Why Email Newsletters Are Making a Comeback

In 2023, the world is buzzing with excitement over Chat-GPT and AI, TikTok, and Crypto. However, amidst all the hype, one marketing tool that has been around for over 20 years is making a comeback: email newsletters.

Despite being overshadowed by newer trends, email newsletters have consistently proven to be highly effective, with an average ROI of $40 for every $1 spent.

This article will explore the resurgence and importance of email newsletters, why they have become so popular, and whether they are still effective in today’s digital landscape. Additionally, it will introduce the user-friendly newsletter technology, beehiiv, which makes it easier than ever to start an email newsletter and create new income streams.

Key Takeaways

Email newsletters are making a comeback and have consistently proven to be highly effective, with an average ROI of $40 for every $1 spent.
Emerging newsletter technology like beehiiv makes it easier than ever to start an email newsletter, even for beginners.
This article will explore the resurgence and importance of email newsletters, why they have become so popular, and whether they are still effective in today’s digital landscape.

What Is the Resurgence and Importance of Email Newsletters?

Email newsletters have experienced a resurgence in recent years. While they used to be a regular everyday medium for creators and business owners alike, they took the backburner in the mid-2010s when marketers shifted their focus to new shiny objects. However, in the early 2020s, newsletters are resurging in the digital world. Why? While every other channel seems to be in a constant state of flux, email remains smooth and steady.

Tossed To and Fro by Facebook’s Algorithm

Facebook advertising used to be a cream of the crop when it came to generating a nearly guaranteed return on your marketing spend. However, as is the case with many ad tech giants over the years, you have to pay to play. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Facebook made a few changes to its algorithm that put online advertisers into a frenzy of fear and panic. Just like that, it was harder to reach audiences, more expensive to generate revenue, and profit margins started shrinking.

The creators and companies who diversified their marketing efforts and already had a newsletter were not phased by these changes. Rather than putting all their eggs in the Facebook ads basket, the prudent marketers leveraged other channels like their email newsletter to bring in revenue.

Apple’s Privacy Dagger

In April 2021, Apple introduced major changes to its privacy controls. They released an update that drastically limited the tracking capabilities of digital advertisers. To make things even worse for online marketers, iPhone users could now choose to opt out of data sharing.

Effective marketing and content creation is all about gathering data to understand your audience, so you can create relevant messaging. One of the best ways to gather data in a privacy-driven era is to build an email list and begin collecting first-party data.

The Death of Third-Party Cookies

Third-party cookies are going to be history sooner than later as Google is phasing them out in the next few years. The result is that third-party data is becoming less valuable, while first-party data that’s collected on your site and stored in your email platform is becoming more valuable.

With an email newsletter, you’re able to draw people into your sphere of influence to collect your own data that they willingly opt into. The best strategy to combat these privacy changes is to create a newsletter, build your email list, and gather data, so you can best serve your audience with content that’s relevant and valuable to them.

Why Are Email Newsletters So Popular?

Email newsletters are a powerful marketing tool that has been around for a while. In recent years, with the increasing shift towards privacy and the ever-changing landscape of tech behemoths, email newsletters have become even more important. Here are four reasons why email newsletters have become so popular.

1. It Outperforms Social Media in Customer Acquisition.

While social media is a great tool to build and engage an audience, email marketing is more effective in driving customer acquisition. According to an eMarketer survey of 254 retailers, 81% of respondents believe email marketing drives customer acquisition, compared to 51% who reported social media as the main driver. This is because email marketing is highly targeted and stands on the foundation of an opt-in. People have taken a specific action to consent to receive marketing messages, which means they are more likely to be interested in what you have to offer.

2. Email Marketing Has the Best ROI of Any Medium.

Email marketing has the highest return on investment (ROI) of any marketing channel. According to Smart Insights, email marketing offers a return of $40 for every $1 spent. This is a 4000% return on investment, which is significantly higher than Google pay-per-click ads at $17 for every $1 spent and SEO at $22.24 for every $1 spent. The reason why email marketing is so powerful when it comes to driving profit is that it’s highly targeted and personalized.

3. It’s Highly Personal, Relevant, & Customizable.

Email marketing is highly targeted and personalized. With an email platform like Beehiiv, you can create custom journeys and trigger-based automations, allowing you to send the right message at the right time, even if you’re away from your computer on vacation. You can split up your audience into segments based on different sub-categories, which means you can send even more specific and relevant messages to your audience that will outperform more generic ads. This makes email marketing highly effective in driving conversions.

4. You Own the List.

When you build an email list, you own your audience. Unlike social media, search engines, or paid ads, you are not subject to algorithm changes or shifting privacy landscapes. Your email list is yours, and you get to decide when you want to send a message and the type of content you want to write without restriction. This means you can maintain profitability even during seasons of economic uncertainty.

In conclusion, email newsletters are popular because they outperform social media in customer acquisition, have the best ROI of any marketing medium, are highly personalized and customizable, and you own the list. These factors make email newsletters a powerful marketing tool for businesses of all sizes.

Are Email Newsletters Still Effective?

Email newsletters have been around since the early days of the internet, and they remain a popular tool for businesses to connect with their audience. Despite the rise of social media, email marketing has continued to be a reliable and effective way to reach customers.

According to McKinsey, email is 40 times more effective than Twitter and Facebook at acquiring customers. This is likely due to the fact that email marketing allows businesses to target specific segments of their audience with personalized content.

In fact, 89% of marketers leverage email as their primary lead generation channel, as reported by LuisaZhou. This is because email marketing provides a direct line of communication with potential customers, allowing businesses to nurture leads and build relationships.

Retailers in particular have continued to invest heavily in email marketing. Emarsys reports that 73% of retailers admit email is their top budget item, and 20% rank it as their top investment priority. This is likely because email marketing has been shown to be an effective way to keep customers engaged and interested in a business’s products or services.

Econsultancy reports that 73% of email marketers admit email marketing is the best way to keep customers. This is because email allows businesses to provide valuable content and promotions to their audience, keeping them engaged and loyal.

Consumers also prefer email as their main business communication channel, with 72% stating this preference according to Constant Contact. This is likely due to the fact that email is a more formal and professional means of communication compared to social media.

Finally, email marketing has the advantage of being highly accessible. HubSpot reports that 99% of email users check their inboxes every day, with 58% of regular email users checking emails shortly after waking up. This means that businesses can be confident that their audience will see their content in a timely manner.

Overall, the data suggests that email newsletters are still an effective tool for businesses to connect with their audience. Despite the rise of social media, email marketing continues to provide a direct and personalized means of communication with customers.

With Beehiiv, It’s Never Been Easier to Start an Email Newsletter!

Email newsletters are making a comeback in 2023, and for good reason. They offer businesses and content creators a way to build a loyal audience that can be leveraged for years to come. With beehiiv, launching an email newsletter has never been easier.

beehiiv is a user-friendly platform that offers a simple interface for even those who are new to email marketing. The team behind beehiiv has a proven track record of success, having grown the Morning Brew to millions of subscribers.

The platform allows users to create and send newsletters that resonate with their audience. It also provides valuable insights into how the newsletter is doing, including growth statistics and tools to help reach a larger audience.

With beehiiv, users can launch a newsletter for free and start building their audience right away. The platform is designed for growth and is the perfect solution for those looking to launch a viable newsletter business.

In summary, beehiiv is the ideal platform for launching an email newsletter in 2023. It offers a user-friendly interface, valuable insights, and is designed for growth. Get started with beehiiv today and start building your loyal audience!

Frequently Asked Questions

What factors are contributing to the resurgence of email newsletters?

Email newsletters are making a comeback due to several factors. Firstly, email is a direct and personal form of communication that allows businesses to establish a stronger connection with their audience. Secondly, email newsletters are more cost-effective than other forms of marketing, such as print or television ads. Additionally, email newsletters can be easily personalized, which makes them more engaging for the audience.

How does the effectiveness of email newsletters compare to social media marketing?

Email newsletters are more effective than social media marketing in several ways. Firstly, email newsletters have a higher open rate than social media posts. Secondly, email newsletters allow businesses to reach their audience directly, without the need for algorithms or paid promotions. Finally, email newsletters are more likely to result in conversions, as they are sent to a more engaged audience who have already opted-in to receive them.

What are the benefits of using email newsletters for businesses?

Email newsletters offer several benefits for businesses. Firstly, they allow businesses to establish a direct and personal connection with their audience. Secondly, email newsletters are more cost-effective than other forms of marketing. Additionally, email newsletters can be easily personalized, which makes them more engaging for the audience. Finally, email newsletters can be used to promote products, services, and events, which can lead to increased revenue.

In what ways have email newsletters evolved to remain relevant in 2023?

Email newsletters have evolved in several ways to remain relevant in 2023. Firstly, they have become more visually appealing, with the use of images, videos, and GIFs. Secondly, email newsletters are now more personalized, with the use of dynamic content and segmentation. Additionally, email newsletters are now optimized for mobile devices, which is important as more people are accessing their emails on their smartphones.

What role does audience engagement play in the renewed popularity of email newsletters?

Audience engagement is a crucial factor in the renewed popularity of email newsletters. Email newsletters allow businesses to establish a direct and personal connection with their audience, which can lead to increased engagement. Additionally, email newsletters can be easily personalized, which makes them more engaging for the audience. Finally, email newsletters can be used to promote products, services, and events, which can lead to increased engagement and revenue.

How do advancements in email marketing technology support the comeback of email newsletters?

Advancements in email marketing technology have played a significant role in the comeback of email newsletters. Firstly, email marketing platforms now offer more advanced automation and segmentation features, which make it easier for businesses to create and send personalized email newsletters. Secondly, email marketing platforms now offer more advanced analytics, which allow businesses to track the performance of their email newsletters and make data-driven decisions. Finally, email marketing platforms now offer more advanced integrations, which allow businesses to connect their email newsletters with other marketing channels, such as social media and SMS.