Email is one of the most effective marketing channels. It has high conversion rates, and it’s great at selling products and generating leads. You can do a lot with email campaigns but how should you do it? What are some examples of successful email campaigns?
This is exactly what we’ll answer in this post. We’ve collected 14 great real-life examples of different email types from all kinds of companies: small businesses, nonprofits, big brands, and more.
We’ve also included specific examples for B2B and B2C use cases so that you can find inspiration for your brand!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Gain inspiration from successful email campaigns. |
| 2. Learn effective strategies for email engagement. |
| 3. Understand how to create compelling subject lines. |
| 4. Explore different types of email marketing tactics. |
| 5. Analyze real-life examples of successful campaigns. |
| 6. Discover creative ways to personalize email content. |
| 7. Implement A/B testing for campaign optimization. |
| 8. Pay attention to design and visual elements. |
| 9. Use storytelling techniques to engage recipients. |
| 10. Focus on building strong call-to-action messages. |
| 11. Tailor campaigns to specific audience segments. |
| 12. Avoid common mistakes by learning from successes. |
| 13. Incorporate user-generated content for authenticity. |
| 14. Optimize campaigns for mobile responsiveness. |
1. Papa John’s
Papa John’s has been delivering pizzas for decades, but they’re also masters at email marketing.
One example of their excellent emails is a video ad promoting their pizza-ordering app. The video was an ad that played automatically when you opened the email, so it was impossible to miss and could be seen even if you didn’t click through.
It showed three people using the app and getting disappointed responses from Papa John’s employees who had trouble understanding them (the customers were speaking with accents). The punchline was: “That’s just like ordering Papa John’s.”
This campaign was successful because it used humor to make its point. Plus, it gave users a reason to try out the new pizza ordering system by offering something free a $5 gift card to anyone who tried it for 30 days after signing up for the app (and then left feedback).
This helped get more users on board with trying out the service, which increased sales over time as more people learned about how much better ordering online can be than calling in an order over the phone or waiting in line at our restaurants!
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2. Starbucks
The Starbucks Rewards program is a good example of an email campaign for two reasons: it’s well-designed, and it’s surprisingly useful. With this program, you earn points every time you get a drink or food from one of their stores.
For every 12 drinks or foods you buy (or roughly every 3 months), you can get a free reward.
The rewards include free food and drink items like pastries, lattes, and frappuccinos as well as in-store promotions such as birthday offers or coupons for discounted coffee refills and merchandise discounts.
This email campaign not only keeps customers engaged with the brand but also encourages them to return more often so they can redeem their rewards sooner!
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3. JetBlue
JetBlue is another great example of an email campaign with a clear value proposition.
The airline’s email uses its “All You Can Jet” promotion to highlight its benefits and drive engagement with the user. The subject line is simple: “Jet Blue All You Can Jet.” Simple, direct, and eye-catching it’s clear what they’re trying to say here.
The body copy continues in that vein: it uses bolded words like “unlimited” and “everywhere,” making it easy for the reader to understand what they’re getting if they sign up for this deal (which turns out to be pretty good).
It also includes a button at the end of each section that makes it easy for users who don’t want all of their flights covered by this offer but still want some sort of discount on their next trip:
Just click on one button and you’ll be transferred over into another page where you can choose which flight tickets are eligible for discounts.
4. Airbnb
This is a great example of how to use a customer’s name in the subject line, with the word “you” being used as opposed to their first name.
In this case, it works because you can see that they’re using your booking information and want to get you into their property as soon as possible, which is an effective way of showing urgency.
Birchbox
The email below is an example of how to make effective use of a hero image in this case, they’ve taken images of different products and placed them in an area where they are the focus (the center) while also having other interesting details around them (like product details).
This creates a contrast between these two elements which draws attention to each item on sale. It also helps guide the user through the page by pointing out key features like price and availability for each product (e.g., limited stock).
5. Uber
Let’s not beat around the bush. Uber is a ride-sharing service that allows users to request rides from drivers with their smartphones or computers. It was launched in 2009, and after some initial bumps in the road, it has become one of the most popular ride-sharing services on Earth.
One reason why Uber is so popular is that it’s known for having some of the best email campaigns around.
These emails are designed to make users feel like they are getting a special deal, whether it’s a discount or a free ride. They often feature enticing offers that include discounts and free rides as well as attractive images and colors to grab users’ attention
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6. CVS
- Use of video.
- Use of images.
- Humor is used well in this email campaign, which is a great way to capture your reader’s attention and make them want to continue reading the rest of your email.
- Social proof: You can see multiple customer testimonials from people who have used the service previously or are currently using it.
This helps build trust with your potential customer base as well as reassure them that they will get what they paid for if they decide to purchase from you too!
- Urgency: You only have two days left! If you’re interested in signing up, do it now before the offer ends!
Also, notice how the last sentence talks about how there are many more deals coming up next week — this creates even more urgency because there might be another great deal just around (the corner) — but we won’t tell you what it is yet 🙂
7. Best Buy
Best Buy is a great example of an email campaign with a clear and compelling call to action. The subject line “Our Biggest Sale Ever” has all the makings of a compelling reason to open this email.
Also, by including the word “ever” in the subject line, it makes you feel lucky that you got this notification about such an amazing sale!
The body copy does not disappoint either:
“Ending tonight at midnight…” As humans we are always looking for something new and exciting; especially if it involves saving money or getting something for free! This is why we love to hear about sales and discounts in our inboxes.
“Save up to 50% on select Fitbit Alta bands” There are many different brands available when buying fitness products such as Fitbits & Apple Watches.
So giving specific details on what exactly they offer helps differentiate themselves from other retailers who also sell these products with little differentiation between them (i.e., same price/same features).
8. Marriot Rewards
This email campaign is a great example of an offer-centric email. The subject line is short and to the point, making it easy for recipients to scan their inboxes.
The offer is clear and simple a free night’s stay at any Marriot hotel or resort worldwide when you book by July 31st, 2018. It even includes an enticing discount code that makes it easy for people to book their vacation through Marriott.
The only thing missing from this direct response email would be a strong call-to-action button encouraging people to take advantage of this amazing deal today!
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9. The New York Times
The New York Times is a good example of a large media company that makes use of all the different types of marketing channels to reach and engage its audience.
They have an email newsletter, which includes tips on how to manage your finances better. The articles are written in a friendly tone and feel like they were written by someone you know (which, if you’ve subscribed to their emails, they probably are).
They also feature compelling images and short videos that add value while still allowing readers to simply scroll through the content quickly if they want to get straight down to business with no fluff.
10. Warby Parker
Warby Parker is a company that sells glasses online. They have a great email marketing campaign and are the perfect example of how to do email marketing right.
Their subject line has the word “free” in it, which catches your eye and makes you want to open the email. It also provides some information about what they’re offering (a free pair of glasses).
The call-to-action on this email tells you exactly what action they want you to take: order free glasses!
The CTA button color is red and stands out on top of their website’s blue background, so it’s easy for people who aren’t familiar with Warby Parker’s brand colors to spot it immediately when they open this email.
11. Minted
Minted is an online website that sells wedding invitations and other party favors. It has a monthly newsletter, a blog, and social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter.
Minted’s email campaigns are consistent in their look and feel. The design of the emails includes images of wedding invitations or stationery items (e.g., notebooks), depending upon the campaign theme;
This helps to make each message feel like it’s part of an ongoing series rather than simply another generic marketing email blast.
12. Birchbox
Birchbox is a monthly subscription service that sends you five deluxe beauty samples. This is a great example of an email campaign because it keeps customers on the edge of their seats while making them feel special and personalizing the experience.
With Birchbox, you get to pick your sample preferences ahead of time so they’re able to use this information when sending out promotional emails. What’s more, each month there are new limited-edition boxes available for purchase.
A great way for them to add value (and encourage people to share photos) is by showing off some amazing products.
13. Conde Nast Traveler
This email campaign from Conde Nast Traveler is a great example of how to use calls-to-action effectively in your emails.
The email has an eye-catching subject line, “The Best Cities in the World” and includes a link to all of their top cities. There is also a link for each city that goes directly to their landing page for that city.
The blog post was published on February 20th, 2019, and has been viewed more than 200,000 times so far (as of May 15th).
You can see this by looking at the date below each link in your browser or by looking at the number of views on social media posts such as Twitter: https://twitter.com/CNTraveler/status/1102857160469804416
This shows us that people are interested in reading about travel destinations! In addition, there is another call-to-action button above all these links which directs you straight back into their magazine app where you can find other useful information related to traveling abroad.”
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14. West Elm
West Elm sends out a weekly email newsletter with a roundup of its newest products and sales. They also send out a monthly email newsletter that includes the same information, but with more details on each item and links to purchase it online.
West Elm’s quarterly email newsletter is less frequent than the others, but it still has all of the same content as its weekly and monthly newsletters. It also comes with an invitation to their annual sale in July that runs through August.
West Elm’s yearly email newsletter features even more exclusive offers from West Elm than their other newsletters do.
This one gives you access to 15% off your entire order if you spend over $500! And if you don’t have time for emails every week or month (let alone three times per year), then don’t worry there’s also an option for bi-annual emails!
Conclusion
We hope these examples have helped you see how companies are using email marketing to their advantage. You can also use the tips in this article to make your emails more engaging and effective.
And, if you want to learn more about email marketing, take a look at our recent blog post on the subject. We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite resources including articles from around the web as well as tools that will help you get started if you’re new to email marketing.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to explore for further insights into email marketing campaigns:
Win-Back Campaign Examples: Discover effective strategies for re-engaging customers with compelling win-back email campaigns.
Email Marketing Examples: Explore a variety of real-life email marketing examples that showcase diverse approaches to engaging subscribers.
Email Marketing Campaign Examples: HubSpot provides a comprehensive list of email marketing campaigns that have achieved success, offering inspiration for your own campaigns.
FAQs
What are the key components of a successful win-back email campaign?
A successful win-back email campaign typically includes a strong subject line, personalized content, a clear call to action, and an incentive that encourages the recipient to take action.
How can I make my email marketing campaigns more engaging?
To make your email marketing campaigns more engaging, focus on segmenting your audience, crafting compelling subject lines, using visuals effectively, and delivering relevant content that resonates with your subscribers’ needs.
What types of email marketing examples can I find in the provided resources?
The resources mentioned provide a variety of email marketing examples, including win-back campaigns, promotional emails, newsletters, abandoned cart emails, and more.
What are some common mistakes to avoid in email marketing?
Common email marketing mistakes to avoid include sending too many emails, neglecting mobile optimization, using generic subject lines, and not segmenting your audience based on their preferences and behaviors.
How can I measure the success of my email marketing campaigns?
To measure the success of your email marketing campaigns, track metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, and engagement levels. Use A/B testing to optimize your campaigns for better results.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.