The Complete Guide to Email Blasts: Best Practices and Examples to Drive Results

📧📨 Time to blast your email marketing to the next level! 🚀

Join us for the complete guide to effectively executing email blasts. We’ll explore best practices, examples, regulations, and results-driven alternatives.

This in-depth guide covers everything from finding your blast rhythm to crafting engaging campaigns subscribers love. Unlock the secrets top brands use to connect with customers and drive conversions at scale. Get ready to soar past the competition!

What is an Email Blast?

An email blast, also commonly known as an e-blast, is a marketing email that is sent to a large mailing list all at the same time. Instead of sending individual messages to each contact, email blasts allow you to easily reach your entire subscriber base with a single campaign.

Email blasts are a popular method of spreading a message or promotion far and wide to both existing and potential customers. They are an effective way to publicize an upcoming sale, launch a new product, promote content, and more.

Defining Email Blasts

Let’s break down the key components of what makes an email blast:

• Bulk emailing: Email blasts involve sending a single email en masse to a mailing list. This allows you to contact hundreds or thousands of subscribers simultaneously.
• Mass distribution: The email is distributed at scale, being sent to most or all of your contacts in one batch. Very little segmentation or targeting is done.
• Simultaneous sends: Rather than staggered delivery, email blasts are sent out all at the same time for maximum impact. This blast delivery helps spread a time-sensitive message fast.
• Marketing focused: Most email blasts are sent with commercial goals in mind, like driving sales, conversions, or event participation. However, non-promotional blasts are also used for newsletters and announcements.
• Larger lists: You need a sizable email list to make blasting worthwhile. Groups of just a few hundred contacts won’t create enough of an impact.
• Minimal personalization: Email blasts are impersonal by design, with the same generic message sent to each recipient. Some personalization like first names can be added.

Think of email blasting like shouting through a megaphone at a large crowd vs. having individual conversations – it carries your message widely, but lacks personal context.

Common Names for Email Blasts

Email blasts go by many names, including:

• E-blasts
• Bulk emails
• Mass emails
• Broadcast emails
• Email campaigns
• Newsletter emails

All these terms refer to essentially the same thing – sending a single marketing email to your entire mailing list simultaneously.

Some key differences between email blasts and email newsletters:

• Frequency: Blasts are one-off emails while newsletters are sent on an ongoing basis.
• Content: Blasts convey a single focused message while newsletters have a variety of content.
• Purpose: Blasts call readers to immediate action while newsletters nurture relationships.

So in summary, blasts are ad hoc, promotional emails to a mailing list for instant impact. Newsletters are recurring, content-rich updates sent to subscribers. But newsletter emails can still be considered blasts due to their mass distribution.

Email Blast Use Cases

Here are some of the most common uses of email blasts:

• Promoting sales and deals: Email blasts can highlight flash sales, discounts and promos to get immediate attention. A mass email is perfect for timed offers.
• Product launches: When unveiling a new product or service, an email blast lets you get the word out to all your contacts efficiently.
• Event promotion: Upcoming webinars, conferences, seminars and other events are ideally publicized via email blasts.
• Content updates: Some businesses use blasts to distribute their latest blog posts, videos, free resources, etc.
• Newsletter distribution: As mentioned earlier, regular email newsletters count as blasts too when sent to all subscribers.
• Announcements: Share company news, policy updates, personnel changes and more using a broadcast announcement email.

The common thread is driving mass awareness in a short period. But blasts can also nurture long-term relationships when used properly as part of an integrated email marketing strategy.

Is Email Blasting Right for You?

Before adding email blasts to your marketing mix, make sure they align with your goals. Some key factors to consider:

• Do you have a sizable mailing list to make blasting worthwhile?
• How frequently are you comfortable blasting your list without overdoing it?
• Do you have time-sensitive promotions or updates to broadcast?
• Does a personal touch matter or can your business handle impersonal blasts?

Track engagement over time if you’re unsure – or test email blasts vs. segmented campaigns to see what resonates better with your subscribers.

Used judiciously and thoughtfully, email blasting can produce tremendous dividends. But they shouldn’t be your only email marketing strategy. Combine broadcasting with more personalized communications to see the best results.

Now that you know what defines an email blast and how they are used, let’s look at some email blast best practices next. Executing email blasts the right way is crucial to maximizing their impact.

When Should You Use Email Blasts?

Now that you know what an email blast is, when should you use this mass email technique in your marketing strategy?

Despite the potential downsides, email blasting can be highly effective when used for the right reasons.

Here are the best cases for deploying email blasts to your contact list:

Promoting Flash Sales and Discounts

One of the most common and effective uses of email blasts is to promote limited-time discounts and flash sales to your subscribers.

For example, during holiday shopping periods or as part of annual sales events, you may offer discounts of 40-60% off or more on select items for 24-48 hours.

Broadcasting such promotions via email blast allows you to:

• Spread awareness of the sale instantly
• Motivate recipients to act fast before it expires
• Watch sales roll in and cleared inventory

Email blasts are ideal for flash sale promos because of their broad reach and real-time notification.

You can maximize the impact of discount email blasts by:

• Highlighting the savings in % or $ in bold fonts
• Adding urgency with “Act Now!” or countdown timer copy
• Featuring hero images of top discounted products
• Keeping important details like dates front and center

When your business has upcoming sales or seasonal promotions, keep email blasting in your back pocket to broadcast them far and wide at the right moment.

Announcing New Product Launches

Another common email blast use case is promoting new product launches and releases.

Whether you have a brand-new software, book, online course, supplement, or any other item debuting soon, you’ll want to spread the word fast once it’s live.

Some benefits of using email blasts for launches:

• Rapid awareness. A launch blast reaches all subscribers instantly.
• Spikes interest. You can drive traffic, registrations, and purchases quickly.
• Social buzz. Recipients help amplify your launch by sharing it.
• Builds momentum. A big launch day sets you up for ongoing success.

To maximize results:

• Tease the upcoming launch in advance to prime your audience.
• Create hype and intrigue with your email copy and creative.
• Segment users who have bought related products to target first.
• Share details like pricing and availability upfront.
• Use a strong call-to-action to convert interest into sales.

Time your launch blast for shortly before or just after your product release for optimal impact.

Promoting Webinars and Events

Hosting live or virtual events like webinars, conferences, meetups, and seminars is a great way to engage your audience and generate leads.

But getting people to actually attend is half the battle – that’s where email blasts come in. Some benefits of blasting events:

• Creates quick and wide reach for event promotion.
• Maximizes registrations or ticket sales.
• Allows segmented messaging per event type and location.
• Drives urgency with reminders as the date nears.

Whether it’s a recurring event or one-time affair, email blasts should be part of your promotional plan.

Make your event blast more compelling with:

• Catchy subject lines like “Join our Instagram Strategy Workshop!”
• Details on speakers, agenda, special guests, etc.
• Discount codes or contests to incentivize signups.
• Calls-to-action to register or get tickets.
• Countdown timer showing days remaining.
• Automatic reminders as the event approaches.

With email blasting, you can keep your event top of mind and packed with attendees.

Email Newsletters

We can’t talk about email blasting without mentioning newsletters.

Newsletters are recurring, content-focused email communications sent to your subscribers. This makes all newsletter emails qualify as blasts due to their mass distribution.

Email newsletters allow you to:

• Share your latest blog posts, videos, resources etc.
• Establish yourself as an industry thought leader.
• Foster relationships and nurture leads.
• Promote products, offers, and events.
• Grow brand awareness and loyalty.

While newsletters have many benefits, their effectiveness still hinges on using email blasts properly.

Some tips for blasting engaging newsletters:

• Send at a consistent frequency like weekly or monthly.
• Use a compelling subject line like “Monthly Newsletter Issue #10 Inside!”
• Write a personalized preamble to address recipients.
• Structure content with headings and bullet points for skimming.
• Include a teaser to upcoming content to prompt re-engagement.
• Limit promotional space and focus on value-first content.
• Make it easy to share articles within the email for virality.

Besides these common email blast use cases, you may uncover unique ways to deploy blasts that align with your business model and audience.

Test different messaging, segments, timing and frequencies to refine your approaches. But in general, the most compelling blast opportunities have time sensitivity, urgency, exclusivity or wide appeal in common.

Now let’s look at how to execute email blasts successfully to get the best results.

Email Blast Best Practices

Now that you know when and why to use email blasts, let’s look at some best practices to deploy them effectively.

Proper email blast execution helps you maximize open rates, engagement, conversions, and return on investment from these mass emailing campaigns.

Follow these essential tips when sending email blasts:

Choose the Right Email Service Provider

The foundation of executing successful email blasts is choosing the right email service provider (ESP).

Your ESP enables creating, sending, and tracking email blasts through essential tools like:

• Email list building: Aggregate subscriber contacts and store them for segmented blasting.
• Drag-and-drop editors: Create attractive, branded email templates quickly.
• Analytics: Track opens, clicks, unsubscribes, spam complaints, and more.
• Automation: Schedule blasts, set up workflows and triggers.
• Deliverability optimization: Ensure your blasts reach the inbox.

Leading Cold Email tools like Mystrika or Email marketing platforms like Mailchimp, Constant Contact, and Sendinblue are ideal for both blasts and full-fledged email campaigns thanks to their sophisticated feature sets.

Some factors to evaluate in an email blast service:

• Pricing: Consider your budget and volume needs. Many offer free or low-cost plans to start.
• Deliverability: Look for high inbox placement rates and proven sender reputation.
• Ease of use: Seek simple editor interfaces and pre-designed templates.
• Segmentation: Assess options for grouping contacts based on traits.
• Automation: Review workflows, triggers, and scheduling capabilities.
• Analytics: Verify they track essential metrics like open and click-through rates.
• Support: Pick a provider with responsive customer service channels.

While basic blasting can be done with most ESPs, prioritize more advanced players if you plan extensive segmentation, automation and optimization.

Grow Your List with Opt-Ins

They say the money is in the list. But you need to grow your email list the right way first.

Never buy or rent email lists. It’s spammy, illegal, and destroys deliverability.

Instead, use ethical opt-in list building strategies:

• Website sign-up forms: Add forms across your site including headers, footers, sidebar widgets, landing pages, and blog posts using a form builder like WPForms. Offer an incentive like a discount or content upgrade in exchange for subscribing.
• Contests and giveaways: Sweepstakes that require an email address to enter are a popular tactics to grow your list. Just follow contest laws and regulations.
• Email lead nurturing: Engage site visitors through targeted email drip campaigns leading up to an incentive to subscribe.
• Retargeting ads: Remarket to visitors who left your site without subscribing via ads on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
• Offline marketing: Add a sign-up link or QR code on all print marketing collateral.
• Events and webinars: Collect attendee contact info for your mailing list at in-person and virtual events.
• Customer referrals: Offer rewards for existing subscribers who refer friends and colleagues.
• Website pop-ups: Use exit-intent and scroll-based triggers to open subscription pop-ups.
• Social media: Promote your list on social profiles and run occasional list-building campaigns.

Take an omni-channel approach to list growth for the fastest, most sustainable results. Just ensure every method captures only double opt-in subscribers who explicitly consented.

Use Segmentation and Targeting

With a clean email list in place, take the time to segment your contacts.

Email segmentation involves splitting your master list into separate groups based on various factors like:

• Demographics: Age, gender, location, income level
• Interests: Topics and categories they engage with
• Past purchases: Product types, price points, and recency
• Engagement: Email opens, clicks, page visits, conversions
• Source: Where they originally subscribed from

This creates targeted subsets you can blast separately based on greater relevancy.

For example, an online shoe retailer could segment their list by:

• Customer type: Retail or wholesale
• Gender: Men’s styles or women’s styles
• Price tier: Budget, mid-range, or luxury
• Purchase recency: Repeat customers vs first-timers

Now you can tailor your blasts. Maybe wholesale buyers get inventory updates, men get new release promos, and big spenders get VIP offers.

Benefits of segmented email blasts:

• Higher open and click-through rates
• Increased sales and conversion potential
• Reduced unsubscribe rates
• Less complaints and spam flags

Work to build a robust set of segments that align with your products, services, and marketing goals. Avoid over-segmentation however, as managing too many micro-lists is inefficient.

Tools like Mystrika make segmentation easy with category and filter-based options.

Personalize Your Email Blasts

Along with segmentation, focus on adding more personalization to your email blasts.

While blasts are inherently impersonal due to their mass nature, light personalization elements can improve results. Consider adding:

• Name personalization: Address contacts by first name using merge tags. Even a basic email salutation makes a difference.
• Behavioral details: Mention past purchases, page visits, interests, and actions known about each subscriber.
• Location details: Localize messages with the recipient’s city, region, country, or language.
• Suggested products/content: Recommend items based on purchase history and preferences.
• Event or milestone trigger: Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and other events can help personalize timing.
• Preferences and consents: Reference their opt-in preferences and communication consents.

Avoid going overboard however. With list sizes in the thousands or more, extensive personalization in blasts is impractical. Use a hybrid model – some generic bulk content peppered with light personal touches through dynamic fields. Testing is key to find the right balance.

Tools like Mystrika allow extensive email personalization options.

Write Effective Subject Lines and Preheaders

Your email blast must grab attention fast considering inboxes are crowded. That makes compelling subject lines critical.

Some tips for crafting high-converting subject lines:

• Speak to their needs using language tailored to each list segment.
• Use urgency and scarcity for time-bound offers with “24 hours left!”
• Ask questions to spike curiosity, like “Are you missing out on this?”
• Highlight exclusivity with “VIP Members Only” or “Existing Customers Get…”
• Include numbers and stats like “50% off” or “7 Ways to…”
• Leverage power words like “New,” “Introducing,” “Free,” etc.
• Test, test, test! A/B test multiple subject line options and see which variant has the highest open rate.

Keep length tight at under 50 characters so the full subject is visible on mobile. Personalization also boosts open rates when used properly.

Preheader text is equally important. This snippet of copy displays under the subject line in most email clients. Use the preheader to further indicate value or urgency.

Try services like CoSchedule Headline Analyzer to A/B test and optimize subject lines.

Track Open and Click-Through Rates

You can’t improve what you can’t measure. So be sure to track email metrics for each blast.

Open rate shows your subject line’s effectiveness and lists’ engagement. Benchmark for blasts is 15-25%.

Click-through rate reveals your content’s ability to drive action.Aim for 2-5%.

Other key metrics include:

• Bounce rate: Inbox reach failures. Alerts for potential issues.
• Unsubscribe rate: List fatigue or poor content. Find the right sending cadence.
• Spam rate: Impacts sender reputation. Identify triggers and improve relevancy.
• List growth: Health of your acquisition channels. Test new opt-in tactics.
• Sales/conversions: The true ROI. Tweak content to push more recipients to act.

Leverage your email service provider’s analytics dashboard to monitor metrics. Many also integrate with Google Analytics for deeper insights.

Use the data to identify high-performing segments, subject lines, content types, send times, and more. Then double down on what works!

Test Different Email Blast Variants

Speaking of what works, put those email analytics to use through A/B split testing different blast variants against each other.

Some elements you can A/B test include:

• Subject lines: Test subject line phrasing, length, urgency, questions, etc.
• Content: Compare different copy, headers, images, calls-to-action.
• Layout: Experiment with arrangement of design elements on the page.
• Audience: Target different segments and buyer groups.
• Timing: Try sending at different days of the week and times.
• Frequency: Test sending more or less often.
• Offers: Pitch different deals, discounts, and promotions.

Tools like Mystrika make it easy to set up an A/B split test campaign and track performance between variants.

A/B testing takes guesswork out of optimization and builds your email marketing intelligence over time.

Avoid Triggers for Spam Classification

Finally, be vigilant about avoiding common email factors that might get your blasts flagged as spam:

• Spam words: Avoid keyword stuffing and excessive repetition. Use natural language.
• Misleading content: Subject lines should honestly reflect email content. No clickbait.
• Overuse of images: Text-image ratio should ideally be around 80% text for deliverability.
• Buying email lists: Never buy or rent lists. Stick to double opt-in subscribers.
• Irregular sending: Don’t send erratically. Space your blasts appropriately.
• Lack of unsubscribe options: Always include a clear “Unsubscribe” link in blasts.
• Lack of physical address: Include your business name, address, and contact info.

Providing value, optimizing deliverability, and maintaining sender reputation is critical to email success. Review factors that could potentially jeopardize your standing and avoid them.

This covers the key best practices for sending effective email blasts and maintaining your integrity as an email sender.

Now let’s look at some examples of well-executed blasts to draw inspiration for your own campaigns.

Email Blast Examples and Templates

Now that we’ve covered best practices, let’s look at some real-world examples of effective email blasts.

Analyzing what works well in these blasts can help inspire your own efforts. We’ll also provide tips for customizing email templates to your needs.

Flash Sale Email Blast Examples

Flash sales promotions are one of the most common email blast use cases.

Here are some examples and takeaways:

Allbirds

This flash sale blast from Allbirds highlights their limited-time “Cyber Monday Early Access” event.

What works:

• Prominent placement of discount (25% off) and sale date
• Bold red “Shop Now” button contrasts well and stands out
• Clean design with lots of white space
• Hero image showcases the popular Wool Runner shoe model

Takeaway: Lead with the key details like percentage off and timing. Make the CTA obvious.

Bonobos

Bonobos uses urgency and scarcity in this blast promoting their Cyber Monday sale.

What works:

• Highlights the exclusivity of email subscribers getting early access
• Emphasizes “today only” timing with the hero graphic
• Makes the CTA button red to contrast with palette

Takeaway: Remind subscribers they’re getting exclusive early access others won’t.

Everlane

This Black Friday email blast from Everlane checks all the boxes.

What works:

• Announces sale details prominently at the top
• Uses color contrast from palette to make CTA stand out
• Displays discounted products visually
• Adds social proof with “over 300,000 orders” message

Takeaway: Visually showcase some of the top deals and savings inside the email body itself.

New Product Launch Email Blasts

Launching a new product, service, or offer? Email blasts can spread the word instantly.

Bombas

Bombas does an excellent job teasing their limited-edition “Holiday Tartan” sock line before launch.

What works:

• Creative plaid image reinforces the upcoming sock theme/design
• Scarcity built with “limited pairs available” message
• Clear CTA button to shop the collection
• Follow-up link to learn more anchored with details

Takeaway: Use creative images and copy to generate intrigue pre-launch.

Olipop

This new product announcement email lets Olipop’s subscribers know about their latest flavor launch.

What works:

• Their colorful branding shines through
• Educational copy communicates what makes the product special
• Image gives a hands-on perspective
• CTA to try the new flavor is clear and contrasts well

Takeaway: Educate subscribers on your new product and make purchasing frictionless.

Email Newsletter Templates and Examples

Let’s explore some exemplary approaches to email newsletter blasts.

Baremetrics

This monthly newsletter provides valuable content for Baremetric’s target audience – data-driven founders and marketers.

What works:

• Provides genuinely useful, non-promotional insights
• Content sections break up blocks of text
• Clear headings help readers skim and jump around

Takeaway: Lead with highly relevant content for your niche. Enable skimming.

Birchbox

Birchbox sends an engaging monthly product newsletter to their predominantly female demographic.

What works:

• Subject line uses casual language in their brand voice
• Highlights new, seasonally relevant products
• Features relatable lifestyle photos to connect with readers
• Sections focus on different shopping areas like makeup, skincare, haircare etc.

Takeaway: Speak directly to your target audience through voice, imagery and content relevance.

Thrive Market

Thrive Market sends regular newsletters educating their health-conscious audience.

What works:

• Subject line sums up core benefit of saving money
• Lots of tips articles focused on natural living
• Recipes drive engagement by solving their cooking needs
• Reviews advise on high-quality products worth buying

Takeaway: Align content closely with your audience’s interests and needs.

Away

This fun, engaging newsletter from Away highlights their latest product collaborations.

What works:

• Upbeat, casual branding and conversational voice
• Topical themes like Pride and Earth Day resonate with their demographic
• Shoppable product visuals and CTAs enable easy conversions

Takeaway: Connect with customers through cultural moments and needs they care about.

Customizing Email Blast Templates

Most email service providers offer professionally designed templates you can customize for your blasts.

Here are some tips for tailoring premade templates:

Pick a design that fits brand.

Browse template selections and choose an option whose layout, color palette, and styling closely match your existing visual identity.

Swap and edit copy.

Replace the “Lorem ipsum” placeholder text with your own headers, paragraphs, and calls-to-action.

Add your branding.

Insert your logo, colors, and fonts to maintain brand consistency.

Include relevant imagery.

Replace generic photos with pictures of your own products, office, or other branded visuals.

Practice custom CSS/HTML.

Many ESPs allow editing the raw code for greater customization freedom. Useful if you have web development chops.

Preview on multiple devices.

Verify your template looks polished on both desktop and mobile screens before sending.

Send test emails.

Shoot test blasts to colleague inboxes or dummy accounts and ask for subjective feedback.

Lean on designer help.

If needed, your marketing team or an agency can help craft custom-coded templates from scratch.

Pro tip: Create a few modular templates upfront for consistent, on-brand blasts every time. Swap in new content as needed.

Let these examples provide inspiration for your next email blast campaign. Study what engages you as a consumer, and emulate that creative, copy, and formats that resonate in your emails.

Now let’s get into some legal considerations when deploying email blasts.

Email Blast Laws and Regulations

When executing email blasts, it’s important to know the laws and comply with regulations. Violations can mean fines, blocked messages, or even lawsuits.

Understand requirements, get proper consents, and avoid spam-like behavior. We’ll explore key US and EU regulations surrounding email blasts below.

CAN-SPAM Act Compliance

The CAN-SPAM Act is a United States federal law passed in 2003 to fight unsolicited commercial email (spam). It covers requirements like:

• Opt-out compliance: Emails must include a functioning unsubscribe option. Opt-outs must be honored within 10 days. Pre-checked boxes to join a list are prohibited.
• Return email addresses: The sender’s email address must be valid and able to receive messages.
• Subject line accuracy: Can’t mislead recipients on the email’s origin or contents. No deceptive subject lines.
• Header information: You must include your physical mailing address in email content.
• Identification: Emails should contain information about who sent the message.
• Honoring opt-outs: Cannot send further emails to recipients who unsubscribed.
• Opt-in consent: You can only email users who gave their express consent to receive communications. Buying or renting lists violates CAN-SPAM.

Fines of $42,000 can be levied per violation, so compliance is essential. Some key takeaways:

• Never email purchased lists. Stick to double opt-in collection.
• Avoid misleading, vague, or deceptive subject lines.
• Include sender info, postal address, and an unsubscribe link.
• Honor opt-outs immediately and maintain suppression lists.
• Segment contacts who consented to specific communication types only.

Stay up to date on CAN-SPAM as amendments do occur. Signing up consumers legally and transparently is the best practice.

GDPR Requirements for Email Blasts

For email marketers in Europe, the EU’s GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) privacy law also applies. Relevant requirements include:

• Lawful basis for processing data: You must have an appropriate reason defined in GDPR to email subscribers, such as consent.
• Active opt-in consent: Subscribers must affirmatively opt-in to receive your emails. Pre-checked opt-in boxes are prohibited.
• Re-permissioning: If you lack consent under GDPR standards, you must re-secure it from your lists again.
• Right to be forgotten: Users can request their data be deleted. You must comply and remove them from your lists.
• Data protection: Subscriber data must be handled securely and in compliance with GDPR protections.
• Data processing disclosures: You must disclose to subscribers how their data is collected, used, secured, etc.
• Limited data collection: Only collect the minimum subscriber data necessary to deliver emails or other stated purposes.
• Child restrictions: Cannot email children under 16 without parental consent.

GDPR sets a high bar for email marketing conduct, including blasts. Follow strict opt-in, consent, and disclosure procedures or risk fines up to €20 million Euros.

Regularly review changes in privacy laws impacting email. Records of consent must be maintained too.

Following Anti-Spam and Privacy Regulations

Compliance goes beyond one-time fixes. Regular audits and updates are needed as regulations frequently change.

Some best practices for maintaining compliance:

• Perform periodic legal reviews to catch any gaps or new rules. Enlist legal counsel if needed.
• Document your data collection, email practices, consent flows, and compliance procedures thoroughly.
• Make unsubscribe, data requests, and contact info very accessible in emails and on your website.
• Add consent expiry dates to re-permission subscribers as needed per regulations.
• Include compliance specifics in your email marketing strategy like required data disclosures.
• Systematize data deletion when subscribers revoke consent or request to be forgotten.
• Stay current on email deliverability best practices and maintain sender reputation.
• Segment subscribers appropriately based on the consent type they provided.
• Train staff regularly on email marketing compliance practices.

Proactively addressing evolving regulations ensures your email program follows ethical and legal standards. It also helps build subscriber trust and engagement.

Review your approach to ensure you’re covering all the bases when it comes to sending email blasts legally and ethically.

Now that we’ve covered key regulations, let’s shift gears and explore some alternatives to traditional email blasting.

Alternatives to Email Blasts

Email blasting is a decades-old tactic, but not necessarily the most modern or effective approach today.

Let’s discuss some higher-performing alternatives to untargeted blast emails you may want to test instead.

Segmented Email Campaigns

Rather than generically emailing your whole list, try segmented email campaigns focused on subsets.

For example, an ecommerce retailer could send:

• Abandoned cart recovery emails to users who recently left items unpurchased.
• Browse abandonment emails to window shoppers who exited early.
• Re-engagement emails to lapsed customers with no purchases in X days.
• Loyalty emails with special offers to big spenders.
• Winback emails to unsubscribers to regain their business.

Tools like Mystrika make segmentation easy. Benefits include:

• Better open rates: Segmented emails have 65% higher open rates on average.
• Higher conversions: Segmented messages convert 30-50% better.
• More relevance: Subscribers receive emails tailored to their needs and interests.
• Less unsubscribes: Fewer recipients feel spammed getting hyper-relevant content.

Take time to analyze your subscribers and develop targeted segments that map to products and lifecycle stages. Then craft content that speaks to each group.

Triggered Emails

Beyond one-off blasts, automate emails to deploy based on user behaviors and events.

Examples include:

• Browse abandonment: Send to users who leave your site without buying.
• Post-purchase: Thank customers for a purchase or offer quick support.
• Anniversary: Mark yearly subscriber anniversaries with an offer.
• Inactive subscriber: Re-engage dormant email contacts if they’ve been inactive for X days.
• Referral: Reward customers who refer their friends.
• Cart abandonment: Remind users who left items in their cart and nudge them to purchase.
• Welcome emails: Greet new subscribers to introduce your brand.

Tools like Klaviyo shine for workflow-based triggered email campaigns that deploy automatically based on events, timers, and subscriber actions.

Benefits of triggered emails include:

• Right message at the right time based on user activity
• No manual blasting needed – just set rules and let them flow
• Subscribers feel “known” receiving hyper- timely, relevant messages

Map common subscriber journeys and deploy the perfect message for each scenario automatically.

SMS and Push Notification Alternatives

Beyond email, also consider leveraging channels like mobile push notifications and SMS marketing.

These are better fits for:

• Time-sensitive alerts: Last-minute sales, events, or updates
• Location-based targeting: Promos for nearby subscribers
• Simple CTAs: Clicking a push notification to browse products
• Appointment reminders: Requesting confirmation of upcoming reservations or meetings
• Offsite re-engagement: Drawing users back to your app from other sites
• Post-purchase updates: Shipment tracking notices and order updates
• Support issues: Prompting users struggling with tech problems to get help

OneSignal and UpSlyde offer robust options for multi-channel messaging beyond email alone.

Evaluate where other channels may complement email in your overall marketing mix. Just remember subscriber consent requirements apply across all formats. Never spam!

Rather than defaulting to traditional email blasts, consider more tailored and automated approaches. Segmentation, triggers, and channel mixing often outperform generic blasts.

Test these strategies yourself and track the metrics to identify what resonates best with your audience.

Now let’s wrap up with some frequently asked questions about best practices for email blasts and campaigns.

Email Blast FAQs

Let’s wrap up with answers to some frequently asked questions about email blasts.

What is the difference between an email blast and campaign?

The main differences between blasts and campaigns:

• Email blasts are one-off broadcast messages sent to a broad audience simultaneously. They lack segmentation and personalization.
• Email campaigns are a series of focused, strategic emails sent over time to specific segments. They are more personalized and tailored to subgroups.

Other differences:

• Blasts are stand-alone while campaigns are connected and nurture subscribers.
• Blasts are sent immediately while campaigns are scheduled and automated.
• Blasts have a single purpose vs. campaigns driving towards a larger goal.
• Blast copy is generic while campaign messages are personalized.
• Blast metrics are short term while campaigns track longer-term results.

In summary, blasts are generic mass messages while campaigns are strategic and targeted content flows.

How often should you send email blasts?

When it comes to blast frequency, monthly is the bare minimum to stay connected. Weekly is common, but avoid exceeding 1-2 blasts per week maximum.

Factors to consider:

• Email type – Promotional blasts should be less frequent than newsletters.
• Industry norms – Review competitor and niche sender frequencies.
• Subscriber expectations – Survey subscribers on their desired email frequency.
• Open and click rates – Higher engagement supports more frequent blasts.
• Unsubscribe and complaint rates – Lower opt-outs and spam reports allow more blasts.
• Email volume limits – Stay within your email service provider’s monthly quotas.
• Resources – More blast frequency requires more content creation.

Test different frequencies and aim for the sweet spot based on data that maximizes open rates while minimizing opt-outs.

What is considered a good open rate for blasts?

A healthy email blast open rate falls between 15-25% on average.

However, the benchmark varies by industry. For example:

• 20-30%+ for discount/online retail
• 10-20% for B2B technology
• 20-25% for education/non-profits
• 15-20% for travel and hospitality
• 18-23% for agencies and media

Study open rate benchmarks for your particular niche. If you exceed industry averages, you’re performing well. If you fall short, test new blast content.

Segmenting contacts also boosts open rates vs. blasting your entire list. Personalized subject lines help too.

Are email blasts considered spam?

In the past, any bulk email was widely considered spam. However, today’s email blast regulations focus on consent. Under CAN-SPAM and GDPR, you can legally send bulk commercial emails if recipients actively opted-in.

As long as you follow sound email marketing practices like:

• No purchased lists
• Clear opt-in consent
• Easy unsubscribe options
• Accurate subject lines
• Identifying your business

…then blasts sent to subscribers who signed up are not spam. They’re legitimate marketing outreach.

That said, overly salesy language, deception, or neglecting opt-out requests can still get blasts flagged as spam. Tread carefully.

How can I improve my email blast performance?

To maximize the impact of your blasts, focus on:

• Personalized, behavioral-based segments
• Subject line and pre-header optimization (Did you know Mystrika comes with pre-header feature?)
• Winback campaigns for inactive subscribers
• Testing and improving content engagement
• Tracking metrics like open, click, and unsubscribe rates
• Removing hard bounces and inactive contacts
• Finding the optimal send frequency and timing
• Following anti-spam and regulatory compliance best practices
• Using double opt-in form registrations
• Sending consistently on a schedule

What is the best day and time to send email blasts?

The best days to send email blasts are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Avoid weekends as engagement is lower. The optimal time is early morning between 8-10 AM. Afternoon blasts also perform well.

How do I create an email blast?

Start by choosing a professional email marketing platform. Create your list by collecting double opt-in subscribers. Write a compelling subject line and design engaging email content. Segment your list and personalize the blast. Review anti-spam guidelines and schedule your blast. Use analytics to optimize future efforts.

What makes an email blast successful?

A successful email blast has an informative, curiosity-sparking subject line, valuable content, and a strong call-to-action. It is sent to targeted segments at the optimal cadence and timing. The blast should provide utility and avoid aggressive sales pitches or spam triggers. Personalization and branding also boost results.

How do I segment contacts for an email blast?

Analyze your list to determine how to best divide into groups. Possible segmentation criteria includes demographics, past purchases, on-site behavior, interests, recency, and customer lifecycle stage. Marketing automation software makes it easy to create and target segments.

Is it legal to buy an email list for blasting?

No, purchasing or renting email lists to blast messages is illegal under anti-spam laws like CAN-SPAM and GDPR. You must only send emails to addresses that you have explicit double opt-in consent for to stay compliant. Never email purchased lists.

What open rate is good for an email blast?

A healthy email blast open rate is between 15-25% on average. However, review benchmarks for your specific industry. If your open rates exceed comparable senders in your niche, then you are performing well.

How do I make my blasts mobile friendly?

Use a mobile-responsive email template so your blast contents rearrange for the smaller screen. Ensure buttons and links work on touchscreens. Embed images for proper viewing on all devices. Check your blast on multiple screen sizes before sending.

Email blasting well is a balancing act. Personalize more while blasting less overall, aided by testing and data. Measure results and tweak your approach over time.

Key Takeaways on Email Blasts

Email blasting remains a viable marketing technique when executed properly. Here are the key takeaways:

• Email blasts or e-blasts are bulk emails sent to a large mailing list simultaneously, lacking personalization. They spread a message widely and fast.
• Ideal uses for blasts include announcing flash sales, promoting webinars and events, sending newsletters, launching products, and more.
• To maximize results, leverage an email service provider and build your list organically with opt-ins. Segment and personalize blasts.
• Craft engaging subject lines and pre-headers, make unsubscribing easy, and track key metrics like open and click rates.
• Study examples of effective blasts, and leverage pre-made templates to customize for your brand. Follow laws and regulations.
• Alternatives like segmented campaigns, SMS, and triggered emails often outperform generic blasts. Test what resonates best with your subscribers.
• When used strategically in moderation alongside other outreach, email blasts can deliver impressive results and ROI if executed properly.

The keys are respecting your audience, providing value, and maintaining compliance. With smart email blasting as part of an integrated marketing plan, you can drive serious business growth.

Hopefully these tips and best practices give you a blueprint for deploying email blasts that captivate subscribers and get results. Let us know if you have any other questions!