Email still pulls its weight. If you want steady sales without shouting on social, learn how to do email marketing the right way. This guide walks you through the basics, shows you a simple drip flow, gives real email examples, and explains costs so you can plan with confidence.
Table of Contents
What is Email Marketing and Why it Still Works
Email marketing is sending useful, requested messages to people who signed up to hear from you. It works because the inbox is direct. There’s no noisy algorithm in the way. You build trust over time with helpful notes, product updates, and clear offers. Small brands and big teams use it to welcome new users, teach a skill, launch features, and recover sleepy subscribers who forgot they liked you.
Strong email programs share a few traits. They have a clean list, simple segments, a steady cadence, and a clear goal for each message. They speak like a human, not a brochure. They test, learn, and try again.
Step by Step: How to Do Email Marketing
This section is the core. Follow it in order if you’re starting from zero. If you already have a list, jump to the parts you need.
1) Define one audience and one goal
Pick one audience for this guide. Not “everyone.” Maybe “Shopify store owners” or “design leads at agencies.” Then set one goal for the first 30 days. For example, “get 150 trial signups,” or “bring back 200 lapsed users.” Decisions get easier when the goal is sharp.
2) Pick a tool you’ll actually use
You don’t need a giant platform to start. Choose an email service that fits your list size and brain space. Look for three things you’ll use often: tags or segments, basic automation, and simple reports. If you’re comparing options, write down the first task you’ll do on day one. If the setup feels heavy, pick a lighter tool.
3) Create your list and set up tags
Make one list for your brand. Use tags or segments for groups like “new signups,” “customers,” “trial users,” and “churn risk.” Import any existing contacts with consent. Do not buy lists. Add a short welcome email for anyone who joins so they get a warm hello right away.
4) Make an easy opt-in that feels like a win
People join lists when they see instant value. Offer one thing that solves a real problem today. A short checklist. A sample template. A fast calculator. Keep the form simple. First name and email is enough for a start. Place it in three spots that get traffic: your homepage, a popular blog post, and after a product demo.
5) Plan a drip campaign that guides, not nags
A drip campaign is a set of automated emails that go out over days or weeks. Here’s a clean 5-email welcome flow that works for most SaaS and stores:
- Email 1 (Day 0): Welcome + quick win. Thank them. Share the free resource. One clear CTA.
- Email 2 (Day 2): Teach one core skill or use case. Short steps. One screenshot or GIF.
- Email 3 (Day 4): Social proof. A mini case study or a short customer quote with a result.
- Email 4 (Day 7): Product moment. Show how one feature solves a sticky problem.
- Email 5 (Day 10): Offer. Trial, demo, or limited bundle. Clear benefit. No hard push.
Keep each email focused on one idea. Aim for 100–200 words. Say what to click and why.
6) Write like a person
People skim. Help them. Use short subject lines, tight paragraphs, and simple words. Talk to one reader. Swap “utilize” for “use.” Swap “leverage” for “use.” Cut filler. If a sentence sounds like a commercial, edit it until it sounds like you.
7) Send at a steady pace
Pick a rhythm you can keep. Weekly is often enough. Twice a month is fine if your content is strong. Put it on a calendar. Map one topic per send so you don’t cram five ideas into one email.
8) Track the few numbers that matter
Look at open rate, click rate, reply rate, and unsubscribes. If something spikes or dips, learn from it. A high open rate with low clicks means your subject lines are strong but your CTAs are weak. Many unsubscribes after a sales email means the offer wasn’t clear or the timing was off.
9) Keep your list healthy
Run a re-engagement email for people who haven’t opened in 90 days. Say you’ll pause messages unless they click to stay. It keeps your sender reputation clean and your costs under control.
10) Use competitor insight to guide tests
If your space is crowded, watch what others send and how they time it. Track their subject lines, sequences, seasonal pushes, and discount patterns. Use those patterns to pick better tests for your next campaign. If you already use SupaFast, set a weekly check on competitor email cadences and promos so you aren’t guessing.
Step by Step Examples that Use How to Do Email Marketing
Below are three short templates you can paste into your tool and adapt. They’re clean on purpose. Edit the voice to match your brand.
Example 1: Welcome + quick win
Subject: Your setup guide is inside
Preview: Two steps. Five minutes.
Body:
Hey [Name],
Welcome. Here’s the setup guide you asked for. It shows the two steps that get you live in five minutes.
When you’re ready, click “Start” and I’ll walk you through it.
CTA: Start the setup
Example 2: Teach one core skill
Subject: A simple way to fix drop-offs
Preview: One change that lifts conversions.
Body:
Quick tip. Add this “nudge” before the final step. Most users who stall here get moving again.
I added a screenshot so you can copy it.
CTA: See the nudge
Example 3: Offer with soft close
Subject: 14-day free trial. No card required
Preview: Test the new dashboard today.
Body:
You asked for more control. The new dashboard is live. Try it free for 14 days.
If it doesn’t help, no stress. You can leave with one click.
CTA: Start free trial
These examples follow best practices for how to do email marketing in a way that’s simple, honest, and low-friction.
How Much Does Email Marketing Cost in 2025
Costs depend on your tool and list size. Here’s a plain view so you can budget.
- Starter plans: Often free for very small lists. Good for testing ideas and sending basic campaigns.
- Growing lists: Expect roughly $15–$50 per month when you pass a few hundred or a couple thousand contacts.
- Established lists: Costs rise with volume. Over 10,000 contacts can move you into $100+ per month.
- Extras you might add: A simple design tool, a deliverability add-on, or a competitor insights tool like SupaFast if you want to spot patterns before your next send.
Two notes that save money. First, keep your list clean so you aren’t paying for ghosts. Second, check if pricing is based on subscribers or total sends. If you email daily, a per-send plan can climb fast.
A Simple Email Marketing Drip Campaign You Can Copy
To make “how to do email marketing” even easier, here’s a 10-day layout you can import:
- Day 0: Welcome + resource
- Day 1: Setup tip with one screenshot
- Day 3: Use case A with tiny success story
- Day 5: Objection block. Answer one common worry
- Day 7: Offer A. Trial or demo
- Day 10: Offer B for people who clicked but didn’t convert
Add tags based on clicks so you can send smarter follow-ups later. For example, if someone clicked the demo link but didn’t book, send a short “Need help choosing?” email with two quick options.
How Email Marketing Fuels Your Overall Inbound Strategy
Many searchers use this exact idea, so let’s state it clearly. How can email marketing fuel your overall inbound strategy? Here’s the simple path.
- New readers find a helpful blog post, or a lead magnet.
- They join your list for a quick win.
- Your welcome flow teaches, helps, and earns trust.
- Your regular sends connect your content to product value.
- When the time is right, an offer lands clean and converts.
That loop turns traffic into relationships and relationships into revenue. It also powers your content calendar. Questions that show up in your replies become your next three blog posts. Wins from those posts give you new email lessons to share.
For deeper testing ideas, check competitor emails. Patterns you spot there cut guesswork and make each send a little smarter.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to do email marketing isn’t about knowing every tactic at once. It’s about starting small and building habits.
Write one clear email. Send it to a group that wants to hear from you. Watch what happens. Then improve the next one.
Keep your tone human, your timing steady, and your value obvious. The inbox is one of the few spaces where people still pause long enough to read. Treat that attention with care.
Over time, your emails will stop feeling like promotions and start feeling like conversations.
That’s when you’ll know your email marketing is working.
FAQs
What is marketing email?
A marketing email is a message sent to people who opted in. It can be educational, promotional, or a mix, but it should be useful and expected.
How often should I email?
Weekly works for many brands. If your content is strong and short, twice a week can work. Pick a schedule you can keep.
What’s a good open rate?
Benchmarks vary by industry. Many brands aim for 25–40% opens and 2–5% clicks. Focus on steady improvement over time.
How do I write subject lines?
Use clear language and one idea. Promise a result or reveal a benefit. Test two versions on every send and keep the winner.
