Marketing
Is Email Marketing still Effective or Just Spam?
14 min read
Marketing
Is Email Marketing still Effective or Just Spam?
14 min read
Marketing
Is Email Marketing still Effective or Just Spam?
14 min read
OG: https://app.seobotai.com/profitable.agency/webinars-a-dying-trend-or-lead-generation-lifeline/
Email marketing remains a powerful tool in 2024, offering high ROI and direct customer communication. Here's a quick overview:
Still effective: $36 average return for every $1 spent
Not spam when done right: Permission-based, targeted, and valuable content
Key benefits: Personalization, cost-effective, measurable results
Challenges: Inbox clutter, spam filters, legal compliance
To succeed with email marketing:
Build a quality list
Craft engaging subject lines
Optimize for mobile
Personalize content
Segment your audience
Provide value, not just sales pitches
Quick Comparison:
Feature
Email Marketing
Social Media
Content Marketing
Paid Ads
Reach
4.9 billion users
1 billion+ (Facebook)
Varies
Varies
ROI
$36 per $1 spent
Lower
$22 (SEO)
$17 (Search), $2 (Display)
Personalization
High
Limited
Moderate
Moderate
Cost
Very low
Medium
Low
Medium to high
Control
Direct to subscribers
Platform-dependent
Organic growth
Targeted but costly
Measurability
Easy
Platform-dependent
Indirect
Easy
Email marketing remains effective when done properly, balancing personalization, value, and respect for subscribers.
Related video from YouTube
What is Email Marketing and Spam?
Email marketing and spam are often mixed up, but they're quite different. Let's look at what makes them different.
Email Marketing Basics
Email marketing is a way for businesses to send emails to people who want to hear from them. It's about building relationships and giving useful information.
Key parts of email marketing:
People agree to get emails
Emails are made for specific groups
Emails have helpful content
Sender is clearly shown
Easy to stop getting emails
What Makes an Email Spam
Spam is unwanted emails sent to lots of people at once. These emails are often not useful and can be harmful.
Things that make an email spam:
Sent without permission
Vague or misleading subject lines
Lots of spelling mistakes
Sender is hidden
No way to stop getting emails
Often has dangerous links or files
Email Marketing vs. Spam: Key Differences
Here's a table showing how email marketing and spam are different:
Feature
Email Marketing
Spam
Permission
Asked for
Not asked for
Content
Fits what people want
Random or useless
Sender
Clear and real
Often fake
Unsubscribe
Always there
Usually not there
Subject line
Tells what's inside
Often tricks you
Following rules
Follows email laws
Breaks email laws
Usefulness
Helpful info or deals
Not helpful
How often
Not too much
Too much, random times
Email marketing tries to build trust and help customers. Spam tries to trick people or cause harm. Good email marketers follow the rules and make sure their emails are wanted and helpful.
Why Email Marketing Works
Email marketing is still a strong tool for businesses in 2024. Here's why it works well:
Return on Investment
Email marketing gives businesses more money back compared to other marketing methods.
Marketing Type
Money Back for Every $1 Spent
Email Marketing
$42
Social Media Marketing
$2.80
This shows that email marketing is cheaper and works better for businesses.
Tailoring Messages to Customers
Making emails fit each customer helps them work better:
Emails with the customer's name get opened 26% more
Emails made for each person lead to 6 times more sales
Customers like emails that fit their needs
Ways to make emails fit each person:
Use the customer's name
Show products they might like
Change the email based on where they live or work
Tracking Email Performance
Businesses can see how well their emails are doing by looking at:
How many people open the email
How many people click links in the email
How many people buy something after reading the email
How many people stop getting emails
This helps businesses make their emails better over time.
Cost Comparison with Other Marketing
Email marketing costs less than other ways to reach customers:
Marketing Type
Cost to Get One New Customer
Email Marketing
$9.21
Social Media
$18.68
Display Ads
$41.28
Search Engine Ads
$45.27
Email marketing is cheaper and lets businesses send the right message to the right people.
Drawbacks of Email Marketing
While email marketing can work well, it also has some problems that marketers need to handle carefully.
Too Many Emails in Inboxes
People get a lot of emails every day, which can make it hard for marketing emails to work well:
About 45% of all emails are spam, so it's hard for good marketing emails to stand out.
Many people ignore or delete marketing emails without opening them because they get too many.
Marketers need to make very good, personal emails to get noticed in full inboxes.
Getting Past Spam Filters
Spam filters can stop marketing emails from reaching people:
Even good marketing emails can get caught by spam filters because of certain words, mistakes, or how they're sent.
Email providers often change their rules, which can affect how many emails get through.
Marketers need to keep learning how to avoid being marked as spam.
What Can Trigger Spam Filters
How to Avoid It
Using too many sales words
Focus on giving useful info
Bad sender reputation
Keep email list clean
Many bounced emails
Update subscriber info often
Low open and click rates
Make good, relevant content
When Customers Don't Like Marketing Emails
If people don't like marketing emails, it can cause problems:
Subscribers might feel the emails are not personal or too pushy.
Sending too many emails without good content can make people unsubscribe.
Emails that look bad or don't work well on phones can annoy people.
To fix these issues:
Let subscribers choose how often they get emails
Make personal, useful content
Make sure emails look good and work on phones
Legal Risks in Email Marketing
Email marketing has to follow certain laws:
The CAN-SPAM Act in the US sets rules for business emails.
The GDPR in Europe says people must agree to get marketing emails.
Not following these laws can lead to big fines and hurt the company's name.
Important things to do:
Put a clear unsubscribe link in every email
Have an inbox where customers can send responses
Get clear permission before adding people to your email list
Clearly show who is sending the email and why
Tips for Better Email Marketing
Here's how to make your email marketing work better in 2024:
Growing a Good Email List
To build a strong email list:
Put sign-up forms on your website and social media
Give people something good for signing up, like special content or discounts
Use double opt-in to make sure people really want your emails
Clean your list often by removing emails that don't work
Writing Eye-Catching Subject Lines
Good subject lines make more people open your emails:
Keep them short (under 30 characters) for phones
Use the person's name if you can
Make people curious or feel they need to act fast
Try different subject lines to see what works best
Type
Example
Why It Works
Uses Name
"John, Your Special Offer Inside"
Makes it personal
Urgent
"24-Hour Sale Starts Now"
Makes people act fast
Makes Curious
"Learn How to Double Your Money"
Makes people want to know more
Shows Benefit
"5 Ways to Get More Done"
Shows how it helps
Making Emails Work on Mobile
Over half of emails are read on phones, so:
Make emails that look good on all screens
Use one column so it's easy to scroll
Use big enough text (at least 12 points)
Put important buttons near the top
Check how your email looks on different phones before sending
Customizing Email Content
Make emails fit each person:
Group people based on what they like or do
Change content for each group
Use info you have about people to change parts of the email
Send emails based on what people do on your site
Grouping Your Email Audience
Putting people in groups helps send better emails:
Make groups based on what people buy, how they use your emails, or who they are
Think about different types of customers you have
Send different emails to each group
Look at how each group responds and change your plan if needed
Giving Readers Useful Information
Good content keeps people interested:
Help solve problems people have
Give how-to guides, news about your field, or special tips
Mix helpful info with some sales stuff
Use different types of content like words, pictures, and videos
Always try to give more than you ask for
Mistakes That Make Emails Look Like Spam
Some email marketing mistakes can make your messages end up in spam folders. Here's how to avoid them:
Sending Emails Without Permission
Sending emails to people who didn't ask for them is a big no-no. It breaks rules and can hurt your brand.
Don't
Do
Buy email lists
Grow your list naturally
Add contacts without asking
Use double opt-in
Send to old contacts without checking
Clean your email list often
Always get clear permission before adding anyone to your email list.
Using Misleading Subject Lines
Tricky subject lines can lose trust and trigger spam filters. Your subject line should match what's in the email.
Bad subject lines to avoid:
"RE: Our talk" (when you didn't talk)
"Your account is closed" (when it's just an ad)
"You've won!" (when it's just a sale)
Make honest subject lines that get people interested. Keep them short for phones.
Not Including an Unsubscribe Option
Always add a clear way to stop getting emails. It's not just good practice—it's the law in many places.
Remember to:
Make the unsubscribe link easy to see
Stop sending emails quickly when asked (within 10 work days)
Don't charge money or ask for info to unsubscribe
Not Updating Email Lists
Sending to old lists can hurt your emails' success. As your list grows, some addresses become wrong or unused.
To keep your list good:
Remove inactive subscribers regularly
Check for wrong email addresses
Try to re-engage people who haven't opened emails in a long time
Using Fake Sender Information
Using false sender details can break trust and laws. Always be clear about who you are and where your emails come from.
Tips for sender info:
Use a name people know (like your brand name)
Put a real address in your email footer
Set up your email domain correctly
What's Next for Email Marketing
Email marketing is changing. Here's what to expect in the future:
Mixing Email with Other Marketing
Email marketing won't work alone anymore. It will team up with other online marketing:
Marketing Type
How It Works with Email
Social Media
Share email content, get more subscribers
Website
Show pop-ups based on user behavior
Mobile Apps
Send app messages that match emails
Text Messages
Send short texts to support email campaigns
Using Smart Computer Programs in Email Marketing
New computer programs are making email marketing better:
1. Smart Personalization: Programs will guess what customers like and send emails they want.
2. Automatic Emails: Emails will be sent when customers do certain things.
3. Computer-Written Emails: Programs will write good subject lines and email content.
4. Best Time to Send: Programs will figure out when to send emails to each person.
5. Better Customer Groups: Programs will sort customers into groups more accurately.
New Rules for Email Marketing
As email marketing changes, so do the rules:
New Rule
What It Means
Privacy Laws
Stricter rules on how to use customer information
Getting Permission
Clearer ways to ask if people want emails
Easy-to-Read Emails
Emails must be easy for everyone to read
Fair Use of Smart Programs
Rules on how to use computer programs fairly
To follow these rules, email marketers should:
Check their email practices often
Use tools to manage customer permissions
Learn about new rules
Be clear about how they use customer information
Email marketing is changing with new computer programs and teamwork with other marketing. By following new rules and using these changes, marketers can keep their emails working well.
Email Marketing vs. Other Digital Marketing
Email marketing is still a top choice for online marketing. Let's see how it compares to other ways of reaching customers online:
What We're Comparing
Email Marketing
Social Media
Content Marketing
Paid Ads
How Many People It Reaches
4.9 billion users by 2017
1 billion+ (Facebook)
Depends
Depends
Money Back for Every $1 Spent
$36 on average, up to $53 in some fields
Less than email
$22 (SEO)
$17 (Search Ads), $2 (Display Ads)
Making It Personal
Very good
Limited
Okay
Okay
Cost
Very low
Medium
Low
Medium to high
Control Over Who Sees It
Direct to subscribers
Depends on platform rules
Grows naturally
Targeted but costs more
Limits on What You Can Say
Few
Platform rules apply
Few
Platform and ad type rules
Measuring Results
Easy to track
Depends on platform
Hard to measure directly
Easy to track
Email marketing stands out because:
It reaches more people than even big social media sites.
It gives back more money for what you spend.
You can make emails fit each person better.
It costs less to reach a lot of people quickly.
But each type of marketing has good points:
Social media is good for talking to people right away and making your brand known.
Content marketing helps people find you online over time.
Paid ads can get quick results and let you choose who sees them.
The best plan is to use different types of marketing together. For example:
Use social media to get more email subscribers.
Use email to share your content and get people to visit your website.
Conclusion
Email marketing is still a strong tool for online marketing in 2024. Even with worries about spam and full inboxes, numbers show that email is still very useful:
For every $1 spent on email marketing, businesses get $36 back on average. Some businesses even get $70 back.
59% of marketers say email works twice as well as social media and paid ads for getting new customers.
Email marketing gets 40 times more customers than Facebook and Twitter put together.
These numbers show that email is still very good for marketing. But to keep it working well, marketers need to:
Make emails fit each person: Use computer programs to send the right emails at the right time.
Follow new rules: Big email companies like Gmail and Yahoo have made new rules to stop spam.
Give useful info: Mix sales messages with helpful tips to keep people interested.
Work with other marketing: Use email with social media and other online marketing to reach more people.
Looking ahead, email marketing will keep being a big part of online marketing plans. By using new tech, making emails easy to read, and following the rules, businesses can use email to:
Build good relationships with customers
Get more sales
Do well in online marketing
Why Email Marketing Still Works
How to Do It Right
High return on money spent
Make emails fit each person
Gets more customers than social media
Follow new email rules
Reaches many people directly
Give useful info, not just ads
Costs less than other marketing
Use with other online marketing
FAQs
Is email marketing still useful?
Yes, email marketing is still very useful in 2024. It's a good way for businesses to talk to customers directly and get more sales. Numbers show it works well:
For every $1 spent, businesses can get $36 back
It gets more new customers than social media and paid ads
It reaches more people than big social media sites
What's new in email marketing for 2024?
In 2024, email marketing is getting smarter:
Computers will help make emails fit each person better
Emails will be sent based on what customers do
Computers might even write some of the emails
What's a good open rate for emails in 2024?
In 2024, more people are opening marketing emails:
Type of Email
Open Rate
Click Rate
All Emails
39.64%
3.2%
Auto Emails
Higher
Higher
These numbers are better than before.
Which is better: email or social media marketing?
Both email and social media marketing are good for different things:
Email Marketing
Social Media Marketing
Getting leads
Making people know your brand
Talking to customers
Doing contests
Selling things
Getting people to visit your website
Makes more money
Can spread fast
Choose based on what you want to do and who you want to reach.
What are the downsides of email marketing?
Email marketing can have some problems:
Might annoy people if done wrong
Hard to stand out in full inboxes
Needs regular work to do well
People might stop getting emails if they get too many
To avoid these issues, focus on sending helpful emails and following the rules.
OG: https://app.seobotai.com/profitable.agency/webinars-a-dying-trend-or-lead-generation-lifeline/
Email marketing remains a powerful tool in 2024, offering high ROI and direct customer communication. Here's a quick overview:
Still effective: $36 average return for every $1 spent
Not spam when done right: Permission-based, targeted, and valuable content
Key benefits: Personalization, cost-effective, measurable results
Challenges: Inbox clutter, spam filters, legal compliance
To succeed with email marketing:
Build a quality list
Craft engaging subject lines
Optimize for mobile
Personalize content
Segment your audience
Provide value, not just sales pitches
Quick Comparison:
Feature
Email Marketing
Social Media
Content Marketing
Paid Ads
Reach
4.9 billion users
1 billion+ (Facebook)
Varies
Varies
ROI
$36 per $1 spent
Lower
$22 (SEO)
$17 (Search), $2 (Display)
Personalization
High
Limited
Moderate
Moderate
Cost
Very low
Medium
Low
Medium to high
Control
Direct to subscribers
Platform-dependent
Organic growth
Targeted but costly
Measurability
Easy
Platform-dependent
Indirect
Easy
Email marketing remains effective when done properly, balancing personalization, value, and respect for subscribers.
Related video from YouTube
What is Email Marketing and Spam?
Email marketing and spam are often mixed up, but they're quite different. Let's look at what makes them different.
Email Marketing Basics
Email marketing is a way for businesses to send emails to people who want to hear from them. It's about building relationships and giving useful information.
Key parts of email marketing:
People agree to get emails
Emails are made for specific groups
Emails have helpful content
Sender is clearly shown
Easy to stop getting emails
What Makes an Email Spam
Spam is unwanted emails sent to lots of people at once. These emails are often not useful and can be harmful.
Things that make an email spam:
Sent without permission
Vague or misleading subject lines
Lots of spelling mistakes
Sender is hidden
No way to stop getting emails
Often has dangerous links or files
Email Marketing vs. Spam: Key Differences
Here's a table showing how email marketing and spam are different:
Feature
Email Marketing
Spam
Permission
Asked for
Not asked for
Content
Fits what people want
Random or useless
Sender
Clear and real
Often fake
Unsubscribe
Always there
Usually not there
Subject line
Tells what's inside
Often tricks you
Following rules
Follows email laws
Breaks email laws
Usefulness
Helpful info or deals
Not helpful
How often
Not too much
Too much, random times
Email marketing tries to build trust and help customers. Spam tries to trick people or cause harm. Good email marketers follow the rules and make sure their emails are wanted and helpful.
Why Email Marketing Works
Email marketing is still a strong tool for businesses in 2024. Here's why it works well:
Return on Investment
Email marketing gives businesses more money back compared to other marketing methods.
Marketing Type
Money Back for Every $1 Spent
Email Marketing
$42
Social Media Marketing
$2.80
This shows that email marketing is cheaper and works better for businesses.
Tailoring Messages to Customers
Making emails fit each customer helps them work better:
Emails with the customer's name get opened 26% more
Emails made for each person lead to 6 times more sales
Customers like emails that fit their needs
Ways to make emails fit each person:
Use the customer's name
Show products they might like
Change the email based on where they live or work
Tracking Email Performance
Businesses can see how well their emails are doing by looking at:
How many people open the email
How many people click links in the email
How many people buy something after reading the email
How many people stop getting emails
This helps businesses make their emails better over time.
Cost Comparison with Other Marketing
Email marketing costs less than other ways to reach customers:
Marketing Type
Cost to Get One New Customer
Email Marketing
$9.21
Social Media
$18.68
Display Ads
$41.28
Search Engine Ads
$45.27
Email marketing is cheaper and lets businesses send the right message to the right people.
Drawbacks of Email Marketing
While email marketing can work well, it also has some problems that marketers need to handle carefully.
Too Many Emails in Inboxes
People get a lot of emails every day, which can make it hard for marketing emails to work well:
About 45% of all emails are spam, so it's hard for good marketing emails to stand out.
Many people ignore or delete marketing emails without opening them because they get too many.
Marketers need to make very good, personal emails to get noticed in full inboxes.
Getting Past Spam Filters
Spam filters can stop marketing emails from reaching people:
Even good marketing emails can get caught by spam filters because of certain words, mistakes, or how they're sent.
Email providers often change their rules, which can affect how many emails get through.
Marketers need to keep learning how to avoid being marked as spam.
What Can Trigger Spam Filters
How to Avoid It
Using too many sales words
Focus on giving useful info
Bad sender reputation
Keep email list clean
Many bounced emails
Update subscriber info often
Low open and click rates
Make good, relevant content
When Customers Don't Like Marketing Emails
If people don't like marketing emails, it can cause problems:
Subscribers might feel the emails are not personal or too pushy.
Sending too many emails without good content can make people unsubscribe.
Emails that look bad or don't work well on phones can annoy people.
To fix these issues:
Let subscribers choose how often they get emails
Make personal, useful content
Make sure emails look good and work on phones
Legal Risks in Email Marketing
Email marketing has to follow certain laws:
The CAN-SPAM Act in the US sets rules for business emails.
The GDPR in Europe says people must agree to get marketing emails.
Not following these laws can lead to big fines and hurt the company's name.
Important things to do:
Put a clear unsubscribe link in every email
Have an inbox where customers can send responses
Get clear permission before adding people to your email list
Clearly show who is sending the email and why
Tips for Better Email Marketing
Here's how to make your email marketing work better in 2024:
Growing a Good Email List
To build a strong email list:
Put sign-up forms on your website and social media
Give people something good for signing up, like special content or discounts
Use double opt-in to make sure people really want your emails
Clean your list often by removing emails that don't work
Writing Eye-Catching Subject Lines
Good subject lines make more people open your emails:
Keep them short (under 30 characters) for phones
Use the person's name if you can
Make people curious or feel they need to act fast
Try different subject lines to see what works best
Type
Example
Why It Works
Uses Name
"John, Your Special Offer Inside"
Makes it personal
Urgent
"24-Hour Sale Starts Now"
Makes people act fast
Makes Curious
"Learn How to Double Your Money"
Makes people want to know more
Shows Benefit
"5 Ways to Get More Done"
Shows how it helps
Making Emails Work on Mobile
Over half of emails are read on phones, so:
Make emails that look good on all screens
Use one column so it's easy to scroll
Use big enough text (at least 12 points)
Put important buttons near the top
Check how your email looks on different phones before sending
Customizing Email Content
Make emails fit each person:
Group people based on what they like or do
Change content for each group
Use info you have about people to change parts of the email
Send emails based on what people do on your site
Grouping Your Email Audience
Putting people in groups helps send better emails:
Make groups based on what people buy, how they use your emails, or who they are
Think about different types of customers you have
Send different emails to each group
Look at how each group responds and change your plan if needed
Giving Readers Useful Information
Good content keeps people interested:
Help solve problems people have
Give how-to guides, news about your field, or special tips
Mix helpful info with some sales stuff
Use different types of content like words, pictures, and videos
Always try to give more than you ask for
Mistakes That Make Emails Look Like Spam
Some email marketing mistakes can make your messages end up in spam folders. Here's how to avoid them:
Sending Emails Without Permission
Sending emails to people who didn't ask for them is a big no-no. It breaks rules and can hurt your brand.
Don't
Do
Buy email lists
Grow your list naturally
Add contacts without asking
Use double opt-in
Send to old contacts without checking
Clean your email list often
Always get clear permission before adding anyone to your email list.
Using Misleading Subject Lines
Tricky subject lines can lose trust and trigger spam filters. Your subject line should match what's in the email.
Bad subject lines to avoid:
"RE: Our talk" (when you didn't talk)
"Your account is closed" (when it's just an ad)
"You've won!" (when it's just a sale)
Make honest subject lines that get people interested. Keep them short for phones.
Not Including an Unsubscribe Option
Always add a clear way to stop getting emails. It's not just good practice—it's the law in many places.
Remember to:
Make the unsubscribe link easy to see
Stop sending emails quickly when asked (within 10 work days)
Don't charge money or ask for info to unsubscribe
Not Updating Email Lists
Sending to old lists can hurt your emails' success. As your list grows, some addresses become wrong or unused.
To keep your list good:
Remove inactive subscribers regularly
Check for wrong email addresses
Try to re-engage people who haven't opened emails in a long time
Using Fake Sender Information
Using false sender details can break trust and laws. Always be clear about who you are and where your emails come from.
Tips for sender info:
Use a name people know (like your brand name)
Put a real address in your email footer
Set up your email domain correctly
What's Next for Email Marketing
Email marketing is changing. Here's what to expect in the future:
Mixing Email with Other Marketing
Email marketing won't work alone anymore. It will team up with other online marketing:
Marketing Type
How It Works with Email
Social Media
Share email content, get more subscribers
Website
Show pop-ups based on user behavior
Mobile Apps
Send app messages that match emails
Text Messages
Send short texts to support email campaigns
Using Smart Computer Programs in Email Marketing
New computer programs are making email marketing better:
1. Smart Personalization: Programs will guess what customers like and send emails they want.
2. Automatic Emails: Emails will be sent when customers do certain things.
3. Computer-Written Emails: Programs will write good subject lines and email content.
4. Best Time to Send: Programs will figure out when to send emails to each person.
5. Better Customer Groups: Programs will sort customers into groups more accurately.
New Rules for Email Marketing
As email marketing changes, so do the rules:
New Rule
What It Means
Privacy Laws
Stricter rules on how to use customer information
Getting Permission
Clearer ways to ask if people want emails
Easy-to-Read Emails
Emails must be easy for everyone to read
Fair Use of Smart Programs
Rules on how to use computer programs fairly
To follow these rules, email marketers should:
Check their email practices often
Use tools to manage customer permissions
Learn about new rules
Be clear about how they use customer information
Email marketing is changing with new computer programs and teamwork with other marketing. By following new rules and using these changes, marketers can keep their emails working well.
Email Marketing vs. Other Digital Marketing
Email marketing is still a top choice for online marketing. Let's see how it compares to other ways of reaching customers online:
What We're Comparing
Email Marketing
Social Media
Content Marketing
Paid Ads
How Many People It Reaches
4.9 billion users by 2017
1 billion+ (Facebook)
Depends
Depends
Money Back for Every $1 Spent
$36 on average, up to $53 in some fields
Less than email
$22 (SEO)
$17 (Search Ads), $2 (Display Ads)
Making It Personal
Very good
Limited
Okay
Okay
Cost
Very low
Medium
Low
Medium to high
Control Over Who Sees It
Direct to subscribers
Depends on platform rules
Grows naturally
Targeted but costs more
Limits on What You Can Say
Few
Platform rules apply
Few
Platform and ad type rules
Measuring Results
Easy to track
Depends on platform
Hard to measure directly
Easy to track
Email marketing stands out because:
It reaches more people than even big social media sites.
It gives back more money for what you spend.
You can make emails fit each person better.
It costs less to reach a lot of people quickly.
But each type of marketing has good points:
Social media is good for talking to people right away and making your brand known.
Content marketing helps people find you online over time.
Paid ads can get quick results and let you choose who sees them.
The best plan is to use different types of marketing together. For example:
Use social media to get more email subscribers.
Use email to share your content and get people to visit your website.
Conclusion
Email marketing is still a strong tool for online marketing in 2024. Even with worries about spam and full inboxes, numbers show that email is still very useful:
For every $1 spent on email marketing, businesses get $36 back on average. Some businesses even get $70 back.
59% of marketers say email works twice as well as social media and paid ads for getting new customers.
Email marketing gets 40 times more customers than Facebook and Twitter put together.
These numbers show that email is still very good for marketing. But to keep it working well, marketers need to:
Make emails fit each person: Use computer programs to send the right emails at the right time.
Follow new rules: Big email companies like Gmail and Yahoo have made new rules to stop spam.
Give useful info: Mix sales messages with helpful tips to keep people interested.
Work with other marketing: Use email with social media and other online marketing to reach more people.
Looking ahead, email marketing will keep being a big part of online marketing plans. By using new tech, making emails easy to read, and following the rules, businesses can use email to:
Build good relationships with customers
Get more sales
Do well in online marketing
Why Email Marketing Still Works
How to Do It Right
High return on money spent
Make emails fit each person
Gets more customers than social media
Follow new email rules
Reaches many people directly
Give useful info, not just ads
Costs less than other marketing
Use with other online marketing
FAQs
Is email marketing still useful?
Yes, email marketing is still very useful in 2024. It's a good way for businesses to talk to customers directly and get more sales. Numbers show it works well:
For every $1 spent, businesses can get $36 back
It gets more new customers than social media and paid ads
It reaches more people than big social media sites
What's new in email marketing for 2024?
In 2024, email marketing is getting smarter:
Computers will help make emails fit each person better
Emails will be sent based on what customers do
Computers might even write some of the emails
What's a good open rate for emails in 2024?
In 2024, more people are opening marketing emails:
Type of Email
Open Rate
Click Rate
All Emails
39.64%
3.2%
Auto Emails
Higher
Higher
These numbers are better than before.
Which is better: email or social media marketing?
Both email and social media marketing are good for different things:
Email Marketing
Social Media Marketing
Getting leads
Making people know your brand
Talking to customers
Doing contests
Selling things
Getting people to visit your website
Makes more money
Can spread fast
Choose based on what you want to do and who you want to reach.
What are the downsides of email marketing?
Email marketing can have some problems:
Might annoy people if done wrong
Hard to stand out in full inboxes
Needs regular work to do well
People might stop getting emails if they get too many
To avoid these issues, focus on sending helpful emails and following the rules.
OG: https://app.seobotai.com/profitable.agency/webinars-a-dying-trend-or-lead-generation-lifeline/
Email marketing remains a powerful tool in 2024, offering high ROI and direct customer communication. Here's a quick overview:
Still effective: $36 average return for every $1 spent
Not spam when done right: Permission-based, targeted, and valuable content
Key benefits: Personalization, cost-effective, measurable results
Challenges: Inbox clutter, spam filters, legal compliance
To succeed with email marketing:
Build a quality list
Craft engaging subject lines
Optimize for mobile
Personalize content
Segment your audience
Provide value, not just sales pitches
Quick Comparison:
Feature
Email Marketing
Social Media
Content Marketing
Paid Ads
Reach
4.9 billion users
1 billion+ (Facebook)
Varies
Varies
ROI
$36 per $1 spent
Lower
$22 (SEO)
$17 (Search), $2 (Display)
Personalization
High
Limited
Moderate
Moderate
Cost
Very low
Medium
Low
Medium to high
Control
Direct to subscribers
Platform-dependent
Organic growth
Targeted but costly
Measurability
Easy
Platform-dependent
Indirect
Easy
Email marketing remains effective when done properly, balancing personalization, value, and respect for subscribers.
Related video from YouTube
What is Email Marketing and Spam?
Email marketing and spam are often mixed up, but they're quite different. Let's look at what makes them different.
Email Marketing Basics
Email marketing is a way for businesses to send emails to people who want to hear from them. It's about building relationships and giving useful information.
Key parts of email marketing:
People agree to get emails
Emails are made for specific groups
Emails have helpful content
Sender is clearly shown
Easy to stop getting emails
What Makes an Email Spam
Spam is unwanted emails sent to lots of people at once. These emails are often not useful and can be harmful.
Things that make an email spam:
Sent without permission
Vague or misleading subject lines
Lots of spelling mistakes
Sender is hidden
No way to stop getting emails
Often has dangerous links or files
Email Marketing vs. Spam: Key Differences
Here's a table showing how email marketing and spam are different:
Feature
Email Marketing
Spam
Permission
Asked for
Not asked for
Content
Fits what people want
Random or useless
Sender
Clear and real
Often fake
Unsubscribe
Always there
Usually not there
Subject line
Tells what's inside
Often tricks you
Following rules
Follows email laws
Breaks email laws
Usefulness
Helpful info or deals
Not helpful
How often
Not too much
Too much, random times
Email marketing tries to build trust and help customers. Spam tries to trick people or cause harm. Good email marketers follow the rules and make sure their emails are wanted and helpful.
Why Email Marketing Works
Email marketing is still a strong tool for businesses in 2024. Here's why it works well:
Return on Investment
Email marketing gives businesses more money back compared to other marketing methods.
Marketing Type
Money Back for Every $1 Spent
Email Marketing
$42
Social Media Marketing
$2.80
This shows that email marketing is cheaper and works better for businesses.
Tailoring Messages to Customers
Making emails fit each customer helps them work better:
Emails with the customer's name get opened 26% more
Emails made for each person lead to 6 times more sales
Customers like emails that fit their needs
Ways to make emails fit each person:
Use the customer's name
Show products they might like
Change the email based on where they live or work
Tracking Email Performance
Businesses can see how well their emails are doing by looking at:
How many people open the email
How many people click links in the email
How many people buy something after reading the email
How many people stop getting emails
This helps businesses make their emails better over time.
Cost Comparison with Other Marketing
Email marketing costs less than other ways to reach customers:
Marketing Type
Cost to Get One New Customer
Email Marketing
$9.21
Social Media
$18.68
Display Ads
$41.28
Search Engine Ads
$45.27
Email marketing is cheaper and lets businesses send the right message to the right people.
Drawbacks of Email Marketing
While email marketing can work well, it also has some problems that marketers need to handle carefully.
Too Many Emails in Inboxes
People get a lot of emails every day, which can make it hard for marketing emails to work well:
About 45% of all emails are spam, so it's hard for good marketing emails to stand out.
Many people ignore or delete marketing emails without opening them because they get too many.
Marketers need to make very good, personal emails to get noticed in full inboxes.
Getting Past Spam Filters
Spam filters can stop marketing emails from reaching people:
Even good marketing emails can get caught by spam filters because of certain words, mistakes, or how they're sent.
Email providers often change their rules, which can affect how many emails get through.
Marketers need to keep learning how to avoid being marked as spam.
What Can Trigger Spam Filters
How to Avoid It
Using too many sales words
Focus on giving useful info
Bad sender reputation
Keep email list clean
Many bounced emails
Update subscriber info often
Low open and click rates
Make good, relevant content
When Customers Don't Like Marketing Emails
If people don't like marketing emails, it can cause problems:
Subscribers might feel the emails are not personal or too pushy.
Sending too many emails without good content can make people unsubscribe.
Emails that look bad or don't work well on phones can annoy people.
To fix these issues:
Let subscribers choose how often they get emails
Make personal, useful content
Make sure emails look good and work on phones
Legal Risks in Email Marketing
Email marketing has to follow certain laws:
The CAN-SPAM Act in the US sets rules for business emails.
The GDPR in Europe says people must agree to get marketing emails.
Not following these laws can lead to big fines and hurt the company's name.
Important things to do:
Put a clear unsubscribe link in every email
Have an inbox where customers can send responses
Get clear permission before adding people to your email list
Clearly show who is sending the email and why
Tips for Better Email Marketing
Here's how to make your email marketing work better in 2024:
Growing a Good Email List
To build a strong email list:
Put sign-up forms on your website and social media
Give people something good for signing up, like special content or discounts
Use double opt-in to make sure people really want your emails
Clean your list often by removing emails that don't work
Writing Eye-Catching Subject Lines
Good subject lines make more people open your emails:
Keep them short (under 30 characters) for phones
Use the person's name if you can
Make people curious or feel they need to act fast
Try different subject lines to see what works best
Type
Example
Why It Works
Uses Name
"John, Your Special Offer Inside"
Makes it personal
Urgent
"24-Hour Sale Starts Now"
Makes people act fast
Makes Curious
"Learn How to Double Your Money"
Makes people want to know more
Shows Benefit
"5 Ways to Get More Done"
Shows how it helps
Making Emails Work on Mobile
Over half of emails are read on phones, so:
Make emails that look good on all screens
Use one column so it's easy to scroll
Use big enough text (at least 12 points)
Put important buttons near the top
Check how your email looks on different phones before sending
Customizing Email Content
Make emails fit each person:
Group people based on what they like or do
Change content for each group
Use info you have about people to change parts of the email
Send emails based on what people do on your site
Grouping Your Email Audience
Putting people in groups helps send better emails:
Make groups based on what people buy, how they use your emails, or who they are
Think about different types of customers you have
Send different emails to each group
Look at how each group responds and change your plan if needed
Giving Readers Useful Information
Good content keeps people interested:
Help solve problems people have
Give how-to guides, news about your field, or special tips
Mix helpful info with some sales stuff
Use different types of content like words, pictures, and videos
Always try to give more than you ask for
Mistakes That Make Emails Look Like Spam
Some email marketing mistakes can make your messages end up in spam folders. Here's how to avoid them:
Sending Emails Without Permission
Sending emails to people who didn't ask for them is a big no-no. It breaks rules and can hurt your brand.
Don't
Do
Buy email lists
Grow your list naturally
Add contacts without asking
Use double opt-in
Send to old contacts without checking
Clean your email list often
Always get clear permission before adding anyone to your email list.
Using Misleading Subject Lines
Tricky subject lines can lose trust and trigger spam filters. Your subject line should match what's in the email.
Bad subject lines to avoid:
"RE: Our talk" (when you didn't talk)
"Your account is closed" (when it's just an ad)
"You've won!" (when it's just a sale)
Make honest subject lines that get people interested. Keep them short for phones.
Not Including an Unsubscribe Option
Always add a clear way to stop getting emails. It's not just good practice—it's the law in many places.
Remember to:
Make the unsubscribe link easy to see
Stop sending emails quickly when asked (within 10 work days)
Don't charge money or ask for info to unsubscribe
Not Updating Email Lists
Sending to old lists can hurt your emails' success. As your list grows, some addresses become wrong or unused.
To keep your list good:
Remove inactive subscribers regularly
Check for wrong email addresses
Try to re-engage people who haven't opened emails in a long time
Using Fake Sender Information
Using false sender details can break trust and laws. Always be clear about who you are and where your emails come from.
Tips for sender info:
Use a name people know (like your brand name)
Put a real address in your email footer
Set up your email domain correctly
What's Next for Email Marketing
Email marketing is changing. Here's what to expect in the future:
Mixing Email with Other Marketing
Email marketing won't work alone anymore. It will team up with other online marketing:
Marketing Type
How It Works with Email
Social Media
Share email content, get more subscribers
Website
Show pop-ups based on user behavior
Mobile Apps
Send app messages that match emails
Text Messages
Send short texts to support email campaigns
Using Smart Computer Programs in Email Marketing
New computer programs are making email marketing better:
1. Smart Personalization: Programs will guess what customers like and send emails they want.
2. Automatic Emails: Emails will be sent when customers do certain things.
3. Computer-Written Emails: Programs will write good subject lines and email content.
4. Best Time to Send: Programs will figure out when to send emails to each person.
5. Better Customer Groups: Programs will sort customers into groups more accurately.
New Rules for Email Marketing
As email marketing changes, so do the rules:
New Rule
What It Means
Privacy Laws
Stricter rules on how to use customer information
Getting Permission
Clearer ways to ask if people want emails
Easy-to-Read Emails
Emails must be easy for everyone to read
Fair Use of Smart Programs
Rules on how to use computer programs fairly
To follow these rules, email marketers should:
Check their email practices often
Use tools to manage customer permissions
Learn about new rules
Be clear about how they use customer information
Email marketing is changing with new computer programs and teamwork with other marketing. By following new rules and using these changes, marketers can keep their emails working well.
Email Marketing vs. Other Digital Marketing
Email marketing is still a top choice for online marketing. Let's see how it compares to other ways of reaching customers online:
What We're Comparing
Email Marketing
Social Media
Content Marketing
Paid Ads
How Many People It Reaches
4.9 billion users by 2017
1 billion+ (Facebook)
Depends
Depends
Money Back for Every $1 Spent
$36 on average, up to $53 in some fields
Less than email
$22 (SEO)
$17 (Search Ads), $2 (Display Ads)
Making It Personal
Very good
Limited
Okay
Okay
Cost
Very low
Medium
Low
Medium to high
Control Over Who Sees It
Direct to subscribers
Depends on platform rules
Grows naturally
Targeted but costs more
Limits on What You Can Say
Few
Platform rules apply
Few
Platform and ad type rules
Measuring Results
Easy to track
Depends on platform
Hard to measure directly
Easy to track
Email marketing stands out because:
It reaches more people than even big social media sites.
It gives back more money for what you spend.
You can make emails fit each person better.
It costs less to reach a lot of people quickly.
But each type of marketing has good points:
Social media is good for talking to people right away and making your brand known.
Content marketing helps people find you online over time.
Paid ads can get quick results and let you choose who sees them.
The best plan is to use different types of marketing together. For example:
Use social media to get more email subscribers.
Use email to share your content and get people to visit your website.
Conclusion
Email marketing is still a strong tool for online marketing in 2024. Even with worries about spam and full inboxes, numbers show that email is still very useful:
For every $1 spent on email marketing, businesses get $36 back on average. Some businesses even get $70 back.
59% of marketers say email works twice as well as social media and paid ads for getting new customers.
Email marketing gets 40 times more customers than Facebook and Twitter put together.
These numbers show that email is still very good for marketing. But to keep it working well, marketers need to:
Make emails fit each person: Use computer programs to send the right emails at the right time.
Follow new rules: Big email companies like Gmail and Yahoo have made new rules to stop spam.
Give useful info: Mix sales messages with helpful tips to keep people interested.
Work with other marketing: Use email with social media and other online marketing to reach more people.
Looking ahead, email marketing will keep being a big part of online marketing plans. By using new tech, making emails easy to read, and following the rules, businesses can use email to:
Build good relationships with customers
Get more sales
Do well in online marketing
Why Email Marketing Still Works
How to Do It Right
High return on money spent
Make emails fit each person
Gets more customers than social media
Follow new email rules
Reaches many people directly
Give useful info, not just ads
Costs less than other marketing
Use with other online marketing
FAQs
Is email marketing still useful?
Yes, email marketing is still very useful in 2024. It's a good way for businesses to talk to customers directly and get more sales. Numbers show it works well:
For every $1 spent, businesses can get $36 back
It gets more new customers than social media and paid ads
It reaches more people than big social media sites
What's new in email marketing for 2024?
In 2024, email marketing is getting smarter:
Computers will help make emails fit each person better
Emails will be sent based on what customers do
Computers might even write some of the emails
What's a good open rate for emails in 2024?
In 2024, more people are opening marketing emails:
Type of Email
Open Rate
Click Rate
All Emails
39.64%
3.2%
Auto Emails
Higher
Higher
These numbers are better than before.
Which is better: email or social media marketing?
Both email and social media marketing are good for different things:
Email Marketing
Social Media Marketing
Getting leads
Making people know your brand
Talking to customers
Doing contests
Selling things
Getting people to visit your website
Makes more money
Can spread fast
Choose based on what you want to do and who you want to reach.
What are the downsides of email marketing?
Email marketing can have some problems:
Might annoy people if done wrong
Hard to stand out in full inboxes
Needs regular work to do well
People might stop getting emails if they get too many
To avoid these issues, focus on sending helpful emails and following the rules.
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Book a quick call and fill out the short form to get a tailored audit on the specific problems you are facing.
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Get a free
business audit
Book a quick call and fill out the short form to get a tailored audit on the specific problems you are facing.
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Attract new clients and unlock new business growth with our proven acquisition funnels and resources.