Is there a time of day where email marketing is the most effective?
I want to engage people at a time where they are motivated to read my email. My products and promotions vary from self help to heath and wellness. Is there a time of day where I will be most effective at reaching my target audience?
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May 9, 2015
Bernie, if you check out some of the newsletter companies like HubSpot, Constant Contact, Mail Chimp - they have done extensive research about who opens what when. I can't send you directly to this information, but I've read these articles several times. Google it and you'll get a very detailed answer to your question.
May 8, 2015
Hi Bernie, actually time plays the 3rd priority position to how you get customers to open your email.
#1 is the message - what are you saying to get them to open the email? Starting on the subject line.
#2 is making sure the content gives your customer information and opportunities that engage them in action.
#3 is the day or time of day. Then as some have mentioned... TEST! Be prepared to try different messages and times to see what resonates with your audience.
Make sure to choose a service like How I Mail, Constant Contact, etc. which have API keys to associate your email with your company website (so the email doesn't end up in spam boxes first) and understand the DMA opt-in rules. The product has open rate statistics to help you analyze what's working best for you.
May 7, 2015
I think this is a good question since I am finding that people are being swamped with information these days. A lot would be marketing e-mails are deleted without opening, particular those sent to sole traders.
For example, overnight I received 120 emails, most of which were irrelevant to me.
Really the answer is to analyze who you are going aim your (would be) mailshot to and what time they are going to be likely to look at their inbox.
I would suggest either first thing in the morning, as you will be on top of their opening email page. Alternatively, the last thing in the evening, so hopefully before the shut down for the night they will check their e-mails.
All the best.
May 2, 2015
It totally depends on your target personas. HubSpot, Dan Zarella, Emma, and several other firms have a lot of data about email open rates by the day, time of day, length of the subject line, etc.
Ultimately it comes down to providing information of value that is timely and relevant to YOUR target personas.
Not sure what they are? Ask some current customers about how they learned about you and how they would like to learn more. What did they find relevant about you? What makes you different and better than your competitors? Who do they consider to be your competitors? HINT: They may not be who you think they are.
May 1, 2015
In my experience, 11 am and 2 pm are the key times that it's slow enough during the workday to read emails not deemed "urgent", but your email newsletter software should have metrics built-in that indicate when your list opens their emails the most. Different professions and geographic areas have different rhythms to their day.
Apr 30, 2015
Yes, obviously time is the main factor to improve engagement in email marketing. You cannot sell home appliances early in the morning to a guy who is in a hurry to the office. And in the morning I like to receive some motivational article and I get it from LinkedIn. The same way keep on testing and find out which time works best for your business.
Apr 30, 2015
I believe that most people check email mornings, mid-day, and evenings. Look to your own online habits to provide guidance. I would target mornings when people are usually receptive to new information. You can find more specifics by asking your question in a search.
Apr 30, 2015
No. If they do not know you, the odds of your email being opened does not change no matter what time you send it.
Apr 30, 2015
If my inbox is any indicator (and recent articles I've read seem to confirm my experience is typical), the majority of email pitches and social media posts happen between 9-10 am and 2-3 pm CT. That said, I ignore most of them because I don't have time to wade through anything that doesn't strike me as requiring immediate attention. If those pitches were compelling, they would be just as effective regardless of the time sent. I'm more motivated to open mail already in my inbox at the start and end of my workday.
Apr 30, 2015
Everyone is on a different schedule and reason to work on their social media. My experience shows that there are 3 good times - early morning (5-6 am), shortly after lunch (2-3:30 pm) and right after dinner (6:30-8 pm). Between these times you should reach most of your list at a good time. Also, vary the days you send for each time frame.
There is no etched in stone answer for this question.
Apr 30, 2015
I agree with David. Testing is important. Each demographic is going to work differently, so it honestly depends on who you're trying to reach. With health and wellness, you're looking at probably 58% male and 42% female audience between the ages of 18-35. Test through email and social to determine when your audience is most frequently online. Send out newsletters weekly on different days and different times of the day and see who is viewing the email and what % of success you have with each campaign. Make your newsletters actually newsworthy with great content and information, no sales tactics (to start). Once you have determined your primary audience is mostly opening emails on Tuesdays between 10 am and 1 pm, send out your promotions than for product sales.
Apr 30, 2015
Yes, do not send overnight, as receivers delete almost everything that looks uninteresting.
Try about 11 am - first tea break of the day or before lunch. Another option is in the afternoon at about 3:30 pm, which is another tea/coffee break before going home time!
Apr 30, 2015
Every segment of every market can be different, so you have to test, test, test!
Thanks Christopher and everyone who've offered expert advice. I hate spam and don't want to be just another email that isn't opened. I realize that providing quality information to the right audience at the best time is key.