How do you design a 7-day automated welcome email sequence that converts free trials into paid subscriptions?

# Answer Build a 7‑day drip that delivers value, social proof, and a clear CTA on day 4, then leverages urgency and a limited‑time discount on days 6‑7. **7‑Day Sequence** 1. **Day 0 – Welcome & Setup** - Trigger via Mailchimp API `POST /automations` with `status=paused` then `status=active`. - Subject: "Welcome to [Product] – let’s get you started". - Include a 1‑pixel tracking GIF (`https://img.example.com/pixel.gif?uid={{email}}`). 2. **Day 1 – Core Value** - Highlight top 2 features using a short video hosted on Vimeo (embed link `https://vimeo.com/…`). - CTA: "Start your first project" linking to `/onboarding?trial={{email}}`. 3. **Day 2 – Social Proof** - Pull 3 case‑study snippets via SendGrid Dynamic Template (`{{#each testimonials}}…{{/each}}`). - Subject line A/B test: "How {{company}} grew 30% in 30 days" vs "See real results from users like you". 4. **Day 3 – Quick Win** - Offer a downloadable checklist (`https://cdn.example.com/checklist.pdf`). - Track download via query param `?src=day3`. 5. **Day 4 – Direct Pitch** - Present pricing table, highlight "Most popular" tier. - Use a single‑click PayPal button (``). 6. **Day 5 – Reminder + Scarcity** - Subject: "Your trial ends in 48 h – lock in 20% off". - Include countdown timer generated by `https://timer.example.com?ends={{trial_end}}`. 7. **Day 6 – Final Offer** - Send a 24‑hour “last chance” email with a unique coupon code (`TRIAL20`) validated via Stripe API `POST /v1/coupons`. **Tool Comparison** | Feature | Mailchimp | SendGrid | |---|---|---| | API latency | ~120 ms | ~80 ms | | Deliverability score (2026) | 96 % | 98 % | | Built‑in A/B testing | Yes | Yes | | Dynamic templates | Limited | Full Handlebars | **Gotcha**: If a trial user blocks third‑party cookies, the pixel and URL‑based attribution fail, so always fallback to server‑side click logging on every CTA link.