What is Email Marketing? Building Real Engagement

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I’ll never forget opening that one email that changed everything for me. It landed in my inbox, feeling less like marketing and more like a personal note from a friend who truly understood my struggles. That’s when I realized email marketing is a goldmine, especially after learning that many businesses still see strong returns from email campaigns! As a busy mom who’s been dabbling in affiliate marketing for a bit, I’ve learned a thing or two about using email to build trust and grow an income. 

Email marketing is about sending emails to people who’ve chosen to hear from you. It’s like dropping into their inbox with a friendly note to share value or promote offers. I’m excited to share what I’ve learned through my experiments and research to help you master email marketing strategies and connect with your audience. Let’s dive in!

Quick Win: Send a quick “thank you” email to your subscribers today with one helpful tip; it’s an easy way to spark trust and engagement.

Estimated read is 10-minutes 

5 Ways to Level Up Your Email Marketing Game Now

Here are five specific steps you can take today to boost your email marketing, based on what I’ve tested myself and research I have done:

1. Send a Personal Welcome Email: Write a warm welcome email with the subscriber’s first name and a quick tip, like an affiliate marketing hack.
2. Add a Poll for Engagement: Include a poll, like “What’s your top goal this month?” I haven’t tried this one yet, but others who have used this method report getting more engagement and fresh ideas for new content. 
3. Time Your Emails Right: Send emails on Tuesday or Wednesday at 10 AM your subscribers time. Research shows Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to have higher open rates, and morning timing often works well for many audiences.
4. Segment into Two Groups: Divide your list into new subscribers and loyal readers. I sent newbies a beginner’s guide and regulars an offer. You don’t want to scare your new subscribers away by hitting them with offers right away.
5. Test on Mobile First: Preview your email on your phone first! I once spotted a layout glitch that could’ve scared off half my list. Crisis averted!

So, What’s Email Marketing Really About?

Think of email marketing as your way to chat directly with your audience, whether it’s sharing tips, stories, or affiliate links. From my experience and research, it’s one of the best ways to build relationships without breaking the bank. It’s like inviting people into your online space, and I’ve seen how it can turn subscribers into loyal followers.

• Why it’s great: Emails skip the social media chaos and land right in someone’s inbox.
• Cool insight: Most folks actually prefer brand updates via email over social media, which I didn’t expect when I started!

Types of Emails You Can Send

I’ve tried a few email types in my affiliate journey, and here’s what stands out:

• Promotional Emails: Share a deal or affiliate link you trust, like a tool you use.
• Newsletters: A weekly catch-up with tips or stories (I’ve been playing with one for side hustle ideas).
• Welcome Emails: A warm hello to make new subscribers feel special.
• Automated Series: Emails that go out on autopilot, like a “get to know me” sequence after a sign-up.

Why Email Marketing Feels Like a Secret Weapon

What I love is how email lets you connect personally. I’ve seen tailored emails get way more opens and clicks, it’s like chatting with a friend. With some experience under my belt, I’ve learned engaging your audience through email builds trust and keeps them coming back.

Have you ever opened an email that felt like it was just for you? That’s the vibe we’re going for!

• It’s budget-friendly: You can start for free, aside from setting up your platform, which is very easy to do. 
• You can track it: Seeing who opens or clicks your emails feels like getting instant feedback.
• It builds loyalty: Regular emails keep you in your audience’s mind, like a friendly check-in.

A Mom Who Crushed It

I came across Maria, a mom with a fitness blog, who sent welcome emails that felt personal by using subscribers’ names and asking about their goals. Her emails got great open rates, and she earned a few hundred bucks with using this method. I tried a similar approach with my list, and it showed me how small tweaks can spark big results.

How to Engage Your Audience in 2025

I’ve been diving into email marketing trends 2025, and there are exciting ways to make your emails stand out. Here’s what I’m excited to keep testing based on my research and experience:

Write Subject Lines Like a Text

Your subject line is your first impression. I’ve found that short, personal ones (like “Hey, this trick boosted my clicks!”) make people want to open. Adding a subscriber’s name can really grab their attention. I’ve seen it work in my own campaigns.

Get Personal

Sending the same email to everyone is like cooking one meal for all your friends; some won’t bite. I’ve learned that grouping subscribers by interests, like parenting or side hustles, makes emails feel tailored. Most tools make this easy to accomplish.

Add Some Fun to Your Emails

In 2025, emails can be more than just text. I read about brands adding polls or videos, and people love clicking them. People have tried polls in their emails, and they got more replies than I expected! It’s like starting a conversation right in the inbox. I have been wanting to try this myself and I think I will here very soon.

Try this: Ask “What’s your next goal?” in a poll.

Make Emails Phone-Friendly

Since I check emails on my phone during activities all day, I’ve learned they need to look good on small screens. Clean, simple designs get more clicks, and I always test mine on mobile first.

What’s your go-to device for email? Make sure your emails shine there.

A Nonprofit That Inspired Me

I found a story about a nonprofit that sent emails with heartfelt stories about their impact. Adding a short video made their clicks soar, it showed me how storytelling can really connect with people.

Mistakes I’ve Learned to Avoid

With a bit of experience, I’ve picked up on some common email marketing slip-ups to avoid:

• Emailing Too Much: I learned the hard way that too many emails annoy people. Once or twice a week feels right.
• Sounding Spammy: Using all caps or words like “FREE” too much can land your email in junk. I keep it natural now.
• Skipping Personalization: Generic emails don’t connect. Adding a name or interest makes a big difference.
• Not Testing: Trying different subject lines or send times will show you what your audience loves.
• Takeaway: Stick to one or two emails a week, keep it friendly, and test what works.

What’s one mistake you’ve made in your marketing? Learning from flops is how we grow!

A Simple Plan to Get Started

Here’s the plan I’ve been using, tweaked with what I’ve learned:

1. Grow Your List: Offer a freebie, like a quick guide, to get sign-ups.
2. Pick a Tool: You can use a platform like ConvertKit for your email marketing to keep things simple.
3. Send a Welcome Email: Introduce yourself with a personal note and a helpful tip.
4. Group Your Audience: Sort subscribers by interests, even if it’s just new vs. returning.
5. Check Results: Look at opens and clicks to see what’s clicking with your audience.
6. Keep Testing: Play with subject lines or send times (mornings work best for me).

What’s Hot for Email Marketing in 2025

I’m excited for email marketing trends 2025! Here’s what I’ve found and started testing:

• • Smarter Personalization: AI tools help pick the best send times or tailor content, which I’m testing.

• • Interactive Emails: Polls or quizzes make emails feel like a chat, and people have seen more clicks with them.

• • Eco-Friendly Emails: Some brands cut attachments to be sustainable, which I think is awesome.

• • BIMI Authentication: Adding verified brand logos to email headers builds trust and authenticity, and I’m curious to try it.

Myths I Had to Unlearn

Early on, I almost fell for some email marketing myths. Here’s what I found:

• • Myth: Email is outdated. Nope! Tons of people check email daily, and it’s a top way to connect.

• • Myth: Emails always go to spam. Not true, being friendly and using sign-ups keeps them in inboxes.

• • Myth: It’s too hard. With free tools, it’s way easier than I thought when I started.

Let’s Grow Together

Email marketing has been a game changer for me, it’s affordable, personal, and perfect for building trust while growing my affiliate income. I’m still learning, but I’m sending an email with a poll this week to see what my audience loves. Want to join me? Try one of the five steps above or share your ideas in the comments. Even better, grab my free email marketing checklist for beginners to kickstart your journey, let’s make our audiences feel like friends!

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Thank you for reading, I hope this post sparked some ideas for you to boost your affiliate success. Keep pushing forward, and I’ll see you in the next one. Until then!

To Our Success,

 

 

 

P.S. Share this post with a friend or family member who needs to hear this. It might just be the push they need to finally get started.