How to Start Writing Email Marketing Copy with AI: A Guide for Campaign Managers

The immune booster launch was going to break me.

There I was, staring at my Klaviyo dashboard at 11 PM, surrounded by empty coffee cups and FDA guidelines. Five new products. Twenty emails to write. Three days until launch. As VitaFlow’s only email marketer, I knew something had to change.

That’s when I discovered something that would transform not just my workflow, but our entire email marketing strategy. Within weeks, we went from struggling to meet deadlines to consistently launching campaigns ahead of schedule. Our team’s capacity tripled, compliance issues virtually disappeared, and most importantly, we got our evenings back.

Here are the concrete results that convinced even our most skeptical team members:

  • Email writing time dropped from 2 hours to 30 minutes
  • Weekly campaign capacity increased from 10 to 40 emails
  • Compliance accuracy reached 99.9% with the new process
  • ROI tripled with the same resources

The Evolution

The breakthrough wasn’t just about using AI—it was about building a systematic process. Many marketers try AI tools and get disappointed because they expect magic. Instead, we discovered that AI excels as a first-draft machine when given the right guidance.

Think of AI as your junior copywriter. They’re eager to help but need clear direction and oversight. Once we understood this, everything changed. Here’s exactly how we made it work.

The New Reality: Your AI-Powered Workflow

Before diving into prompts and templates, you need to set up your foundation. This one-time investment will save you countless hours and headaches down the road.

Foundation Setup

Your brand voice guide becomes your AI’s compass. Don’t just write “professional and friendly”—get specific. Document the exact phrases that make your brand unique. List the words you never use. Include examples of your tone in different situations. This becomes your AI’s playbook.

Next, build your resource library. Gather your customer testimonials, product benefits, and compliance guidelines in one place. Think of this as your AI’s knowledge base. The richer this library, the better your results will be.

The 5-Step Email Creation Process

1. AI Draft Generation (15 mins)

Open your AI tool of choice alongside your brand voice guide. Your first prompt will set the direction for everything that follows. Instead of asking for “a good email,” give your AI specific elements to include.

Here’s the game-changing prompt that transformed our process:

Write an email promoting [Product] that:
- Addresses [specific health concern]
- Highlights these clinically-studied ingredients: [list]
- Educates about [key benefit]
- Maintains FDA compliance

Generate three variations of each email. This might seem like overkill, but having options helps you identify patterns that work. Sometimes it’s the third version that captures the perfect tone.

2. Klaviyo Implementation (10 mins)

This is where your email transforms from raw copy into a compelling campaign. The key is thinking in terms of customer experience, not just content blocks.

Take your winning AI draft and structure it for maximum impact. Break up dense paragraphs, add breathing room, and insert your dynamic fields. Your goal is to make every email feel personally crafted for each recipient.

3. Human Enhancement (15 mins)

This is where your expertise as a marketer truly shines. AI can write competent copy, but you know your customers. You understand their hopes, fears, and objections.

Weave in relevant customer testimonials where they’ll have the most impact. Position your calls-to-action at moments of peak engagement. Add those personal touches that transform good emails into great ones.

Focus on:
– Strategic placement of testimonials
– Visual content integration
– Call-to-action optimization
– Tracking setup

4. Testing & Optimization
Before hitting send, ensure your email performs across:
– Multiple email clients
– Mobile devices
– Different screen sizes
– Loading speeds

Industry-Specific Prompts That Convert

These prompts are crafted to address unique industry challenges while maintaining high engagement. Each template focuses on the specific pain points and motivations of different audience segments.

Health/Supplements

The health industry walks a delicate line between education and compliance. Your AI needs to understand these boundaries from the start.

Write an email promoting [Product] that:
- Educates about [ingredient] without medical claims
- Cites [X] peer-reviewed studies
- Focuses on wellness maintenance
- Includes supplement facts
- Avoids words: cure, treat, prevent

SaaS

Software marketing requires a different approach. Your customers aren’t looking for quick fixes—they want solutions to ongoing challenges.

Structure your prompts around specific use cases and ROI metrics. For example:

Write an email showcasing [Feature] that:
- Highlights [X] specific use cases
- Includes implementation timeline
- Addresses common objections
- Focuses on ROI metrics
- Ends with trial CTA

E-commerce

In retail, timing and urgency drive action. Your AI prompts should focus on creating genuine scarcity while maintaining authenticity.

Lead with unique product features, then build credibility through social proof. Close with a clear, time-sensitive call to action that feels helpful rather than pushy.

Write a product launch email for [Product] that:
- Opens with scarcity element
- Features [X] key benefits
- Includes social proof
- Addresses price objection
- Ends with time-limited offer

B2B Services

Write a case study email about [Client] that:
- Leads with specific metrics
- Details implementation process
- Highlights ROI timeline
- Addresses industry challenges
- Includes decision-maker quotes

Finance

Write an educational email about [Financial Product] that:
- Explains complex terms simply
- Includes market context
- Maintains compliance
- Addresses risk factors
- Avoids performance guarantees

Real Estate

Write a property showcase email that:
- Leads with unique features
- Includes neighborhood highlights
- Addresses market trends
- Features virtual tour details
- Ends with viewing invitation

Education

Write a course promotion email that:
- Highlights career outcomes
- Features student success stories
- Includes curriculum preview
- Addresses time commitment
- Ends with enrollment deadline

Food/Restaurant

Write a menu launch email that:
- Features seasonal ingredients
- Includes chef's inspiration
- Highlights dietary options
- Addresses price point
- Ends with reservation link

Travel

Write a destination promotion that:
- Features unique experiences
- Includes seasonal highlights
- Addresses safety concerns
- Features booking flexibility
- Ends with early-bird offer

Beauty

Write a product launch email that:
- Features ingredient benefits
- Includes application tips
- Highlights testing results
- Addresses skin concerns
- Ends with tutorial offer

Email Type Masters: 5 Essential Templates

These core email types form the backbone of any successful email marketing strategy. Each template is designed to maximize impact at specific points in the customer journey.

Welcome Series

The perfect blend of warmth and action. Use this when you need to convert subscribers into buyers within their first week.

Write a welcome email that:
- Confirms subscription value
- Sets expectations for future emails
- Includes quick win offer
- Highlights best content/products
- Prompts first purchase action

Abandoned Cart

Write a recovery email that:
- Opens with product reminder
- Addresses common objections
- Includes social proof
- Features limited-time offer
- Ends with support contact

Re-engagement

Write a winback email that:
- Acknowledges absence
- Highlights new features/products
- Includes exclusive offer
- Features success stories
- Ends with preference update

Product Launch

Write a launch email that:
- Creates urgency/exclusivity
- Features key benefits
- Includes early-bird offer
- Addresses FAQs
- Ends with scarcity element

Post-Purchase

Write a thank you email that:
- Confirms order details
- Includes usage tips
- Features complementary products
- Prompts review/sharing
- Ends with support resources

Choosing Your AI Writing Assistant: A Practical Guide

Your choice of AI writing tool can significantly impact your workflow efficiency. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the top AI assistants for email marketing:

Claude by Anthropic

Best For: Complex, nuanced writing with strict compliance needs

Strengths:

  • Exceptional understanding of context and nuance
  • Superior compliance awareness
  • Consistent brand voice maintenance
  • Detailed, well-structured outputs

Pricing:

  • Claude 2: Free
  • Claude Pro: $20/month
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing

ChatGPT by OpenAI

Best For: Quick iterations and creative brainstorming

Strengths:

  • Rapid response time
  • Creative variations
  • Strong conversational tone
  • Good at following specific templates

Pricing:

  • Free: Basic GPT-3.5
  • Plus ($20/month): GPT-4, faster response
  • Enterprise: Custom solutions

HoppyCopy

Best For: Email-specific AI writing and automation

Strengths:

  • Purpose-built for email marketing
  • Advanced personalization
  • Built-in A/B testing
  • Email-specific templates

Pricing:

  • Starter: $29/month
  • Pro: $79/month
  • Business: $199/month

Standout Feature: Their email sequence builder automatically creates connected narratives across multiple emails, maintaining consistency while avoiding repetition.

Copy.ai

Best For: Marketing teams needing structured workflows

Strengths:

  • Extensive template library
  • Team collaboration features
  • Brand voice training
  • Integration capabilities

Pricing:

  • Free: Limited uses
  • Pro: $36/month
  • Enterprise: Custom

Jasper

Best For: Full-service marketing content creation

Strengths:

  • Comprehensive marketing tools
  • SEO integration
  • Multiple content types
  • Advanced team features

Pricing:

  • Creator: $39/month
  • Teams: $99/month
  • Business: Custom

Power User Tip: Use Jasper’s recipes feature to create reusable email frameworks that maintain consistent structure across campaigns.

Cost-Effective Stack

For budget-conscious teams, here’s an optimal combination:

  1. ChatGPT (Free) for initial drafts
  2. Claude (Free) for compliance checks
  3. HoppyHopy (Basic) for email-specific features

Enterprise Stack

For larger operations needing full capabilities:

  1. Claude Pro for complex writing
  2. Jasper Business for team collaboration
  3. Copy.ai Pro for template management

Remember: The best tool is the one that fits your workflow. Start with a free trial of each, test them with your actual email tasks, and choose based on real results rather than feature lists.

Making the System Work Long-Term

Success with AI isn’t about quick wins—it’s about building sustainable processes. Here’s how to ensure your system keeps delivering results month after month.

Track your key metrics, but don’t just focus on the numbers. Pay attention to customer responses, team feedback, and overall campaign effectiveness. Use this data to refine your prompts and processes continuously.

Remember: AI is your partner in creativity, not your replacement. Use it to handle the heavy lifting of first drafts, so you can focus on strategy and optimization.

Your Next Steps

Start small, but start today. Pick one email type and create your first AI-assisted campaign. Document what works and what needs refinement. Build your prompt library gradually, based on real results rather than theory.

The future of email marketing isn’t about replacing human creativity—it’s about amplifying it. With AI handling the routine tasks, you’re free to focus on the strategic decisions that truly drive results.

Your journey to AI-powered email marketing starts now. The blank page doesn’t have to be intimidating anymore.