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Email Marketing Tips: 7 Unique Strategies Backed by Research

Posted at May 31, 2025 7:34:16 PM by THAT Agency | Share

Let's be honest - email marketing is still one of the best ways to reach your customers in 2025. While everyone knows the basics like sending newsletters, there are some really clever email marketing tips that can make your campaigns stand out and get better results. We've put together seven research-proven strategies that go beyond the usual advice, helping you create emails that people actually want to open and read.

1. Use Smart Triggers to Send the Right Email at the Right Time

Here's something cool: emails sent based on what people do get opened 70.5% more often than regular newsletters. That's huge! By setting up automated emails that respond to your subscribers' actions, you can catch them when they're most interested.

What Exactly Are Trigger Emails?

Trigger emails are automated messages that get sent when someone takes a specific action. Think of them like a helpful friend who notices what you're interested in and sends you exactly what you need, right when you need it.

Popular Trigger Ideas That Really Work:

Abandoned Cart Reminders (2-4 Hours Later) Someone added items to their cart but didn't buy? Send a friendly reminder. Include product images and maybe a small discount to sweeten the deal.

Re-engagement Campaigns (3-6 Months of Inactivity) Haven't heard from a subscriber in a while? Send them a "We miss you" email with your best recent content or an exclusive offer.

Welcome Series (Immediately After Sign-up) First impressions matter! Send 3-5 emails over two weeks introducing your brand, sharing your best content, and maybe offering a new subscriber discount.

Purchase Anniversaries Celebrate one year since their first purchase with a special thank you and personalized recommendations based on what they bought.

Content-based Suggestions If someone reads three blog posts about social media marketing, automatically send them your advanced social media guide.

How to Set Up Trigger Emails:

  1. Choose your email platform (most support automation)
  2. Identify key customer actions worth triggering emails
  3. Write your email content for each trigger
  4. Set up the automation rules
  5. Test everything before going live
  6. Monitor performance and adjust timing as needed

Common question: "How many trigger emails is too many?" Keep it reasonable - aim for no more than 2-3 automated emails per week per subscriber. You want to be helpful, not annoying.

The best part? Once you set these up, they run on their own. You just need to create sequences that match how your customers interact with your business. Start with one or two triggers and expand as you see what works.

2. Add Fun Interactive Elements to Keep People Engaged

Nobody wants to read another boring email. The good news? Adding interactive features to your emails can get 73% more people clicking through. That's a huge jump! These interactive elements let your subscribers do things right inside their inbox, making your emails more like a mini-website than just plain text.

Why Interactive Elements Matter

Think about the last email that caught your attention. Was it just a wall of text, or did it have something you could click, swipe, or explore? Interactive elements work because they:

  • Give people something to do besides just reading
  • Make your emails stand out in crowded inboxes
  • Help you learn more about what your subscribers want
  • Create a memorable experience that keeps people coming back

Types of Interactive Elements That Get Results

Let's break down each type of interactive element and how to use them effectively:

Quick Polls or Surveys

These are super simple one-question surveys that people can answer with just a click. For example:

  • "What's your biggest marketing challenge?" with buttons for common answers
  • "Which product feature interests you most?" with visual options
  • "How was your recent purchase experience?" with star ratings

Why they work:

  • Takes seconds to answer
  • Gives you valuable customer insights
  • Makes subscribers feel heard
  • Can trigger follow-up emails based on responses

Reader question: "How many questions should I include?" Stick to one or two max. The moment it feels like work, people will skip it.

Image Galleries or Carousels

Perfect when you need to show multiple items without making your email super long. Great for:

  • Product collections (like "Summer favorites" or "New arrivals")
  • Before and after transformations
  • Step-by-step tutorials
  • Customer testimonials with photos

How to use them:

  • Include 3-7 images maximum
  • Make swipe arrows obvious on mobile
  • Add captions or prices that appear on hover
  • Link each image to its product page

Reader question: "What if people can't see the carousel?" Always make the first image the most important one, since that's what everyone will see even if the carousel doesn't work.

Accordion Menus

These expandable sections let you pack lots of information into a small space. Readers can click to expand only what interests them. Perfect for:

  • FAQ sections
  • Product specifications
  • Event schedules
  • Terms and conditions
  • Multiple offers in one email

Best practices:

  • Use clear "+" or arrow icons to show sections can expand
  • Keep section titles short and descriptive
  • Don't hide critical information in accordions
  • Limit to 5-6 sections to avoid overwhelming readers

Reader question: "Should important info be hidden in accordions?" Never! Always put must-know information in the main email body where everyone can see it.

Countdown Timers

Nothing motivates action like a ticking clock. Use them for:

  • Flash sales ("Sale ends in 12 hours!")
  • Early bird registration deadlines
  • Limited-time offers
  • Product launches
  • Special events

Tips for success:

  • Make sure the timer is accurate across time zones
  • Use bold, easy-to-read numbers
  • Include what happens when time runs out
  • Don't overuse them (people catch on to fake urgency)

Reader question: "Can I use countdown timers for everything?" Be careful - use them only for genuinely time-sensitive offers. Too many countdowns and people stop believing them.

Interactive Calculators

Let subscribers calculate personalized results without leaving their email. Examples:

  • Savings calculators ("See how much you'd save")
  • ROI calculators for B2B services
  • Mortgage or loan calculators
  • Calorie or fitness calculators
  • Price comparisons

Making them work:

  • Keep calculations simple (2-3 inputs max)
  • Show results instantly
  • Include a clear call-to-action with results
  • Provide a link to a full calculator on your website

Reader question: "How complex can these calculators be?" Keep it simple - anything requiring more than three inputs should link to your website instead.

Hover Effects

These reveal extra information when someone moves their mouse over an image. Great for:

  • Showing product prices on hover
  • Revealing "after" images over "before" photos
  • Displaying product details or specs
  • Showing alternate product views
  • Adding fun animations or color changes

Mobile consideration:

  • Hover doesn't work on phones, so make sure the default view has all essential info
  • Consider using tap-to-reveal on mobile instead
  • Always test on actual devices

Reader question: "What about mobile users who can't hover?" Design your emails so the most important information is visible without hovering. Think of hover effects as nice extras, not necessities.

Clickable Hotspots

Turn any part of an image into a clickable link. Perfect for:

  • Shop-the-look emails (click on items in an outfit)
  • Interactive maps showing store locations
  • Product features demonstrations
  • Virtual tours or room designs
  • Infographics with expandable sections

How to implement:

  • Make hotspots visually obvious (pulsing dots, highlighted areas)
  • Keep hotspot areas large enough for fingers on mobile
  • Add tooltips that appear on hover
  • Link each hotspot to relevant content

Reader question: "How many hotspots are too many?" Limit yourself to 5-6 per image. More than that gets confusing and cluttered.

Making Interactive Emails Work Everywhere

Here's the reality: not every email app can handle these cool features. Some people still use Outlook 2010 or have strict corporate email settings. Here's how to make sure everyone gets a good experience:

The Golden Rule of Interactive Emails

Always start with a basic version that works everywhere, then add the fancy stuff on top. This approach is called "progressive enhancement."

Essential Compatibility Tips:

  1. Always include fallback content
    • Static images instead of carousels
    • Regular buttons instead of interactive polls
    • Expanded content instead of accordions
    • Simple images instead of hover effects
  2. Test on these platforms before sending:
    • Gmail (desktop and mobile app)
    • Outlook (various versions)
    • Apple Mail
    • Yahoo Mail
    • Mobile devices (iOS and Android)
  3. Include a "View in Browser" link
    • Place it at the top of your email
    • This lets people see the full interactive version
    • Especially important for Outlook users
  4. Mobile-first design
    • Over 60% of emails are opened on mobile
    • Make buttons at least 44x44 pixels
    • Test all interactions with fingers, not just mouse clicks
    • Ensure text is readable without zooming

Reader question: "Which email clients support interactive features?" Gmail, Apple Mail, and most mobile apps handle interactivity well. Outlook (especially older versions) and some corporate email systems are more limited.

Getting Started with Interactive Emails

Don't feel like you need to use every type of interactive element at once. Here's a practical approach:

Phase 1: Start Simple (Months 1-2)

  • Add animated GIFs to catch attention
  • Use simple hover effects on product images
  • Include basic polls with 2-3 options
  • Test thoroughly and gather data

Phase 2: Level Up (Months 3-4)

  • Try image carousels for product showcases
  • Add countdown timers for sales
  • Experiment with accordion menus for FAQs
  • A/B test interactive vs. static versions

Phase 3: Go Advanced (Months 5+)

  • Implement interactive calculators
  • Create clickable hotspot images
  • Use multiple interactive elements in one email
  • Personalize interactions based on user data

Common Concerns and Solutions

"This sounds technically complicated" Many email service providers now offer drag-and-drop interactive elements. Start with their templates and customize from there.

"Will this hurt my email deliverability?" Interactive elements themselves don't affect deliverability, but large file sizes can. Keep total email size under 100KB when possible.

"How do I measure success?" Track these metrics:

  • Click-through rates on interactive elements
  • Time spent in email (if your platform tracks this)
  • Conversion rates from interactive vs. static emails
  • Response rates to polls and surveys

"What if my boss wants proof it works?" Start with a small test:

  • Send to 10% of your list with interactive elements
  • Send to another 10% without them
  • Compare the results
  • Share the data to build your case

Best Practices Checklist

Before sending any interactive email:

  • Created a fallback version for unsupported clients
  • Tested on at least 5 different email platforms
  • Checked mobile experience on actual devices
  • Kept file size reasonable (under 100KB ideal)
  • Added alt text to all images
  • Included clear instructions for interactive elements
  • Made sure critical info is visible without interaction
  • Added a "View in browser" link
  • Tested all links and interactions
  • Got approval from your legal team (if needed)

Interactive emails aren't just trendy - they get real results. But remember, the goal isn't to show off cool features. It's to create better experiences for your subscribers that help them take action.

Start small, test everything, and always have a backup plan. Your subscribers (and your click-through rates) will thank you.

3. Get Super Specific with Your B2B Email Segments

When it comes to B2B email marketing tips, getting specific with your audience groups is key. Companies using detailed segmentation see their email revenue jump by 760% - no joke! For B2B marketers, this means looking at way more than just company size.

Smart Ways to Segment Your B2B Audience:

Sales Cycle Stage

  • Awareness: Just learning about their problem
  • Consideration: Comparing solutions
  • Decision: Ready to buy
  • Customer: Already using your product
  • Advocate: Love your product and tell others

Engagement Patterns

  • Heavy content consumers who read everything
  • Selective readers who only open specific topics
  • Event attendees who register for webinars
  • Social sharers who spread your content

Company Characteristics

  • Industry vertical (healthcare, finance, retail, etc.)
  • Company size (startup, SMB, enterprise)
  • Growth rate (stable, growing, rapid expansion)
  • Geographic location and time zones
  • Technology stack they currently use

Individual Role Factors

  • Job title and department
  • Decision-making authority level
  • Years of experience
  • Technical expertise level
  • Specific pain points and challenges

Creating Micro-Segments That Convert:

Instead of broad groups, create highly specific segments. For example:

  • "CFOs at Series B SaaS companies interested in cost reduction"
  • "IT directors at healthcare companies evaluating security solutions"
  • "Marketing managers at e-commerce sites using Shopify"

Common question: "How many segments should I create?" Start with 3-5 main segments and refine from there. Quality beats quantity - better to have fewer well-defined segments than many poorly defined ones.

Tools for B2B Segmentation:

  • Your CRM data (Salesforce, HubSpot, etc.)
  • Website behavior tracking
  • Email engagement metrics
  • Survey responses
  • Social media interactions
  • Third-party data enrichment services

Create super-targeted groups based on multiple factors. For instance, group together CFOs at growing tech companies who've looked at your pricing info recently. This kind of precision makes your emails way more relevant.

4. Let Computers Figure Out the Best Time to Send

Forget those "best time to send" articles you've read. Machine learning can now figure out the perfect send time for each person on your list. Studies show this can improve open rates by 23%.

Factors That Affect Optimal Send Times:

Geographic Considerations

  • Time zones (obviously important!)
  • Local holidays and observances
  • Regional work schedules
  • Cultural preferences

Individual Patterns

  • When they typically open emails
  • Device usage (mobile in morning, desktop at work)
  • Response time patterns
  • Weekend vs. weekday behavior

Industry-specific Timing

  • B2B often better Tuesday-Thursday
  • Retail thrives on weekends
  • Restaurants peak before meal times
  • Professional services during business hours

Content Type Matters

  • Newsletters: early morning or lunch
  • Promotions: evenings and weekends
  • Educational content: mid-morning
  • Urgent updates: immediate send

How to Implement Send Time Optimization:

  1. Start collecting engagement data for at least 3 months
  2. Use an email platform with AI send-time features
  3. Begin with your most engaged segments
  4. A/B test AI recommendations vs. traditional times
  5. Gradually roll out to all segments
  6. Continuously monitor and adjust

Common question: "What if I don't have fancy AI tools?" Start simple:

  • Test 3-4 different send times with A/B tests
  • Track open rates by time zone
  • Note patterns for different segments
  • Adjust manually based on results

Best Practices for Send Time Optimization:

Don't send everything at once - spread sends over 2-3 hours. Consider inbox placement - avoid the Monday morning flood. Respect time zones - nobody wants emails at 3 AM.

Test seasonal variations - summer schedules differ from winter. Monitor deliverability - some times have higher spam risks.

Start with your most active subscribers and expand from there. Keep watching the results and adjust as needed. Remember, the best times can change, so keep optimizing.

5. Make Each Email Feel Personal with Dynamic Content

Using someone's name is just the beginning. Dynamic content lets you change entire sections of your email based on what you know about each subscriber. This can triple your click rates when done right.

Types of Dynamic Content That Work:

Product Recommendations

  • Based on browsing history
  • Similar to past purchases
  • Complementary items
  • Trending in their category
  • Price range preferences

Location-based Content

  • Local store information
  • Regional events and meetups
  • Weather-appropriate products
  • Shipping times to their area
  • Local customer success stories

Industry-specific Examples

  • Case studies from their sector
  • Relevant compliance information
  • Industry benchmark data
  • Peer company examples
  • Sector-specific features

Role-based Messaging

  • Executive summaries for C-suite
  • Technical specs for IT pros
  • ROI calculations for finance
  • Team features for managers
  • Implementation guides for admins

How to Implement Dynamic Content:

Start with data collection:

  • Purchase history
  • Browse behavior
  • Form submissions
  • Email engagement
  • Support interactions

Choose your dynamic elements:

  • Hero images
  • Call-to-action buttons
  • Product blocks
  • Testimonials
  • Pricing tables

Create content variations:

  • Write different versions for each segment
  • Design appropriate visuals
  • Craft relevant CTAs
  • Test all variations

Common question: "How much personalization is too much?" Avoid being creepy - use data that subscribers knowingly provided or that's clearly beneficial to them. Skip anything that feels like surveillance.

Dynamic Content Best Practices:

Always have a default version as fallback. Test each variation thoroughly. Monitor performance by segment.

Update content regularly. Keep variations consistent with brand voice.

Start small with one or two dynamic elements, then add more as you see results. Make sure your email system can handle this and that your subscriber info is accurate.

6. Collect Information Gradually Without Being Pushy

Nobody wants to fill out a huge form right away. Progressive profiling means asking for information bit by bit over time. This approach gets 86% more people to complete your forms while still building detailed profiles.

Smart Progressive Profiling Strategy:

Initial signup (keep it minimal):

  • Email address
  • First name
  • Maybe company name for B2B

Welcome email series (add preferences):

  • Content interests
  • Email frequency preference
  • Industry or role
  • Biggest challenge they face

First download or purchase:

  • Company size
  • Budget range
  • Timeline for decision
  • Other tools they use

Ongoing engagement:

  • Satisfaction surveys
  • Feature requests
  • Event attendance
  • Referral information

Creative Ways to Gather Information:

Interactive Quizzes "What's your marketing style?" - fun and informative

Preference Centers Let subscribers choose what content they want

Annual Surveys "Help us serve you better" with incentives

Content Downloads Ask one new question per download

Email Polls Single-question surveys in your newsletters

Support Interactions Gather insights during help requests

Making Progressive Profiling Work:

Map out what you need to know:

  • List all useful data points
  • Prioritize by importance
  • Plan collection timeline
  • Connect to use cases

Design the experience:

  • Keep forms short
  • Make questions relevant
  • Explain the benefit
  • Use smart defaults

Incentivize participation:

  • Exclusive content
  • Early access
  • Discounts
  • Better recommendations

Common question: "What if people won't share information?" That's okay! Focus on demonstrating value first. As trust builds, people become more willing to share. Never make fields mandatory unless absolutely necessary.

Tools for Progressive Profiling:

  • Marketing automation platforms
  • CRM systems with form builders
  • Survey tools with integration
  • Preference center software
  • Custom form solutions

Focus on collecting information that actually helps you send better emails. Quality beats quantity every time.

7. Make Your Emails Work for Everyone

Making emails accessible isn't just nice - it can increase your audience by 15-20%. This includes people with disabilities and anyone using screen readers. Plus, accessible emails tend to work better for everyone because they're clearer and easier to read.

Essential Accessibility Features:

Images and Alt Text

  • Describe what's in every image
  • Keep descriptions concise but complete
  • Include text from images in alt text
  • Don't say "image of" - screen readers already announce images

Color and Contrast

  • Minimum 4.5:1 contrast ratio for normal text
  • 3:1 for large text (18pt or 14pt bold)
  • Don't rely on color alone for meaning
  • Test with color blindness simulators

Font and Readability

  • Body text at least 14px
  • Headlines at least 22px
  • Use standard fonts
  • Adequate line spacing (1.5x)
  • Left-align body text

Structure and Navigation

  • Use proper heading tags (H1, H2, H3)
  • Logical reading order
  • Descriptive link text (not "click here")
  • Table structure for data only

Additional Accessibility Considerations:

Subject Lines Clear and descriptive, no ALL CAPS

Preheader Text Summarizes email content

Button Size At least 44x44 pixels for touch targets

Language Simple, clear sentences

Animations Provide pause controls or avoid auto-play

Testing for Accessibility:

  • Use screen reader software (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver)
  • Check color contrast with online tools
  • View without images enabled
  • Test keyboard navigation
  • Run automated accessibility scans
  • Get feedback from users with disabilities

Common question: "Is accessibility legally required?" In many countries, yes. The ADA in the US and similar laws elsewhere require digital accessibility. Plus, it's just good business.

Tools for Accessible Emails:

  • Litmus accessibility checker
  • Color contrast analyzers
  • Screen reader testing tools
  • HTML validators
  • Accessibility browser extensions

Make accessibility checks part of your regular email review process. Use testing tools but also do manual checks to catch issues.

Putting These Email Marketing Strategies to Work

Using these email marketing tips successfully takes planning and patience. Start with the strategies that fit best with what you're already doing, then gradually try more. Here's your action plan:

Getting Started Checklist:

Audit your current email program:

  • What's working well?
  • Where are the gaps?
  • What resources do you have?
  • What tools do you need?

Choose 2-3 strategies to start:

  • Pick ones that address your biggest challenges
  • Consider implementation difficulty
  • Estimate potential impact
  • Set realistic timelines

Create an implementation plan:

  • Define success metrics
  • Assign responsibilities
  • Set milestones
  • Plan testing approach

Monitor and optimize:

  • Track key metrics
  • Run A/B tests
  • Gather subscriber feedback
  • Iterate based on results

Measuring Success:

Key metrics to track:

  • Open rates and trends
  • Click-through rates by segment
  • Conversion rates
  • List growth and churn
  • Revenue per email
  • Engagement over time

Remember, great email marketing comes from constantly testing and improving. What works for one audience might not work for another, so always be experimenting.

For B2B marketers, combining these strategies with account-based marketing can really multiply your results. Focus on building relationships with valuable content while respecting what your subscribers want.

Final Thoughts on Email Marketing in 2025:

Email marketing in 2025 needs to be smarter than just following basic rules. These research-backed strategies give you an edge when you use them thoughtfully. Whether you're working on general email marketing or specific B2B email marketing tips, success comes from really knowing your audience and consistently providing value.

Want to see these strategies transform your email results? Get in touch with THAT Agency today. Our team knows how to create data-driven email campaigns that connect with audiences and deliver real results. Let's work together to unlock what your email marketing can really do.

Tags: Email Marketing, Business Use, Email Marketing Strategy

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