Really Good Emails
Day 3 after signup
We found other weirdos
Plus: where communities gather, why customers return, and what makes design forgettable.
Email copy
Hey there, Email Geek 👋 What makes a community a community? Is it intense conversations about a niche thing, like mushrooms? A shared problem you’re trying to fix? Knowing the people around you and showing up for them? Feeling seen? The sheer hatred of Outlook? Community emails don’t need to say, "Hey, please join our community because we’re desperate for friends." (Although that may be true.) They give people something specific to care about together. I’ve been thinking about communities a lot lately, if the first two paragraphs didn’t give it away. So I rounded up 85 emails that make belonging feel less like a brand initiative and more like finding the right weirdos. Some welcome you. Some introduce you to the regulars. But the best ones? Those give you a reason to stick around. Find your people And now, a quick personalized ad from a partner... Now to read some stuff that you can share with other people and look smart. Community looks different depending on where you live Some groups gather mostly online; others still show up in person. Pew’s new data is a good reminder that a community email should reflect how its people actually connect, instead of assuming everyone wants another Slack invite. Meet them there > McDonald’s wants to move the middle McDonald’s plans different rewards for frequent, occasional, and lapsed customers. The email lesson: your regulars and your people who don't remember they have an account probably shouldn’t get the same nudge. Move the middle > What if your email had a cast? Denny’s, JCPenney, and others are borrowing from sitcoms and reality TV to make ads people might actually watch. A recurring email can borrow the useful bits: familiar characters, a recognizable format, and a reason to catch the next installment. Cue the theme song > Beware the perfectly fine email Aporva Baxi argues that forgettable design often comes from a pile of perfectly reasonable decisions. If every distinctive idea in an email gets negotiated away one approval at a time, "looks good" might be the problem. Escape the middle > Poll of the week You asked. We listened. The weird poll thingy of the week is back! You know what to do: hit reply with your answer and we'll tally up the votes. Then we'll try to explain what it means. Here we go. Question: What’s your little ritual right before hitting send? A. Check the links twice (like Santa) B. Open the test email on three devices C. Stare at the send button for a while D. Say "well, here goes" out loud and light a candle E. No ritual. I’m apparently fine? Thanks for reading and learning since September 2026. P.S. It really helps if you forward this to a friend, colleague, or ex-lover so they understand what you mean when you reference "RGE's email." Also, we're desperate for friends. Mike & the entire RGE team Try RGE Studio Submit an email View collections About Us RGE started in 2014 and is now part of Beefree. If you want to send us gifts, fan mail, or anything that does not include stalking or us waking up with you in our living room — you can find us at: C/O Beefree, 450 Townsend St, Suite 1, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA Written & designed by a real human. Compiled in RGE Studio. View online | Unsubscribe | Manage Tracking