Win Back Lost Attention
Simple, personal campaigns that get people to re-engage. (Part 3)
If you have an email list, people will always stop opening or clicking. That doesn’t mean they’re not interested anymore. It could just mean they’re busy or distracted.
A re-engagement campaign helps you reconnect with these subscribers and remind them why they joined you in the first place.
Stronger engagement increases the effectiveness of your email newsletter campaigns, improves your sender reputation, and leaves you with a more accurate view of what's working and what's not. That is where you want to be!
~Jonas Fischer, MailerLite Blog
Why Send a Re-engagement Campaign?
Re-engagement campaigns are meant to do three things:
Wake up your list. Find out who’s still interested so you can clean your list and improve deliverability.
Reignite interest. Show value to people who haven’t heard from you in a while.
Spark action. Give a reason to return—a fresh offer, a helpful resource, or a friendly check-in.
But here’s the twist: a re-engagement campaign can also be a great way to test new ideas, introduce a surprise, or shift your tone to get attention.
When someone isn’t responding, you’ve got more room to try something different.
A plain-text email, a funny GIF, a super short story, or even a blunt subject line like “I miss you. Is that weird?” can get noticed when everything else has blended into the background.
If your email list includes former clients or prospects who haven't opened an email in the last 60-90 days, it's time to check in with them in a new way.
Who Should Use This
If you:
Run a service-based business and rely on client relationships
Sell courses or digital products
Publish a newsletter and want to boost engagement
Are launching something new and want your whole audience to see it
…a re-engagement campaign can help remind your readers why they signed up in the first place—and who you are now.
Suggested Schedule
This campaign can run over 5-7 days, with 3-4 emails total. Leave space between emails so they don’t feel rushed.
Day 1: Check in email
Day 3: Send something valuable, entertaining, or unexpected
Day 6: Final call: Are we still a fit?
Day 7: (Optional) Confirmation of unsubscribe or move to a “quiet list”
You could also add a personal message on Day 4 to anyone who clicked or opened, just to say, “I saw you open that—I’m here if you want to talk.” That small gesture can spark real conversations.
Sample Re-Engagement Emails
Email 1: Subject Line: Still interested?
Hey [First Name],
It’s been a while, and I wanted to check in.
You signed up for [newsletter/program/freebie] a while ago, and I realized it’s been a bit quiet between us.
Are you still looking for support with [problem you solve]?
If so, I’d love to know what you need right now.
Either way, thanks for being here. You can unsubscribe at the bottom if my emails aren't helpful anymore. No hard feelings.
Talk soon,
[Your Name]
Email 2: Subject Line: A little something for you
Hey [First Name],
Maybe you’ve been off doing big things. Maybe my emails just got lost in the scroll. Either way, here’s something that might help:
[link to a helpful free resource, video, checklist, or even a short audio note]
I only send this to people who’ve been on my list for a while—it’s a thank you for sticking around.
Give it a look and hit reply if you want to reconnect.
Warmly,
[Your Name]
Email 3: Subject Line: Should I take you off the list?
Hey [First Name],
I only want to send emails you want to read.
If my content isn't a good fit anymore, no worries. You can unsubscribe below.
But if you want to keep hearing from me, just click here and let me know: [simple CTA button or reply prompt]
No pressure. Just clarity.
All the best,
[Your Name]
Email 4 (Optional): Subject Line: Quick note if you're still with me
Hi [First Name],
If you’re still opening these, thank you. That means a lot.
Just wanted to say—if you need help with [insert what you help with], I’m still here. No pitch. Just a reminder that I’m not going anywhere.
Take care,
[Your Name]
In case you missed it…
Parts 1 and 2 of the Email Marketing Campaign series.
