Hey Lena,

Let me say this before the seasonal inbox stampede begins:

👉 The best Black Friday emails don’t start in November.
👉 They start now.
👉 Even if you don’t have an offer yet.

Wild, right? But here’s the deal:

The reason most creators feel crushed by their promos isn’t because their product is bad.
It’s because they started cold. ❄️

They ghosted their list for weeks (or months).
Then suddenly showed up shouting SALE SALE SALE.
And when no one replied, they whispered to themselves: “I guess email doesn’t work.”

But Lena… email always works.
Warm-up is the part most people skip.
And warm-up is everything.

Imagine this:

You’re hosting a dinner party. You’ve made your signature lemon-thyme pasta. You lit candles. You curated a playlist. You even wiped down your vintage brass flatware (respect ✨).

But instead of inviting your guests in…

You burst into the room and yell:
“Dinner’s ready — BUY A SEAT NOW!”

No hello. No intro. No vibe.

That’s what cold email selling feels like.
It’s not bad food.
It’s just bad timing.

Here’s what happens when you take the time to pre-game your seasonal emails:

·       👀 Your subscribers start paying attention again

·       🧠 You re-train their brain to expect your voice

·       💖 You rebuild connection, so your offer doesn’t feel random

·       🤝 You position your product as a natural next step

·       ✍️ You feel less like you’re “selling” and more like you’re continuing a story

In other words:
Your email becomes a relationship again.
Not a megaphone.

You don’t need to pitch anything yet.
This week, you’re just warming the room.

Here are 5 pre-promo email ideas that make your list lean in 👇

Subject Line: “This almost didn’t happen…”

Let them peek into the kitchen.
Share what you’re working on, rebuilding, or rethinking for the season.

📌 Why it works:
Transparency builds trust. It makes the eventual offer feel like part of a shared journey — not a surprise attack.

Subject Line: “What are you letting go of this season?”

Guide your reader through an aligned emotional space.
Talk about what this season means to you — rest, clarity, closure, growth.
Ask them: What do you want to finish before the year ends?

📌 Why it works:
Emotional reflection creates internal readiness — even before you pitch. It aligns their season with yours.

Subject Line: “She thought no one would buy — then this happened”

Tell a short transformation story.
Make it human, not just stats. Let them see themselves in the journey.

📌 Why it works:
Stories activate empathy + aspiration — two key ingredients in any conversion recipe.

Subject Line: “I almost deleted this…”

Share a draft, a scrapped promo, a caption that felt too vulnerable — and then explain why you’re sending it anyway.

📌 Why it works:
Honesty disarms skepticism. It shows them there’s a human behind the strategy.

Subject Line: “Quick q: What are you launching this season?”

Keep it light. Make it real. Ask them to reply.
Not just to get clicks — to get conversation.

📌 Why it works:
Replies improve deliverability (yes), but more than that… they show you care. And that matters.

✨ I don’t need 17 sales emails.
✨ I just need a warm, welcoming list.
✨ People buy from creators they trust.
✨ Trust is built before the cart opens.
✨ My voice doesn’t need hype. It needs honesty.

Take 30 minutes. Open your notes app or Notion.
Here’s your to-do list this week:

✅ Pick 3 warm-up emails to send over the next 10 days
✅ Choose stories > stats
✅ Don’t stress about being “strategic” — be sincere
✅ End each email with soft CTAs like:

·       “This is what I’m building — more soon.”

·       “Thanks for being here. I’ll keep you posted.”

·       “Hit reply and tell me what’s on your mind this season.”

I used to think “value first” emails had to be packed with formulas and teaching moments.

But the best warm-up emails I’ve ever sent?
Were just real. Quiet. Simple. Me.

One of them was just a photo of my notebook and the line:

“This is what I’m trying to say in my Black Friday email — but I don’t know if it’s clear yet.”

That email got 17 replies.
More than any “5 email tricks” tip sheet I’ve ever sent.

Want a done-for-you pre-game prompt pack?
Just reply “WARM ME UP” and I’ll send you 5 copy-and-paste starters for your seasonal warm-ups.
No cringe. Just connection.

Your promo starts before the pitch.
Every warm-up email is a breadcrumb toward trust.

📜 “Don’t rush the recipe. Let the list simmer.”

👉 Hit reply and tell me:
What’s one small thing you could send this week to warm your list up?

🌟 Save this email in your “Black Friday” folder.
📣 Forward it to a friend who’s still ghosting their list (no judgment).

1.     You're already late… unless you send this now
Pre-header: The best seasonal promos start before you ever pitch.

2.     Don’t pitch cold. Do this first.
Pre-header: Your Black Friday strategy begins this week — here’s why.

3.     Before you sell anything this season, send this.
Pre-header: 5 warm-up emails that actually build trust.

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