The Ultimate Guide to Email Marketing Frequency: Send Smart, Not Too Much!
Email marketing can be the game-changer for any business; however, now we have to get down to brass tacks—the question of how many email marketing sends you should do. It’s a tightrope walk: send too many, and they’ll get tired of your emails, probably hitting that unsubscribe button. And send too few, and they’ll likely forget you altogether.
So, where is the sweet spot? In this guide, we’ll be talking about everything from how often to send email newsletters to how long marketing emails should be. Ever wondered whether there is such a thing as too many marketing emails or the best practices for email frequency? Then this is your one-stop resource.
Why Does Email Frequency Matter?
First things first: email frequency is a big deal. The number of emails that you send can influence engagement, open rates, even revenue. If customers feel they are drowning in emails, they’re highly likely to hit that “unsubscribe” button. On the other hand, if you are too quiet? Out of sight, out of mind!
In fact, however, research shows that getting the right email frequency can ensure good click-through rates and keeps subscribers happy, so here’s where we dive in.
How Often Should You Update Your Mailing List?
Consider your mailing list like your secret weapon. The more it is cared for, the better your results will be. How often should you clean the mailing list? Clean that bad boy every 3-6 months to leave out inactive and disengaged users. This keeps your open rate nice and healthy while minimizing the chances that end up in the spam folder.
- Pro Tip: Dole out your list! Not every subscriber needs the same content at the same time. Breaking your list down by user behavior or interests can help you nail down email frequency best practices.
How Many Emails Is Too Many?
Ah, the burning question! It’s common to wonder, “how many emails is too many?” Here’s a simple breakdown:
EMAIL FREQUENCY | SUBSCRIBER REACTION | IMPACT |
1-2 per week | Appreciated! | Keeps your brand top of mind without being overwhelming |
3-5 per week | Potentially Annoying | Some users might start to hit “unsubscribe” |
6+ per week | Spammy Vibes | Likely too much unless you’re running a special event or sale |
Remember, email frequency best practices suggest erring on the side of caution. Most businesses find that 2-4 emails per week is a sweet spot. But, it really depends on your audience!
How Often Should You Send Email Marketing?
Knowing how often you should send email marketing is critical for avoiding over-communication. Depending on your audience and industry, here’s a general guide:
INDUSTRY | OPTIMAL FREQUENCY |
E- Commerce | 3-5 times per week |
B2B Services | 1-2 times per week |
Non-profits | 1-3 times per month |
SaaS Companies | 2-4 times per month |
But always keep an eye on open rates and click-through rates. If they start dropping, it might be time to dial back.
How Long Should Marketing Emails Be?
You want your emails to pack a punch without boring the reader. So, how long should a marketing email be?
Generally, marketing emails should be 50-125 words. These are the “sweet spot” emails—short, engaging, and actionable. If you’re sharing more detailed info like a blog post or guide, 200-250 words is acceptable. But anything longer than that? Your audience might not stick around for the entire read.
The length for the same in e-commerce or newsletters should be kept shorter and visual-heavy. Think punchy content with clear CTAs. A perfect example would be showcasing a new product with a big, bright “Shop Now” button!
How Often Should You Send Marketing Emails?
This covers the frequency question, but let’s break it down specifically:
For newsletters, the best frequency for sending out is once a week or bi-weekly. This helps stay on top of things without flooding your subscribers.
And the frequency of marketing emails should always tie in with the delivery of real value for the recipients. Let’s say an online store wants to boost its sales by sending out more emails closer to a holiday sale, then reducing them later in the period not to “email-burnout.” If you are wondering “how often to send marketing emails,” put yourself in your customers’ shoes-what would you appreciate as a recipient?
If Customers Receive Too Many Emails…
But that is the tricky part. In case email counts are going too high, customers may start to:
- Ignore them.
- Unsubscribe from your list.
- In addition, tag them as spam!
To keep from living the nightmare, pay attention to signs: are you experiencing a drop in your open rates? Are you suddenly seeing a swell in unsubscribes after launching a new email campaign? That’s a huge sign that may mean you’re sending too many emails.
Email Frequency Best Practices
Not sure how to handle email marketing frequency? Don’t worry, we’ve got some best practices for you:
- Segment your list: Do not send everything to everybody. Only send specific things targeted towards specified groups.
- Monitor Engagement: Keep an eye on metrics like open rates and click-throughs. If these start to fall, reconsider your frequency.
- Conduct A/B Test: Run a test on which email cadence works best for your audience.
- Stay Relevant: If you’re emailing often, make sure every email is packed with value. Offer tips, promotions, or exclusive info.
How Often to Send E-commerce Newsletters
Newsletters are gold mines for e-commerce brands. Yet, moderation is key. Here’s a quick guide:
- Regular Weeks: Send your newsletter related to e-commerce 2-3 times a week.
- During the holiday seasons or major sales, send 4-5 times a week, with fresh content that needs to get the reader excited.
Your customers will not mind a few more emails during a big sale, but they may hit “unsubscribe” if you continue bombarding them without any reason!
How Often Send Out Email Newsletters?
Now, with newsletters in general, the frequency depends on your content type. So if you’re dealing with lifestyle or educational brands, how often you send out emails might be once a week, or even once a month, depending on the information content it provides. Don’t let too much time pass between updates-stay consistent to keep your brand alive in people’s minds.
Send Smart, Not Too Much!
A final word on how many marketing emails to send per week: the take-home message is simple – don’t overwhelm your audience, but at the same time, don’t go silent. Generally, a good rule of thumb is 1-3 emails per week unless you have a special promotion.
With balanced frequency, knowing the number of times to update your mailing list, and how long your marketing emails should take up, you are going to keep your audience in lockstep and thereby ensure a low rate of unsubscribe. So, send smartly and keep those conversations flowing without feeling you’re shouting from rooftops!
Frequently Asked Questions
- Should I resubmit emails to individuals who did not open the first one?
Yes, but do it thoughtfully. Wait a few days, then revise the subject line and avoid doing too much—too many repeats can infuriate subscribers.
- Which is the best day of the week to send a marketing email?
Generally, the most engaged days are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. However, one can only know what works best for the people by testing it out with one’s audience.
- Should I use A/B testing for email frequency?
Absolutely, the best frequency for your email can be found through A/B testing: with a minimal unsubscribe rate, at maximum engagement.