Email Marketing for Ecommerce: 8 Reasons You Can’t Afford to Ignore It
Running an ecommerce business is a bit of a juggling act. You’ve got product development, customer service, operations… you’re constantly spinning plates. Then there’s marketing… social media, paid ads, SEO and email marketing; for ecommerce businesses, this is no small undertaking.
But, here’s the thing… You don’t need to master all marketing channels to really start seeing growth.
Email marketing for ecommerce is the single fastest, most effective channel to grow your online sales – and profitably.
Plus, not only is email the most profitable channel, it’s also the cheapest to get going. Seriously – it’s hard to believe how much cash gets left on the table.
Still not convinced? Well here’s eight reasons why you can’t afford to ingore email marketing as an ecommerce business.
Click below to jump to the section:
- Email Brings in Sales — Fast
- Email is the Best Bang for Your Buck
- Email Generates Sales on Autopilot
- Email Gets More Profitable Over Time
- Email Keeps the Cash Flowing
- Email Has Strong Reach
- Email is Robust & Reliable
- Email Makes Your Customers Feel Like VIPs
Email marketing isn’t just another tool — email should be the main way ecommerce brands communicate with their customers.
Why Email Marketing for Ecommerce Must Be Prioritised
When you’re building an ecommerce brand, you’ve got a handful of sales channels to choose from.
Traditional channels (e.g. retail, wholesale, third-parties) come with high costs, low margins, and you’re not really the one in the driver’s seat. You’re pushed around, and have very little control over sales.
With ecommerce, however, you have high margins, lower costs, and you can build direct and lasting relationships with customers. You’re in control.
But, having an online store is only part of the equation.
To really maximise profits, you need a way to communicate with your customers. A way to keep them engaged and coming back for more.
That’s where email marketing comes into play.
Email makes it possible to speak with your audience whenever you choose. It’s personalised, it’s targeted, and it drives sales – fast.
Best of all — email gets more profitable as you scale. The bigger your list, the bigger the returns.
Bottom line… if you’re serious about growing online sales, email marketing isn’t just a “nice to have”; it’s a “must have”.
Here’s the eight reasons why.
Reason 1: Email Marketing Brings in Sales — Fast
Email marketing for ecommerce is like fuel for generating online sales.
Got a new product to launch? Running a sale? Sending a newsletter? No problem.
You drop an email in their inbox, and boom — they’ve got an express ticket back to your site – one step away from “Add to Cart.”
Compare that to Search Engine Optimisation – which can take MONTHS to have an effect. Don’t get me wrong, SEO is great… in the long run. But it’s a slow grind.
Email, though? It’s instant.
You hit “Send,” and traffic starts rolling in. Having a slow day? A well-timed email can flip the switch and turn things around in just a few hours.
Sure, SEO is important for long-term growth (no argument there). But let’s be real — it’s a slow burn.
Email is a different ballgame.
Your subscribers already know your brand. They’re engaged — they’ve shown interest, maybe even bought from you before. So when your email hits their inbox, they’re way more likely to check it out.
That means more traffic, and more sales.
Reason 2: Email Marketing Gives You the Best Bang for Your Buck
Let’s talk about ROI.
If you’re on the hunt for the highest return on investment, email marketing blows everything else out of the water.
On average, ecom businesses make a whopping $45 for every $1 they spend on email.
Litmus
You read that right — 4,500% return!
How can it be so high?
In short, email marketing is super cheap to run.
Unlike paid ads — where you pay for every click or impression — it’s basically free to send an email (other than your time, of course)
Now, we’re not here to trash paid ads — they’ve got their place. But, let’s be real, ads can drain your marketing budget — fast.
For ecommerce brands, a 300% to 500% return on ad spend would be considered “Good” – ad spend is considered pretty damn good… that’s only one-tenth of the potential return you’d see with email marketing.
The problem with ads is you’ve got to keep paying to stay visible. Once the budget’s gone? So are your customers. No more traffic, no more sales. It’s like turning off a faucet.
But with email?
Sending out a campaign costs you almost nothing. And, as your mailing list grows – so do your sales.
Reason 3: Email Automations — Your Sales Team That Never Sleeps
Email automations are like your own team of salespeople, working 24/7. Once you set them up, they’re always running, helping your customers exactly when they need it.
Whether it’s a gentle nudge to complete a purchase or a warm welcome to new subscribers, automations do the heavy lifting for you and keep your customers engaged without you having to lift a finger.
And the best part? Once they’re set up, they require almost no effort from you but keep delivering results day after day.
They can also generate more sales than standard campaigns.
Automated emails pull in 30 times more revenue per recipient than your typical email campaigns.
Klaviyo
Seriously, if you haven’t set up automations yet, you’re letting a ton of money slip through your fingers.
Reason 4: Email Marketing Becomes More Profitable as You Scale
Here’s where things really get interesting.
As your business grows, email marketing get’s more and more profitable.
Think about it…
It costs the same to create one email, whether you’re sending it to 1,000 people or 100,000.
Compare that to paid ads – you’re almost guaranteed to see costs rise as you scale. Even if you buck the trend for a little while, it’s a constant uphill battle – every click, every impression will eventually cost you more. It’s like running on a treadmill that keeps speeding up.
But email is a totally different story.
You don’t have to be a genius to see bigger returns. All you need is to build your list. As your audience grows, so does your revenue.
More subscribers = more eyeballs = more sales = more profit.
Reason 5: Email Marketing Keeps the Cash Flowing
The beauty of email marketing is it’s not a one-time sales trick — it’s a consistent, reliable way to keep your customers engaged and coming back for more.
Every email you send — whether it’s a fun newsletter, a product launch or a seasonal campaign — keeps your brand front and centre.
It’s a friendly little tap on the shoulder, reminding your customers that you’re there if they need you.
Even if they don’t buy right away, just showing up in their inbox builds familiarity.
The more they see you, the more they trust you. And guess what?
People buy from brands they trust.
Reason 6: Email Marketing Has a Better Reach Than Social Media
Sure, social media is everywhere.
But when it comes to engaging your customers, email marketing leaves socials in the dust. Here’s the proof:
According to Klaviyo, the average campaign open rate in 2024 is almost 40%.
Whereas, the average post is only seen by 4% of your Instagram followers, and Facebook? A measly 2.6% (socialinsider.io)
In other words, your email is about 10 times more likely to be seen than your latest social post.
Why? Algorithms.
Reason 7: Email Marketing is Robust & Reliable
While we’re on the topic of algorithms.
Since we’re talking about algorithms… let’s talk SEO and Ads.
One minute, you’re ranking on page one of Google and your ads are raking in the clicks.
Then boom — your traffic tanks, sales drop off a cliff, and you’re left scratching your head, wondering what just happened?
Google loves to shake things up with algorithm tweaks, and even the tiniest tweak can send your hard-earned traffic into a nosedive.
The example below, where traffic dropped 90% in a single day, isn’t uncommon.
And it’s not just Google.
Facebook, Instagram — they’re all guilty.
One little change, and suddenly, your conversions are in the gutter.
In fact, Meta’s algorithm updates in early 2024 were so bad it made the news.
Enter Email Marketing: The Steady Hero
Email marketing for ecommerce is the trusty sidekick who’s always there when needed.
With email, you don’t have to deal with algorithm drama.
You own your email list, and no third-party platform gets to mess with it. No sudden updates, no mystery rules, no wild cost hikes. You’re in full control, all the time.
It’s reliable, it’s steady, and it lets you reach your customers on your terms.
Reason 8: Email Personalisation Makes Your Customers Feel Like VIPs
Everyone loves to feel special.
With email marketing, you’ve got the perfect tool to make your customers feel like they’re being looked after.
These days, personalisation isn’t just a “nice-to-have” anymore. It’s a must.
When you segment your audience and craft emails that speak directly to their preferences, you’re not just sending another boring promo. You’re delivering a personalised experience that makes your customers feel seen.
And when people feel seen, they pay attention. They engage. They buy.
Don’t just take our word for it — personalised emails have been shown to improve open rates by 26% and drive six times more transactions.
Email Personalisation in Action
It’s all about showing customers you understand them.
For example, If a customer bought hiking boots last month, why not suggest a durable backpack or a water bottle they might need for their next adventure?
Personalised product recommendations based on past behaviour are a powerful way to drive repeat purchases.
Who doesn’t love a birthday treat? Send a “Happy Birthday” email with a special discount, or celebrate their “1-Year Anniversary” as a loyal customer. It’s a simple but effective way to show you care, and customers love it.
Got customers in a rainy city? How about sending them a promo for raincoats just as storm season kicks in?
A well-timed, location-based email shows you’re paying attention to their real-world needs — not just hitting them with a generic message.
Personalised emails improve open rates by 26% and generate 6 times higher transaction rates.
Campaign Monitor and Experian
It’s simple – people are far more likely to open, read, and take action on an email that feels like it’s been created just for them.
The more relevant your message is, the more it stands out in a crowded inbox.
In short? Personalised email marketing is your ticket to creating long-term relationships with your customers.
Why Personalisation = Profits
Don’t get us wrong… new customers are great.
But getting those customers to stick around and keep buying – that’s where the profits are really made.
Email marketing is the perfect tool for keeping your customers coming back.
It isn’t just about making a quick sale – it’s about building a lasting relationship that generates sales for years to come.
Whether you’re offering a helpful tip, a special discount, or just dropping a fun seasonal update, every email strengthens the connection between you and your customer.
The more you connect with your customers, the more they’ll spend. That’s why email marketing for ecommerce isn’t just a good idea — it’s essential for long-term growth.
The Path Forward: Why You Should Prioritise Email Marketing for Ecommerce
With all the reasons we’ve laid out, there’s no denying it — email marketing is a game-changer for ecommerce.
Email isn’t just another task on the to do list — it should be at the core of your marketing.
Need quick sales? Want a rock-solid ROI? Looking to build customer loyalty that lasts for the long haul? Email marketing checks all those boxes.
It’s not just about quick wins — it’s about setting up a system that keeps the orders rolling in.
It’s smart, efficient, and cost-effective. And… the sooner you dive in the faster you’ll see results.
Seriously — what are you waiting for?
To help you kick things off, we’re offering a free strategy session where we’ll review your current email game and show you how to level up — whether that’s growing your list, fine-tuning your personalisation, or boosting your ROI.
Schedule your session today and start unlocking new revenue streams.
Your future self will thank you!
Why Klaviyo is the Best Email Marketing Platform for Ecommerce (Bonus)
If you’re ready to take your ecommerce email marketing to the next level, let us introduce you to your new best friend: Klaviyo.
This platform was built specifically with ecommerce in mind, and it’s got everything you need to make your email game unstoppable. From smart automations that run while you sleep to laser-focused audience segmentation.
If you’re serious about growing your ecommerce business, Klaviyo is hands-down the best email marketing platform for ecommerce.
In our professional opinion, it’s built to help you scale fast, work smarter, and drive serious growth.
