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Email Marketing Basics

Email isn't dead - it has the best ROI in digital. Learn to build lists and send emails that convert.

Chapter 1

Why Email Marketing Still Works

Everyone thinks email is dead. Everyone is wrong. Email marketing has the best ROI of all digital marketing channels - $42 for every $1 invested.

4200% ROI - Not a Typo

The data is clear: no other marketing channel generates comparable return on investment. Social media? Instagram ads? Facebook marketing? All have ROIs between 200-500%. Email beats them all.

Why does it work so well?

  • Extremely low cost per message (under $0.01 per email)
  • Precise targeting - send exactly the right message to the right person
  • Automation - work once, profit continuously
  • Measurable - see exactly what works and what doesn't

Owned Channel vs Rented Channel

The critical difference: your email list is YOURS. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok - those are rented platforms. Tomorrow they can change the algorithm and your posts reach 2% of followers instead of 20%.

With email:

  • You have direct access to subscribers. No algorithm dependency.
  • If you don't like the platform (Mailchimp, Klaviyo, etc.), move your list and leave.
  • Nobody can take your list. It's yours forever.
  • Regulations (GDPR, CAN-SPAM) protect you, not block you.

Facebook shut down your page with 100k followers? Tough luck. But your 10k email list stays with you no matter what.

1-to-1 Personalization at Scale

Email allows a level of personalization impossible on other channels. Not just "Hi, [Name]" - but:

  • Behavioral segmentation: Send different messages to buyers vs browsers
  • Perfect timing: Email 3 days after purchase, another at 30 days
  • Dynamic content: Same email looks different for different users
  • Trigger-based messaging: Abandon cart? Get automatic email in 1 hour

The Numbers That Matter

Let's talk real email marketing statistics in 2025:

  • 4.3 billion email users globally (over half the population)
  • 99% of users check their email daily (many multiple times)
  • 60% of consumers made a purchase after receiving email marketing
  • 80% of marketing professionals say email increases customer retention
  • Over 50% of e-commerce revenue comes from automated email marketing

Email isn't dead. It's more alive than ever - if you know how to use it.

Chapter 2

List Building - How to Build a Quality List

Without subscribers, you have no one to email. But beware: not just any subscribers. You want people who actually want to hear from you, not a purchased list of 50k emails that never open anything.

The Golden Rule: Permission

NEVER buy email lists. Don't add people manually without consent. Not only is it illegal (GDPR, CAN-SPAM), but it destroys your deliverability.

Proper opt-in:

  • Single opt-in: They sign up, receive emails immediately. Simpler, higher conversion.
  • Double opt-in: They sign up, receive confirmation email, must confirm. Cleaner list, higher engagement.

Recommendation: for EU use double opt-in (GDPR requirements). For US, single opt-in is OK.

Lead Magnets - Why Should They Give Their Email?

Nobody gives their email "just because." You need to offer something in exchange. Something with immediate value.

Types of lead magnets that work:

  • Educational PDF: "10 Keto Recipes For Beginners", "SEO Guide 2025"
  • Checklist/Template: Ready to use immediately. "Social Media Calendar Template"
  • Discount code: "15% off your first order" - works perfectly for e-commerce
  • Mini-course: Series of 5 emails with lessons. "Email in 5 Days"
  • Calculator/Tool: "Calculate your savings with solar panels"
  • Free trial: "14 days free on our software"
  • Webinar: "Register for the free webinar"

What makes a good lead magnet: Specific (not vague), Immediate value (not promises), Easy to consume (not 200-page book), Relevant to your product.

Where to Place Opt-in Forms

You have the lead magnet. Now you need to put it where people see it.

  • Pop-up (exit intent): Appears when user wants to leave site. High conversion if done well.
  • Inline in blog posts: After first 2 paragraphs or at the end. Contextual, high conversion.
  • Sidebar: Permanently visible. Lower conversion, but consistent volume.
  • Footer: On every page. Low conversion, but there for those who see it.
  • Dedicated landing page: A page just for opt-in. Use it in ads and social media.
  • Welcome mat: Covers entire screen on first visit. Aggressive, but works.

Form Optimization

Every extra field in the form decreases conversion rate by ~5-10%. Minimalism is key.

Absolutely necessary fields:

  • Email (duh). The only mandatory field to start.
  • Name - nice to have for personalization, but not required.

DON'T ask at start: Phone, Company, Address, Birthday. You can ask later through emails.
Copy that converts: Header: Clear benefit. "Get 50 Content Ideas Free" not "Newsletter". Subheader: What they'll receive and how often. Button text: Action-oriented. "I Want The Ideas" not "Submit".

Traffic Sources For List Building

  • Organic blog: SEO → blog posts → opt-in forms. Most sustainable long-term.
  • Social media: Link in bio, posts with lead magnet, Stories swipe-up (Instagram).
  • Facebook/Instagram Ads: Promote lead magnet directly. Cost: $1-5 per subscriber.
  • Guest posting: Write on other blogs, include link to your landing page.
  • Podcast interviews: Mention the lead magnet, people sign up.
  • YouTube: Video about topic, link in description to lead magnet.
Chapter 3

Email Copywriting - Write Emails That Get Opened and Convert

You have the list. Now you need to write emails that people open, read, and act on. Zero bullshit, maximum value.

Subject Lines - The Most Important Sentence

If the subject doesn't convince, the email doesn't get opened. Game over. Average open rate is 15-25%. Your subject decides if you're in the top 25% or in trash.

Formulas that work:

  • Curiosity: "I made a huge mistake with yesterday's email..."
  • Urgency: "[Last day] 40% discount expires at midnight"
  • Direct benefit: "How to send 10k emails at $0"
  • Personalization: "[Name], I prepared something special for you"
  • Question: "Why isn't your email list growing?"
  • Number-based: "5 email marketing mistakes (you're making #3 for sure)"

What to Avoid in Subject Lines

  • ALL CAPS - looks like spam, decreases deliverability
  • Too many emojis 🔥🔥🔥 - tacky and spammy
  • Spam words: FREE, URGENT, ACT NOW, !!!, $$$
  • Misinformation - if subject promises X and email delivers Y, unsubscribe guaranteed

Best practices: 40-50 characters (for mobile), test variants (A/B testing), personalize when you have the data.

Preheader Text - The Second Subject

The text that appears after the subject line in inbox. Most marketers ignore it. Big mistake - it's free real estate for persuasion.

Good example: Subject: "Why your emails aren't opening" / Preheader: "+ what you can do today to increase open rate by 40%"

Preheader completes the subject, doesn't repeat it.

The Perfect Email Structure

1. Opening (first 2-3 sentences): Capture attention immediately. No long intros. Go straight to what matters.

Weak: "I hope you're doing well. I want to tell you about..."

Strong: "I lost $5,000 last month because I ignored email marketing. And I knew better."

2. Body (main content):

  • Short paragraphs. 2-3 lines max. Mobile-friendly.
  • One main idea per email. Don't try to teach everything at once.
  • Bullet points for scannability.
  • Conversational, not corporate-speak. Write how you talk.
  • Storytelling when relevant - people remember stories, not facts.

3. Call-to-Action: ONE main CTA. If you offer 5 options, conversion = 0. Visible and clear button. "Download The Guide Now" not "Click here". Repeat CTA if email is long.
4. P.S. (PostScript): The second most-read element after subject line. Use it strategically. Example: "P.S. Offer expires Friday at 11:59 PM. After that, back to full price."

The Right Tone and Voice

Email should sound like you (or your brand), not a corporate robot.

  • Personal, not sterile professional: "We thank you for your purchase" → "Thanks for choosing to work with us!"
  • Conversational: Use contractions (it's, you'll, we're), not artificially long forms
  • Direct: No unnecessary jargon. If your mom doesn't understand what you write, rewrite.

Types of Emails to Send

  • Educational: Teach them something useful. Guides, tutorials, tips. Build trust.
  • Promotional: Sell something. Offers, discounts, launches. Direct to conversion.
  • Story-based: Personal story that connects to a point. High engagement.
  • Newsletter: Curated content. "The best 5 articles this week".
  • Survey/Feedback: Ask subscribers what they want. Shows you care.

Ideal ratio: 80% value / 20% promotion. Don't turn every email into a sales pitch.

Chapter 4

Email Design and Templates

Email design doesn't need to be fancy. It needs to be functional, responsive, and convert. Simple beats complicated every time.

Plain Text vs HTML - What to Use?

The eternal debate. Answer: depends on objective and audience.

Plain text emails:

  • Looks like an email from a friend, not marketing
  • Sometimes better deliverability (fewer spam signals)
  • Perfect for personal emails, sales outreach, relationship building
  • Harder to track (clicks, opens)

HTML Emails

  • Consistent branding - logo, colors, fonts
  • Images, buttons, multiple columns
  • Complete tracking - opens, clicks, heatmaps
  • Ideal for newsletters, promotional emails, e-commerce

Verdict: Use HTML for most marketing emails, but occasionally send plain text for variety and more personal touch.

Responsive Design Is Mandatory

Over 60% of emails are opened on mobile. If your email looks bad on phone, you've lost most of your audience.

Mobile best practices:

  • Single column layout: Forget about 3-column templates. Mobile = 1 column.
  • Minimum 14px font size: Below that, people have to zoom.
  • Large buttons (44x44px minimum): Thumb-friendly for touch screens.
  • Optimized images: Max 600px width, compressed for fast loading.
  • Generous spacing: Don't cram everything. Breathing room between elements.

Anatomy of the Perfect Template

Header (top): Logo (small, doesn't dominate email), Optional: navigation menu, "View in browser" link.

Hero Section: Main image (if relevant) OR strong headline, Headline that captures attention, Subheadline that explains the benefit.

Content Area: Body text - short, scannable paragraphs, Relevant images (not generic stock photos), CTA button - visible, contrasting.

Footer: Unsubscribe link (LEGALLY REQUIRED - GDPR, CAN-SPAM), Physical business address (legal requirement), Social media icons (optional), Email preferences (optional).

Colors and Branding

Template should be consistent with your brand, but not overwhelming.

  • Primary color: Use it for CTA buttons and headings
  • Background: White or light gray. Dark backgrounds are problematic for printing.
  • Text: Dark gray (#333333) is more pleasant than pure black (#000000)
  • Contrast: CTA button must stand out. Red, Orange, Green work well.

Images - Dos and Don'ts

DO: Include alt text for all images, Optimize for web, Use real product/team images, GIFs for product demos (but max 1-2MB).

DON'T: Don't put all content in images (deliverability drops), Don't use complex background images, Don't forget dark mode - test how template looks in dark mode.

Testing Across Email Clients

Your email looks different in Gmail vs Outlook vs Apple Mail vs Yahoo. Painful, but reality.

Testing tools: Litmus, Email on Acid - show preview in 90+ email clients. Worth it for important campaigns.

Must-test on: Gmail (web + app), Outlook (desktop + web), Apple Mail (iOS + macOS), Yahoo, Samsung Email.

Chapter 5

Automation and Email Sequences

This is where the magic of email marketing happens. Set up automation once, and it runs on its own generating revenue while you sleep. Welcome sequences, abandoned cart, post-purchase - all on autopilot.

Welcome Series - First Impression Matters

Someone just subscribed. What do they receive? One email? Mistake. Welcome series is your chance to build the relationship from the start.

5-Email Welcome Series Template:

Email 1 (immediately after signup): "Welcome! Here's what you were promised" - Deliver promised lead magnet, Set expectations: what they'll receive, how often, Thank them for trust.

Email 2 (24 hours): "Who we are and why you should listen" - Brand story, Social proof, What makes you different.

Email 3 (48 hours): "Our best-of content" - Top 3-5 articles/resources, Most popular products/services, Quick wins.

Email 4 (4 days): "Pure value - tips/case study" - Super-relevant educational content, Zero pitch, just value.

Email 5 (7 days): "Special offer for new subscribers" - First commercial offer, Special discount or bonus, Limited urgency.

Abandoned Cart Recovery - Win Back Lost Sales

73% of shopping carts are abandoned. Without automation, you lose 3 out of 4 sales. With abandoned cart emails, recovery rate is 10-30%.

Perfect sequence (3 emails):

Email 1 (1 hour after abandon): Subject: "Did you forget something?" - Show cart products, Simple CTA: "Complete your order", No discount yet.

Email 2 (24 hours): Subject: "Your product is still available" - Testimonials for specific product, Scarcity: "Only 3 items in stock".

Email 3 (48-72 hours): Subject: "10% off if you order today" - Discount code or free shipping, Clear expiration: "Code expires at midnight".

Post-Purchase Flow - Turn Customers into Repeat Buyers

You're 5-10x more likely to sell to someone who already bought than to a new prospect. Post-purchase automation builds loyalty.

Email 1 (immediately): Order confirmation

Email 2 (when delivered): "Did your package arrive?" + usage tips

Email 3 (7 days): "How's [product] working out?" Educational content

Email 4 (14 days): Request for review/testimonial

Email 5 (30 days): Cross-sell complementary products

Segmentation - The Right Email to the Right Person

Don't send the same email to the entire list. Segment and personalize.

Basic segmentations:

  • Engagement level: Active (open often) vs dormant (haven't opened in 3 months)
  • Purchase history: Customers vs prospects vs VIP (multiple purchases)
  • Interests: Based on click behavior - what topics interest them?
  • Location: For local offers or timezone-appropriate sending
  • Stage in customer journey: Awareness vs Consideration vs Decision

Re-engagement Campaign - Wake Up Dormant Subscribers

Someone hasn't opened emails in 3-6 months? Don't delete them instantly. Try a re-engagement campaign.

Email 1: "Did we lose you?" - Acknowledge the absence

Email 2: "What do you want to see from us?" - Survey for preferences

Email 3: "Last email" - Option to stay subscribed or leave gracefully

If they don't respond, delete them. A small engaged list > large dormant list. Your deliverability will thank you.

Chapter 6

Deliverability and Metrics

You can write the perfect email, but if it lands in spam, it doesn't matter. Deliverability is about reaching inbox, not promotions folder or worse, spam.

SPF, DKIM, DMARC - Technical Setup

Sounds scary, but it's critical. These protocols authenticate that emails actually come from you, not a spammer pretending.

SPF (Sender Policy Framework): DNS record listing what servers can send email on behalf of your domain. Prevents spoofing.

DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): Digital signature verifying email wasn't modified in transit.

DMARC: Combines SPF and DKIM. Tells ISPs what to do with emails that fail authentication.

Action item: Check if you have all 3 configured. Free tool: MXToolbox.com/DMARC

Sender Reputation

ISPs (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo) give you a "sender score" - like a credit score for emails. Good score = inbox. Bad score = spam.

What improves reputation:

  • High open rates and click rates
  • Few complaint reports (when people mark as spam)
  • Low bounce rate (valid emails)
  • Consistent sending - don't send 0 emails for 3 months, then 50k in one day
  • Engagement - replies to emails

What Destroys Reputation

  • Spam traps - inactive emails you're sending to (clean list regularly!)
  • Hard bounces - non-existent emails
  • High unsubscribe rate
  • Buying lists (instant reputation killer)

Metrics to Measure - Email Marketing KPIs

Open Rate: % of recipients who open email. Benchmark: 15-25% is decent, 25-40% is very good.

Click-Through Rate (CTR): % who click links in email. Benchmark: 2-5% is decent, 5-10% is excellent.

Conversion Rate: % who complete desired action. Benchmark: 1-5% depends on industry.

Bounce Rate: % emails not delivered. Over 5% = serious problem.

Unsubscribe Rate: Under 0.5% is normal. Over 1% = problem.

When to Send Emails

Best days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Monday = too busy, Friday = weekend mode.

Best hours:

  • B2C: 8-10 AM (morning coffee check), 1-2 PM (lunch break), 8-10 PM (evening relax)
  • B2B: 10 AM - 12 PM (mid-morning productive time), 2-3 PM (post-lunch)

But: Test for your specific audience. What works for fashion brand may differ from B2B SaaS.

List Hygiene - Cleaning Your List

A clean list = better deliverability = more money.

What to do regularly:

  • Delete hard bounces immediately: Invalid emails destroy sender reputation
  • Delete inactive subscribers (6+ months): After re-engagement campaign fails
  • Validate new emails: Tools like ZeroBounce, NeverBounce
  • Double opt-in: Ensures emails are real

The painful reality: It's better to have 5,000 engaged subscribers than 50,000 where 40k never open. Quality > Quantity.

A/B Testing - Continuous Optimization

Don't guess what works. Test.

What to test:

  • Subject lines (most important test)
  • Sender name ("Maria from DGI" vs "DGI Team")
  • CTA copy and color
  • Email length (short vs detailed)
  • Personalization (generic vs personalized with name)
  • Send time

A/B testing rules: Test ONE variable only. Sufficient sample size (minimum 1000 recipients). Clear winner (statistically significant difference).

Recommended Platforms

Mailchimp

Most popular. Free plan up to 500 subscribers. Perfect for beginners, excellent drag-and-drop builder.

Klaviyo

Best for e-commerce. Seamless Shopify integration, advanced segmentation, built-in SMS marketing.

ConvertKit

Ideal for content creators, bloggers, course creators. Simple UI, powerful automation, built-in landing pages.

ActiveCampaign

Advanced automation + integrated CRM. Perfect for B2B and sales teams. Steeper learning curve, but powerful.

Brevo (ex-Sendinblue)

European alternative. Generous free plan (300 emails/day). SMS marketing, chat, CRM - all-in-one.

Beehiiv

The new kid on the block. Perfect for newsletters. Built-in monetization, referral program, growth tools.

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Email Marketing Basics | Complete Email Marketing Guide | DGI