--- name: messaging-surface-rule-waitlist-email description: Use when drafting or reviewing waitlist confirmation, waitlist-position update, and waitlist-to-launch conversion emails for a legal AI assistant. Waitlist emails are sent to users who have expressed intent but have not yet used the product — making first-impression accuracy and UPL-safe framing especially important. Covers the welcome-to-waitlist email, position-update drip, early-access invitation, and the full-launch conversion email. license: MIT metadata: id: messaging.surface-rule.waitlist-email category: messaging jurisdictions: [__multi__] priority: P2 intent: [messaging, waitlist, email, onboarding, launch, consumer] related: [messaging-compliance-checker, messaging-allowed-claims-consumer, messaging-banned-claims-consumer, messaging-pricing-framing-b2c, messaging-surface-rule-newsletter-mixed-audience, onboarding-b2c-vs-b2b-fork] source: Louis — HAQQ Legal AI (github.com/sboghossian/mini-claude-for-legal) version: "1.0" --- # Messaging — Surface Rule: Waitlist Email ## When this applies This skill governs the **waitlist email sequence** — the series of emails sent from the moment a user joins a waitlist through to their conversion to an active user. It includes: 1. **Waitlist confirmation email** — sent immediately on sign-up 2. **Position / momentum update** — optional periodic emails while the user is on the waitlist 3. **Early-access invitation** — for users moving to the front of the queue 4. **Full launch / "you're in" email** — when the product opens to the user Waitlist emails reach users at a uniquely high-attention moment: they have just self-selected as interested and are forming their understanding of what the product is. Claims made in these emails become the user's baseline expectation. Over-promising at this stage creates a worse product experience and greater UPL risk than over-promising to a user who has already experienced the product. --- ## Behavior — Waitlist Email Standards ### Core rule: set expectations accurately Waitlist emails must describe what the product *is*, not what it *will* achieve for the user. They may be aspirational in tone but must not make outcome claims that set unrealistic expectations. ### Consumer audience default Waitlist sign-ups arrive from paid social, organic search, and word of mouth — primarily non-lawyers. Unless the sign-up flow explicitly captures professional status, treat waitlist emails as consumer-audience copy and apply consumer messaging rules throughout. If the sign-up flow captures professional status (e.g., a "for lawyers" waitlist), apply lawyer messaging rules for that segment. --- ## Email-by-Email Rules ### Email 1: Waitlist Confirmation (sent immediately) **Purpose:** Confirm the sign-up, set accurate expectations, build anticipation. | Element | Rule | |---------|------| | Subject line | Confirmatory: "You're on the Louis waitlist" — not "You're going to love this!" | | Opening | Acknowledge the sign-up warmly; no hyperbole | | Product description | 2–3 sentences; bridge line territory; "legal information and understanding" framing | | What to expect | What the product will do for the user when they get access — allowed claims only | | What it is not | Brief "legal information, not legal advice" statement; sets the right expectation before first use | | CTA (optional) | "Follow us on LinkedIn for updates" / "Tell a friend and move up the list" | | Disclaimer | "Louis provides legal information, not legal advice." | **Allowed in confirmation email:** - "When you get access, Louis will help you understand your contracts, know your rights, and prepare for any legal situation." - "We've built Louis for MENA — Lebanon, UAE, and KSA from day one." **Blocked:** - "When you get access, Louis will handle all your legal work." - "No lawyer needed — Louis has you covered." ### Email 2: Position / Momentum Update (optional drip) **Purpose:** Maintain engagement and interest; prevent drop-off from waitlist. - Share a product teaser, feature preview, or use-case story - Use case stories: situational ("Here's how a Lebanese SME founder used Louis to understand their vendor contract in 10 minutes") — allowed if factual and sourced; not allowed if it implies outcome guarantees - Do not create urgency through false scarcity claims ### Email 3: Early-Access Invitation **Purpose:** Move the user from waitlist to active user with high conversion intent. | Element | Rule | |---------|------| | Subject line | "Your early access to Louis is ready" — specific, clear, no banned claims | | Body | Reiterate what the product does; reinforce the "legal information" positioning; transition from anticipation to action | | First-use guidance | Direct to a first-action prompt: "Start by asking Louis about a contract you need to review" | | CTA | "Start now — free" or "Activate your access" | | Disclaimer | Retain the standard disclaimer | ### Email 4: Full Launch Conversion **Purpose:** When the product opens fully, convert remaining waitlist users. - More urgent tone is appropriate: "Louis is now open to everyone — your spot is ready" - May reference the pricing model: free tier + paid upgrade — see [[messaging-pricing-framing-b2c]] for framing rules - Do not use urgency claims that are false ("Only 100 spots left" — if there is no actual limit) --- ## Technical Email Compliance All waitlist emails must comply with applicable email marketing law (see [[messaging-surface-rule-newsletter-mixed-audience]] for framework details). Key requirements: - Physical address in footer - One-click unsubscribe at every email - Accurate sender identification - No deceptive subject lines ("You've been selected" — allowed; "Your legal case has been resolved" — deceptive and blocked) --- ## Examples **Strong waitlist confirmation subject line:** > "You're on the Louis waitlist — here's what to expect" **Weak (avoid):** > "Get ready — no more lawyer bills!" **Strong product description in confirmation email:** > "Louis is a legal AI assistant for MENA — covering Lebanon, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. When you get access, you'll be able to upload a contract and get a plain-language breakdown, ask legal questions about your situation, and generate starting-point documents. Louis provides legal information — not legal advice. For complex matters, we'll tell you when to speak to a lawyer." --- ## Related skills - [[messaging-compliance-checker]] - [[messaging-allowed-claims-consumer]] - [[messaging-banned-claims-consumer]] - [[messaging-pricing-framing-b2c]] - [[messaging-surface-rule-newsletter-mixed-audience]] - [[onboarding-b2c-vs-b2b-fork]]