. Name your automation something descriptive like Welcome Series - New Subscribers.

Using tag triggers gives you more control over who enters the sequence.

Create Your First Welcome Email

Click the + button below your trigger and select Send Email. Click Create New Email and choose your email type (broadcast or template). Write your welcome email with a compelling subject line, introduce yourself or your brand, set expectations for future emails, and include a clear call-to-action. Save the email when complete.

Keep your first email short and focus on delivering immediate value or the lead magnet you promised.

Add Delays Between Emails

Click the + button below your first email and select Wait. Set your desired delay using the dropdown menus - common intervals are 1-3 days for welcome sequences. You can choose to wait for a specific number of days, hours, or until a specific day of the week.

Test different delay intervals to find what works best for your audience engagement.

Build Additional Sequence Emails

Repeat the process of adding emails and delays to create your complete welcome sequence. Typical welcome sequences include 3-7 emails covering topics like: your story, best content/resources, social proof, and a soft pitch for your products or services. Each email should provide value while building relationship with subscribers.

Plan your sequence content in advance and maintain a consistent tone throughout all emails.

Configure Email Settings

For each email in your sequence, click on the email block to edit settings. Verify the From Name and From Email are correct. Set up proper Reply-to addresses. Consider enabling Link Tracking to monitor engagement. Preview emails on both desktop and mobile devices before saving.

Use a personal name in the 'From' field to increase open rates and build personal connection.

Test and Activate Your Sequence

Before going live, use ConvertKit's Test feature by clicking the test button in the top right corner. Add yourself as a test subscriber to experience the entire sequence. Check email timing, content flow, and all links. Once satisfied, click Turn On to activate your welcome sequence automation.

Always test your sequence with a real email address to catch any formatting or timing issues.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Emails not sending automatically

Verify your automation is turned on and check that your trigger conditions are properly configured. Ensure subscribers are actually triggering the automation by checking the Activity tab.

Subscribers receiving duplicate emails

Check if subscribers are entering the sequence multiple times. Add a filter condition to prevent re-entry, or use the Has received email condition to avoid duplicates.

Low open rates on sequence emails

Test different subject lines and send times. Ensure your from name is recognizable and consider personalizing subject lines with {{ first_name }} merge tags.

Broken links or formatting issues

Always preview emails before activating and test all links. Check how emails appear on mobile devices using ConvertKit's preview feature. Verify merge tags are working correctly by sending test emails.

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