Your Welcome Series is arguably the most important email automation you'll ever build. It's the first conversation new subscribers have with your brand, setting expectations and converting cold leads into engaged customers.
This guide shows you exactly how to connect SendX forms popups or footer embeds to an automated Welcome Flow that nurtures every new subscriber into a buyer.
Why Welcome Flows Matter
The data is clear:
Welcome emails have higher open rates than standard campaigns
Welcome series generate more revenue per email than promotional emails
What a great Welcome Flow accomplishes:
Confirms subscription and sets expectations
Delivers the promised incentive (e.g., 10% discount code)
Introduces your brand story and unique value proposition
Showcases best-selling products or most popular content
Encourages first purchase with a clear, compelling offer
Builds long-term engagement by inviting social follows and preference settings
The Two-Part Setup: Forms + Automation
Connecting forms to a Welcome Flow requires two components working together:
Part 1: Form → List/Tag Assignment When someone submits your form, SendX automatically adds them to a specific list or applies a tag.
Part 2: Automation Trigger A Flow monitors that list or tag and starts the Welcome Drip Sequence when a new contact is added.
Let's build both parts step-by-step.
Step 1: Create Your Welcome Drip Sequence
Before you can trigger a Welcome Flow, you need to build the email series itself.
Recommended Welcome Series structure:
Timing | Purpose | Key Elements | |
#1: Hello & Incentive | Immediate (within 5 min) | Confirm signup, deliver discount code | Welcome message, discount code (big & bold), CTA to shop, expectations |
#2: Brand Story | Day 2 or 3 | Build emotional connection | Founder story, mission, what makes you different, social proof |
#3: Best-Sellers | Day 5 or 7 | Drive first purchase | Top products, customer reviews, urgency (discount expiring soon) |
#4: Gentle Nudge (optional) | Day 10 | Final conversion push for non-buyers | Last chance for discount, FAQ, customer service contact |
To create your Drip Sequence in SendX:
Go to Drips → Create New Drip
Name it "Welcome Series - [Your Brand]"
Add 3-4 emails with appropriate delays between each
Design each email with clear subject lines and compelling CTAs
Save the Drip (don't activate it yet the Flow will do that)
Step 2: Set Up the Automation Trigger
Now you'll create the Flow that starts your Welcome Drip when someone joins your list.
In SendX:
Navigate to Automations → New Automation
Give it a clear name: "Start Welcome Flow - Form Submissions"
Configure the Trigger: 3. Trigger type: "Contact added to [List/Tag]" 4. Select your list: Choose the list your forms add contacts to (e.g., "Newsletter Subscribers" or "New Signups")
Save trigger
Add the Action: 6. Action type: "Start Drip Sequence" 7. Select Drip: Choose your "Welcome Series - [Your Brand]" Drip 8. Delay: Set to "Immediate" (you want Email #1 to send right away) 9. Save action
Activate the Automation: 10. Toggle the automation to Active 11. Confirm it's running by checking the status indicator (green = active)
Step 3: Connect Your Forms
Now that your automation is ready, ensure all your signup forms add contacts to the correct list.
If Using SendX Popups:
SendX native popups automatically integrate with lists:
Go to Popups → Edit [Your Popup]
In Settings → Form Submission Actions:
Select "Add to list: Newsletter Subscribers" (or your target list)
Optionally apply a tag like "Popup Subscriber" for segmentation
Save and publish
The flow:
Visitor submits popup → Contact added to list → Automation triggers → Welcome Drip/Workflow starts
If Using Embedded Footer or Custom Forms:
For forms embedded on your Shopify site:
In Forms → Edit [Your Form]
Under Form Settings → Submission Actions:
Select "Add to list: Newsletter Subscribers"
Copy the embed code
Paste into your Shopify theme (see Article 5 for footer embed instructions)
The connection:
Visitor submits embedded form → SendX adds contact to list → Automation triggers → Welcome Drip/Workflow starts
Step 4: Test Your Welcome Flow End-to-End
Never skip testing. A broken Welcome Flow means lost revenue and frustrated subscribers.
Testing checklist:
Submit your form with a test email address (use an email you can access)
Verify the contact was added to the correct list in SendX
Check that the automation triggered:
Go to Automations → [Your Welcome Flow] → Activity Log
Confirm your test contact entered the Flow
Confirm Email #1 arrived within 5 minutes
Check inbox (and spam folder just in case)
Verify all links work
Verify discount code displays correctly
Monitor subsequent emails over the next few days
If something doesn't work:
Check that your list name in the form matches the list name in the automation trigger (case-sensitive)
Verify the automation is toggled to Active
Ensure the Drip Sequence itself is Active (not in draft mode)
Check Automations → Activity Log for error messages
Quality Tips for High-Converting Welcome Flows
1. Consider Double Opt-In (Region-Dependent)
What it is: After form submission, send a confirmation email requiring the subscriber to click a link to confirm their subscription.
When to use it:
Required in EU, UK, Canada (GDPR, CASL compliance)
Recommended for all brands to improve list quality and deliverability
How to implement:
SendX supports double opt-in natively in form settings
Enable "Require email confirmation" in your form configuration
The Welcome Drip only starts after confirmation click
2. Craft Effective Preview Text
Why it matters: Preview text appears next to the subject line in inboxes and significantly impacts open rates.
Welcome Email #1 best practices:
Subject: "Welcome! Here's your 10% off code 🎉"
Preview text: "Thanks for joining [Brand]! Your exclusive discount is inside →"
Avoid these mistakes:
"View this email in your browser" (wastes prime real estate)
Repeating the subject line verbatim
Leaving it blank (email client pulls first body text, usually "Dear...")
3. Set Clear Expectations in Email #1
What subscribers want to know:
How often will you email them?
What type of content will they receive?
Example opening paragraph:
"Welcome to the [Brand] family! You'll hear from us 2-3 times per week with new arrivals, exclusive deals, and [your unique content].
4. Make the Discount Code Unmissable in Email #1
Design tips:
Use a large, bold, colored button or box for the code
Make it copyable (not just an image)
Repeat the code at the top and bottom of the email
Show exactly how to use it: "Enter code WELCOME10 at checkout for 10% off your first order"
Expiration urgency:
"Your code expires in 7 days!" (creates urgency without being pushy)
Next Steps: Scale Your Welcome Flow
Once your basic Welcome Flow is running smoothly, consider these enhancements:
Advanced optimizations:
A/B test Email #1 subject lines (biggest impact on open rates)
Add conditional branching:
If clicked discount link → send "Complete your order" reminder
If didn't open any emails → send re-engagement message
Segment by signup source:
Popup subscribers → more aggressive sales approach
Blog subscribers → more educational content
Personalize by product interest (if your form collects preferences)
Key Takeaways
What you've learned:
Welcome Flows convert better than regular campaigns
Setup requires two components: form configuration + automation trigger
Testing is mandatory before launching to your full list
Email #1 is critical: deliver value immediately with clear expectations
Preferences links reduce unsubscribes while giving subscribers control
Your action item: Don’t wait for perfection. Launch a simple 2-email Welcome Flow one with a discount code and another sharing your brand story. Even this basic setup consistently outperforms stores without automation.
Ready to build your own?
👉 Log in to SendX and start your Welcome Flow today.