Welcome emails are an important part of user onboarding and can significantly impact product activation rates. With open rates as high as 60%, they offer a unique opportunity to guide new users towards their first key actions in your product. To leverage this, consider the following best practices: set the tone for the relationship with clear next steps; personalize content by user persona or name; limit links to a few key actions; optimize for open rates and follow email regulations; show that your product delivers on its marketing hype; ensure mobile responsiveness; and send contextually, not in bulk.