Start with one email and one useful next step
A good first GetResponse project is a welcome email that delivers what your signup form promised. That might be a buying guide, a store introduction, or instructions for claiming an offer. Pick one destination rather than filling the email with your entire catalog.
Write the purpose before opening the editor: “When someone signs up for our buying guide, send them the guide.” That sentence identifies the audience, the message, and the link you need to test.
The setup details in this guide were checked against official documentation on September 21, 2026. Your first milestone is a complete signup-to-inbox journey, with the right message going to the right list.
Choose an autoresponder or a workflow
An autoresponder schedules messages relative to a subscriber joining a list. A workflow connects conditions and actions, giving you another way to manage who receives a message. Use one method for this first greeting. GetResponse's explanation
Decide which signup route you are testing. A buying-guide form and an event-registration form make different promises; they should not accidentally receive the same greeting just because both add contacts to your account.
If another tool already welcomes those subscribers, plan the handover too. GetResponse's guidance specifically warns about sending the same message through both an autoresponder and automation. Make ownership of the greeting clear before publishing.
Option 1: Schedule an autoresponder on Day 0
In Autoresponders, create a message, select the destination list, and choose Day 0 for the subscription day. Configure the sending time, allowed weekdays, sender, reply-to address, subject, and content before publishing. Official autoresponder instructions
Day 0 does not override your other timing settings. If you exclude a weekday, a subscriber joining that day may wait until an allowed day. Check this carefully when the email delivers something a person expects immediately, such as the guide they just requested.
Use an internal name that describes the audience and purpose, such as “New subscribers — buying guide.” Keep that separate from the subject line people see in their inboxes. Save the draft, review the content, and publish when you are ready to test the signup route.
Option 2: Use the Simple welcome message workflow
The Simple welcome message template connects a subscription condition with a send-message action. Its default subscription setting accepts any list and method, so narrow the scope to the signup you intend to serve. Select the correct automation message before publishing. Template instructions
Treat the audience check as a separate task from proofreading. A polished email can still go to the wrong group if the starting condition is too broad. Check the selected list, registration method, and message together.
For your first test, use just one form. If you also collect event registrations or other requests, keep those outside this test until their own welcome content is ready.
Write the email around the signup promise
Lead with the useful item, then explain what the subscriber can expect next. Here is an example to adapt for a product guide:
Subject: Welcome — here's your guide to choosing the right product
Thanks for joining us. Start with our buying guide to find the option that fits your needs.
Read the buying guide
We'll also send practical tips on choosing and using our products. Have a question? Reply and we'll help.
Only invite replies if someone monitors the reply-to address. If your form promised a discount, include the real redemption instructions and conditions instead. Don't add a discount just because a template has a coupon block.
Preview on a phone. The sender, opening sentence, and main link should make sense without relying on an image. Remove competing calls to action until the next step is obvious.
Check the plan, audience, and timing before launch
Starter includes one custom workflow. If your next project requires multiple custom flows or abandoned-cart recovery, evaluate Marketer. Use our GetResponse pricing guide to map the work to a subscription. Official plans
Why didn't a Day 0 email arrive immediately? Check the list, sending-time choice, and allowed weekdays first. Separate audience and timing checks from changes to the copy.
Will every Shopify customer receive it? Confirm the intended audience rather than assuming that connecting the store sets it for you. GetResponse's integration instructions include list selection; follow your actual signup path after connecting. Shopify integration help
How long should the series be? Finish the first message, then decide what the reader needs next. Add a follow-up because it has a purpose, rather than starting with an arbitrary target number of emails.
Check the subject, sender identity, destination link, mobile layout, and any overlapping greetings in other tools. A preview checks appearance; a fresh test signup checks the journey. You need both before handing the process over to routine operation.
Build the complete journey during the trial
GetResponse offers a 14-day trial with no credit card required. Prepare the signup promise and destination page first, then use the trial to build and verify your welcome email. Official trial
Sign up with your test address, receive the message, and follow its main link. Once that route works as intended, you have a clear basis for adding the next message and choosing the plan you will use to run it.
