Glossary of Email Marketing Terms
Segmentation – The process of dividing your email audience based on characteristics like behavior, preferences, location, or lifecycle stage.
Personalization Tokens – Dynamic elements in email content (like {first_name}) that adapt to each subscriber’s data.
Automation Workflow – A pre-built sequence of emails triggered by user behavior (e.g., cart abandonment, post-purchase).
A/B Testing – The practice of testing two email variations to see which performs better.
Suppression List – A list of unsubscribed, bounced, or inactive email addresses excluded from future sends.
CTA (Call-To-Action) – The prompt in your email that asks the user to do something: “Shop Now,” “Learn More,” etc.
Open Rate – The percentage of recipients who opened your email.
CTR (Click-Through Rate) – The percentage of people who clicked a link in your email.
RPR (Revenue Per Recipient) – Total revenue generated divided by the number of people the email was sent to.
Table of contents
Why Email Marketing Still Dominates in 2025
Despite social ads, influencer partnerships, and SMS, email remains the highest-ROI channel in eCommerce. Why?

- It’s owned media—you control the list
- It’s direct—the inbox is sacred real estate
- It’s scalable—automation does the heavy lifting
Email drives $36+ for every $1 spent, and its capabilities continue to evolve with better targeting, automation, and design tools.
But what separates average email programs from elite ones?
Execution. Personalization. And being ahead of the curve.
Let’s dive in.
1. Segmentation + Humanization: The Foundation of Email That Converts
The inbox is crowded. To stand out, you must talk to the right people, with the right message, at the right time.
Smart Segmentation Strategies
Gone are the days of blasting the same message to everyone.
Start segmenting by:
- Purchase behavior (e.g., first-time buyer vs. repeat customer)
- Browsing activity
- Average order value
- Product category interest
- Loyalty/VIP status
- Email engagement level
Advanced Tip: Layer segmentation with predictive analytics (like in Klaviyo or ActiveCampaign) to identify high-LTV customers or churn risks.
Humanization: Make It Feel 1:1
Don’t send emails from a company name or a “noreply” address.
- Use real sender names (e.g., “Sarah from [Brand]”)
- Add personal touches in the copy (e.g., “We picked this for you, John”)
- Reference past behavior: “You loved our Spring Collection—here’s what’s coming next”
List Hygiene Tip:
Every 90 days, clean your list:
- Remove unengaged subscribers
- Bounce-backs
- Spam complaints
- Add them to your suppression list
Brands that prune their lists regularly often see +15-20% lifts in open rate and better inbox placement.
2. Automation: Scale Your Revenue While You Sleep
Set it once. Let it print money.
Must-Have Automated Flows:
Flow Name | Purpose |
---|---|
Welcome Series | Nurture new subscribers → convert to first-time buyers |
Abandoned Cart | Recover revenue from shoppers who didn’t finish checkout |
Browse Abandonment | Re-target product viewers with reminders |
Post-Purchase | Drive upsells, product education, or referrals |
Winback Flow | Re-engage dormant customers before they churn |
Review Request | Collect UGC to boost social proof |
Behavior-Based Triggers
Trigger flows based on:
- Time delay (e.g., 30 days after purchase)
- Event-based (e.g., visited a product page)
- Conditional logic (e.g., total lifetime spend > $200)
Bonus: Use dynamic content in these emails to reflect what the user viewed or added to cart.
3. Email + Social Media = Amplified Reach and Growth
Email and social aren’t competitors—they’re teammates.
Use Social to Grow Your List
- Run Instagram giveaways with email opt-in
- Add lead forms to Facebook or TikTok ads
- Embed email capture in your Linktree or Linkpop
Use Email to Promote Social
- Add icons + CTAs in footer
- Create campaigns like: “Follow us on Instagram for a surprise”
- Share UGC from Instagram in your email campaigns
Pro Tip:
Use Klaviyo’s social syncing to trigger emails from Instagram DMs or social interactions.
Example Table: Social & Email Integration Ideas
Tactic | Tool | Purpose |
---|---|---|
IG Giveaway + Email Opt-In | Meta Ads + Klaviyo | Grow list with high-intent subscribers |
Email “Follow Us for 10% Off” | Klaviyo + IG | Cross-channel engagement |
UGC Showcase | Email Builder | Social proof in inbox |
4. Interactive + Mobile-First Emails: Engagement by Design
Modern Features That Boost Engagement
- GIFs that showcase product functionality
- Countdown timers for sales urgency
- Quizzes embedded inside email (Mailmodo, AMP, etc.)
- Swipe carousels (great for mobile)
Design Best Practices for 2025
- Use 14–16pt font for mobile legibility
- CTAs should be thumb-tappable (minimum 44px height)
- Optimize image load speed (under 100KB)
One CTA to Rule Them All
Give your reader one job per email.
Too many options = confusion = no click.
5. A/B Testing: Your Path to Continuous Improvement
The best marketers aren’t guessing—they’re testing.
What to Test:
Element | Variations |
---|---|
Subject Line | Emojis vs. no emojis, urgency vs. curiosity |
Sender Name | “Team Brand” vs. “Kate from Brand” |
CTA Copy | “Shop Now” vs. “See What’s Inside” |
Email Format | Text-only vs. graphic-heavy |
Send Time | 9AM vs. 3PM vs. Predictive |
Testing Guidelines
- Test one variable at a time
- Send to a statistically significant portion (minimum 25% split)
- Run tests for at least 24–48 hours before declaring a winner
Goal: Increase your RPR (revenue per recipient) over time, not just vanity metrics.
6. Bonus: AI in Email Marketing (Where It’s Headed)
AI Capability | What It Does |
---|---|
Predictive Send Time | Determines when users are most likely to open |
Dynamic Content Blocks | Tailors email sections to the individual |
Automated Copywriting | Drafts subject lines, body copy, CTAs using GPT |
Audience Predictions | Forecasts churn risk or repeat purchase behavior |
Platforms like Klaviyo, HubSpot, ActiveCampaign, and GetResponse are already integrating AI tools to save time and sharpen targeting.
Recommended Visual Content to Add
To boost SEO and user engagement, embed the following in your blog:
Type | Example |
---|---|
✅ Comparison Table | Traditional vs. AI-powered email marketing |
✅ Flow Diagrams | Abandoned cart sequence or Welcome Flow |
✅ Embedded GIF | Interactive email showing a product demo |
✅ Scrollable Carousel | Subject line A/B test examples |
✅ Interactive Quiz | “Which email strategy fits your brand?” |
✅ Video Tutorial | “How to build an automated flow in Klaviyo” |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What’s the most important email flow for eCommerce brands?
Start with a Welcome Series—it’s where your highest-intent subscribers land. Then build an Abandoned Cart Flow and Post-Purchase Upsell to capture and maximize revenue.
2. How often should I clean my email list?
Every 60–90 days. Remove inactive, bounced, and unengaged subscribers. This keeps your deliverability healthy and improves open rates.
3. How do I measure success in email marketing?
Focus on:
- Open Rate (OR)
- Click-Through Rate (CTR)
- Conversion Rate (CVR)
- Revenue Per Recipient (RPR)
RPR is the gold standard if you’re looking at profit-driven metrics.
4. Can email and SMS marketing work together?
Absolutely. Use SMS for time-sensitive alerts (e.g., flash sales), and email for deeper storytelling and nurturing. Klaviyo and Attentive allow seamless integration of both.
5. What email platforms are best for eCommerce?
Top platforms in 2025:
- Klaviyo – Best for Shopify brands
- Listrak – Enterprise eCommerce
- ActiveCampaign – For automation pros
- GetResponse – Budget-friendly AI personalization
6. How many emails should I send per week?
1–3 emails per week is a safe zone. Prioritize value over volume. Use a consistent rhythm and lean into automation for the heavy lifting.
Final Thoughts: Execution > Theory
Email marketing is evolving—but the fundamentals are unchanged.
- Talk to the right people.
- Deliver value.
- Optimize relentlessly.
- Automate smartly.
Whether you’re building your first flow or scaling to eight figures, email remains your highest leverage tool. But only if you treat it like a revenue channel, not a box to check.
Need help?
Our CRM and email experts can:
- Audit your flows
- Write high-converting campaigns
- Set up segmentation, automation, and SMS
- Migrate your brand to Klaviyo, Listrak, or whichever tool suits you best
Let’s turn your list into your most profitable asset. Contact us today.
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