---
name: cadence-design
description: Use when spacing, sequencing, and pacing multi-touch email programs.
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# Email Cadence Design Skill

## When to Use
- Planning nurture, onboarding, or expansion sequences with multiple branches.
- Auditing send frequency to reduce fatigue and unsubscribes.
- Coordinating cross-channel touches (email, in-app, SMS, sales assist).

## Framework
1. **Goal Alignment** – map KPIs per stage (activation, education, expansion, retention).
2. **Signal-Based Timing** – trigger on behavior (opens, clicks, product events), not fixed delays.
3. **Frequency Guardrails** – define daily/weekly send caps per persona + lifecycle stage.
4. **Channel Mix** – pair emails with supporting channels; document ownership and SLAs.
5. **Recovery Paths** – add detours for inactivity, hard bounces, or sales handoffs.

## Templates
- Cadence matrix (day, trigger, message purpose, CTA, channel).
- Fatigue model calculator (touches vs engagement trend).
- Suppression logic checklist (recent send, opportunity stage, consent).

## Tips
- Front-load value but leave whitespace before high-ask CTAs.
- Reuse proven send windows per persona while testing incrementally.
- Share cadence plan with SDR/CSM teams to prevent overlap.

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