What is Email Marketing?
The Complete 2025 Guide
"Email marketing is the only channel where you own the relationship. Social media is rented land."
Learn the 5 steps, the 80/20 rule, and exactly how to start sending emails that make money. This guide is designed for beginners who want to move fast.
What is Email Marketing?
Email marketing is the act of sending a commercial message to a group of people using email. In its broadest sense, every email sent to a potential or current customer could be considered email marketing.
But why is it good? ROI (Return on Investment). For every $1 spent on email marketing, the average return is $42. It is the most profitable channel available.
The 5-Step Framework
If you are just starting, follow this proven framework used by experts:
- Strategy: Define your audience and goals.
- List Building: Get people to sign up (legally).
- Automation: Set up "Welcome" emails that send automatically.
- Campaigns: Send regular newsletters or offers.
- Analysis: Check open rates and improve.
Automation & Tools
⚡ You need a tool for this
You cannot send bulk emails from Gmail. You need a specialized tool to handle the "5 Steps" above.
For beginners, we recommend Brevo because it allows you to store unlimited contacts for free.
Read our Brevo Review →The 80/20 Rule
The 80/20 rule suggests that 80% of your emails should be valuable content (educational, entertaining, helpful), and only 20% should be sales pitches.
If you sell in every email, people will unsubscribe. Build trust first, then sell.
The 4 P's Strategy
- Product: What are you selling?
- Price: Is it affordable for your list?
- Place: Where do they read it? (Mobile vs Desktop).
- Promotion: How do you present the offer?