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Higglo/Free tools/Waitlist email sequence
Free templates · for ABA practice ops

Move waitlisted families to enrolled clients.

A five-email drip sequence with full copy, subject lines, and timing - built to keep waitlisted families warm, give them a real position update at four weeks, and convert spot offers into starts at 2× the typical rate.

The sequence

Five emails. One fewer family who ghosts.

Built from 8 ABA practice A/B tests. The full sequence is below - timing, subject lines, and the exact body copy for each of the five touchpoints. Free, no signup required to read.

Sequence unlocked · 5 emails

Customize the [bracketed placeholders] for your practice. Send these in order to move families from waitlist to enrolled.

E.01

You're on our waitlist - here's what to expect

Immediately after joining waitlist
Hi [Family Name],

Thank you for reaching out to [Practice Name]. We've added you to our waitlist and wanted to give you a clear picture of next steps.

Here's what to expect:
• Our typical wait time is currently [X weeks/months]
• You'll hear from us as soon as a spot opens for [Child's Name]
• In the meantime, we're happy to answer any questions

While you wait, here are a few things you can do to prepare:
1. Gather any existing evaluations or school records
2. Contact your insurance to confirm ABA benefits (policy # [X], group # [X])
3. Download our intake packet here: [link]

We look forward to working with your family.

Warm regards,
[Your Name]
[Practice Name] | [Phone]
E.02

While you wait - resources for your family

2 weeks after joining
Hi [Family Name],

We wanted to check in and share a few resources that families on our waitlist have found helpful:

📚 Understanding ABA therapy: [link to your blog or resource]
📋 What to expect in your child's first session: [link]
🎓 Parent training overview: [link]

A few quick reminders:
• If your insurance or contact information changes, please let us know
• If [Child's Name]'s needs or diagnosis change, reach out - it may affect prioritization
• You can always call us at [phone] with questions

We're thinking of your family and look forward to getting started.

[Your Name]
E.03

Staying connected - update from [Practice Name]

4 weeks after joining
Hi [Family Name],

Just a quick note to let you know you're still on our list and we haven't forgotten about you.

Current waitlist update:
• Your approximate position: [#X on our list]
• Estimated wait: [X more weeks/months]

If anything has changed for your family - new insurance, moved, or a change in your child's situation - please reply and let us know.

We also wanted to mention: [One genuine practice update - new staff member, new insurance accepted, expanded hours, etc.]

Thank you for your patience. We know waiting is hard.

[Your Name]
E.04

A spot is available for [Child's Name] - next steps

When a spot opens
Hi [Family Name],

Great news - we have an opening that's a good match for [Child's Name].

To hold this spot, we need to hear back from you within [48/72] hours.

Next steps:
1. Reply to confirm your interest
2. We'll schedule your intake appointment (typically [X] minutes)
3. Please bring: insurance cards, prior evaluation reports, and completed intake forms

Your scheduled intake would be: [Date options or link to schedule]

If this timing doesn't work, we completely understand - just let us know and we'll keep you on the list.

Looking forward to meeting your family.

[Your Name]
[Practice Name] | [Phone]
E.05

Following up - your spot at [Practice Name]

48 hours after spot offer (if no response)
Hi [Family Name],

I wanted to follow up on my previous note about an available spot for [Child's Name].

We want to make sure this is still a good fit for your family. If you're still interested, please reply or call us at [phone] today - we need to offer the spot to the next family by [date/time].

If your needs have changed or you've found another provider, no hard feelings at all - just let us know and we can remove you from the list.

We hope to hear from you soon.

[Your Name]
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What separates working from drifting

Four rules from waitlist A/B tests.

R.01

Silence on the waitlist kills enrollment.

Most families who ghost a spot offer were never re-engaged after the initial signup. The sequence is your insurance against silent attrition.

R.02

The 4-week update matters more than the spot offer.

Families who got a position update at 4 weeks accept spots at 2.3× the rate of families who didn't. Visibility builds the yes.

R.03

Make the 48-hour follow-up warm, not desperate.

"If your needs have changed, no hard feelings" converts better than "final notice." Empathy + a clear deadline beats urgency alone.

R.04

Always offer an off-ramp.

Tell families they can come off the list with no friction. Counterintuitively, this raises follow-through - they trust you more for offering it.

Benchmarks · waitlist conversion

What the sequence actually returns.

Open rate

Waitlist sequence avg

62 – 74%

Healthy range for transactional / status update emails. Higher than cold outreach because the family opted in.

Source · Higglo client cohort
Conversion

Spot offer → enrollment

58 – 71%

Families who got the full sequence accept spot offers at 58–71%. Practices with no nurture sequence land closer to 30%.

Source · 8-account A/B test, 2025
Retention

Of waitlist over 90 days

~ 42%

Practices running the sequence retain ~42% of families on the waitlist past 90 days. Without it, that number drops to ~18%.

Source · Higglo benchmarks
Pressure-test the sequence

Bring this to a 20-minute call.

The sequence works on its own. Paired with a real waitlist position calculation and a 24-hour intake response SLA, it cuts ghost rates by another half. We'll map your full intake flow.