E-commerce Email Marketing has become a crucial tool for businesses looking to engage customers, drive conversions, and build lasting relationships with their audience.
Quick Reference Guide
✅Email Flow
A series of automated emails triggered by specific user actions (e.g., signing up, purchasing, abandoning cart).
✅CTR (Click-Through Rate)
The percentage of recipients who clicked on at least one link in your email.
✅Open Rate
The percentage of recipients who opened your email.
✅Segmentation
The process of dividing your email list into smaller groups based on behaviors, demographics, or past purchases.
✅A/B Testing
Sending two variations of an email to see which performs better in terms of opens, clicks, or conversions.
✅Deliverability
A measure of whether your email reaches the inbox or gets flagged as spam.
✅Opt-In
The action a user takes to give permission to receive marketing emails from your brand.
✅ESP (Email Service Provider)
A platform that sends, tracks, and automates your emails—like Klaviyo, MailerLite, or Mailchimp.
Table of contents
Why Email Marketing Still Outperforms Flashier Channels
Social media gets the spotlight. But email gets the sales.
It’s the only digital marketing channel where:
- You own your audience
- You don’t fight algorithms
- You can personalize at scale
- You can generate revenue with a few strategic clicks
Fact: Email marketing yields an average of $36 for every $1 spent (DMA), making it one of the highest ROI marketing strategies available.
What Is Email Marketing, Really?
Email marketing is the practice of sending personalized, targeted messages to your audience via email. The goal isn’t just to sell—it’s to:

✅ Educate
✅ Build trust
✅ Drive repeat business
✅ Build lifetime value (LTV)
Whether you’re launching a new product, running a flash sale, or re-engaging inactive buyers, email is your most direct, scalable, and cost-effective channel.
Core Benefits of E-commerce Email Marketing Brands
Benefit | Why It Matters |
---|---|
Boosts Sales | Email drives both first-time and repeat conversions. |
Builds Trust | Regular, valuable emails increase customer loyalty. |
Hyper-Targeted | You can segment by behavior, location, LTV, or product interest. |
Own Your Data | No third-party platform controls your reach. |
Automates Growth | Email flows run on autopilot once set up. |
Step-by-Step: How to Build a Revenue-Driving Email Strategy
1. Build a High-Quality Email List
The first step to strong email marketing? A clean, compliant, and engaged list.
How to Grow It:
- On-site Popups
Offer 10% off, a free gift, or early access in exchange for signup. - Embedded Signup Forms
Use footer, homepage, and product page forms. - Exit-Intent Offers
Capture abandoning visitors with an incentive. - Lead Magnets
Give away value-packed assets (e.g., guides, recipes, product checklists). - Post-Purchase Opt-ins
Ask for consent at checkout and thank-you pages.
Pro Tip: Always make opt-in explicit and compliant with GDPR, TCPA, and CAN-SPAM laws.
2. Set Up These 7 Must-Have Email Flows
Email flows = automation that prints money.
Flow | Trigger | Goal |
---|---|---|
Welcome Series | New subscriber | Deliver value + first purchase |
Abandoned Cart | Product in cart, no checkout | Recover lost revenue |
Browse Abandonment | Product viewed, no add-to-cart | Retarget curious shoppers |
Post-Purchase | Purchase completed | Upsell, cross-sell, and build loyalty |
Winback | 60+ days of inactivity | Re-engage dormant users |
Product Review Request | Order delivered | Generate social proof |
VIP/Loyalty | High LTV customers | Offer exclusive perks and early access |
Use Klaviyo to build these flows visually, segment deeply, and trigger based on real-time behaviors.
3. Write Emails That Actually Convert
Writing emails that sound like humans wrote them is the secret sauce.
Subject Line Tips
- Keep it under 50 characters
- Use urgency, curiosity, and clarity
- A/B test emojis vs. no emojis
- Use dynamic first names when appropriate
Content Tips
- One message per email (don’t overload)
- Include a hero image or gif
- Use a single, bold CTA button
- Make it mobile-first (70%+ of opens are on phones)
The 4 U’s Formula
- Useful: Solve a problem or offer value
- Urgent: Create FOMO or scarcity
- Unique: Make it brand-specific
- Ultra-Specific: Get straight to the point
4. Leverage Personalization & Segmentation
Treating every subscriber the same is a mistake.
Instead, segment by:
- First-time vs. repeat customers
- Geography or weather
- Purchase history or browsing behavior
- Average order value (AOV)
- Email engagement (active vs. dormant)
Personalization tactics:
- “You left this in your cart, Sarah.”
- “Because you loved [Product A]…”
- “We thought you’d love these based on your recent order.”
5. Automate Your Campaigns for Scale
Stop sending newsletters manually. Let automation carry the weight.
Tools to Use:
- Klaviyo – robust automation, perfect for Shopify
- MailerLite – lightweight and beginner-friendly
- Omnisend – built for multichannel ecom
- Optimonk – advanced popups & lead capture
6. Analyze and Optimize Performance
Metric | Good Benchmark | What to Tweak |
---|---|---|
Open Rate | 30–50% | Subject lines, sender name |
CTR | 3–6% | CTA, content layout |
Conversion Rate | 1–3% | Offer strength, personalization |
Unsubscribe Rate | <0.3% | Frequency, relevance |
Pro Tip: Run A/B tests every month. Test subject lines, layout, send times, CTA colors, and personalization level.
Unique Use Case: CBD Email Marketing
The CBD space faces strict ad restrictions on Google, Meta, and TikTok—but not email.
Why email marketing is vital for CBD brands:
Challenge | How Email Helps |
---|---|
Paid ad blocks | Email is an owned, compliant channel |
Brand education needed | Email flows can teach, inform, and sell |
Trust-building required | Email builds long-term connection |
CBD Email Tips:
- Segment by product use case (sleep, stress, skincare, pets)
- Use educational welcome flows
- Comply with CAN-SPAM and clearly state legal disclaimers
- Highlight reviews and customer stories
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How often should I email my list?
Most eCommerce brands find success with 1–2 emails per week. Mix campaigns with automated flows.
2. What’s the best tool for automating email marketing?
Klaviyo is the gold standard for DTC brands. MailerLite and Omnisend are great for lean teams.
3. How can I improve my open rates?
Test subject lines, use recognizable sender names, and avoid spammy words. Timing also matters—try Tuesdays or Thursdays at 10 AM.
4. Is email marketing GDPR and CAN-SPAM compliant?
Yes, as long as you have explicit opt-in, include an unsubscribe link, and honor data rights.
5. What’s better—campaigns or automation?
You need both. Flows run in the background; campaigns keep your audience engaged with fresh offers and news.
6. Does email marketing still work in 2025?
Absolutely. It’s still one of the highest ROI marketing tools—especially for DTC brands looking to build customer lifetime value.
Final Thoughts: Build Relationships, Not Just Revenue
Email marketing isn’t just about conversions. It’s about building customer relationships at scale.
Done right, it’s:
✅ Personal
✅ Profitable
✅ Predictable
✅ Scalable
And most importantly? Yours. You own the list. The channel. The outcome.
Ready to Build Flows That Sell?
At Blossom Ecom, we build conversion-first email ecosystems for eCommerce brands. Whether you’re launching your first welcome flow or want a fully segmented system—we’ve got your back.
→ Book a free email audit today.
Let’s turn subscribers into superfans.
Related Articles
- The Ultimate Crash Course Email Marketing for E-commerce Store
- Best Practices for Optimizing Email Flows with Klaviyo
- B2B Email Marketing: Building Relationships and Converting Leads
- The Next Frontier of E-Commerce: What’s Coming and How to Prepare
Need help implementing this?
Let us take the hassle of managing your email marketing channel off your hands. Book a strategy call with our team today and see how we can scale your revenue, customer retention, and lifetime value with tailored strategies. Click here to get started.
Curious about how your Klaviyo is performing?
We’ll audit your account for free. Discover hidden opportunities to boost your revenue, and find out what you’re doing right and what could be done better. Click here to claim your free Klaviyo audit.
Want to see how we’ve helped brands just like yours scale?
Check out our case studies and see the impact for yourself. Click here to explore.
Need help implementing this?
Let us take the hassle of managing your email marketing channel off your hands. Book a strategy call with our team today and see how we can scale your revenue, customer retention, and lifetime value with tailored strategies. Click here to get started.
Curious about how your Klaviyo is performing?
We’ll audit your account for free. Discover hidden opportunities to boost your revenue, and find out what you’re doing right and what could be done better. Click here to claim your free Klaviyo audit.
Want to see how we’ve helped brands just like yours scale?
Check out our case studies and see the impact for yourself. Click here to explore.
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