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Drip Campaigns: Examples and How to Build One

What a drip campaign is, real drip campaign examples, and a step-by-step way to build one that runs on autopilot — plus a free swipe file.
  • What a drip campaign is and when to use one
  • Five drip campaign examples you can copy
  • How to map the emails, timing and triggers
  • How to build and automate it from your own list
A drip campaign sequence with timed emails

A drip campaign is a series of emails sent automatically on a schedule or in response to what someone does. Set it up once and it works every new contact — welcoming them, walking them to a purchase, or winning them back — without you sending a thing. It’s the closest email gets to passive income.

Steal these

5 drip campaigns you can copy

Each does one job for one moment in the journey. Pick the one that matches your goal and adapt it.

The welcome drip

3–5 emails over the first week: welcome + deliver what they signed up for, then your best story, then a soft invitation to buy, book or reply. See the welcome email.

The onboarding drip

For SaaS and apps: each email walks the user to one key action until they hit the “aha” moment. Triggered by sign-up, paced over the trial.

The nurture drip

For slow-burn leads (coaching, real estate, B2B): a long, gentle sequence sharing value every week or two until they’re ready to act.

The abandoned-cart drip

1h: “You left something.” 24h: reminder + reviews. 48h: a nudge or small incentive. See the full cart sequence.

The re-engagement drip

For quiet subscribers: “We miss you” → one reason to return → “last chance”. Cleans your list and revives dormant contacts.

Build it

How to build a drip in four steps

The setup is the same whatever the drip. Work these in order and your first sequence can be live today.

1

Pick the goal

One outcome per drip — activate, sell, or re-engage. A focused drip beats a do-everything one.

2

Map the emails

Write each one to do a single job, ending in one clear next step. Lean on strong copy.

3

Set the timing & trigger

Decide what starts the drip (a sign-up, a purchase, inactivity) and how far apart the emails send.

4

Turn it on and watch

Let it run, then check opens and clicks and tune the weakest email. Small fixes compound over every contact.

A drip campaign automation flow with timed emails and a trigger
Email Marketing

Build your drip — and get the swipe file

BrandBits lets you build any of these drips as an automated sequence: choose the trigger, set the wait between emails, and let it run for every new contact. Start a free account and you can load a drip swipe file as your starting point and have your first sequence live the same day.

  • Trigger drips on sign-up, purchase or inactivity.
  • Set the timing between each email.
  • Run it automatically for every contact.
  • Track opens and clicks to improve each step.

Drip campaign FAQs

What is a drip campaign?
A series of emails sent automatically on a schedule or in response to what someone does. You set it up once and it runs for every new contact — welcoming, nurturing or winning them back without you sending a thing.
How is a drip campaign different from a newsletter?
A newsletter is a one-off broadcast sent to everyone at once. A drip is an automated sequence where each contact moves through the same emails on their own timeline, starting from a trigger.
How many emails should a drip campaign have?
It depends on the goal: a welcome drip is usually 3–5 emails over a week, while a nurture drip can run much longer. Each email should do one job — add emails only while each still earns engagement.
Is a drip campaign the same as automation?
A drip is one common type of email automation — specifically a timed series after a trigger. Automation is the broader term that also covers behaviour- and date-based sends.
Is it free to build a drip with BrandBits?
Yes — choose a trigger, set the waits between emails and let it run for free, no credit card required.

Build a drip that sends itself

Grab the swipe file and launch your first sequence — free.

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