How to Write a Soap Opera Sequence for Email Marketing With ChatGPT
Ever wonder why some emails pull you in and get you to click, while others are instantly discarded? The secret lies in the art of storytelling.
That’s what makes the Soap Opera Sequence such a powerful tool for email marketers and copywriters. It provides a framework for compelling email campaigns that drive action.
Just like a soap opera television series keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, these sequences can make your readers look forward to opening your messages.
Keep reading to learn how to craft a Soap Opera Sequence that resonates with your audience and boosts your email marketing results.
Whether you’re selling a product, promoting a business service, or building a community, these storytelling techniques will foster deeper connections with your subscribers.
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Table of Contents
What is a Soap Opera Sequence in email marketing?
A soap opera email sequence uses storytelling to captivate readers and drive engagement. It typically consists of five emails sent over five days, often as part of an autoresponder campaign.
Autoresponders are triggered when someone signs up for your list or activates an automation through some other action. They provide an ideal opportunity to build trust with your subscribers and generate interest in your brand.
Soap opera sequences can also be used to target leads at various stages of the customer life cycle. For example, they can work as database reactivation campaigns, or integrate with your selling process for a product launch.
The Soap Opera Sequence Structure
Each message in the standard five-email format has a specific purpose:
- Setting the Stage
- High Drama
- Epiphany
- Hidden Benefits
- Urgent CTA
Setting the stage should introduce your business and offer.
High drama should introduce a significant struggle or other problem you’ve overcome.
Epiphany should demonstrate HOW you overcame the drama.
Hidden benefits delves deeper into why your offer is a great choice.
Urgent CTA provides a compelling reason to buy right away.
I initially learned about soap opera sequences from Russell Brunson’s book “Dotcom Secrets”, but they are a copywriting tactic that likely existed before the creation of email marketing.
Brunson’s books are a great source of marketing strategies such as the dream 100, and a solid starting point for anyone beginning their online business journey.
How to Write a Soap Opera Sequence Step-by-Step
You can use the following method to write each message in the sequence, or to write standalone newsletters. A newsletter is a one-time message sent to your entire email list (or specific segments of it).
Start with a Hook
Every soap opera email begins with a strong hook. This grabs attention immediately. For example:
- “Can I share a moment with you?”
- “What happened next shocked everyone…”
Use curiosity or emotion to draw readers in.
Develop the Story
Once you have their attention, tell a relatable and engaging story. Use personal anecdotes or case studies to connect with your email subscribers. Structure the story to create anticipation, leading readers to wonder what happens next.
Present an Offer
In each email, introduce or build upon your offer. Keep it relevant to the story. For instance, if your story involves overcoming a challenge, highlight how your product or service solves similar problems.
End with a Cliffhanger
Conclude with a cliffhanger to encourage readers to open the next email. For example:
- “But that’s when everything changed…”
- “In the next email, I’ll share the surprising twist that made all the difference.”
Include a Call to Action (CTA)
Make your CTA clear and actionable. Add links to your offer, and consider including an emoji or compelling anchor text to boost click-through rates. For longer emails, you can include the CTA link twice.
Using ChatGPT to Write Your Sequence
ChatGPT and similar AI tools can simplify the process. To get great outputs consistently from ChatGPT, I recommend using an initial prompt to train the AI on how you want it to write, and as many subsequent prompts as necessary to tell it what to write.
Want to copy my free list of high-performing ChatGPT prompts? Tap the button below to subscribe and get instant access to my regularly updated cheat sheet.
Start with an Initial Copywriting Prompt
Whenever I start a new ChatGPT flow, I use an initial prompt to tell the AI exactly what to write and how to write it.
Here’s my sample initial copywriting prompt:
Write marketing copy in a natural, [TONE DESCRIPTOR] tone of voice. Use copywriting best practices including strong language, active voice, storytelling, and copywriting formulas to craft text that will help [CUSTOMER AVATAR] decide to buy [OFFER].
Write from the perspective of [BRAND/AUTHOR], a [DESCRIPTION OF BRAND/AUTHOR] who is known for [FURTHER DESCRIPTION].
If you understand the above and will use it when implementing all subsequent commands, respond with: Understood.
Here’s a quick explanation about how to use each of the variables mentioned in the prompt:
- Tone descriptor examples: Friendly, authoritative, convincing.
- Customer avatar: Describe your target audience.
- Offer: Specify the product or service you’re promoting.
- Brand/Author: Provide authorship context, such as “owner of a small marketing agency.”
Write the Sequence With a Customized Prompt
Each message should begin with a hook, develop the story, and end with a cliffhanger. I recommend generating multiple options and refine them for clarity and personalization. Keep subject lines under 44 characters to improve open rates.
Here’s the first half of my soap opera sequence writing prompt:
Write a clickworthy headline for each email in a 5-message soap opera autoresponder sequence. The 5 emails should adhere to the following themes:
Message 1: Setting the Stage
Message 2: High Drama
Message 3: Epiphany
Message 4: Hidden Benefits
Message 5: Urgent CTAThe messages should use emotion, logic, and fear to encourage sales, with emails 1-2 focusing on emotion, emails 3-4 focusing on logic, and email 5 focusing on fear.
This sequence should prioritize selling [OFFER] to [CUSTOMER SEGMENT]
Here’s the second half of the prompt chain:
Write two alternate headlines for email 1, followed by body copy that works with all three headlines.
The second prompt can be reused for each message in the sequence.
Accessing ChatGPT Prompts
If you need help crafting your soap opera sequence, download my ChatGPT marketing prompts list. This includes:
- A two-part soap opera email sequence command.
- An initial copywriting voice and tone command for optimized results.
Tap the button below to access this Google Sheet. You can add it to your Google Drive or download it for offline use.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Soap Opera Sequence Copywriting
Here are some answers to common questions about this marketing strategy.
What is the structure of a soap opera story?
For the purposes of copywriting, the soap opera structure includes a highly engaging hook, development of a story to build interest, a strong call-to-action (CTA), and a cliffhanger that will make the reader look forward to your next message.
Why is storytelling important in copywriting?
Telling stories is a part of the human experience that connects everybody on Earth. Through stories, we build connections and relationships, and they help us empathize with people who may have very different lives. These are just some of the reasons why storytelling is a powerful tool for copywriters.
Is a soap opera sequence always 5 messages?
A standard soap opera sequence campaign is five messages, but it can be configured for as few as three messages or more than five. The important part is using the storytelling elements mentioned above to hook your readers and keep them intrigued.
