Runway’s onboarding sequence moves from broad creative orientation to concrete creation routes, then adds image-based tools and chat integrations. Its distinctive cadence sends two emails on day 3 and reserves a final “Runway – Start here” reset for day 5.
Updated Oct 3, 2026
The day 0 welcome email sets the scope of the product before asking for a specific action. Its subject, "Welcome to Runway. Let's make something.", and preview text, "Explore what you can do in your first few minutes.", frame the email as an invitation to explore. Inside, it introduces creative tools and gives first-step guidance for generating images and videos, with links to guides, inspiration, and the app.
The following day, "Two quick things to try" makes the starting point more concrete. Its preview text, "Haven't made anything yet? Start here.", speaks to a user who may not have created anything, while the content covers creation from prompts, images, and video. Links to Apps, Academy tutorials, and prompting tips give the reader more than one way to continue. This is the only personalized email in the sequence, so the tactic stays specific rather than becoming a label for the whole onboarding run.
On day 3, Runway sends an email for users who already have an asset and another for users who want to work through tools they already use. "Start with an image you already have" uses the preview text "Turn one image into anything you can imagine." Its content introduces image-based apps that modify or expand an existing image, then links to the tools and learning resources.
The other day 3 email, "Runway: Now in Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor", uses the preview text "Make images and videos without leaving your chat" to introduce generation inside Claude, ChatGPT, and Cursor. It explains how to connect Runway and offers additional ways to get started. Sending these routes together broadens the definition of a first project: start with an existing image, or bring Runway into a chat workflow. For a reusable sequence, place adjacent emails around distinct entry points instead of repeating the same starting instruction.
On day 5, "Runway – Start here" returns to a simple first-generation promise in its preview text, "Your first generation in 5 minutes or less". The content gathers the earlier routes into one menu: create with prompts, images, videos, or Apps; generate an image; connect Runway to other tools; or try Scene Builder.
The cadence creates a clear progression to reuse. Begin with a welcome that explains the product’s creative range, follow with a low-friction prompt to try something, then introduce an existing-asset workflow and an integration workflow. Close with a practical recap for anyone who has not chosen a route. Runway’s day 0, day 3, and day 5 spacing also leaves room for distinct ideas while placing the two route-expanding emails on the same day.
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