What is email marketing, why do we need it and how do we get started?

Understand the fundamentals of email marketing what it is, why it is important, and how to run your first campaign, to get the highest ROI in 2025.

9/4/20253 min read

What is Email Marketing
What is Email Marketing

Marketing 101: What, Why and How to start with email marketing.

Introduction

There are so many social media advertisements, influencer endorsements, and hashtags that are currently trending in the world, but you may ask: does email marketing still exist in 2025?

The answer to this question--yes, absolutely. Email marketing is one of the most effective digital marketing channels with a mean ROI of can reach 36 on an investment of one dollar. It is affordable, personal and in your face and thus the key to many effective marketing campaigns.

This tutorial will take you through the basics of email marketing what it is, why it is important, and how you can begin creating your own emails today.

What Is Email Marketing?

Email marketing is a practice of sending commercial messages, newsletters or updates to a group of people through email. With email, unlike social media, you are guaranteed that what you say will be received immediately in the inbox of your subscriber because there is no algorithm to determine who will see it.

The difference between Email Marketing and other Channels.

  1. Direct Access: No access methods in your path.

  2. Personalization: Customize emails according to the user actions.

  3. OWN: You have your email list and not rented audiences on social media.

Why Email Marketing Matters

Still unsure? This is the reason why both large and small brands spend heavily on email:

  1. Great ROI: Email has been found to be superior to most other digital channels.

  2. Relationship Building: The Emails build the long-term trust and brand loyalty.

  3. Conversion/retention: Customized campaigns increase activities and purchases.

  4. Scalability: 100 email or 100,000 email, the cost is manageable.

Email marketing consists of basic elements.

  1. Email Lists – The foundation. Grow your subscriber base in a responsible manner (no purchasing lists).

  2. Campaigns & Newsletters- The content you are actually sending.

  3. Automation & Workflows - Save time with triggered emails such as a welcome series or a cart reminder.

  4. Analytics & Tracking - determine the open rates, click-through rates, and conversions to optimize outcomes.

Types of Email Campaigns

  1. Welcome Emails -You only have one chance to make an impression!

  2. Newsletters -Remind subscribers of valuable information.

  3. Promotional Campaigns - publicize discounts, sales or new products.

  4. Abandoned Cart Emails- Revive a sale by reminding customers.

  5. Re-engagement Emails - Recapture lapsed subscribers.

Introduction to Email Marketing.

Step 1- Select the appropriate Email Marketing System.

Popular tools are: Mailchimp, ConvertKit and ActiveCampaign.

Step 2: Grow and Segregate Your Email List.

Put up lead magnets (ebooks, discounts) and use forms on your site.

Step 3: Prepare Content and templates that are interesting.

Include appealing subject lines, defined CTAs and mobile-friendly design.

Step 4: Automate Where it is Possible.

Install welcome sequences, birthday offers and product recommendations.

Step 5: Monitor, Measure and Optimize.

A/B testing will help you discover what your audience responds to.

Best Practices in the Novice.

Do not spam—seek permission prior to emailing.

Use short subject lines that are engaging.

Individualize names, actions and inclinations.

Test it: subject lines, CTA buttons, times of the day to send emails.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Purchasing Email Lists - Spam and poor participation.

Sending too many emails to Subscribers = high unsubscribe rates.

Not taking into consideration Mobile Optimization- 70 percent of emails are read on mobile.

Resources & Tools to jumpstart email marketing.

Services: Mailchimp, ConvertKit, Omnisend, Brevo (Sendinblue).

Free Templates: Canva templates, Stripo templates, HubSpot email templates.

Analytics Tools Google Analytics, in-email reporting.

Conclusion

Email marketing is not dying, it is changing. You can produce campaigns that can add value, build relationships, and drive meaningful ROI with appropriate strategies in place.

The best part? There is no need to be a tech expert to get started. Create your initial list, launch your initial campaign and continue to do better with time.

👉 Ready to dive deeper? Check our email automation guides and high converting templates here 100xclicks.com.