Email might not always be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of growth hacking, but when used the right way, it can lead to massive gains in user acquisition, retention, and engagement—all crucial elements for any growth hacker. But let’s be clear: just firing off any old email isn’t going to cut it. For email to work, it has to be perfectly timed and highly relevant to your users.
How do you pull that off without spending hours manually emailing each person? That’s where trigger-based emails come in.
Trigger-based Emails: What Are They?
Trigger-based emails are automated emails that get sent to users based on specific actions they take within your app. For example, when someone becomes a new user, you can automatically send them a welcome email a few minutes after they sign up.
But what does this have to do with growth hacking? In short: everything.
These timely, personalized emails can encourage users to take action—whether that’s referring a friend, downloading your mobile app, or doing something else that helps your business grow.
So, how can you start using trigger-based emails to grow your user base? Here are four easy emails you can set up in just a few minutes to bring in more users and keep the ones you have engaged.
1. Encourage Referrals with a Simple Email
There are lots of ways to get users to refer their friends, but the easiest one? Just ask!
Set up a rule to send an email to users who haven’t referred anyone yet. It could look something like this:
Subject: Invite a friend to try [Your App]
Body:
Hey [User], we’re glad you’re enjoying [Your App]. We think your friends will love it too! Here’s a special link just for you—share it with one friend who would benefit from [Your App], and we’ll give both of you a special offer!
This email works because it feels personal. Instead of just handing them a generic link, you’re asking them to think about one friend who would benefit, which encourages them to take action. Plus, you’ve left the door open for a conversation by inviting them to reach out for more referral links. It’s personal, simple, and effective.
2. Get Trial Users to Upgrade Before Their Trial Ends
Converting trial users into paying customers is the ultimate goal for any SaaS business, but it’s not easy. On average, only 10% of trial users convert to paying customers.
Want to improve those odds? Try sending an email that incentivizes an upgrade before the trial ends. Here’s an example:
Subject: Don’t miss out—upgrade today for a special deal!
Body:
Hey [User], we’ve loved having you try [Your App] for the past few days. To make sure you get the most out of it, we’re offering you a special deal—use code [PROMO CODE] to get 20% off your second month if you upgrade today!
By the time someone has been using your trial for a few days, they usually know if they’re going to stick with your product. So why not give them a little nudge with a discount and close the sale before they go inactive or find another option?
3. Re-engage Inactive Users
While many businesses focus on getting new users, the real key to long-term success is keeping the users you already have. The average churn rate for SaaS companies is about 5% per month. Even reducing that by just 10% could have a big impact on your business.
One easy way to boost retention? Send an email to users who have been inactive for a few days. Here’s how it could look:
Subject: We’ve missed you—come back and check out what’s new!
Body:
Hey [User], we noticed you haven’t logged into [Your App] in a while. We’ve added some great new features that we think you’ll love—why not come back and take a look?
This email is just enough to spark curiosity and get inactive users to log back in. From there, you can re-engage them with new features or updates.
4. Get Users to Invite Their Teammates
If you’re running a B2B app, one of the best things you can do is get your users to invite their colleagues. Here’s why:
- The person who signed up might not be the best fit for your service, but by inviting others, you increase your chances of reaching the right decision-maker.
- If your main user leaves the company, having more team members using the app ensures it continues to be used.
- More users mean more people talking about your app and sharing it with others.
To make this happen, set up an email that automatically goes out to users who haven’t invited any teammates yet. Here’s an example:
Subject: Get your team on board!
Body:
Hey [User], we’re excited to have you using [Your App]. Did you know it works even better when your whole team is involved? Invite your colleagues and start collaborating today—just click here to send them an invite.
This simple email can inspire users to get their entire team using your app, increasing both user engagement and word-of-mouth promotion.
Final Thoughts
There you have it—four easy email hacks that can help you boost user acquisition, retention, and engagement. They’re quick to set up, and they’ll start working for you automatically, giving you more time to focus on other growth strategies. So go ahead and give trigger-based emails a try—you’ll be amazed at the results!