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What 30 Little-Known Email Marketing Stats Reveal About Top Strategies

I’ll admit it: I’ve got a love-hate relationship with my inbox. One minute I’m scrolling past endless spam, and the next, I’m clicking on an email from my favorite brand, convinced they know me better than my best friend.

“30% off just for you!” And suddenly, I’m adding things to my cart I didn’t even know I needed. Sound familiar?

Email marketing is everywhere—connecting brands with customers (and often tempting us into late-night shopping sprees).

As consumers, we’ve all had that one email that made us laugh, reminded us of a product we actually love or delivered just the right deal. And for marketers, there’s real value behind every click and open. 

That’s why we’re diving into 30 fascinating stats that reveal the ins and outs of email marketing in 2024. From open rates to personalization, these insights will help you connect with your audience—and maybe even win over a few inbox skeptics, like me.

General email marketing statistics

1. Email remains a powerful global marketing channel

There are almost 4.5 billion email users worldwide, or almost 60% of the global population. As a result, email is one of the most universally accessible digital channels. This widespread access means a higher potential reach, especially as email usage continues to grow.

2. Daily email volume is in the billions

361.6 billion emails are sent daily, and the competition for inbox attention is fierce. You need to prioritize crafting compelling subject lines, personalized messages, and timely content to stand out. This also emphasizes the importance of avoiding spam tactics. Today, users are more selective about which emails they open.

3. Email is the top choice for customers wanting business updates

According to the 2023 Square Future of Commerce report, a strong majority—86% of consumers—want to hear from the businesses they frequent, with 60% preferring email as the communication channel. This highlights email’s importance as a trusted and valued way to engage your loyal customers.

4. Leading ESPs offer diverse features for marketers

Mailchimp and HubSpot dominate the email service provider (ESP) market, with Mailchimp capturing over 45% of users and HubSpot following closely. This widespread adoption highlights their robust features and user-friendly interfaces.

5. People check their emails almost every day

According to Zero Bounce’s survey, 88% of email users check their inbox daily, giving you a consistent touchpoint with your audience. This habit positions email as an ideal channel for frequent updates, promotions, or brand messages.

Zero Bounce

6. High email check frequency 

In the same survey, nearly 39% of users check their inbox 3-5 times a day, while a significant 27% look at 10-20 times daily, and 22% exceed 20 checks per day. 

Zero Bounce

7. Mobile devices drive the majority of email opens

In 2024, 50-60% of email opens are estimated to come from mobile devices, emphasizing the importance of mobile optimization. As more consumers check emails on-the-go, ensuring your messages are mobile-friendly is essential for retaining their attention. This means using responsive design, keeping subject lines short, and making buttons easy to click.

8. Sender name, subject line, and preview text influence open rates

According to Litmus, when deciding to open an email, subscribers often look at the sender name (42%), subject line (34%), and preview text (24%) as key indicators of relevance. Optimizing these three elements helps improve open rates and ensures your emails don’t get lost in crowded inboxes.

9. Half of marketers prioritize promotional emails over other types

According to data from Databox, 50% of marketers rank promotional emails as the most important. Loyalty programs, at 25.9%, and transactional emails, at 16.7%, follow but are seen as supplementary.

10. Newsletters take the lead as the top email campaign type

However, in a 2023 survey, newsletters led as the most popular email campaign type, with 16.8% of marketers using them to engage both existing and potential customers. Newsletters allow you to deliver regular, value-driven content that builds relationships and brand loyalty over time. Promotional emails, used by 15.3% of marketers, focus on driving immediate actions, such as sales or sign-ups. 

11. Most marketers favor concise emails for better performance

Two-thirds of marketers favor shorter emails, believing they perform better by capturing attention quickly. However, 30% say email length doesn’t impact conversion, so context matters. Tailor your email length to the content and purpose, balancing brevity with necessary detail for optimal results.

12. Fewer CTAs lead to clearer, more effective emails

Nearly half of marketers (43%) stick to a single CTA per email, while 30% use two, underscoring the importance of simplicity in driving action. Focusing on one clear objective per email can boost engagement by reducing choice overload. A single CTA helps guide subscribers toward a specific action, improving click-through rates and reducing the chances of indecision. 

13. Graphics give emails a click-through rate boost

Emails that include graphics achieve a 1.65% higher click-through rate, suggesting that visuals play a role in capturing interest and prompting action. Adding relevant graphics can make your emails more engaging, breaking up text and highlighting key messages or offers. use visuals that enhance the content rather than overwhelm it, ensuring they load quickly and display well across devices.

14. Video content dramatically enhances email engagement

Including videos in your emails can also boost performance. Open rates increase by 19% and click-through rates by a remarkable 65%. Adding videos—whether product demos, customer testimonials, or brand updates—can captivate your audience and drive more engagement.

15. Frequency and relevance are key factors in preventing unsubscribes

The leading reason for unsubscribing, at 44%, is that subscribers feel they receive emails too frequently. Always respect inbox boundaries and send messages at a manageable frequency. The second reason, at 19%, is that permission wasn’t asked, emphasizing the importance of a strong opt-in process to establish trust. Additionally, 17% unsubscribe due to irrelevant content.

Zero Bounce

Email marketing benefits statistics

16. Email marketing offers an impressive return on investment

With an average return of $42 for every $1 spent, email marketing delivers one of the highest ROIs across digital channels. This high ROI reinforces the value of building and nurturing an engaged subscriber list, where each message has the potential to drive significant revenue.

17. Over half of consumers made purchases from emails in 2023

In 2023, 52% of consumers reported making a purchase directly from an email, underscoring email’s effectiveness as a direct sales channel. Focusing on elements like engaging visuals, personalized product recommendations, and limited-time offers can drive more recipients to complete purchases straight from their inbox.

18. Email’s effectiveness surpassed banner ads and SMS in 2023

In 2023, email marketing outperformed banner ads and SMS by 108%, demonstrating its superior effectiveness in driving engagement and conversions. This performance gap highlights email’s ability to deliver targeted, personalized content directly to users in a way that other channels struggle to match.

19. Email edges out social media for engagement and conversions

Email marketing outperforms social media posts by 13% and social media ads by 11%, making it a more reliable channel for engagement and conversions. While social media can be valuable for visibility and brand awareness, email is more effective for driving actions, such as clicks and purchases.

20. The average open rate offers a benchmark for email engagement

An average open rate of 32.55% across all industries, as of August 2024, sets a solid benchmark for evaluating email campaign performance. Aiming to meet or exceed this rate can indicate a healthy level of engagement with your audience. 

Personalized email marketing statistics

21. Personalized subject lines become a standard in email marketing

In 2023, 65% of marketers globally used personalized subject lines in over half of their email campaigns, showing a widespread shift toward tailored communication. On the other hand, 9% of marketers still don’t use any subject line personalization, potentially missing out on higher engagement.

22. Personalized emails dominate as a top tactic

An impressive 90% of respondents now use email to deliver personalized content and recommendations, showing how essential personalization has become. Making emails feel like one-on-one interactions drive both customer satisfaction and conversions, setting your brand apart.

23. Email signatures play a key role in closing sales

Over 75% of Databox’s respondents report that adding a signature to their emails helped them advance or close sales, emphasizing its value in building credibility and trust. A professional email signature can add a personal touch, making interactions feel more authentic and reassuring for prospects. 

24. Adjusting email frequency based on engagement is a common strategy

Over half (59.38%) of businesses adapt their email frequency based on user engagement, reducing sends to those who don’t open or click. Surprisingly, more than 40% of businesses continue sending the same volume, which risks alienating disengaged users and increasing unsubscribe rates. 

B2B and B2C email marketing statistics

25. Email stands out as a key driver in B2B marketing success

50% of B2B marketers consider email marketing to be their most effective channel and critical in multi-channel strategies. Email can serve as the anchor for nurturing leads, building relationships, and driving conversions. Integrating email with other channels, like social media and content marketing, allows you to guide prospects along the buyer’s journey with consistent, targeted messaging. 

26. Newsletters become a staple in B2B content strategies

A significant 73% of B2B marketers incorporate newsletters into their content marketing strategy, reflecting their effectiveness in building ongoing engagement. A well-crafted newsletter can keep your audience informed, showcase thought leadership, and nurture trust over time.

27. Abandoned cart emails drive high engagement and revenue

According to data from Klaviyo, abandoned cart emails have an impressive 53.57% open rate. This gives you a high-impact chance to recover lost sales, as each email generates an average of $3.45 in revenue.

AI and automated email marketing statistics

28. Majority of marketers leverage automation in email strategies

In February 2024, 58% of marketing decision-makers reported automating their email marketing efforts, highlighting the trend toward efficiency and scalability. Email automation can streamline tasks like sending welcome emails, follow-ups, and abandoned cart reminders, allowing you to engage customers at key moments with minimal manual input.

29. AI-driven content generation and personalization are top interests for email marketers

In 2023, around 40% of email marketers in the U.S., U.K., and Europe viewed AI-generated content and images as the most intriguing application of AI in email marketing, closely followed by AI-driven personalization, cited by 34%.

Automated content generation can reduce production time, while AI-powered personalization helps tailor emails to individual preferences, making messages more relevant. This helps you deliver more engaging emails with less manual effort.

30. Over half of marketers see AI as a boost to email effectiveness

In the same survey, 51% of email marketers felt that AI-supported email marketing outperformed traditional methods. However, with 20% of respondents observing no difference, it’s clear that AI’s value may depend on the specific strategy and execution. Testing AI-driven approaches alongside traditional ones can help you determine what works best for your audience.

Wrapping it up

And there you have it—30 email marketing stats that prove the inbox is far from dead. In fact, it’s alive, well, and waiting for your next campaign. Whether you’re focusing on better timing, personalization, or simplifying your message, each of these insights can help you make more meaningful connections with your audience.

Email marketing remains a powerful tool, and with data-driven adjustments, you can keep improving engagement and conversions. Use these stats as a guide to refine your approach and make the most out of every send.

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