What I've Learned After Sending 1 Billion Marketing Emails

Hey it’s Max from The Inbox Newsletter.

After sending over 1 billion emails (yes, really), I've found there are only a handful of needle-movers that actually make a difference.

And if you dial these in, you're not far from doubling your sales… fast.

Key Takeaways:

• Repeating the same email designs will kill engagement—newness wins.

• Without consistent list growth, even perfect emails won’t convert.

• Plain-text emails can quietly become your best revenue drivers.

• Automation should start simple and strategic

• Frequency and strong pop-up forms are the fastest paths to more sales.

1. Customers Crave Newness

If you’ve been sending the same layout every week...stop.

Engagement nosedives when your emails feel copy-pasted. Your list needs dopamine.

Try new content formats… stories, myths, sneak peeks, quizzes. Switch up your email structure weekly.

And please do not use the same design templates every week… customers need new to keep opening and keep them on their toes.

👉 Try this: Alternate between short and snappy emails, story-driven emails, flashy graphics, and plain text-based emails.

2. No List, No Results

You can write the most beautiful, high-converting emails on the planet but if no one’s on your list, it doesn’t matter.

The silent killer of most email programs is lack of list growth.

You’re relying on traffic that doesn’t exist.

👉 What to do: Push paid traffic, partner with influencers, run organic content. But above all… optimize your website pop-up form (more on this later).

3. Use Text-Based Emails Strategically

Sometimes the prettiest emails underperform.

Plain-text, personal emails from the founder or team can feel more authentic and often drive more clicks and revenue.

👉 Best use: Drop 1 every 5 emails. Especially great in your flows as well… Welcome, Winback, and Abandonment flows.

4. Keep Automations Simple (At First)

Complex trees and endless splits might feel advanced but they’re overkill early on.

80% of your automation revenue comes from the first 2–3 emails in your flows.

👉 Start here: Nail your Welcome, Browse, Cart, Checkout, and Post-Purchase flows with 2–3 high-performing emails each. Then after you can add the advanced follow up emails.

5. Stop Over-Segmenting

You don’t need a segment for every birthday, shoe size, and eye color.

Micromanaging segmentation kills reach and momentum.

👉 Focus instead: Just send to your 30/60/90-day engaged segments frequently. Frequency > personalization in most cases.

6. Your Pop-Up = Your Revenue Engine

Most stores convert <3% of site traffic to email. You need to hit 8-10%+.

An optimized pop-up is the easiest way to 3x your email revenue.

👉 Steps to audit: Improve your offer, test multiple formats, fix timing, and tighten copy.

7. Frequency is King

If you’re only sending one email a week...you’re leaving cash on the table.

3–4x per week is the sweet spot for most brands. Not just for more touches but because consistency breeds trust.

👉 Pro tip: Rotate in content that entertains. Email isn’t just for promos, it’s for building a brand.

I dropped a YouTube video yesterday breaking all of these points in depth and showing you exactly how to execute on all of them.

Watch Video Explanation »

Email Inspiration Of The Day

Brand:
Dose

Email Design:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X4wa-SkruqcUodA7iXkhgn7BHtFE5hKs/view?usp=sharing 

Notes:
Small detail here I like… the bar at the top of the email highlighting the welcome offer for people who haven’t bought before.

You should be doing this in all of your welcome emails for non-buyers and potentially in campaigns for non-buyers.

Template of The Day

If you want access to a bank of 134 mix and match templates like this equating to over 5,000+ possible email designs, click here » 

Helpful Link Of The Day

• The new way of ecommerce in 2025 breakdown

Reply to this email if you have any questions or further content you want covered.

Cheers,

Max

PS - If you run a 7-9 figure ecommerce brand and you want to have a free email strategy consultation, book a call here »

PPS - I have a few different products you can buy. If you purchase any one of these products you get access to my private community of 850+ members with daily posts from me, access to me for support 24/7, and private calls.

• Ecommerce Email Mastery: A 60 lesson course breaking down everything you need to know about ecommerce email marketing in the most concise and organized manner. learn more »

• Mix and Match Email Design Templates: 134 email section templates that can make 5,000+ unique email designs with, learn more »

• QuickFlow Templates: All core 7 core email marketing flows fully templatized with examples, learn more »