Glossary
- CTR (Click-Through Rate): The percentage of people who clicked a link within your email.
- CTOR (Click-to-Open Rate): Percentage of people who opened your email and clicked on a link.
- Segmentation: Dividing your email list into smaller groups based on shared characteristics or behaviors.
- Lead Magnet: A free item or service given away in exchange for contact details.
- Automation: Using tools to send emails based on user actions without manual effort.
- Personalization: Customizing email content for individual users based on data.
Table of contents
The Complete Guide to Building and Optimizing Email Campaigns in 2025
Email marketing isn’t outdated; it’s misunderstood. With 87% of marketers still using email to engage audiences, it remains a top performer when done correctly. But inbox competition is stiff. The challenge isn’t sending emails; it’s getting them opened, read, and acted on.

1. Build and Segment Your Email List
You can’t drive conversions without subscribers. But not just any subscribers—you want engaged, relevant ones.
How to Build:
- Lead Magnets: Offer compelling incentives—exclusive discounts, free shipping, gated content, or free tools.
- Pop-ups and Forms: Use exit-intent popups, sidebar opt-ins, or checkout-page captures.
- Social Sharing: Promote signups across platforms.
How to Segment:
- First-time buyers
- Repeat customers
- Cart abandoners
- Newsletter-only subscribers
Table: Example Segments and Email Types
Segment | Recommended Email Types |
---|---|
First-Time Buyers | Welcome series, product education |
Repeat Customers | Loyalty rewards, cross-sell emails |
Cart Abandoners | Reminder with offer, urgency messages |
Dormant Subscribers | Winback campaigns, new arrivals |
2. Write Subject Lines That Demand Opens
Subject lines are gatekeepers. Nail them, and you increase your chances tenfold.
Best Practices:
- Use urgency: “Last Call: Your 20% Discount Expires Tonight”
- Add personalization: “James, Still Eyeing That Backpack?”
- Spark curiosity: “We’re Only Telling You This Once”
- Stay concise: Under 60 characters
A/B Test Ideas:
- Emojis vs. no emojis
- Personalized vs. general tone
- Questions vs. statements
3. Craft Content That Converts
Once inside, your content must hold attention and drive clicks.
Layout & Structure:
- Skimmable format: Headings, bullets, short paragraphs
- Compelling visuals: One or two well-placed images max
- Mobile-optimized: 60%+ of emails are opened on mobile
CTA Strategy:
- Use actionable text: “Shop Now,” “Claim My Offer”
- Place CTAs early and repeat toward the end
- Button color should contrast with background
Image Suggestions:
- Screenshot of a high-performing email layout
- Infographic: Email layout do’s and don’ts
4. Personalization and Automation
Gone are the days of “Dear Valued Customer.”
Personalization Tactics:
- First name in subject line and intro
- Product recommendations based on browsing
- Tailored offers based on purchase history
Automation Opportunities:
- Welcome flows: Convert signups into buyers
- Abandoned cart emails: Recover lost revenue
- Post-purchase emails: Build loyalty and cross-sell
Pro Tip: Use tools like Klaviyo or ActiveCampaign to build automated flows based on user behavior.
5. Test, Analyze, and Iterate
Testing and data-tracking separate good marketers from great ones.
Key Metrics to Track:
- Open Rate: Was the subject line effective?
- CTR: Was the email content engaging?
- CTOR: Did the content align with expectations?
- Revenue per Email: What return did it drive?
Average Industry Benchmarks (2024)
Metric | Benchmark |
---|---|
Open Rate | 21.5% |
CTR | 2.3% |
CTOR | 11.2% |
Bounce Rate | < 1% |
What to A/B Test:
- Subject lines
- Email design (single column vs. two)
- CTA color and copy
- Send time (Tuesday vs. Thursday)
FAQ: Email Marketing in 2025
Q1: What is the best time to send marketing emails?
A: Mid-week mornings (Tuesday-Thursday, 9-11 AM) often yield higher open rates. Test your audience for best results.
Q2: How often should I email my list?
A: 1-2 times per week is a good starting point. Too frequent and you risk unsubscribes; too sparse and you’ll lose engagement.
Q3: Are email open rates still accurate?
A: Not entirely. With Apple’s privacy changes, open rates may be inflated. Focus on CTR and conversions instead.
Q4: How do I avoid spam filters?
A: Avoid excessive punctuation, all caps, and spam-trigger words. Authenticate your domain (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).
Q5: What tools should I use for automation?
A: Klaviyo, ActiveCampaign, Mailchimp, and Drip are all great for automation and segmentation.
Q6: What should I do with inactive subscribers?
A: Try a re-engagement campaign. If they remain unresponsive, consider cleaning your list.
Ready to optimize your email marketing for real results? Blossom Ecom can help you develop a strategy tailored to your audience, brand, and revenue goals.
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.
Tactic | Strategy |
✅ Front-load urgency | Use action words like “Today only,” “Limited,” “Your order is waiting” |
✅ Subject line clarity | Be specific. Skip vague copy like “Here’s something for you…” |
✅ Content relevance | Only send what the subscriber actually cares about. Personalize. |
Read Our Other Blogs

How to Craft Email Newsletters That Build Real Brand Loyalty



Top 3 Best eCommerce Content Management Systems of 2025



Email Marketing vs. Social Media: Which One Should Your Brand Focus On?



How to Craft Email Newsletters That Build Real Brand Loyalty



Top 3 Best eCommerce Content Management Systems of 2025



Email Marketing vs. Social Media: Which One Should Your Brand Focus On?



Attract More Customers: Which Videos to Use in Your Email Marketing and Why



8 eCommerce Customer Service Mistakes You NEED to Stop Making (Like, Yesterday)



Creating The Perfect E-Commerce Tech Stack



Types of Content eCommerce Brands Need in Their Marketing Mix



Ecommerce Email Mistakes: Blossom Ecom Article on How to Stop Sending Bad Emails & Start Making More Money



Boost Your Bottom Line: The Ultimate Guide to Integrating Website and Email Strategies for Your eCommerce Business



6 Powerful Ecommerce Loyalty Program Examples (and How to Build Your Own)



Loyalty-First Guide to Customer Reactivation Email Campaigns



Using Email Marketing to Supercharge Your Loyalty Program



Unpacking Brand and Conversion in E-Commerce Design



13 Scary E-Commerce Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)



How to Reduce Your E-Commerce Bounce Rate and Boost Engagement



Combining Content and Commerce for E-Commerce Success



Email Marketing Tips + Trends



E-Commerce Returns Analysis & Crafting a Profitable Returns Policy



9 Pro Tips for A/B Testing Emails with HubSpot



AI and Email Marketing: The Future is Here



Email Isn’t Dead: 4 Reasons It’s Still a Digital Marketing Powerhouse



Email Marketing Series – #3: Building a Strong Email List



Email Marketing Series – #4: 9 Tips for Creating High-Impact Email CTAs



Email Marketing Series – #2: How to Craft Attention-Grabbing Subject Lines



Email Marketing vs. Social Media Marketing — Which Should I Use?



Email Marketing Series – #1: Crafting an Effective Email Marketing Strategy



Email Open Rate: A Practical Guide



3 Effective Strategies to Make Email Your Marketing Heavyweight Champion



How to Attract New Leads with Video in Your Email Marketing



How to Determine the Profitability of Your eCommerce Website



Multi-Channel eCommerce: The Key to Growing Your Online Business



Understanding eCommerce Conversion Rate & Optimization



How to Optimize Your eCommerce Website for More Conversions



Top 3 eCommerce and Digital Marketing Trends for 2025



Optimizing Your Email Marketing Strategy: A/B Testing Explained



35 Eye-Opening Email Marketing Stats You Need to Know



7 Email Marketing Tips to Boost Your SEO



11 Common Email Marketing Mistakes That Are Tanking Your Conversions (And How to Fix Them)



Strategic SEO Tips for Email Marketing: Boost Engagement and ROI



How to Measure and Increase Email Marketing ROI (Plus Templates That Convert!)



Do Lifecycle Email Campaigns Really Drive Conversions? Here’s What We Found



How to Use Remailing in Your Email Marketing Strategy



B2B Email Marketing: Building Relationships and Converting Leads



Core Email Marketing Flows: 2025 Essentials for Shopify



Top 5 Revenue-Generating Email Marketing Journeys (Straight from a Klaviyo Partner Agency)



The Long and the Short of It: Getting to “Yes” with Email Marketing



10 Email Marketing KPIs Every Marketer Needs to Know



3 Steps to Spring Clean Your Email Marketing Platform



How to Use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Email Marketing in 2024



How To Create Marketing Emails That Engage Your Audience and Get Results



Why SMS is the Perfect Addition to Any Marketing Mix



Why Personalization is Critical for eCommerce Growth



How to Grow Your Startup’s Email List: Lessons from Daycation



How We Achieved a 27% Winback Rate with a Smart Email Strategy for Dumpling



The Hidden Pitfalls of Email Marketing: Blacklists and Spam Traps



The iOS18 Mail Update: What Marketers Need to Know



Supercharging Customer Journey Automations with Email Touchpoints



Why Your Abandoned Cart Series Needs More Than One Email



13 Simple Design Hacks Using Klaviyo Email Marketing & Shopify



5 Simple Tactics to Grow Your Klaviyo SMS List Without Overcomplicating Things



Why Klaviyo SMS Crushes Other SMS Providers (And How Ignoring It Costs You Revenue)



10 Klaviyo Strategies That Drove Over $50 Million for Our Clients



Email Marketing Management for eCommerce: A Real Guide



Email Marketing 101: How to Create Emails That Convert



Shopify Email Marketing: Campaigns + Automations That Actually Grow Sales



7 eCommerce Trends to Watch in 2025



The Complete Guide to Winning at B2B eCommerce in 2025



Answering YOUR Email Marketing Questions



What Is Email Marketing and Why Does It Work So Well?



5 Steps Toward a Successful Email Marketing Campaign



8 Proven Strategies to Build Your Email Marketing Lists in 2025



How to Supercharge Your Social Media with Email Marketing



The No-B.S. Guide to Ecommerce Email Marketing



How Email Can Power Your Customer Loyalty



How Much Does Email Marketing Cost in 2025?



Email Marketing 101: How to Create Emails That Convert



Create a Winning Welcome Email Strategy



How to Revitalize Your eCommerce Sales in the New Year



Customer Survey Emails: Finding the REAL Reason People Aren’t Buying



E-commerce Email Marketing: Dos, Don’ts, and Essential Tips for CBD Brands



The Ultimate Crash Course Email Marketing for E-commerce Store



3 Retention Metrics You’re Measuring Incorrectly + Strategies to Fix Them



How to Measure the Success of Your Email Marketing Strategy



How to Run A/B Tests in Email Marketing



9 Pillars of Email Marketing Success



Rethink Customer Loyalty: 7 game-changing strategies to retain customers



Good Email Marketer vs Bad Email Marketer



What is MMS and Why You Should Start Now



Why SMS is the Marketing Channel of the Future



EDM Marketing vs Email Marketing: What’s the Difference?



Case Study: How Smart Klaviyo Email Segmentation Boosted Conversions by 323%



6 Marketing Strategies to Future-Proof Your Marketing



Mastering Klaviyo Email Design: 11 Tips That Actually Work



How to Customize Shopify Email Templates Quickly and Efficiently



The Next Frontier of E-Commerce: What’s Coming and How to Prepare



Three Steps to Increasing Your Marketing Email Open Rates



Best Practices for Optimizing Email Flows with Klaviyo



Email Marketing ROI: The Most Reliable Revenue Engine You’re Not Fully Using



Conquering the Gmail Inbox: How to Keep Your Emails Out of the Junk Folder



Refreshed Blog: “SMS Marketing for E-commerce: A Straightforward Guide”




Not Sure Where to Start?
Let's find the biggest retention opportunities in your business. Get a free Klaviyo audit or retention consultation.

