Sagar KC’s Email Marketing Crash Course for E-commerce

Alright, let’s cut through the noise for a sec. Online stores are everywhere, ads are bleeding everyone dry, and social media? The algorithm overlords change the rules every Tuesday. But email? Email is the scrappy underdog that keeps winning. Seriously, every buck you throw at email marketing brings back, on average, thirty-six. Thirty-six! Try getting that from your Instagram “strategy.” Good luck.

If you’re running an e-comm gig (or thinking about it), getting good at email isn’t just smart, it’s survival. Loyal customers, repeat buyers, steady cashflow… yeah, you want all that.

Think of this as your cheat sheet to email marketing for online stores. We’ll hit the basics, then level up with stuff like automation, audience splits, and getting people to click “buy now” instead of ghosting.

Why Email Still Slaps for E-commNobody can take your list away. Meta cannot throttle you here. Your list = your rules.ROI is huge. Email makes your ad spend look like pocket change.You can get personal. Like, “Hey Sarah, we know you love those shoes” personal.Customer loyalty. This is how you get people coming back.Scales easily. Got 100 subscribers? Or 100,000? No problem.Building the List (Your Money Machine)

How you actually get emails:

Add a signup form on your site in the header, footer, or blog.Use a pop-up with a discount or freebie, not just “Join our newsletter.”Ask at checkout. They are already buying, get them on the list.Hype your newsletter on socials.

Don’t be sketchy:

Never buy a list. You will regret it.Use double opt-in to keep things clean.

What to use: Mailchimp, Klaviyo, ConvertKit, Omnisend, ActiveCampaign.

Know Your Crowd

Split your list. Blasting the same thing to everyone does not work.

New subscribers: Welcome them.First-time buyers: Turn them into second-timers.Repeat buyers: Treat them like VIPs.Big spenders: Roll out the red carpet.Cart leavers: Chase them down (nicely).Emails You Gotta SendWelcome Series: Roll out the red carpet. This is your first date, make sure you leave a good impression. Here’s how you can do it.Promos: Flash sales, new drops, holiday offers.Transactional: Order confirmations, shipping updates, receipts. People open these.Cart Abandonment: “Hey, you forgot something.” I wrote a twenty page guide on that. Here’s why.Post-Purchase: Thank you notes, review requests, cross-sells.Win-Backs: “Where did you go?” emails.How to Write Emails People Open

Make sure the emails that you write are not spammy. Here’s how to avoid it:

Subject lines: Keep it punchy. Curiosity helps.Writing style: Talk like a human. Tell a story. Show benefits.Design: Mobile-friendly, easy to skim, strong visuals, one clear call-to-action.Psychology: Use FOMO, urgency, and social proof.Automation is Your Secret Weapon

Set up automated flows:

Welcome emailsCart recoveryBrowse abandonmentBirthday and anniversary offersWin-back blasts

But know when to say no to automations.

What to Watch (Key Numbers)Open rate (less important now)Click-through rate (this one matters)Conversion rate (the goal)Revenue per emailList growth and unsubscribes

Pro tip: Don’t obsess over open rates. Focus on clicks and sales.

Level Up with TheseDynamic content that changes per userAI-powered product recommendationsShow customer photos or reviewsLoyalty programsCombine email with SMS or retargeting adsBig Mistakes to AvoidSpamming or ghosting your list. Find the balance.Spammy subject lines lead to junk folders.Bad mobile design causes instant unsubscribes.Keeping dead emails on your list.Ignoring laws like GDPR and CAN-SPAM.Handy Tools and ResourcesEmail: Klaviyo, Omnisend, Mailchimp, ConvertKitDesign: Canva, Figma, StripoAnalytics: Google Analytics, ESP dashboardsLearning: HubSpot Academy, Klaviyo Blog, Grow with Email MarketingWhere Email is HeadingAI that helps write or optimize contentInteractive emails with polls or in-email checkoutMore privacy focus and less trackingCombining with SMS, WhatsApp, and social channelsFinal Take

Email is your e-comm growth engine. Get the basics right: build your list, segment it, automate campaigns, and keep optimizing. It works.

Want more strategies, templates, and real-world case studies? Check out my book Grow with Email Marketing.

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