Email Drip Builder

A drip sequence is a contract with the user: they gave their attention, and the sequence returns it with value at the right moment. Sequences that read like mail merges get unsubscribes; sequences timed to behavior build habits. The costly mistake this skill prevents is the fixed-timer drip that keeps selling activation to users who already activated - the fastest way to teach a new user that these emails can be ignored.

Inputs to collect

1. The activation milestone - the one action that means the user is activated (first invoice sent, first project shared). This is the exit trigger for the entire sequence. If undefined, define it first - a drip without an exit condition is a leak, not a funnel. Pull it from lifecycle-journey-map if that map exists.
2. The intermediate milestones - 2-4 steps between signup and activation, each trackable as an event.
3. Current activation rate and where users stall - determines which email gets the most work.
4. Independently useful assets - tips, benchmarks, shortcuts, case studies each email can deliver.
5. Sending constraints - ESP capabilities for event-based triggers vs. timers; if only timers exist, flag the sequence as degraded and say which rules cannot be enforced.

Operating procedure