Today, we’re diving into something that has a ton of potential for your business, but it’s often misunderstood… Email Marketing!

Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, email marketing can be a game-changer for your online business.

So, let’s get into 10 Things No One Tells You About Email Marketing, and trust me—stick around till the end because these tips could save you tons of time and money.

Thing 10: It’s still alive and well

Let’s kick off this list, with email marketing isn’t dead. I’m sure you keep hearing all the time that “email is outdated,” and that it’s all about social media now. But it turns out email is actually thriving!

With platforms like Facebook and Instagram constantly tweaking their algorithms, you don't have control over who sees your posts. But with email, you’re landing directly in your audience's inbox. So don’t sleep on email marketing—it's not just surviving; it’s evolving and still incredibly powerful.

Thing 9: Segmentation is a game changer

I used to think that sending one massive email blast to my entire list was the way to go—hey, more eyes, more potential sales, right? Well, not exactly. With segmentation, you’re grouping your audience based on their behaviours, interests, or even where they are in your sales funnel.

For example, let’s say you run an online store. You can create a segment for customers who bought a product from you in the last 30 days and send them a thank-you email with a discount on their next purchase. Then, you can have another segment for subscribers who haven’t made a purchase yet, and send them a different offer.

The result? More personalized content, and people are way more likely to engage.

Segmentation can boost open rates, click-through rates, and overall conversions. So, if you’re not segmenting your list yet, it’s time to start!

Thing 8: Subject lines are everything

It’s all about first impressions. Think about it: your inbox is flooded with emails every day, so what makes you click on one versus the other? It’s the subject line!

The trick is to keep them short, snappy, and intriguing. You want to hook your reader in just a few words. For instance, instead of “Our August Newsletter,” try something like “Exclusive Discount Inside” or “Don't Miss This Limited Offer.” And here’s a tip: use power words like “free,” “limited,” “exclusive,” or “last chance”—they can trigger curiosity and urgency.

Also, don't forget to A/B test your subject lines. You can test two different versions to see which one gets more opens and clicks. Trust me, it can make a world of difference.

Thing 7: You can automate it all

If you think email marketing means, sitting down and manually writing out every single email, then listen up. With platforms like Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, or ConvertKit, you can set up email sequences that automatically go out based on specific triggers.

For example, when someone subscribes to your list, they automatically get a welcome email. After a purchase, they might get a thank-you email followed by a product recommendation. It’s like having a virtual assistant working behind the scenes for you!

And the best part?

Once you set it up, it runs on autopilot. You can be sleeping, and your emails are still going out, keeping your audience engaged. So if you want to save time and maximize your impact, automation is a no-brainer.

Thing 6: Cleaning your list is crucial

Ditch subscribers who aren’t engaging with your emails.

I know, I know—it feels weird to delete subscribers. But here’s the thing: if you have inactive subscribers who never open your emails, they’re actually hurting your metrics. Email service providers look at your open rates to determine if your emails are worth delivering. If they see that most of your emails are unopened, you’re more likely to end up in the spam folder.

To avoid that, every few months, you should go through your list and remove subscribers who haven’t engaged in a while. And if you’re feeling generous, send them a re-engagement email first to see if they still want to hear from you.

Thing 5: Timing can make or break you

Did you know the day and time you send an email can impact its performance?

According to research, the best days to send emails are Tuesday and Thursday, and the best times are early in the morning—between 9 and 11 AM. But it doesn’t stop there—you should also think about your audience’s habits. Are they night owls? Do they check their inboxes during lunch breaks? It all matters!

While the general rule is mornings on weekdays, always experiment with your audience and adjust your timing based on what works best for them.

Thing 4: Your design doesn’t have to be fancy

It’s easy to spend hours trying to create the most beautiful email templates, thinking that more design means better results. But the truth is, plain-text emails—yep, the ones that look like a normal email you’d send to a friend—often perform better than super-designed, flashy emails.

Why?

Because they feel more personal. When your email looks like it’s coming from a real person and not a company trying to sell you something, people are more likely to read and respond.

Thing 3: Email can build relationships

Email marketing isn’t just about making sales. It’s also about building relationships with your audience.

In fact, some of the most effective emails are the ones where you’re simply connecting with your subscribers—sharing stories, offering valuable advice, or even just checking in. When you focus on building a relationship with your audience, you build trust. And when people trust you, they’re more likely to buy from you in the future.

So don’t be afraid to send those “non-sales” emails. It’s all about the long game.

Thing 2: Test, test, and test some more

It’s like being a scientist—you’re always experimenting, tweaking, and learning what works best for your audience. So what do you test?

Well, pretty much everything! From subject lines and email content to send times and call-to-action buttons, there are so many elements that can impact your email’s performance.

For example, you can test whether including an image boosts engagement, or if a more straightforward call to action like “Buy Now” works better than something softer like “Learn More.” The key is to only test one element at a time, so you know what’s driving the changes.

The more you test, the more you understand your audience’s preferences—and the better your results will be over time. So if you aren’t testing yet, now’s the time to start.

Thing 1: It’s all about consistency

And finally, at number one, consistency is key. When most people first start out with email marketing, they probably send emails whenever they feel like it—sometimes every week, sometimes once a month. But here’s the thing: consistency builds trust.

Your subscribers start to expect your emails, and it builds anticipation. Whether you send weekly, bi-weekly, or even monthly, what matters most is that you stick to a schedule. This keeps you top-of-mind with your audience, and over time, they’ll look forward to hearing from you.

Consistency also shows that you’re reliable, which is crucial when you’re building a brand. People need to trust that when they sign up for your email list, they’re going to receive valuable content regularly—not just random sales pitches whenever you have something to promote.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it, 10 Things No One Tells You About Email Marketing! Honestly, I wish I had known some of these things earlier, because they’ve made such a huge difference in my email strategy.

Whether you’re just getting started with email marketing or looking to improve your results, these tips will help you take things to the next level.

Let me know in the comments which one of these surprised you the most, or if you have any email marketing tips of your own!