What Is Email Marketing? Beginner’s Guide

“Are you a new business owner looking for campaign strategies to improve sales?” or “Are you hearing about email marketing for the first time?”

If your answer is yes, then you are in the right place. Email marketing is one of the tools that can take your business from 0 to 100 at no extra cost. 

Email marketing is something that must be understood, whether you are starting a business or a blog.

It is the best method to communicate with customers and remain in touch with them. 

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Key Takeaways

• Email marketing refers to the use of promotional emails.  

• It is a cost-effective marketing tool

• It is a good sales tactic

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What Is Email Marketing in Simple Terms?

So what is email marketing?

Email marketing is sending emails to people to achieve a purpose. It requires sending targeted emails to a group of people to sell, teach, or talk about your brand. 

Email marketing is reaching out through emails to people who have permitted you to contact them.

It is not spamming random people. It is also permission-based, and that is, the people you are contacting really signed up to hear you. 

You can just say that email marketing is a method of reaching people (businesses or individuals) who are interested in what you have to offer.

You can think of it as a direct connection to your target audience.

For example, if you have a coffee shop and want to inform your customers about new coffee blends or special discounts, all you have to do is collect the list of emails.

You do not need to go to the streets to advertise. Just draft an interesting email and send it.  

As a form of digital marketing, email marketing helps build relationships with customers, drives sales, and offers returns.  

How It Works in Practice

There are over 4.5 billion email users worldwide, and this number is projected to increase to 4.8 billion by 2027.

So if you decide to use email marketing, there is a chance of growing your business ROI smoothly. Especially since there are 88% of people who check their email daily. 

So, picture this: you run an online jewellery store. Someone visits your store, goes through your stuff, but they are not ready to buy yet.

So you decide to offer them a 10% discount, and all they have to do is sign up and provide their email address. 

Now, with this sign-up process, you have gotten their permission to stay in touch. You send them their discount code and follow up with emails showing your latest pieces or giving styling advice. 

That is how email marketing works in practice; it involves collating email addresses with permission and sending emails regularly to potential clients, informing them of what you have to offer.

The beauty of email marketing is that when they are finally ready to make a purchase, guess who they think of first?

You! Because you’ve been building that relationship through their inbox.

Here is how it works in practice 

• Someone signs up for your list
• You send them an email (maybe a welcome note or special offer).
• They open it, click something, and maybe buy or just scroll through.
• Send more useful or entertaining content.
• Build trust and grow your brand or business.

Key Elements of a Campaign

Every email marketing campaign has key elements that make it successful.

These elements include: 

• A Goal: Before sending out that email, ask yourself what exactly you are trying to achieve. What do you want people to do after reading your email? Once you have a goal, it is easy to craft an engaging email. 
• The Hook: Having a great hook is important. It is what gets people to open your email in the first place. So, your hook has to be interesting enough to entice people. 
• The Value: Your emails should give value. Your value could be lifestyle tips, entertainment, or exclusive deals. Just make sure you give your readers something worthwhile. 
• The Personal Touch: A good campaign should have a personal touch. People can always tell if an email is generic. The best campaign email makes the reader feel like it was written with them in mind. 

You can also learn more about the concept of email marketing using the Undetectable AI’s Ask AI.

Our tool provides industry-specific clarifications or custom examples tailored to your business or niche. All you need to do is ask AI. 

Core Components of Email Marketing

Email marketing is not just about sending promotional emails.

There are certain behind-the-scenes components that can turn that simple email into a smart marketing strategy.

Here are the core components of email marketing: 

Email Service Provider (ESP) 

An ESP helps you manage your list, design emails, and track results. Platforms like Mailchimp, ConvertKit, and Constant Contact are ESPs that provide email marketing services.

They provide you with a special email address because it is not advisable to send marketing emails from your regular Gmail account.

Segmentation

Segmentation is a professional way of “grouping your subscribers.” Separating your subscribers based on their interests, location, or purchase history is the best.

It ensures that your emails are directed to the right persons. The more specific your emails are, the higher the conversion. 

Automation

Automation of your emails makes sure that your emails are sent on triggers.

As an example, when an individual subscribes to your newsletter, he or she will automatically get a welcome email or an email that has an offer of a discount.

In this manner, you will not have to keep the computer on twenty-four hours a day to monitor the sign-ups or purchases. 

Design

You don’t have to be a graphics designer, but your emails should have a professional look. It should also be easy to read.

You can always look for templates online if you don’t know what to do. Most ESPs have templates to help you create a simple email. 

Analytics

Sending an email is one thing, and sending a converting email is another.

When you monitor your emails, you will learn the number of people who open your emails, links, and take action. You will be able to understand what to work on in your next email. 

Types of Email Marketing Campaigns

Not all emails are the same. Each type of email has different kinds of purposes. Your email will depend on your marketing strategy and purpose. 

Here are the types of email marketing campaigns: 

1. Newsletter Emails

This type of email is the most popular kind. They are mostly used to check in with your subscribers. You can also use them to let your subscribers know about new products and services.

It could also contain articles, blogs, or customer reviews. You can share newsletters weekly or monthly, depending on your strategy.

Sending a newsletter email is a good way to stay on your customers’ minds without being obvious. 

2. Promotional Campaigns 

These kinds of emails are used to announce events. They are used to tell your subscribers about new products, special discounts, or limited offers.

It keeps your audience engaged with your brand. Every email should not be promotional; that is the quickest way to lose your audience. 

3. Welcome Emails

This type of email welcomes your first-time customers. It introduces your brand and thanks your subscribers for joining your list.

You need to make sure your welcome email makes a good first impression. You can even offer a discount in your email to encourage a purchase. 

4. Abandoned Cart Emails 

These emails are perfect if you sell products. When a customer adds products to their cart but doesn’t complete the transaction, you can send this kind of email.

It is a gentle reminder to clear that Cart. 

5. Re-engagement Email 

This email is for people who haven’t opened their email in a while. You can title the subject “We miss you” or “Are you still there?” These emails try to win them back with special offers or content. 

6. Lead Nurturing Emails 

These kinds of emails target a specific audience. It is an email that converts potential customers. It focuses on people interested in a specific product and builds their excitement till they make an actual purchase.

The goal of a lead nurturing email is to push customers from the consideration stage to the purchasing stage. 

Benefits of Email Marketing

Email marketing is a good marketing strategy, and here is why: 

• You Own Your list: Unlike Instagram and Facebook, where you have random followers, your email list is your own. That way, you have persons who are actually interested in your brand. No random followings and no algorithm involved.
• It converts: Email marketing is a good way to make sales. It has the highest ROI in marketing. According to Litmus, email marketing generates an average ROI of $42 per $1 spent. This is because you are actually speaking to people who want to hear from you. 
• It is Cheap: You do not need a high budget for email marketing. It is cost-effective, and you can reach a large number of people on a low budget.
• It is a Direct Line of Communication: With emails, you can reach your audience directly. Also, when you are sending these emails, you are sure that you are reaching your subscribers’ inboxes. You don’t need to fight for attention like social media.
• You Can Send Targeted Information: You can send the right message to the right people with email marketing. It is always possible to tailor emails to the needs and interests of your subscribers. You even get an opportunity to include the name of the recipient to make it personal.
• You Can Keep Track: You can always track the performance of your emails through specialized tools. You can monitor open rates and what steps your subscribers take next. This ensures that you make data-driven decisions in your next campaign.

To enjoy all the benefits of email marketing, use Undetectable AI’s AI SEO Writer.

With this tool, you can create optimized emails that align with brand voice and goals.

How to Build an Email List

Without subscribers, you cannot have a successful email marketing campaign.

So here is how to build an email list: 

• Give something worth having in exchange for an email address.
• Put sign-up forms in strategic places on your website 
• Advertise on social media about the value of joining your email list.
• Collaborate with other companies or people with influence to market each other’s lists.
• Participate in functions where you can meet people and persuade them to become part of your list.
• Encourage your current subscribers to refer other people by offering referral bonuses.

To build your email list, try out the Undetectable AI’s AI Humanizer to help you refine opt-in copy and welcome sequences for user experience and engagement.

Our AI Humanizer will ensure that your copies feel more personal, conversational, and human. 

Crafting a High-Converting Email

This is the way to create a high-converting email:

• Have a catchy subject line.
• Avoid using clickbait.
• Use an interesting opening line.
• Make the email personal. Let your audience feel like you are a long-time friend.
• Don’t just promote. Try to offer value too.
• Focus on one message. You can lose attention with multiple messages in one email.
• Have a Call to Action (CTA). Make them understand what you want them to do after reading. 
• Use clean and mobile-friendly designs.

Email Marketing Metrics to Track

Numbers are important in email marketing. They help you understand what is working and how to improve.

The following are some of the important metrics you need to be aware of:  

• Click Through Rate (CTR): This is the percentage of people who open your email and take action. “What is a good click rate for email marketing?” A good CTR is between 2-5%, with 3% being a good benchmark. You should know that what is considered ‘good’ depends on the industry. 
• Open Rate: This is the percentage of people who opened your email. “What is the average open rate for email marketing?” 20-25% is okay. Again, it all depends on the industry. 
• Conversion Rate: The percentage of people who complete a desired action, such as making a purchase. 
• Return on Investment: This is the profit generated after the cost of the campaign has been deducted.

You can always use Undetectable AI’s Ask AI to explain or troubleshoot specific email metrics if you are confused.

Our Ask AI tool can help when you are experiencing low open rates, poor click-through rates, or high unsubscribe rates.

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FAQs About Email Marketing

Final Thoughts

As a business owner, freelancer, or someone who just wants to be heard, email marketing is a way to build a relationship with an audience.

It helps you communicate with people who actually want to hear from you.

Email marketing doesn’t make you the loudest voice in someone’s inbox. It makes you the most valuable, trustworthy, and helpful.

So when you focus on building genuine relationships with your subscribers, sales and business will grow naturally.

You should always start small; no successful business started with 100 subscribers at a time.

For extra help in crafting effective emails, try Undetectable AI’s AI SEO Writer, AI Humanizer, and Ask AI to refine your tone, improve engagement, and generate fresh ideas.

Just make sure you have a good email marketing campaign strategy and stick with it.

Check out Undetectable AI today and start creating emails that connect and convert.