By Florent 
I remember staring at my screen, reading back the latest email in my funnel, and cringing. It was technically sound—clear subject line, solid offer, decent CTA—but something felt off. It didn’t sound like me. Worse, it didn’t feel like it was written for a real person. My funnel was running, but it was robotic, transactional, and… forgettable.
The Problem Wasn’t Just Automation
At first, I blamed the tools. “Maybe my email platform is too rigid,” I thought. Or perhaps I needed more “personalization tokens” to fake humanity. But the deeper issue wasn’t the tech—it was my approach. I’d built my funnel like an assembly line: trigger > email > conversion. No room for nuance, no space for connection. I was optimizing for opens, not relationships.
Where the Robot Voice Crept In
Three habits made my emails feel sterile:
1. Over-reliance on templates: I’d borrowed swipe files and frameworks, but never adapted them to my voice.
2. Skipping the “why” behind the “what”: I explained features, not stories.
3. Writing for the funnel, not the human: Every email pushed a next step, but rarely acknowledged the recipient’s journey.
The Fix? Fewer Emails, More Threads
I rebuilt my funnel around conversational threads instead of isolated broadcasts. Instead of a 5-email sequence, I created 3 tightly connected emails that felt like replies to an unasked question. For example:
– Email 1: “I noticed you downloaded [lead magnet]. Here’s why I almost didn’t create it…”
– Email 2: “You might be wondering if this works for [specific situation]. It does, but with one catch…”
– Email 3: “This is the part where I’d normally pitch you. Instead, let me show you the behind-the-scenes…”
This changed when I started using a sales funnel and automation tool that let me segment based on engagement, not just actions. Now I could pause sequences if someone replied or clicked a link—mimicking a real conversation.
The Unexpected Benefit of Slowing Down
Paradoxically, sending fewer emails improved my results. Open rates jumped 22% because each message felt intentional, not algorithmic. Replies increased because I’d left room for dialogue. Most importantly, I stopped dreading my own funnel. It finally sounded like me—just scaled.
If your emails feel robotic, ask: “Would I send this to a friend?” If not, scrap the template. Build a funnel that breathes, not just converts.