Stop Letting Good Leads Go Cold
You know the feeling. You spend money on ads or hours on your social media, a lead finally comes in, but you’re stuck on a job site in Chermside or middle of a client meeting in the CBD. By the time you call them back three hours later, they’ve already booked with the bloke down the road who answered first.
It’s frustrating, and it’s costing you money.
Most Brisbane business owners think the answer is to work harder or stay glued to their phone. It isn’t. The secret to winning more work without burning out is a "Welcome Sequence."
In plain English: it’s a series of 4 or 5 pre-written emails that go out automatically the moment someone signs up for your quote, download, or newsletter. While you’re busy running your business, these emails are doing the selling for you.
I’ve seen this work for dozens of Brisbane businesses—from landscapers in the Redlands to boutique accountants in Milton. If you set this up right, you stop chasing people and start having them show up ready to buy.
Why Most Small Business Emails Fail
Most people get this wrong. They either send nothing at all, or they send one boring "Thanks for joining" email and then disappear for six months. When they finally do send an email, the customer has forgotten who they are.
To make money from your list, you need to understand email platform costs and choose a system that actually delivers your messages to the inbox, not the junk folder.
Your goal isn't to be a "marketer." Your goal is to build trust so that when they need a service, you are the only person they think of. Here is our exact 5-email template that we use to get results for our clients.
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The 5-Email "Money Maker" Template
Email 1: The Instant Handshake
When to send: Immediately.If someone asks for a price list or a "free guide," give it to them straight away. Don't make them wait.
The Goal: Deliver what you promised and introduce yourself. The Tone: Friendly, local, and professional. What to say: "Hi [Name], thanks for reaching out. Here is that [Guide/Price List] you asked for. I started this business in Brisbane 10 years ago because I saw too many people getting ripped off by [Industry Problem], and I wanted to do it better."
Email 2: The "I Know Your Pain" Email
When to send: 24 hours later.People don't buy products; they buy solutions to problems. If you’re a plumber, their problem isn’t a "leaky tap"—it’s the fear of a massive water bill or a ruined floor.
The Goal: Show them you understand their specific frustrations. What to say: Talk about a common nightmare your customers face. "Most of our clients in the Western Suburbs come to us because they're sick of tradies who don't show up on time. We get it. That’s why we have a 30-minute arrival guarantee."
Email 3: The Proof (Social Credit)
When to send: 2 days later.Queenslanders are a skeptical bunch. We don't like being "sold" to, but we love hearing what our neighbours think.
The Goal: Show that other local people trust you. What to say: Share a quick story about a recent job. "We just finished a renovation for a family in North Lakes. They were worried about [Problem], but we managed to [Result] in just three days. Here’s what they said: [Insert 2-line quote]."
Email 4: The Education (The "Aha!" Moment)
When to send: 4 days later.Teach them something small that saves them money or stress. This positions you as the expert.
The Goal: Provide value for free so they feel they owe you their business. What to say: "Here’s one thing most people get wrong about [Your Service]. If you just do [Small Tip], you can avoid [Big Problem] entirely."
Email 5: The Hard Ask
When to send: 6 days later.By now, they know you, like you, and trust you. It's time to ask for the business.
The Goal: Get them to pick up the phone or book an appointment. What to say: "We’ve got two spots opening up next week for [Service]. If you want to get your [Problem] sorted before the weekend, reply to this email or call me on [Phone Number]."
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How to Get More Sales from People Who Already Know You
Once someone goes through this sequence, they shouldn't just be ignored. You’ve done the hard work of winning them over; now you need to keep that relationship alive.
I often tell my mates who run businesses that the easiest money you’ll ever make is to get more sales from people who have already handed you cash once before. Your welcome sequence sets the stage for this long-term profit.
What is a Waste of Money?
I’ll be blunt: don’t spend $5,000 on a fancy "brand agency" to write these emails. They’ll use big words that make you sound like a corporate robot.
Your customers want to hear from you*. They want to know that if they hire you to fix their roof or manage their taxes, they’re dealing with a real person in Brisbane who gives a toss. Keep the language simple, keep the emails short, and focus entirely on how you make the customer's life easier.
Also, don't worry about fancy graphics. Plain text emails—the kind you send to a mate—actually work better. They feel more personal and they are much less likely to end up in the "Promotions" tab of Gmail.
How Long Until You See Results?
This isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. It takes a few hours to write these emails and an afternoon to set them up in your software.
However, once it’s live, you will see a difference almost immediately in your "lead-to-quote" ratio. Instead of people ghosting you after the first enquiry, you'll find they are much more responsive when you follow up. Within 30 to 60 days, you’ll likely notice that your "warm" leads are turning into closed jobs much faster than before.
What Should You Do First?
1. Pick your tool: Use something simple like MailerLite or Mailchimp. Don't overthink it. 2. Write Email #1 today: Just the welcome email. Get it live. Even one email is better than the "black hole" most businesses have. 3. Focus on the list: Make sure you are actually collecting names and numbers. You can't send emails if you don't build a customer list that is organized and ready to go.
Need a Hand Getting Started?
Look, I know you're busy. You’re likely reading this while grabbing a quick meat pie for lunch or waiting for a client to show up. Setting up automated systems can feel like one more thing on a never-ending to-do list.
At Local Marketing Group, we specialise in taking this off your plate. We build the systems that work in the background so you can focus on the actual work that makes you money.
If you want to stop losing leads and start turning your website into a 24/7 sales machine, let’s have a chat. We’re based right here in Brisbane and we speak your language—no marketing fluff, just results.
Ready to grow? Contact Local Marketing Group today.