Email Marketing Engine

Email Marketing Engine

Complete methodology for building, running, and optimizing email marketing — from domain setup to revenue attribution. Covers lifecycle email (newsletters, onboarding, retention) AND cold outreach (prospecting, personalization, follow-up). No API keys, no paid tools required.

Domain Authentication Checklist

Before sending a single email, complete ALL of these: domain_auth: spf: record: "v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com include:[esp-domain] ~all" check: "nslookup -type=txt yourdomain.com" status: pending # pending | configured | verified dkim: selector: "google" # or ESP-specific key_length: 2048 # minimum status: pending dmarc: policy: "v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com; pct=100" progression: "none → quarantine → reject (over 4 weeks)" status: pending bimi: logo_format: "SVG Tiny 1.2" vmc_certificate: false # optional but increases trust reverse_dns: pending custom_return_path: pending

Domain Warm-Up Schedule

New domain or IP? Follow this exactly: WeekDaily VolumeTarget AudienceContent Type120-50Known engaged contactsPersonal, high-value250-150Recent subscribersWelcome + best content3150-500Active segment (opened 30d)Mix of content types4500-1500Broader active listRegular campaigns51500-5000Full active listNormal operations6+Scale 20%/weekFull list minus unengagedAll campaign types Warm-up rules: Send to Gmail/Outlook first (strictest filters = best signal) Get replies during warm-up — ask questions, request feedback If bounce rate exceeds 3% at any stage, STOP and clean list Monitor Google Postmaster Tools daily during warm-up Never skip weeks — rebuilding from a spam flag takes 3-6 months

Sender Reputation Monitoring

Check these weekly: reputation_dashboard: google_postmaster: domain_reputation: high # high | medium | low | bad spam_rate: 0.02% # must stay under 0.1% authentication: pass encryption: tls blacklists: check_url: "https://mxtoolbox.com/blacklists.aspx" listed_on: [] # any listing = immediate action bounce_tracking: hard_bounces: 0.3% # remove immediately, never re-send soft_bounces: 1.2% # retry 3x, then suppress complaint_rate: 0.04% # above 0.1% = emergency inbox_placement: gmail: 94% outlook: 91% yahoo: 88% corporate: 85% Emergency response if reputation drops: Immediately reduce volume by 75% Send ONLY to most engaged segment (opened in 7 days) Pause all cold outreach and promotional campaigns Review last 5 campaigns for content triggers Check for spam trap hits (sudden bounces from old addresses) Rebuild gradually over 2-4 weeks

List Growth Strategy

Organic growth methods (ranked by quality): MethodQualityVolumeSetup EffortContent upgrade (in-article)★★★★★MediumMediumWebinar/event registration★★★★★Low-MedHighFree tool/calculator★★★★☆HighHighNewsletter referral program★★★★☆MediumMediumExit-intent popup★★★☆☆HighLowSocial media bio link★★★☆☆LowLowCo-marketing swap★★★☆☆MediumMediumGated whitepaper/report★★★☆☆MediumMediumContest/giveaway★★☆☆☆HighMediumPurchased list☆☆☆☆☆HighLow Never buy lists. Purchased lists contain spam traps, kill deliverability, and violate GDPR/CAN-SPAM. The "shortcut" costs more than building organically.

Lead Magnet Framework

Every opt-in needs a compelling reason: lead_magnet: name: "[Specific Outcome] [Format]" format: checklist | template | calculator | swipe_file | mini_course | report promise: "What specific result will they get?" time_to_value: "< 5 minutes" # faster = higher conversion quality_bar: "Would someone pay $20 for this?" delivery: immediate # never gate behind "check your email in 24h" # Opt-in page elements headline: "[Number] [Outcome] without [Pain]" subhead: "One specific proof point or social proof" bullet_1: "Specific benefit with number" bullet_2: "Addresses main objection" bullet_3: "Speed/ease promise" form_fields: [email] # name optional, more fields = lower conversion cta_button: "Get the [Format]" # never "Submit" social_proof: "[X] people downloaded this week"

Segmentation Architecture

Core segments (minimum viable): segments: lifecycle: - new_subscriber: definition: "Joined < 14 days ago" treatment: "Welcome sequence, daily for 2 weeks" - active: definition: "Opened or clicked in last 30 days" treatment: "Full campaigns, all content types" - cooling: definition: "No opens 30-60 days" treatment: "Reduced frequency, best content only" - dormant: definition: "No opens 60-90 days" treatment: "Re-engagement sequence" - dead: definition: "No opens > 90 days, re-engagement failed" treatment: "Remove from list (improves deliverability)" - customer: definition: "Has purchased" treatment: "Retention, upsell, referral" - vip: definition: "Top 10% by engagement OR revenue" treatment: "Early access, exclusives, personal touch" behavioral: - clicked_pricing: "Sales-ready, trigger demo offer" - downloaded_resource: "Interested in [topic], nurture there" - visited_3x_week: "High intent, accelerate sequence" - opened_not_clicked: "Subject works, content needs help" - clicked_not_converted: "Interest without action, address objection" demographic: - by_role: "[CEO, VP, Manager, IC]" - by_company_size: "[1-10, 11-50, 51-200, 201-1000, 1000+]" - by_industry: "[SaaS, Ecommerce, Finance, Healthcare, etc.]"

List Hygiene Protocol

Run monthly: List Hygiene Checklist: □ Remove all hard bounces (immediately, never re-add) □ Suppress soft bounces with 3+ consecutive failures □ Remove spam complainers (permanent suppress) □ Flag role addresses (info@, admin@, support@) — lower priority □ Identify spam traps (sudden old-domain bounces) □ Run email verification on new imports (NeverBounce, ZeroBounce) □ Sunset dormant subscribers (90 days no engagement) □ Merge duplicates (same email, different entries) □ Update preference center opt-outs □ Document list size change: [before] → [after] = [% change]

Welcome Sequence (7 emails, 14 days)

The most important sequence you'll ever write: welcome_sequence: email_1: timing: "Immediate (within 60 seconds)" subject: "Here's your [lead magnet] + a quick question" goal: "Deliver value, set expectations, get a reply" structure: - deliver_lead_magnet: "Direct download link, no hoops" - set_expectations: "Here's what you'll get from me and how often" - personal_question: "What's your biggest challenge with [topic]?" - ps: "Reply to this email — I read every response" why: "First email gets 50-80% open rate. Replies train inbox placement." email_2: timing: "Day 1 (24 hours)" subject: "The [thing] that changed everything for me" goal: "Build connection through story + deliver quick win" structure: - origin_story: "Why I care about [topic] (brief, 3-4 sentences)" - quick_win: "One actionable tip they can use in 5 minutes" - result: "What happened when I/client did this" email_3: timing: "Day 3" subject: "[Number] mistakes killing your [desired outcome]" goal: "Educate + position expertise" structure: - mistakes_list: "3-5 common mistakes with brief explanations" - reframe: "Why most advice about this is wrong" - bridge: "What to do instead (high-level)" email_4: timing: "Day 5" subject: "How [client/case study] achieved [specific result]" goal: "Social proof + belief building" structure: - situation: "Where they started (relatable)" - action: "What they did (your method)" - result: "Specific numbers and outcomes" - takeaway: "One thing the reader can apply today" email_5: timing: "Day 7" subject: "The complete guide to [core topic]" goal: "Deliver highest-value free content" structure: - comprehensive_resource: "Best blog post, guide, or video" - framework: "Your unique approach/methodology" - depth: "Go deeper than competitors dare" email_6: timing: "Day 10" subject: "Why most [people] fail at [goal] (and how to avoid it)" goal: "Address objections before selling" structure: - common_objections: "The 3 reasons people hesitate" - reframe_each: "Why each objection is actually a feature" - bridge_to_offer: "Subtle transition toward solution" email_7: timing: "Day 14" subject: "Quick question about [their goal]" goal: "Soft CTA — consultation, product, or next step" structure: - summary: "Quick recap of value delivered so far" - offer: "Clear, specific next step with benefit" - urgency: "Genuine reason to act now (not fake scarcity)" - ps: "Easy alternative if they're not ready"

Cold Outreach Sequence (5 emails, 21 days)

For prospects who don't know you: cold_outreach: principles: - "Research before writing — generic = spam" - "One ask per email — never multiple CTAs" - "Under 125 words — busy people skim" - "No HTML, no images — plain text performs 2x better" - "Personalize first 2 lines or don't send" - "Never lie about prior relationship ('We met at...' when you didn't)" email_1: timing: "Day 0" subject: "[First name], quick question about [their specific initiative]" template: | Hi [Name], Saw [specific thing — blog post, LinkedIn update, company news, job posting]. [One sentence connecting their situation to your value prop]. We helped [similar company] [specific result with numbers]. Worth a 15-min call to see if this applies to [their company]? [Your name] personalization_checklist: - "Reference something specific to THEM (not their industry)" - "Mention a trigger event (hiring, funding, product launch)" - "Name a competitor or peer who got results" email_2: timing: "Day 3" subject: "Re: [original subject]" template: | Hi [Name], Quick follow-up — wanted to share [relevant resource/case study] that shows how [peer company] solved [the problem you help with]. [One-line insight from the resource] Would this be relevant for [their company]? [Your name] note: "Add value, don't just 'bump' — bumps are lazy" email_3: timing: "Day 7" subject: "[Their company] + [your solution area]" template: | Hi [Name], [One specific observation about their business/website/product]. [What this typically means / costs them]. If you're seeing the same thing, I have 2-3 ideas that took [similar company] from [before] to [after]. Open to hearing them? [Your name] note: "Show you've done homework — specific observation > generic pitch" email_4: timing: "Day 14" subject: "Should I close the loop?" template: | Hi [Name], I've reached out a few times — totally understand if the timing isn't right. If [problem you solve] isn't a priority right now, no worries. But if it is, I'd love 15 minutes to share what's working for [industry] companies like [their company]. Either way, just let me know and I'll update my notes. [Your name] note: "Give them an easy out — reduces guilt, increases replies" email_5: timing: "Day 21" subject: "Closing the file on [their company]" template: | Hi [Name], Looks like [solving X] isn't a priority right now — totally get it. I'll close out my notes on [their company]. If things change down the road, here's my calendar link: [link] Wishing you and the team a great [quarter/year]. [Your name] note: "Breakup email — often gets the highest reply rate (20-30%)"

Personalization Framework

Move beyond {first_name}: personalization_levels: level_1_basic: # minimum viable - first_name - company_name - industry impact: "5-10% lift in opens" level_2_contextual: # good - role/title reference - company size tier messaging - industry-specific pain points - geographic reference impact: "15-25% lift in opens and clicks" level_3_behavioral: # great - reference their recent action (download, page visit, event) - mention content they engaged with - tailor offer to demonstrated interest impact: "30-50% lift in conversions" level_4_research: # cold outreach only - reference specific blog post/interview they wrote - mention recent company news (funding, launch, hire) - note a competitor move affecting them - connect to LinkedIn post or tweet they shared impact: "2-5x reply rate vs. generic"

Re-Engagement Sequence (3 emails)

For subscribers going dark (30-90 days no opens): re_engagement: email_1: timing: "Day 0 (triggered at 60 days no open)" subject: "Still interested in [topic]?" content: | We noticed you haven't opened our emails in a while. No hard feelings — priorities change. Here's what you missed: [link to best content from last 60 days] Want to stay on the list? Just click here: [re-confirm link] If not, we'll automatically remove you in 14 days. Either way, no spam — that's a promise. email_2: timing: "Day 7" subject: "Last chance: [special offer or best content piece]" content: "Offer genuine incentive — exclusive content, discount, or early access" email_3: timing: "Day 14" subject: "Goodbye (for now)" content: | We're removing you from our email list to keep things clean. If you ever want back in: [subscribe link] Thanks for being here — hope we helped along the way. action: "Auto-suppress after send. NEVER re-add without explicit re-opt-in."

Newsletter Framework

newsletter: frequency: weekly | biweekly # pick one and be consistent best_day: "Tuesday-Thursday, 9-11 AM recipient timezone" structure: hook: "Opening line — personal, topical, or contrarian (2 sentences max)" main_content: format: "1 deep piece OR 3-5 curated pieces with commentary" rule: "80% education, 20% promotion maximum" voice: "Write like you're emailing a smart friend" cta: "One clear ask — reply, click, share, or buy" ps: "Secondary link, personal note, or teaser for next issue" subject_line_formulas: curiosity: "[Number] things I learned about [topic] this week" utility: "How to [achieve X] without [pain Y]" contrarian: "Stop [common advice] — here's what works instead" news: "[Topic] just changed — here's what it means for you" personal: "I made a mistake with [topic] (here's what happened)" metrics_targets: open_rate: "> 35% (engaged list), > 20% (broad)" click_rate: "> 3%" reply_rate: "> 0.5%" unsubscribe: "< 0.3% per send"

Promotional Campaign Template

promotional: pre_launch: # 3-7 days before email_1: "Tease — 'Something's coming for [audience]'" email_2: "Behind-the-scenes — why we built this" launch: # Day of email_1: "Announcement — what it is, who it's for, how to get it" email_2: "Social proof — early results, testimonials" follow_up: # 3-7 days after email_1: "FAQ — address top objections" email_2: "Case study — detailed success story" email_3: "Last chance — genuine deadline or limit" rules: - "Never fake scarcity — if it's evergreen, don't say 'limited time'" - "Segment: don't pitch customers what they already own" - "Track revenue per email, not just clicks" - "3 promotional emails per month maximum (ratio to value emails)"

Transactional Email Optimization

Most companies waste transactional emails (70%+ open rate): transactional_upgrades: order_confirmation: must_have: "Order details, delivery estimate" add: "Onboarding tip, complementary product, referral ask" shipping_notification: must_have: "Tracking link, delivery date" add: "Setup guide, community invite, content recommendation" receipt: must_have: "Amount, description, support contact" add: "Usage tips, upgrade path, review request (after delivery)" password_reset: must_have: "Reset link, security note" add: "Account security tips, feature reminder" rule: "Transactional emails MUST remain primarily transactional. Marketing content should be secondary and relevant."

Testing Protocol

ab_testing: minimum_sample: 1000 # per variant for statistical significance confidence_level: 95% # don't declare winners below this priority_order: # test in this order for maximum impact 1: "Subject line (biggest lever — 30-50% impact on opens)" 2: "Send time (10-20% impact)" 3: "From name (15-25% impact — personal name vs brand)" 4: "CTA copy and placement (20-40% impact on clicks)" 5: "Email length (varies wildly by audience)" 6: "Plain text vs HTML" 7: "Personalization depth" 8: "Preheader text" methodology: split: "20% test / 80% winner (for subject lines)" duration: "Wait minimum 4 hours before declaring winner" isolation: "Change ONE variable per test" documentation: "Log every test result — institutional knowledge" test_log_template: date: "YYYY-MM-DD" variable: "Subject line | Send time | CTA | etc." variant_a: "Description" variant_b: "Description" sample_size: "N per variant" metric: "Open rate | Click rate | Conversion" result_a: "X%" result_b: "Y%" winner: "A | B | No significant difference" confidence: "95%+" learning: "What we now know" next_test: "What to test based on this result"

Subject Line Scoring

Rate every subject line before sending: subject_line_rubric: length: score: 0-2 criteria: 2: "30-50 characters (optimal mobile display)" 1: "50-70 characters (acceptable)" 0: "> 70 characters (truncated on most devices)" specificity: score: 0-2 criteria: 2: "Contains a specific number, name, or outcome" 1: "Somewhat specific" 0: "Vague or generic" curiosity_gap: score: 0-2 criteria: 2: "Creates genuine curiosity without being clickbait" 1: "Mildly interesting" 0: "No reason to open" relevance: score: 0-2 criteria: 2: "Directly addresses recipient's known interest/pain" 1: "Generally relevant to audience" 0: "Could be for anyone" spam_risk: score: 0-2 criteria: 2: "No spam triggers, natural language" 1: "Minor risk factors (emoji, question mark)" 0: "ALL CAPS, exclamation!!!, 'Free', 'Act now'" total: "/10 — don't send below 7"

Email Copy Scoring

email_quality_rubric: clarity: weight: 25 criteria: 25: "One clear message, one CTA, instantly understood" 15: "Clear but slightly unfocused" 5: "Multiple messages competing for attention" value: weight: 25 criteria: 25: "Reader gains actionable insight or clear benefit" 15: "Somewhat useful" 5: "Self-serving with no reader benefit" voice: weight: 20 criteria: 20: "Sounds like a human wrote it to one person" 12: "Professional but slightly generic" 4: "Corporate-speak, AI-obvious, or template-y" structure: weight: 15 criteria: 15: "Scannable: short paragraphs, bold key points, bullets" 9: "Readable but dense" 3: "Wall of text, no formatting" mobile: weight: 15 criteria: 15: "Single column, large CTA, < 300 words, images optional" 9: "Mostly mobile-friendly" 3: "Multi-column, tiny links, image-heavy" total: "/100 — don't send below 70"

Prospect Research Template

Before writing a single cold email: prospect_research: person: full_name: "" title: "" linkedin_url: "" recent_post_or_article: "" career_trajectory: "" # where they came from mutual_connections: "" company: name: "" website: "" industry: "" employee_count: "" recent_news: "" # funding, launches, hires, awards tech_stack: "" # BuiltWith, Wappalyzer job_postings: "" # what they're hiring for = priorities trigger_events: # why NOW is the right time - "New funding round" - "New executive hire" - "Product launch" - "Competitor move" - "Industry regulation change" - "Job posting related to your solution" - "Negative review/complaint about current tool" connection_points: # personalization hooks - "Shared background/school/employer" - "Content they published" - "Conference they spoke at" - "Mutual connection" - "Specific challenge visible from outside"

Cold Email Deliverability Rules

Cold outreach has DIFFERENT rules than marketing email: cold_email_rules: domain: - "Use a separate domain for cold outreach (not your main domain)" - "Set up: outreach.yourdomain.com or yourdomain.co" - "Full SPF/DKIM/DMARC on the outreach domain" - "Warm up for minimum 2 weeks before sending" volume: - "Maximum 50 cold emails per day per inbox" - "Use multiple inboxes to scale (5 inboxes = 250/day)" - "Spread sends throughout the day (not all at once)" - "Randomize send times ±15 minutes" content: - "Plain text only — no HTML, no images, no tracking pixels" - "Under 125 words (3-4 short paragraphs)" - "No more than 1 link per email" - "Avoid spam trigger words (free, guaranteed, act now, limited)" - "Include physical address and opt-out mechanism" list: - "Verify every email address before sending (< 3% bounce)" - "Never send to catch-all domains without verification" - "Remove any email that bounces immediately" - "Respect unsubscribe within 24 hours"

Reply Handling Framework

reply_handling: positive: signals: ["interested", "tell me more", "let's talk", "send info"] response_time: "< 1 hour during business hours" action: | 1. Thank them specifically for what they said 2. Answer any questions in the reply 3. Propose 2-3 specific meeting times 4. Keep it short — they said yes, don't oversell objection: signals: ["too expensive", "not now", "using competitor", "not interested"] response_time: "< 4 hours" action: | 1. Acknowledge their concern genuinely 2. Address the specific objection (not a generic rebuttal) 3. Offer lighter alternative (case study, free resource) 4. Leave door open: "If things change, I'm here" referral: signals: ["talk to [name]", "not the right person", "try [department]"] action: | 1. Thank them warmly 2. Ask: "Would you mind making an intro, or should I reach out directly and mention you?" 3. Reference the referral in new outreach negative: signals: ["remove me", "stop emailing", "spam", "unsubscribe"] action: "Immediately suppress. Reply with brief apology. Never re-add."

Email Automation Map

automations: # Acquisition lead_magnet_download: trigger: "Form submission" action: "Deliver asset → Start welcome sequence → Tag by lead magnet topic" webinar_registration: trigger: "Registration" action: "Confirmation → 3 reminder emails → Post-event replay + offer" # Activation trial_signup: trigger: "Account created" sequence: day_0: "Welcome + first action to take" day_1: "Quick win tutorial" day_3: "Feature highlight relevant to their use case" day_5: "Case study from similar company" day_7: "Check-in: 'How's it going?'" day_10: "Advanced feature + upgrade nudge" day_13: "Trial ending reminder + offer" day_14: "Last day — decision time" # Revenue abandoned_cart: trigger: "Cart created, no purchase in 1 hour" sequence: 1_hour: "Forgot something? [Cart contents]" 24_hours: "Still thinking about it? [Social proof]" 72_hours: "Last chance + incentive (if margin allows)" recovery_rate_target: "5-15%" # Retention post_purchase: trigger: "Purchase completed" sequence: immediate: "Order confirmation + onboarding" day_3: "Setup tips + quick win" day_14: "Check-in + feature discovery" day_30: "Usage milestone celebration" day_60: "Case study request or testimonial ask" day_90: "Upsell/cross-sell relevant product" # Win-back churn_risk: trigger: "No login in 14 days (SaaS) or no purchase in 60 days (ecomm)" sequence: day_0: "We miss you — here's what's new" day_7: "Special offer to come back" day_14: "Cancellation survey + last offer" # Expansion nps_follow_up: trigger: "NPS score submitted" action: promoter_9_10: "Ask for review/referral + referral incentive" passive_7_8: "Ask what would make it a 10" detractor_0_6: "Personal outreach from CS + escalation"

Send Time Optimization

send_time_strategy: b2b: best: "Tuesday-Thursday, 9:00-11:00 AM recipient timezone" good: "Monday 10AM, Friday 9AM" avoid: "Friday afternoon, weekends, holidays" b2c: best: "Saturday 10AM, Sunday 6PM, Tuesday 8PM" good: "Weekday evenings 6-9PM" avoid: "Weekday mornings (competing with work email)" cold_outreach: best: "Tuesday-Thursday, 7:00-8:00 AM (before inbox floods)" good: "Monday 7AM, Thursday 4PM" avoid: "Weekends, lunch hour, Friday PM" advanced: - "Use ESP's send-time optimization if available" - "Test YOUR audience — benchmarks are averages, not your data" - "Consider timezone — segment by geography for large lists" - "Account for industry patterns (retail ≠ enterprise ≠ healthcare)"

Email Marketing Dashboard

Track weekly: dashboard: growth: list_size: 0 new_subscribers_this_week: 0 unsubscribes_this_week: 0 net_growth_rate: "0%" engagement: avg_open_rate: "0%" avg_click_rate: "0%" avg_reply_rate: "0%" click_to_open_rate: "0%" # clicks / opens — measures content quality health: bounce_rate: "0%" spam_complaint_rate: "0%" list_churn_rate: "0%" # (unsubs + bounces + complaints) / list size deliverability_rate: "0%" revenue: email_attributed_revenue: "$0" revenue_per_subscriber: "$0" revenue_per_email_sent: "$0" conversion_rate: "0%" cold_outreach: emails_sent: 0 open_rate: "0%" reply_rate: "0%" positive_reply_rate: "0%" meetings_booked: 0 pipeline_generated: "$0"

Revenue Attribution Model

attribution: last_touch: description: "Credit to last email before conversion" use_when: "Simple tracking, small list, direct sales" first_touch: description: "Credit to email that acquired the subscriber" use_when: "Measuring list-building ROI" linear: description: "Equal credit to all emails in journey" use_when: "Understanding full funnel contribution" time_decay: description: "More credit to emails closer to conversion" use_when: "Mature program with long sales cycles" calculation: | Email ROI = (Revenue attributed to email - Email costs) / Email costs × 100 Email costs include: - ESP subscription - Email verification tools - Content creation time (hourly rate × hours) - Design/template costs Industry benchmark: $36-42 return per $1 spent Healthy program: > $20 per $1 Needs work: < $10 per $1

Weekly Review Template

• ## Email Marketing Weekly Review — [Date]
• ### Growth
• List size: [N] ([+/-X] from last week, [Y%] growth)
• Top acquisition source: [source] ([N] new subs)
• Churn: [N] unsubscribes + [N] bounces = [X%] churn rate
• ### Campaign Performance
• | Campaign | Sent | Opens | Clicks | Unsubs | Revenue |
• |----------|------|-------|--------|--------|---------|
• | [name] | [N] | [X%] | [X%] | [N] | $[X] |
• ### Cold Outreach
• Sent: [N] | Opens: [X%] | Replies: [N] ([X%])
• Positive replies: [N] | Meetings booked: [N]
• Pipeline generated: $[X]
• ### A/B Test Results
• Test: [variable] — [A] vs [B]
• Winner: [variant] by [X%] ([confidence]% confidence)
• Learning: [insight]
• ### Health Check
• Deliverability: [X%] | Spam rate: [X%] | Blacklists: [clean/listed]
• Domain reputation: [high/medium/low]
• ### Next Week
• [ ] [Action item 1]
• [ ] [Action item 2]
• [ ] [Test to run]

Compliance Checklist by Region

compliance: can_spam_us: - "Include physical mailing address" - "Clear 'From' name — no deceptive headers" - "Subject line must reflect content" - "Identify as ad if promotional" - "One-click unsubscribe link in every email" - "Honor unsubscribe within 10 business days" - "No harvested or purchased emails" penalty: "Up to $51,744 per email violation" gdpr_eu_uk: - "Explicit opt-in consent (no pre-checked boxes)" - "Record consent: who, when, what, how" - "Right to be forgotten — delete on request within 30 days" - "Data portability — export subscriber data on request" - "Privacy policy link accessible" - "Legitimate interest for B2B cold outreach (document your basis)" - "Data Processing Agreement with ESP" penalty: "Up to €20M or 4% of annual revenue" casl_canada: - "Express consent required (implied consent expires after 2 years)" - "Sender identification + physical address" - "Unsubscribe processed within 10 business days" - "Record of consent for all recipients" penalty: "Up to $10M per violation" cold_email_specific: - "Separate domain from marketing (protect main domain)" - "Physical address in signature" - "Unsubscribe mechanism in every email" - "Legitimate business reason for contact" - "No misleading subject lines" - "Respect 'do not contact' requests permanently"

Multi-Language Email

Segment by language preference, never auto-translate and send Subject lines don't translate well — write natively for each language Cultural norms vary: formality, humor, directness, imagery Compliance differs by country — check local laws

Email + SMS Integration

Email for content/education, SMS for time-sensitive alerts Never send same message on both channels simultaneously SMS opt-in is separate from email — don't assume permission Use email for story, SMS for action trigger

B2B vs B2C Differences

B2B: longer sequences, more education, weekday sends, case studies B2C: shorter, emotional, weekend-friendly, social proof, urgency B2B: decision involves multiple stakeholders — forward-friendly content B2C: decision is individual — focus on desire and urgency

Large List Migration

Moving ESPs? Export everything: subscribers, tags, engagement history Re-warm from the new ESP — don't blast full list on day 1 Start with most engaged segment, scale up over 2-4 weeks Update DNS records before first send from new platform

High-Volume Sending (50K+ per campaign)

Dedicated IP required (shared IP risk increases) Throttle sends: 1000-2000/hour to avoid triggering filters Monitor seed list inbox placement across providers Separate IPs for transactional vs marketing email

Natural Language Commands

"Set up email authentication for [domain]" → Generate DNS records "Build a welcome sequence for [business/product]" → 7-email sequence "Write a cold email for [prospect] at [company]" → Research + personalized email "Score this subject line: [text]" → Subject line rubric evaluation "Review this email for quality" → Email copy scoring rubric "Create a lead magnet for [topic/audience]" → Lead magnet framework "Audit my email list health" → List hygiene checklist "Build an abandoned cart sequence" → 3-email recovery flow "Plan my A/B test for [campaign]" → Testing protocol "Generate my weekly email report" → Dashboard template "Check compliance for [region]" → Region-specific checklist "Create a re-engagement campaign" → 3-email win-back sequence