Why a 5-Day Email Course Might Be the Smartest Thing You Create This Year

One simple format. Five emails. Create once, deliver forever.

This is Part 1 of a two-part series on building an automated reader-first email course that teaches, connects, and builds trust. After testing this approach myself, I realized how overlooked and powerful it really is.
Part 2 walks through exactly how I built it—with tools, settings, and lessons learned. It’s in the works—subscribe below so you don’t miss it when it drops.

What an Email Course Is (Before You Bail Thinking “This Isn’t for Me”)

You might think an email course (aka EEC—educational email course) is only for coaches or product people. But if you’re a writer, creator, or solo builder trying to grow an audience or connect more deeply with readers, this might be the most overlooked, low-friction, high-impact format you’re not using.

Let’s talk about what an EEC really is, why it works (psychologically and strategically), and how to design one that actually helps readers do something, not just read something.

Why Email Courses Work (And Why the Brain Actually Loves Them)

If you’ve followed my work, you know I center everything around how people learn, think, and engage. So here’s why EECs make a difference:

1. Email courses are spaced learning.

We retain more when information is broken into pieces and delivered over time. It’s called spaced repetition—and it’s proven to work better than one-off content dumps.

2. EECs create psychological commitment.

Subscribing to a 5-day course feels different than clicking “subscribe to newsletter.” Most readers are overwhelmed by the big picture. A short sequence gives them manageable pieces—wins they can absorb, apply, and finish.

3. They build comfort with your emails.

As one creator smartly said: readers get used to seeing your name in their inbox frequently and they’re expecting it. That trust is gold.

4. They’re aligned with adult learning.

Adults don’t just want content—they want relevance, application, and progress. A well-structured EEC delivers exactly that, especially when each email builds toward a clear takeaway your readers can apply or act on.

Why Most Writers Skip Email Courses (and Why That’s a Missed Opportunity)

Because most creators:

• Don’t know what to teach
• Don’t know how to structure it
• Don’t want to mess with platforms like ConvertKit or MailerLite

…or they think “why not just write articles?”

But the truth is: Articles broadcast. EECs guide.

One is open-ended. The other is a structured journey—and that makes it more valuable and more memorable.

“Automated emails receive 71% higher open rates and 152% higher click-through rates than standalone messages.” ~Campaign Monitor

What an Email Course Can Do for You (and Your Readers)

Whether you’re writing about creativity, tech, storytelling, productivity, or parenting, a good email course can:

• Grow your mailing list (even outside Substack)
• Create a strong first impression with new readers
• Build trust through consistent value
• Offer a clear path to your free tools, paid products, or deeper work
• Segment your audience based on who signs up (and what they respond to)

How Reader-First Design Turns Email into a Learning Experience

The whole point of WriteSmart is to design experiences that respect how real brains process information.

Reader-first writing means putting your reader’s thinking process at the center—shaping content that solves a real problem, sparks curiosity, and earns their attention.

When I created my own 5-day email course, I mapped each email to one shift—not just in strategy, but in how the reader thinks. That one decision made the rest of the structure fall into place.

That means:

• Sequencing ideas so they build
• Giving readers mental cues and quick wins
• Offering next steps to keep momentum high
• Helping readers apply what they just learned

EECs are like mini UX systems—designed to guide readers step by step, help them stay engaged, and walk away with something valuable.

Try It for Yourself: See the Reader-First Email Course in Action

I created a 5-day mini-course that shows exactly how this works.

You’ll learn how to shift your perspective, write with reader psychology in mind, and structure your content to keep people engaged.

👉🏼 Take the free mini-course here.

What’s Coming in Part 2: How I Built My 5-Day Email Course (Tools, Tips & Platform Walkthrough)

I’ll walk you through exactly how I built it—using MailerLite (after abandoning Kit), writing six emails (one is a Welcome email), building the landing page, verifying my domain, and testing the sequence.

You’ll see the entire behind-the-scenes process (a PDF checklist to build your own is in the works).

But for now?

Go try the course. You’ll feel the difference.

Then decide if your readers deserve the same experience.

Your Move

Every reader processes your words differently.

Your job is to build a path their brain actually wants to follow.

WriteSmart is a whole system built to help you write with clarity, connect with more readers, and grow with purpose.

WriteSmart is where I blend adult learning, reader psychology, and UX design to help writers connect better and grow smarter.

This article was originally published on Substack. Republished here for archival and discovery purposes.

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