Advertise on podcast: Feedback Friday by Really Good Emails

In this Email Support Group session, Justine (Beefree + RGE), John Seals (Baird), and Matt Helbig (Really Good Emails) walk through the real AI workflows running behind the scenes. That means Baird's Copilot agent turning form requests into ready-to-review emails, how we "eat our own cheese" by building the RGE newsletter with the RGE Studio MCP, and sales follow-ups that no longer look like AI slop. Then we open the toolbox. You'll see our prompt library, the brand voice and unslop skills, and the RGE Quality Index we've used to grade almost 20,000 emails. And yes, we air our AI grievances. The big idea: let AI take the boring parts so you keep the parts you love. Resources RGE Email Survey report: https://reallygoodemails.com/reports/rge-email-surveyBeefree AI manifesto: https://reallygoodemails.com/ai-manifestoOur RGE newsletter brief/prompt: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wyntOQq7MQ1J4enDdx4YwFxomHXkk81WHJQEHPasSps/edit?usp=sharingPrompt library: https://reallygoodemails.com/tools/prompt-libraryRGE Quality Index skill: https://github.com/matt-helbig/rge-quality-index-skillUnslop skill: https://github.com/cursor/plugins/blob/main/pstack/skills/unslop/SKILL.mdThe Email Glow Up: Regulated Edition: https://reallygoodemails.com/webinars/email-glow-up-regulatedChapters 00:00 Hi, we're here to confess01:51 What's on the menu02:51 The survey says: 64% use AI, 1% start with it04:47 The Beefree AI manifesto06:09 What marketers actually want from AI07:33 What's an MCP? (No jargon, promise)08:44 How Baird thinks about AI12:54 Inside Baird's Copilot agent workflow19:28 Eating our own cheese: building the RGE newsletter21:55 Sales follow-ups that don't look like AI slop26:27 Our prompt library (and our favorites)29:57 Give AI bigger goals31:35 Just ramble: dictation for better prompts32:54 AI as your second set of eyes34:58 Did it twice? Make it a skill39:41 Cloning Mike (sort of): brand voice + unslop41:40 The RGE Quality Index45:42 Airing our AI grievances49:18 Will AI replace email marketers?55:14 Buy-in, time savings, and chaining MCPs59:31 Taste beats the sea of sameness01:02:30 Outro #EmailMarketing #AI #ReallyGoodEmails

On Feedback Friday we usually review other brands' emails. This time we put our own SaaS onboarding emails up for review. Together we look at five onboarding emails inside the RGE Studio builder and talk through what each one is for, when it sends, and what we'd change. Chapters 00:00 Intro02:28 Email 1: Your ESP wasn't built for this16:32 Email 2: Power up your dream team23:20 Email 3: Getting your email into SFMC29:15 Email 4: Your trial is ending38:15 Email 5: A hate letter to Outlook43:59 OutroKelsey Yen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-yen/ Build your own really good emails All five emails in this episode were built in RGE Studio, the drag-and-drop builder inside Really Good Emails. Save inspiration from the library, build your own version, then export the HTML or connect your ESP. Free to sign up at https://reallygoodemails.com/studio Want feedback on your emails? Submit them at https://reallygoodemails.com and they could end up on a future Feedback Friday. Follow @reallygoodemails on IG, drop a comment with your take, and subscribe for new episodes.

Dark mode isn't coming. It's already here. And if you're treating it as an afterthought, your logo is disappearing, your brand colors are shifting, and your carefully designed email looks like it was built by someone else entirely. Annett Forcier, founder of EmailBoutique and email design systems consultant, joins us to break down why dark mode is a design problem before it's ever a code problem, and how she delivers the bad news to clients before a single template gets built. Try RGE Studio free for 15 days. Build better emails with your whole team. No credit card required. https://reallygoodemails.com/studio EmailBoutique https://www.emailboutique.io/ Annett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annettforcier/ Beefree: Dark Mode Email Design: https://beefree.io/blog/dark-mode-email-design Litmus: The Ultimate Guide to Dark Mode for Email: https://www.litmus.com/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-dark-mode-for-email-marketers Fixing Gmail's Dark Mode Issues with CSS Blend Modes: https://hteumeuleu.medium.com/fixing-gmails-dark-mode-issues-with-css-blend-modes-1b26174fcfd9 00:00 Annett Forcier 00:34 What is Dark Mode? 03:10 Accessibility And Variants 04:05 Design First Not Code 04:46 Style Guide To Set Expectations 08:57 Why Not All Images 11:19 Getting Started Resources 12:14 Logo Solutions And Hacks 18:46 Icons And Illustration Prep 22:00 CSS Tricks For Text 24:51 Choosing Dark Mode Colors 27:38 Testing And Client Expectations 28:53 Pixel Perfect Myth 29:40 Educating Stakeholders 30:42 Email Style Guides 32:23 Client Reality Check 33:17 Email Review Setup 33:29 Nothing 37:25 DoorDash 41:26 Inverse Newsletter 42:34 Claude 48:06 Outro

Profoto makes world-class studio lighting. But are their emails just as polished? In this episode of Feedback Friday, we sit down with George from Inbox Army to break down Profoto's email design system from top to bottom.Visual advancement vs. visual recessionThe 8-point spatial sizing systemAspect ratios and why they matter for image compositionLine height math for headlines and body copyHow to build a modular email design systemAccessibility, contrast, and WCAG guidelinesResources mentioned:Really Good Emails: reallygoodemails.comInbox Army: inboxarmy.com

Join us for another episode of Feedback Friday, where Kasey Luck returns to provide expert feedback and critiques on various email designs. We dive deep into **email marketing** strategies, analyzing several **email campaigns** for their content and effectiveness, particularly those related to **nutrition** and health supplements.Kasey offers valuable **email tips** on how to enhance **email design**, ensuring messages are not only engaging but also high-converting. This session is packed with insights for anyone looking to refine their email strategies.00:00 Intro00:58 Initial Email Critique02:08 Email Design and Content04:32 Feedback on Specific Email Elements09:49 Analyzing Email Callouts and CTAs17:13 Discussing Email Design and Free Items17:51 Importance of Product Placement in Emails18:29 Trends in Email Design19:58 Effectiveness of Educational Content21:27 Analyzing Long-Form Emails22:18 Comparison Sections in Emails26:21 Balancing Information and CTA28:39 Final Thoughts34:17 Outro

How do you write emails about intimacy issues without making it awkward... or worse, boring? In this episode of Feedback Friday, we chat with email expert Kasey Luck from Luck & Co Agency about how The Pelvic People use email and SMS to build real relationships with their audience.Kasey shares the behind-the-scenes of working with a brand that sells sexual wellness products and how to balance empathy, education, and conversion. From welcome flows to smart product positioning, this episode is packed with examples of email marketing done right—even when the subject matter gets personal.Here’s what you’ll learn:- How to keep messaging human when the topic is sensitive- The power of using customer language in subject lines and body copy- When long emails actually outperform short ones- Tips on email design, hierarchy, and accessibilityWhether you're marketing for a DTC brand, navigating a sensitive topic, or just tired of sending bland emails, this one's for you.🕒 Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:50 Email Strategy for Sensitive Topics03:21 Analyzing Email Design and Content05:28 Personalization and Customer Engagement08:22 Case Studies and Best Practices12:41 Final Thoughts and Takeaways20:57 Outro🔗 See more inbox inspo: https://reallygoodemails.com📬 More about Kasey’s agency: https://www.luckand.co💬 Tell us in the comments: What's the trickiest topic you've had to write about?

Welcome to the Really Good Emails Awards 2025.We reviewed thousands of submissions and crowned the campaigns that stood out for smart strategy, strong design, and copy that actually earns clicks.Watch as judges break down what made these emails win. What worked. And what trends are shaping email heading into 2026.Along the way we cover:→ What "live text" really means and why it matters→ Subject line and CTA trends from 2025→ How brands are using personalization without being creepy→ Why the Promotions tab isn't the enemy→ The tiny stuff that separates "fine" from "forward it to my team"Plus a special Un-Spam 2026 announcement. West Coast, baby.🔗 Browse all winners: https://reallygoodemails.com/2025-email-awards🔗 Submit your emails: https://reallygoodemails.com/upload🔗 Unspam 2026 tickets: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/unspam/1973017Got an email you're proud of? Submit it to Really Good Emails.00:00 Meet the Judges02:03 Setting the Stage for the Awards04:49 Welcome10:48 Review and Testimonials16:44 Data Visualization22:38 Dark Mode29:55 Nonprofit and Purpose35:47 Thank You38:56 Retention42:56 CTA Trends44:05 Winback Campaigns48:02 Cart Abandonment52:28 B2B Emails56:42 Creative01:02:16 Q&A Session#emailmarketing #emaildesign #digitalmarketing

Join special guest  @KaseyLuck , founder of Luck and Co Agency, for a deep-dive teardown of real email campaigns from lifestyle brand Imbodhi. In this episode of Feedback Friday, we analyze what makes an email accessible, high-converting, and strategically effective across the entire customer journey.00:00 Kasey's Agency and Brand Overview02:09 Email Analysis: Welcome Email08:18 Discussion on Email Design and Accessibility14:11 Email Analysis: New Product Launch17:49 Discussing Campaign Goals and UI Elements18:11 Reviewing a Successful Email Campaign19:28 Analyzing the Annual Fall Sale Email23:56 Evaluating the Abandoned Cart Email28:12 Order Confirmation Email Insights29:46 Post-Purchase SMS Strategy32:24 Final Thoughts and Agency Information

This week on Feedback Friday, we’re diving into the wild, colorful inbox of Plus-Plus. Yep, the interlocking toy brand that makes email design actually fun.We linked up with the pros at MKTGRhythm to break down how they’re crushing it with:- Figma-built GIFs that move and groove- Bright colors and juicy gradients- Mobile-first layouts made for scrolling thumbs- Big ol’ CTAs just begging to be tappedFrom bold product photos to layouts that don’t feel like email déjà vu, Plus-Plus keeps its emails fresh and its audience hooked. Parents love it. Teachers love it. Honestly, we love it.Into playful design? Toy marketing? Just need some creative inspo that doesn’t bore you to tears? This one’s your jam.Meet MKTGRhythm: https://mktgrhythm.com/#emailmarketing #emaildesign 00:00 Intro00:48 Innovative Use of Figma and Smart Animation02:05 Email Layouts and Mobile Design03:32 Product and Lifestyle Photography06:29 Gradient Design and Full Email Implementation10:24 Client Goals and Engagement Strategies12:10 Outro

Welcome to Feedback Friday Live! We're diving into a highly requested topic this week: email accessibility. With new laws like the European Accessibility Act coming into effect, accessibility isn’t just nice to have. It's a must.Join Matt Helbig (Really Good Emails & Beefree) and email expert Kelsey Yen as they teardown real emails submitted by brands. You'll learn how to spot accessibility issues, write better alt text, use live text effectively, and design with inclusion in mind without sacrificing style.Transcript https://reallygoodemails.com/school/accessible-email-makeoversYou'll learn:What accessibility really means in an inboxHow to test contrast, alt text, and dark mode performanceWhy live text matters more than ever📌 Want your email featured in the next teardown? Subscribe and sign up at: https://reallygoodemails.com👍 Like this video if you want more accessibility breakdowns📝 Comment below with your questions or suggestions🔔 Subscribe to catch the next Feedback Friday!Chapters00:00 Intro to Feedback Friday01:50 The Importance of Accessibility in Emails09:23 Email Review: Native Pet14:00 Email Review: Jenki Journal18:30 Email Review: namuk22:02 Email Review: San Francisco Standard24:49 Email Review: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation28:48 Email Review: YNAB32:22 Email Review: riddle35:27 Email Review: Smoosh38:40 Email Review: Education First42:15 Email Review: Genesis Health Clubs45:54 Lightning Round54:12 Outro#Accessibility #EmailDesign #EmailMarketingThis video dives deep into web accessibility, providing a practical *accessibility audit* of different emails. Learn about *WCAG guidelines* and how to implement *inclusive design* principles for better *user experience*.

This Seltzer brand is redefining what great email marketing looks like. From retention strategy to stunning GIF-driven design, it’s packed with campaign ideas worth trying.In this episode of Feedback Friday, we sit down with the team at MKTGRhythm to explore their work for Rebel Rabbit, a fast-growing seltzer brand focused on clarity, focus, and a hangover-free experience. They break down real campaigns, hybrid templates, and creative tactics that bring personality into the inbox.If you're working in retention, design, or lifecycle marketing, this is your blueprint for standout emails.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Let’s roll00:32 Meet the Rhythm crew01:44 Rebel Rabbit's email strategy02:29 Playlist email breakdown08:59 Don’t break email laws10:45 Mocktails!16:54 Hybrid template20:49 Sober October23:49 Spooky-good design27:32 Dark mode + accessibility wins28:47 That’s a wrap📌 Resources and mentionsMarketing Rhythm https://mktgrhythm.com/Rebel Rabbit https://drinkrebelrabbit.com/View live emails https://reallygoodemails.com/rebel-rabbit💬 Want your brand featured or have a question for the team? Drop a comment below.Subscribe for more email teardowns and strategy sessions.#EmailMarketing #EmailDesign #RebelRabbit

This week on Feedback Friday, we’re joined by Adrien Grey, Creative Director at Sundays for Dogs, to break down their best-in-class email strategy from Black Friday bangers to onboarding gems. We’re talking high-touch campaigns, customer-first design, and a peek into their brand-new rebrand.In this video, you'll learn:✔️ How to design high-converting promotional emails✔️ Tips for customer-friendly transactional messages✔️ The magic of illustrations, product photography, and personalization✔️ Why Sundays’ dog food and emais are human-grade, 0% synthetic, and 100% delightful⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Overview of Sundays for Dogs01:06 Black Friday Email Breakdown04:31 Helpful Tips Email Analysis06:37 Order Confirmation Insights09:03 Order Shipped and Arrival Emails12:47 Post-Purchase Check-In Email16:31 Rebrand Announcement and Conclusion

Dive into the world of creative email marketing on this week's Feedback Friday! Join Matt Helbig and  @emailfromnaomi  as they explore Graza's unique email campaigns and discover insights into innovative brand storytelling.In this episode, we break down various Graza's email designs, highlighting their blend of engaging visuals, strategic branding, and the balance of functionality and creativity in email marketing.Learn about the success behind Graza's email strategy, get tips on improving mobile readability, understand the importance of collabs in branding, and discover the potential of integrating fun, yet compelling content to keep subscribers engaged. 🫒Naomi Westhttps://www.naomiwest.ca/https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomiwest1000/https://x.com/emailfromnaomihttps://www.instagram.com/emailfromnaomi/#emailmarketing #design

Welcome to the first-ever Really Good Email Awards! Hosted by Matt, Logan, and Kelsey from Really Good Emails and Befree, this event celebrates innovative emails across 11 categories, highlighting trends, standout campaigns, and brand creativity.See the recap https://reallygoodemails.com/school/the-really-good-email-awards-2024From interactive welcome emails to effective product launches, back-in-stock alerts, engaging newsletters, and more, discover what makes top-performing emails stand out. Also, get a sneak peek into the best practices for creating engaging, accessible, and visually appealing emails. Plus, don’t miss the announcement of Unspam 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland!00:00 Introduction to the Email Awards00:30 Meet the Hosts00:57 Award Categories Overview02:00 Welcome Email Award06:14 Product Launch Award09:35 Re-engagement Award13:30 Pet Care Award15:41 Outdoor and Travel Award18:41 Beverage Email Award22:05 Subject Line Trends25:39 Call to Action Excellence29:35 Quiz Award31:49 Seasonal Award35:26 Most Creative Award41:16 Q&A: Best Practices and Tips

In this episode of Feedback Friday, we explore the world of e-commerce email marketing with Max Sturtevant, the founder of Wellcopy, an agency that has generated $40 million for seven—and eight-figure e-commerce brands.🚀 Don't have Beefree yet? Get started for free at: https://beefree.io/We analyze creative email campaigns from Surreal, a trending UK brand, and discuss strategies like teaser emails, product highlights, customer testimonials, and the power of simplicity in email design. Learn how to optimize your email marketing to boost customer experience, increase click rates, and boost conversions. Don't miss Max's insights on maximizing the effectiveness of email footers, crafting compelling referral emails, and keeping your audience engaged with innovative offers and product releases. Subscribe and stay tuned for more expert tips on e-commerce and email marketing!00:00 Intro00:46 Teaser Campaigns and Product Launches02:39 Max's Tips for Effective Email Campaigns04:30 The Power of Social Proof in Emails08:00 Bundle Offers and Creative Discounts12:53 Subscription Emails: Key Strategies15:00 Optimizing Abandoned Cart Emails19:30 Referral Programs: Best Practices21:47 Final Thoughts and Recommendations#emailmarketing #ecommerce #digitalmarketing