What is Email Marketing: Definition, Benefits, and Best Practices
Updated on Apr 23, 2025 | 9 min read | 1.6k views
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Updated on Apr 23, 2025 | 9 min read | 1.6k views
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Email marketing is the process of leveraging emails to communicate with potential customers, nurture leads, and promote products to build customer loyalty. Companies leverage multiple channels to connect with customers, and a well-written, well-timed email is one of them. Over 93% of professionals state that email is their primary digital marketing channel for engaging with companies. At a time when competition for clicks and conversions is at its peak, your email marketing strategy must continually evolve to stay effective.
So, how do you replace these generic marketing tactics with more advanced email marketing strategies? Let’s learn more in this guide that gives you an overview of the role of email marketing in digital marketing for business improvement.
Email marketing is a powerful digital marketing strategy that enables companies to communicate directly with their audience. It allows businesses to send targeted messages to potential and existing customers to drive engagement and boost sales. In essence, email marketing aims to strengthen brand loyalty and customer relationships.
Over time, email marketing has evolved into a sophisticated tool that leverages automation, personalization, and analytics to maximize impact. Following a digital marketing tutorial can help you better understand what is email marketing and how it contributes to increasing business revenue.
Email marketing refers to the practice of sending emails to individuals or groups. It enables businesses to promote products, share updates, and build positive customer relationships. Unlike traditional advertising, email marketing allows for direct and personalized communication.
Check out the key purposes to better understand what is email marketing all about:
Email marketing has come a long way from the days of sending generic bulk messages for promotional purposes. Over the years, technological advancements and shifting consumer expectations have transformed digital marketing into a highly targeted and data-driven field.
Key milestones in the evolution of email marketing include:
In 1971, Ray Tomlinson sent the first email, introducing the “@” symbol to differentiate usernames from hostnames. This innovation laid the foundation for modern email communication.
By 1978, email was already being leveraged for marketing purposes. Gary Thuerk sent the first mass email via ARPANET to 400 recipients, generating $13 million in sales. While this earned him the title "Father of Spam," it also marked the beginning of email as a strategic marketing tool.
The 1980s saw significant advancements in email infrastructure. In 1980, the introduction of the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) standardized email transmission, ensuring greater reliability and scalability.
In 1983, MCI Mail emerged as one of the first commercial email services, eventually connecting to the internet and facilitating broader business applications.
A key milestone occurred in 1985 with the registration of Symbolics.com, the first ".com" domain. While not directly related to email, this event signified the commercialization of the internet, which would later drive the expansion of email marketing.
The 1990s marked the transformation of email from a simple text-based medium to a more sophisticated communication tool. In 1992, the introduction of Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) enabled emails to support multimedia elements such as images and videos, enhancing their visual appeal.
By 1997, the launch of Microsoft Outlook and Yahoo! Mail provided users with more accessible and user-friendly email platforms. Around this time, HTML-based emails gained prominence, allowing businesses to design visually engaging campaigns. The rise of free email services, such as Hotmail, further expanded email marketing’s reach.
As email marketing gained traction, concerns about spam and ethical marketing practices prompted regulatory action. In 2003, the U.S. introduced the CAN-SPAM Act, which established guidelines for commercial emails, improving transparency and reducing unsolicited messaging.
Simultaneously, marketing platforms such as Mailchimp emerged, introducing advanced features such as audience segmentation, marketing automation, and analytics. These innovations enabled businesses to optimize their email marketing strategies and enhance engagement with their target audiences.
The 2010s saw a shift towards data-driven, personalized email marketing. Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) allowed marketers to tailor content based on user preferences and behaviors, significantly improving engagement rates.
Automation became a key component of AI in email marketing, enabling businesses to send targeted messages at optimal times without manual intervention. Optimizing emails for smartphones also became essential with an increased usage of mobile phones.
Research during this period demonstrated email marketing’s effectiveness, with studies indicating a return on investment (ROI) of $36 for every $1 spent.
In the 2020s, email marketing has continued to evolve, incorporating dynamic, interactive elements such as embedded videos, clickable content, and real-time updates.
AI-driven technologies have further refined email marketing strategies, optimizing subject lines, send times, and audience segmentation for improved engagement.
Automated newsletters have also gained popularity, allowing businesses to deliver personalized content efficiently while promoting customer loyalty.
Want to learn the best email marketing strategies? Enroll in upGrad’s Email Marketing Courses now.
Currently, email marketing plays a key role in the digital marketing ecosystem. It offers a direct and personalized way to engage with customers. Unlike social media or paid ads, where visibility depends on algorithms, emails land directly in a recipient’s inbox. This ensures greater control over audience communication and improves email ROI (return on investment).
Email marketing also enhances brand visibility and drives conversions when effectively integrated with other digital channels. Therefore, understanding what is email marketing and how it acts as a complete guide for brand awareness is the key to maximizing its impact across platforms.
Email marketing is known for its ability to enhance other digital strategies to create a more cohesive customer experience. Businesses and professionals find it easier to integrate emails with other channels to strengthen brand messaging.
Here are some of the most effective ways email marketing integrates with other channels:
Also Read: What is the Difference Between Email and Gmail?
Compared to other digital marketing methods, email marketing offers unique advantages that make it a top choice for businesses of all sizes. Its key benefits are:
Read More: Top 32 Tools Every Successful Digital Marketer Uses
Want to learn more about effective email marketing strategies? Enroll in upGrad’s Ultimate Guide to Email Marketing course now.
Email marketing in 2025 is more intelligent, automated, and interactive than ever. With the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), machine jilearning, and advanced personalization in emails, businesses are now running highly targeted campaigns that resonate with individual users.
Understanding what email marketing is leverages these technologies is critical to achieving success in today’s competitive digital environment.
On that, here is a list of the steps for implementing an effective email marketing strategy:
Marketers now use real-time data to optimize email content, increase deliverability, and improve engagement. Personalized and interactive emails, combined with modern technologies, are driving higher conversion rates. This involves integrating interactive emails with several other technologies, like the following:
AI has transformed email marketing by enabling hyper-personalization based on real-time user behavior and preferences. Instead of sending generic messages, brands now create emails tailored to each recipient based on individual user preferences, behaviors, and purchase history.
The key personalization techniques leveraged across these processes are:
Automation ensures that the right email reaches the right person at the right time. AI-driven email marketing tools also analyze user interactions and schedule emails accordingly to optimize send times and content.
Here’s how AI-powered automation improves email marketing:
Static emails are being replaced with more effective, interactive formats that encourage user engagement directly within the inbox. These elements make emails more engaging and drive higher click-through rates. Currently, here is a list of different types of interactive content in emails:
Also Read: Digital Marketing Challenges: How to Win Amidst the Challenges in Digital Marketing
Over 60% of emails are opened on mobile devices. Therefore, designing mobile-friendly emails has become essential for the success of digital marketing campaigns. A smooth experience across different screen sizes also improves customer engagement and conversion rates.
Best practices for promoting mobile-responsive emails include:
Stricter global data privacy laws require businesses to ensure transparency in their email marketing strategies, campaigns, and practices. Compliance with email etiquette rules and regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), helps maintain user trust.
Some common but significant compliance measures in this field include:
Want to learn how to implement effective email marketing campaigns? Pursue upGrad’s Advanced Certificate in Digital Marketing and Communication program now.
Email marketing continues to evolve rapidly, driven by advancements in AI, data analytics, and shifting consumer expectations. Businesses that stay ahead of these trends can maximize engagement and improve conversions.
As more companies refine their approach, the focus has shifted from mass mailing to hyper-personalized, AI-driven, and data-informed email strategies. Understanding what email marketing is today involves recognizing its transformation into an intelligent and highly segmented channel.
On that note, here are the key digital marketing trends 2025 shaping the future of email marketing:
Consumers now expect customized emails rather than generic promotional blasts. A recent study shows that over 72% of consumers engage only with personalized messaging. This highlights the importance of advanced customization. AI and machine learning play a critical role by allowing marketers to deliver hyper-personalized content based on real-time user data. This creates more meaningful and engaging interactions.
Key features of hyper-personalization to watch for in 2025 include:
AI-powered tools such as Jasper AI, ChatGPT, and Copy.ai have significantly transformed email content creation. These tools generate subject lines, body text, and even visuals based on user preferences. This automation streamlines content production while ensuring consistency and effectiveness.
Here’s how AI is currently shaping email marketing content:
Email segmentation strategies involve leveraging behavioral and predictive analytics to target audiences with laser precision. Advanced segmentation ensures that every email sent is relevant to the recipient, improving engagement and reducing unsubscribe rates.
Currently, the key email segmentation strategies are:
As privacy regulations tighten worldwide, businesses must prioritize explicit user consent and transparency in their email marketing strategies. Users are increasingly conscious of how their data is handled, and failure to comply with privacy laws can damage brand reputation and affect email deliverability.
Key privacy and consent measures include:
Email marketing integrates with other digital channels, including social media, SMS marketing, and automation tools to create a cohesive brand experience. This omnichannel approach ensures that customers receive consistent messaging across all touchpoints.
Here’s how email integrates with other channels:
The above trends and transformations show that understanding what is email marketing is alone is no longer enough for professionals to stay ahead of the curve. You must build expertise in data-driven tools, AI platforms, and other automation technologies.
Below is a table outlining key courses and certifications to help aspiring marketers enhance their skills:
Program Name |
Duration |
Key Skills |
4 hours |
Email campaign, email copywriting, and design |
|
4 months |
Strategic marketing and creativity across emails and other channels |
|
12 hours |
Digital marketing essentials, including email marketing strategies |
|
6 hours |
Market training with real-world applications |
|
1 hour |
Brand building and positioning |
Want to learn more about the role of email marketing in the digital space? Enroll in this upGrad Digital Marketing Accelerator Program.
Email marketing success is no longer just about open rates and click-through rates in 2025. Businesses of all sizes must track more sophisticated performance metrics using advanced data analytics, AI-driven insights, and adapt to changing customer expectations.
Understanding what is email marketing today means recognizing that success is measured through engagement, conversion rates, and long-term customer relationships. By leveraging valuable email analytics, brands can quickly refine their strategies and maximize ROI.
Here’s how modern email marketing success is measured:
Traditional email performance metrics have evolved to provide a more comprehensive view of campaign success. Currently, businesses focus on key indicators that directly impact revenue and long-term customer relationships in the following ways:
AI is transforming email analytics by providing marketers with real-time data and predictive insights. AI-powered tools analyze customer behavior, optimize send times, and refine content strategies for maximum engagement in the following ways:
A/B testing, also known as split testing, is a method of comparing two versions (A and B) of a webpage, email, or other digital asset to see which performs better based on a specific metric, such as click-through rate or conversion rate. It remains a key strategy for refining email marketing campaigns.
Brands can maximize engagement and conversions by continuously testing different elements. Here is a list of the key elements of A/B testing in email marketing strategies:
Want to learn more about modern email marketing techniques? Enroll in upGrad’s Fundamentals of Marketing course now.
Email marketing is a powerful tool for businesses, but mastering it requires the right skills, strategies, and industry insights. upGrad offers an excellent learning experience to help professionals improve their email marketing expertise, bridge skill gaps, and advance their careers. Let’s explore how upGrad equips learners with the knowledge and resources to excel in the field.
upGrad’s certification programs equip professionals with practical, industry-relevant skills in email marketing. These programs help learners stay ahead of trends, optimize email campaigns, and improve engagement.
The key benefits of upGrad’s certification programs are:
Having access to industry mentors and a strong professional network can significantly impact career growth in email marketing. upGrad provides mentorship from seasoned professionals and connects learners with an alumni network in the following ways:
upGrad goes beyond education by offering dedicated career transition support to help learners secure high-paying roles in email marketing. This includes resume-building workshops, interview preparation, and placement assistance.
There’s a lot to consider when working on your email marketing campaign. Between creating compelling content, sending emails at the right time, and keeping compliant, there’s plenty to get right.
For this, you must undergo relevant training to learn how to treat your customers in a way that they become your loyal partners over the business journey. This also involves depending on technologies like AI and automation to improve your email marketing strategies for better revenue generation.
The best way to improve your email marketing efforts is by enrolling in certifications and courses from upGrad that teach you how to convert leads, improve brand loyalty, and grow your business.
Interested in improving your skills in this field? Enroll in upGrad’s Marketing Masterclass: Create Your Brand program to learn more about brand positioning through email marketing and other techniques.
If you’re still confused about your choices, contact our experts for a 1:1 consultation now!
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