Email marketing is incredibly important and absolutely essential for affiliate marketers. You’ve probably heard the phrase, 'the money is in the list,' and it’s true, as long as you consistently nurture that list and build trust with your subscribers.

When I first started, I didn’t realize how crucial email automation would be. I focused heavily on getting traffic but didn’t spend enough time building a list of loyal subscribers, which is just as important.

Building relationships with your audience and staying top-of-mind are what ultimately turn leads into customers.

In this step-by-step guide for beginners, I'll show you exactly how to set up your first email automation using Systeme.io.

Now, just so you're aware, this guide continues on from Step 2, so if you haven’t read it yet, head back to that guide here before moving forward.

Once you’ve built your first funnel, it’s time to set up email automation so you can nurture your leads and build an engaged list of subscribers who trust you and are genuinely interested in what you recommend.

Before we jump into the exact steps of creating your email automation, I want to share quickly why email marketing is so essential.

I love talking about email marketing because it’s hands-down one of the most powerful (and underrated) tools for building trust and delivering value, and if you do those things right, you can literally make money on autopilot.

Email is one of the best ways to communicate and build trust with your audience and, most importantly, increase your income as an affiliate marketer.

When you collect email addresses, you’re building your own asset, a direct line of communication with an audience that’s already shown interest.

Unlike social media, where algorithms control who sees your content (and can shut you down without warning), your email list is fully yours. You control when and how often you show up in your subscribers’ inboxes.

Now, let’s talk about the money-making side of things. Did you know that email marketing consistently outperforms other channels in generating revenue? According to HubSpot, email generates around $36 for every $1 spent, giving it an astonishing ROI of 3,600%.

That makes sense because when someone subscribes to your list, they're basically saying, "I'm interested." They're giving you direct permission to market to them personally.

But here's the thing: collecting emails through an opt-in page isn’t enough. Just like building a friendship, nurturing your email list takes time, genuine effort, and consistent follow-ups.

In fact, HubSpot also points out that 80% of sales typically require at least five follow-up interactions. Your automated emails act as these essential "touchpoints," building trust and guiding your leads toward deciding to buy what you offer or not.

And the best part? With Systeme.io, you don’t need to spend all day writing emails or manually sending follow-ups. You can automate this entire process, keeping subscribers engaged, providing consistent value, and smoothly promoting your affiliate offers.

In short, email marketing is essential because it allows you to:

In Step 2, we set up your first affiliate funnel using Systeme.io. That included creating an opt-in page and a thank you page that directs people to your affiliate offer, and we also created a basic workflow that sends out your first welcome email.

Now, it’s time to build on that. Instead of starting from scratch, we’re going to continue working with the same workflow you set up in Step 2 and expand it with automated follow-up emails that keep your subscribers engaged and moving toward a purchase.

Follow the steps below so you can add more emails to your workflow.

Each step includes an image, with red arrows and numbers indicating the order in which you need to click.

Hover over the "Automations" tab and select "Workflows" from the dropdown menu.

Then you should see your funnel workflow, where we set up the initial welcome email. Click on it to edit.

Here's an example:

Click the "+" button shown below:

Then select "Delay" from the options...

Set the delay to 1 day. This means that after your initial welcome email is sent, there will be a 24-hour delay before the next email is sent. Like this:

After adding the delay, click "+" again and select “Action” then "Send an Email."

Now, you can create your next email that will be sent after the 1-day delay.

The purpose of these emails is to nurture your leads by building trust.

Here are some ideas:

You can repeat this process as many times as you want, adding delays and new emails as you go.

Just think… the more consistent you are, the more trust you build, and the more opportunities you create for people to buy through your affiliate links.

A well-thought-out email sequence can keep your funnel converting for weeks or even months after someone signs up.

Think of each new email as another chance to help your audience, answer their questions, and move them one step closer to saying, “Yeah, this is exactly what I need.”

As I mentioned above, once you’ve set up your first few emails, just repeat the process to build out a longer sequence.

You don’t need to sit down and write 10 emails in one go. Just add to it over time, whether it’s based on new ideas, feedback from your audience, or what seems to be working.

The goal here is simple - keep providing value and stay consistent. Not every email needs to sell something.

The more you help share tips, tell little stories, or give useful insights, the more trust you’ll build, and that trust is what leads to sales later on.

Don’t overthink it, either. You don’t need to be a pro writer. Just be real, helpful, and conversational. Write like you're talking to a mate who’s trying to get started with the same stuff you’ve already figured out.

And yeah, it’s totally okay to include affiliate links. Just make sure it feels natural and genuinely helpful.

Only recommend tools or products that have actually helped you, not just something that pays a commission.

You don’t want to be one of those people who promote dodgy scams just to make a quick buck. The people who do that are horrible, and it's just not worth it; it could seriously damage your reputation.

Over time, these small, consistent touchpoints will add up. Your subscribers will start to see you as someone they can trust, and when they’re ready to take action, they’ll take your recommendation seriously.

Now that you’ve set up your first email follow-up, you're in a great spot, but this is just the beginning.

Don’t overcomplicate it. Email automation in Systeme.io is straightforward. Even a simple follow-up sequence can make a big difference.

Just focus on helping your subscribers, building trust, and being consistent. That’s what turns leads into loyal buyers.

Remember, email marketing isn’t just about sending out promotions. It’s about adding real value, staying top-of-mind, and building genuine relationships with your audience.

That’s the part most people skip - and why most people fail.

The next step is all about getting actual people into your funnel. Because no matter how great your emails are, you need traffic.

In the next guide, we’ll cover how to start getting eyes on your funnel using both free and paid strategies, even if you’re starting from zero.

So when you're ready, head back to the main guide here, and let’s keep building your profitable affiliate marketing funnel.