When Email Marketing Doesn't Work

Email has long been a powerful tool for communication, used for personal, recreation and business connections.  Individuals rely on email to stay in touch with friends, manage work-related communications, send and receive important information, engage in online interactions, and organize their daily lives.  For digital marketers, email is an inexpensive way to connect with prospective buyers, delivering personalized targeted messages any time.

However, while email is now an essential tool, not all emails are welcome. The constant barrage of marketing messages can quickly become overwhelming, diminishing their effectiveness. Something an email marketer wants to avoid.

Consider the scenario where you sign up to receive emails from a vendor at an outdoor event, simply to enter their giveaway. Weeks later, you start receiving daily emails from that vendor, whom you've since forgotten about. The frequency of these emails, coupled with the lack of relevance, quickly turns them from a mild nuisance into a major annoyance. As a result, you block their emails or mark them as spam. What the vendor thought was a new prospect has now become someone who wants nothing to do with their company. This illustrates how easily email marketing can backfire when not executed thoughtfully.

Details to consider that contribute to Poor Engagement and Declining ROI

Sending Excessive number of emails. Email fatigue occurs when one is overwhelmed by the sheer number of emails received.  To combat this, some people manage multiple email addresses—one for marketing emails and others for personal use. Some may use "plus" or sub-addressing , to filter out unwanted messages while still receiving emails in their main account. This setup makes it easier for users to manage and block excessive emails from the same marketer, reducing the likelihood of those messages being seen or engaged with.

Using misleading subject lines: Clickbait subject lines and unengaging preheaders are likely to land your message in the junk folder. This tactic not only frustrates recipients but damages your brands credibility.

Confusing design  Given that the average online attention span is only about 8 seconds—a fact supported by numerous studies—email design must quickly grab attention and convey its message effectively. This is especially true in digital marketing, where poorly designed emails that are not optimized for mobile can lead to disengagement and missed opportunities.

Additional Factors Contributing to Email Boredom and Engagement Decline

Repetitive, Irrelevant Content: Sending the same type of content or content that isn't relevant to your subscribers' interests can quickly lead to boredom

Issues with Cold Contact Lists: Using cold contact lists— people who haven’t opted in to receive your emails—can increase the likelihood of email fatigue.

Subscribers Disengaged After One-Time Offers: If your subscriber list grew rapidly due to a one-time offer, but engagement has since dropped off, it may indicate that those subscribers were only interested in the offer and not in your ongoing content.

So, if you see,

• Decreased Open Rates or CTR (Click-through rate) 
• Increased Unsubscribes
• Higher Spam Report
• Poor Response to Interactive Content
• Inactive Subscribers
• Negative Feedback
• Email Bounces
  
  

  Your subscribers may be experiencing email fatigue.

To maintain the effectiveness of your email campaigns, it's crucial to strike a balance. By monitoring key indicators like open rates, click-through rates, unsubscribes, and spam reports, you can gauge your audience's engagement levels and adjust your strategy accordingly. Remember, the goal is to build and maintain a relationship with your subscribers, not overwhelm them. Prioritize quality over quantity, and always keep your audience's preferences and needs at the forefront of your campaigns.

If you notice signs of email fatigue among your subscribers, take proactive steps to refresh your approach. For more tips on how to optimize your email marketing and avoid these pitfalls, subscribe to our newsletter. Let's keep your emails are welcomed and valued by your audience