Did you know that email marketing campaigns can bring a return on investment of over $40 for each dollar spent? But the truth is that for many email marketers, this remains a distant dream.
There are so many things to get right: target audience segmentation, personalization, great subject line, ideal body length... How do you even launch a successful email marketing campaign? Today, we take a look at some great email marketing campaign examples you can learn from.
But before we get on with that...
What are the signs of a successful email marketing campaign?
Obviously, the hallmark of a great email marketing campaign is the amout of revenue it makes for a business. But you have to look deeper than that to build your own email marketing strategy. Here are a few ways you can know that an email marketing campaign example is a success.
High open rates: if your email marketing campaigns are driving people to open your emails, it means you're sending them to the right people and you've nailed your subject lines.
Strong click through rates: the content is compelling enough to make people click through to a landing page or a blog post. Once again, a good click through rate means you're not only writing great emails and marketing campaigns, but you're also sending people to the content that interests them.
Low unsubscribe rate: you're building strong customer relationships and the people receiving your emails want to continue receiving them. Your list provides value to your target audience and you continuously engage subscribers with great content.
Your email campaigns are highly personalized: the best marketing campaigns are highly personalized and speak to a segment of your entire email list while capturing your brand voice. Personalized campaigns get higher metrics across the board.
Your content is optimized for mobile: almost 42% of all emails are first opened on mobile devices. Almost every major email service provider provides the option of testing for mobile, so make sure to use it. Or simply send out a test email to yourself before you learn from your email subscribers that it just does not show up right on mobile phones.
Best email marketing campaign examples you can copy and learn from
Ready to create your next eye-catching email campaign? Here are some email marketing campaign examples you can learn from.
InVision's Design Disruptors campaign
InVision is one of the most popular cloud-based tools for design. In this email marketing example, we're looking at an email for their existing subscribers where they promote their new documentary called Design Disruptors.
The reason why this email campaign example works is because it speaks to the target audience. The email has a stunning design and the slogan is a message for designers specifically. The best part about this campaign example is perhaps that the reader has no idea what Design Disruptors is so it builds up anticipation.
Moon Cheese's punny email campaign
Moon Cheese sells, you guessed it, cheese. For National Cheese Day, they decided to promote a healthier alternative to cheese and highlight products that have all the taste and flavor of cheese but none of the lactose.
Great design coupled with clever copywriting and a great understanding of their target audience is what makes this campaign just work.
Basecamp's product update email
This email example comes from Basecamp, one of the best-known project management tools of today. The founders behind Basecamp have quite a few other projects behind them and their marketing knowledge is quite extensive.
In this example, they send a product update to their entire subscriber base mentioning the most recent features and fixes. This campaign example works well because of the great design and the great TL;DR section at the top. Don't want to bother to read the entire email? You don't have to.
Rind Snacks' re-engagement campaign
Want to collect customer feedback and see whether your email recipients are really into you? Rind Snacks reached out to their subscribers to confirm their preferences in this beautifully designed campaign.
The great wordplay is the most appealing part of the camping but that's not the end. This email allows Rind Snacks to maintain a healthy subscriber base as everyone can choose which emails they want to receive and when.
The Sill's Olympic campaign
The Sill is one of the best places to buy plants online and their marketing campaigns traditionally have high levels of creativity and personalization. Like many great email marketing examples, this one is all about being in the moment.
Sill reflected on the 2024 Olympic Games, comparing different disciplines with plants you can buy in their store. Great design combined with clever copy makes sure that the Sill customer base does not regret being loyal subscribers.
Grammarly's weekly writing update
Automated campaigns don't have to be boring. Grammarly is a subscription tool that helps people write better, without typos and errors. In this email marketing campaign example, you see Grammarly's weekly email recap.
If you're not a paying subscriber, this email marketing strategy helps you see what you're missing out on if you're not using the premium features. Those who are already paying users can see the value that Grammarly provides every week, reducing the chances of customer churn.
Copper Cow Coffee discount email
Black Friday is a superb time of the year for both consumers and brands. Besides tech, customers purchase things such as beverages and Copper Cow Coffee could not miss out on this opportunity.
This email is super simple and to the point, explaining what discounts you can benefit from and in which time period.
Harry's gentle (but exfoliating) reminder
Harry's is a supplier of quality men's grooming and shaving supplies. They're known for their great prices and using their marketing channels in a creative, playful way.
This campaign example works on a few different levels. The copy is crisp and to the point and so is the design. The best part is that Harry's know exactly how to entice customers to purchase, mentioning terms such as "volcanic rock" and "cooling peppermint" to appeal to a male audience in their marketing emails.
Casper's Snoozeletter
Why have a newsletter if you can have a snoozeletter? If your business sells mattresses, pillows and other sleeping paraphernalia. Instead of pushing for new sales directly, they have a great way to educate and retain customers with relevant content.
The most important section of the email is filled with helpful tips before moving on to products with clearly visible call-to-action buttons.
Going's referral campaign
Previously known as Scott's Cheap Flights, this website does just that, offering cheap flights to various locations. In this campaign, they are not promoting their own product. Instead, they're making a simple ask: to refer your friends.
What makes this email campaign work is the fact that the copy is direct and to the point. No complex wording, just one message: tell three friends, earn $100.
Gooey no sugar snack campaign
Gooey sells snacks and spreads with a twist: all-natural ingredients, no palm oil, no dairy, low sugar. The audience for their email campaigns are people with a sweet tooth but who also care for their health and with this campaign, they blow it out of the water.
The reason it works so well? It does not just sell a new product with no sugar. It reminds the old and new subscribers that even the average Gooey product comes with low sugar and that it's the better choice compared to what you can find in a supermarket.
Tarta Gelatina's welcome email
You might assume that Tarta Gelatina sells cakes, but they actually sell different types of carpets. They also happen to have a very colorful and enticing welcome email for all their new subscribers.
You get a glimpse of the product, a warm welcome for new email subscribers and a firm reminder of the company's biggest differentiators.
ARMRA's probiotic con email
One of the more provoking email marketing campaign examples, ARMRA takes a stab at the probiotic market. In a beautifully designed email, they state that probiotics are a con and that their recipients should consider alternative products.
This email works well because it aims to educate and turn recipients into website visitors. It shines a light on the brand's personality and even if the people who read are not potential customers, it's hard to ignore the message.
TripAdvisor’s customer feedback email
As any big or small business knows, getting reviews out of customers can be incredibly difficult, especially if there is no incentive for the recipient. TripAdvisor's way to solve this problem is to appeal to the humanitarian side of their subscribers.
They simply asked the email readers to submit their reviews to help out other travelers going to the same destination as them.
Courant's Mother's Day sale
Starting off with a simple subject line: ICYMI: 20% OFF sitewide, Courant sends a simple message.
The copy is clear and straightforward, with a big call to action button and a few accompanying images.
Fellow's 11 years in the game
Fellow sells coffee-making gear and has a strong brand voice. Competing against giants, they use clever wording, great design and a promotional email because of a special event.
The email does not contain an actual game but it reminds the reader of the milestones that the company has gone through and offers a chance to win their flagship product for free.
Webflow's conference invitation email
This email marketing example is not all that spectacular or unique but it's a good lesson in sending automated emails that are to the point. The design is clean and the most important information is one scroll away when opening the email.
Naked Life's welcome email
Another example of brand consistency and providing valuable information in email copy comes from Naked Life. They give new customers educational content about the brand and what they can expect in upcoming emails.
Aurora Bora's abandoned cart email
Abandoned cart emails give brands space to explore creative copy and ways to drive new conversions. Aurora Bora combines great design with clever copy to make sure no conversions are lost.
Conclusion
All of these great email marketing campaign examples started from one thing: how well these brands know their target audience and how much they're willing to personalize their marketing efforts based on that. And to foster great relationships with customers, you need a solid CRM.
With Capsule, you'll have your contacts in perfect order, capturing every stage of the customer journey. From the welcome email to building targeted campaigns for different use cases, Capsule is the best foundation you need for email as a marketing channel.
Grab your free trial and get started today!
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your target audience and industry. However, email marketing experts suggest that it's best to send out emails early in the morning (9-11 AM) and in the afternoon (1-3 PM) when people are likely to check their emails.
Once again, the most effective email marketing campaign will depend on various factors. However, some of the best campaign types include welcome emails, newsletters, giveaways, campaigns focused around specific holidays, step-by-step guides, and similar.
There are many tips and tricks from experienced email marketing experts. However, most of them boil down to knowing who your target audience is, building a segmented, relevant list, and sending out personalized content. It's the fastest way to use email as a channel for growing your base of loyal customers.
