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What Is Drip Campaign?
Email Marketing
Updated 18 September 2026
Quick Answer
A drip campaign is a series of pre-written emails sent automatically at set intervals — like once a week over a month — used to gradually nurture a lead or introduce a new subscriber to a business.
Drip Campaign vs. Email Sequence — What's the Difference?
| Drip Campaign | Email Sequence | |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | Often evenly spaced over time (e.g. weekly) | Broader term — timing can be triggered by behavior rather than a fixed schedule |
Why It Matters
- It nurtures a relationship gradually, rather than overwhelming a new contact with everything at once.
- It runs automatically, requiring no ongoing manual effort once set up.
How It Works
- A series of emails is written in advance, building on each other.
- They're set to send automatically at defined intervals after a trigger (like signing up).
- Each email typically builds toward a specific goal, like a first purchase or booking.
Key Takeaways
- A drip campaign sends a series of emails automatically at set intervals.
- It gradually nurtures a relationship rather than overwhelming a new contact.
- Most email marketing platforms include this as standard functionality.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a drip campaign run?
It varies by goal — a simple welcome drip might run a few emails over one to two weeks, a fuller nurture campaign could run longer.
What's the difference between a drip campaign and an email sequence?
They're closely related; 'drip' often implies evenly spaced timing specifically, while 'sequence' is the broader term covering any triggered series.
Do I need special software for a drip campaign?
Most standard email marketing platforms include this functionality in their basic plans.