You created your offer, sent your first promotional email campaign, and checked your results. It worked!

Your open rates looked solid, orders rolled in and your bottom line blossomed. And despite your list being small, your customers seemed as engaged as ever. The results made you think that you had the recipe for success. But as days went by, things leveled out.

You’re still sending campaigns. Still writing subject lines with care. Still watching the numbers. But the impact just isn’t the same. Your customers are quieter, and revenue just feels flat.

Sounds familiar? Here’s the truth: A stagnant email list will deliver stagnant results. In eCommerce terms, this translates to missing revenue, unhappy customers, and lost relationships.

At the same time, disengaged customers will grow tired of your brand, not open your emails, and, eventually, lose interest.

The key is to keep existing customers happy and grow your list with people who are truly interested in your brand.

So, how do you keep the spark alive? By creating value-driven entry points with intention:

• Targeted landing pages
• Subscription forms with lucrative messaging
• Personalized emails

However, your options don’t stop there. A segmented email list goes a long way, and product recommendation tools and customers’ own preferences can boost engagement and bring in more leads.

Engaging with intention is, of course, easier said than done. So, let’s break down the core strategies.

Growing your audience

There are plenty of methods that highlight the value of email marketing strategies that “fuel your growth.” But what are the ones worth implementing when you’re trying to grow your audience—both in terms of new leads and in terms of re-engaging old customers?

Promotional landing pages

Imagine you’ve decided to run a limited-time offer—perhaps a seasonal sale, or early access to a new product drop. Your announcement plan will definitely include a dedicated email campaign. But is that all there is?

Your promotion needs a “home.” A place that customers—existing or potential—can stumble upon and explore your offer.

Creating a standalone page that exists for the sole purpose of converting users makes the offer more legitimate and more accessible. A landing page is easy to find and contains essential information, if designed correctly.

To make your landing page effective, keep it focused and friction-free. Try to minimize distractions. Like this:

Try it here

This landing page template is distraction-free, showing only one action. To tighten the focus:

• Highlight one offer or promo.
• Don’t use secondary offers.
• Remove unnecessary buttons like social icons and navigation menus leading people away.

Your objective is for customers who stumble upon your page to stay there and interact with your offer.

One of the core landing page best practices is a clear and concise headline. What is your offer? Why does it matter? Include a subtext that adds more context.

(Source)

In Sephora’s example above, the cosmetics brand plays with actionable verbs. “Explore. Play. Indulge.” The “Up to 50% off” line is the subtext that adds context to the action and tells the customer what they’re going to get if they act on the headline’s message.

Sephora also uses one CTA. “Shop Now.” There are no doubts on what comes next, just a high-converting action.

Lastly, the visuals support, not distract: There is a product photo that reinforces the offer and adds clarity, showing what the offer entails—only Sephora products from the branded collection.

Taking away from that example, here’s what to do:

• Avoid creating a generic landing page. Your promo deserves a purpose-built environment.
• Use visuals that show customers what is included in your offer and avoid unnecessary product pictures.
• Don’t use too many words. Make sure your copy is actionable, and your verbs naturally lead users from one step to the next.

Finally, make sure the landing page is mobile-first. A lot of customers see landing pages on their phones. If your form is buried or buttons are too small to tap, you’re leaving signups on the table.

Tip: If your offer is gated—a discount for subscribers, for example—make your landing page’s form your focal point. Once they subscribe to your email list to get the offer, launch an email sequence that aims to nurture. Deliver the discount code with the first email of the sequence.

Attractive subscription forms

A subscription form that’s stuck in your website’s footer might not be enough, if you want to grow your list. Instead, treat your forms like mini campaigns that come along with their own purpose and goals.

Let’s start by identifying what will draw your customers’ and prospects’ attention:

• Gated content. Create an eBook with the latest trends in your eCommerce niche like “Spring Decoration Trends,” a lookbook, or a curated product quiz, like “What’s the best shampoo for your hair type” that leads to personalized recommendations.
• Exclusive perks. Don’t urge prospective customers to “sign up for 10% off.” Instead, you can get more creative and offer VIP-only access to limited edition releases or loyalty points on signup.
• Exit-intent popups. Show a clean form with a small incentive just when the user is about to leave your website.

Your subscription form can have various placements, depending on your intention:

If you want your form to stop users in their tracks, you can use a full-page form, an inline form, or a modal pop-up that you can set to appear at a specific time interval, preferably when the user is already engaged.

If you prefer to be less intrusive, then a floating bar or a floating box will suit you better, as it will follow your customer discreetly as they scroll.

Of course, form placement matters too. You can use subscription forms on your “Contact Us” page, inside blog posts—especially evergreen with high organic traffic—, or your post-purchase flow, provided the users have purchased but haven’t signed up for your email list.

Tip: You can use Moosend’s tags to segment users according to signup form. If a prospect signed up through an “early access” form, tag them accordingly. When the drop happens, send an email with “Here’s your private link.” That small touch drives both trust and urgency.

Segmentation that creates loyal customers

Landing pages and subscription forms are two great ways to get the sign-ups in and grow your audience. But what about tailoring content to their liking and boosting loyalty?

This is where segmentation comes into play. You could think of segmentation as the bridge that connects new leads and brand loyalty.

Start by using Moosend’s segmentation templates that offer a wide variety of actions:

You can segment eCommerce customers based on various actions. For example, based on the campaign or link that led them to your website, products they purchased, or even amount they spent in the last 30 days.

Let’s say that you run a special promotion. John and Jane both purchased items through that promotion. John was a first timer who came to the promotion through a social media link, while Jane is a repeater who has purchased items again in the past month.

John will need to be educated about your brand and products and nurtured further down the funnel. Jane, on the other hand, will need to see more value. This means you’ll need to serve different emails to each of them.

If you want your segmentation to be more granular, here’s an advanced tip: Create a custom segment. For example, if a user has purchased twice in the last month and referred at least one friend via a referral form, move them to an ambassador segment.

From there, trigger emails offering early access to collections in exchange for social shares or feedback.

With segments in place, your messaging can actually mean something to each person receiving it. No batch-and-blast, just targeted emails that are hard to ignore and feel natural to open.

Engaging your audience

We went through the ways that can grow your audience. Now, it’s time to keep them interested and turn that interest into consistent revenue.

Once someone’s on your list, every email you send either builds the relationship or weakens it. That means engagement can’t be treated like an afterthought. It needs structure.

Here’s how to make your emails feel timely, relevant, and worth opening.

Personalized emails that convert

Personalization is more than just a “Hi [First Name].” Email platforms, like Moosend, allow you to get more specific than that. True personalization is about relevance. The more tailor-made campaigns you send, the less likely they are to get ignored.

You can start off with custom fields. Custom fields are fields that carry more intimate information—like a birthday or an anniversary date. To create them in Moosend, just access your email list, click on the “Create custom fields” to your left, and then the “Add New” button. From that point on, you can gather any type of information you want, to craft a campaign that matters:

If there are pieces of information that you think are important to have, toggle the “Custom field is required” to “On.” That way, prospects will be able to subscribe only if they share that information.

Let’s see an example of that.

You’re creating a campaign for a specific product category interest—in our example, it’s skincare. Your custom fields indicate that some users are interested in skincare bundles, whereas others are after single products like moisturizers or cleansing balms.

Your next campaign should center around this. Customers interested in bundles can receive an email with tips on usage of a full skincare routine, whereas those interested in single products can receive useful combos.

Conditional visibility is where things get sharper. Let’s add to the example above.

Instead of using a custom field for each email, you can use the conditional visibility block. This block is an element of your email newsletter that you can show to or hide from specific audiences. Like this:

By adding a visibility condition, you can show exclusive discounts on the skincare bundles by including the corresponding custom field and hide it from audience members that are interested in other products.

To kick things up a notch, connect your personalization to customer behaviors that stem from real data. If someone added moisturizer to their cart 30 days ago, they are sure to run out. Send them a replenishment email to remind them of the fact.

Use a subject line that highlights their need, like “Down to your last drop?” or “Restock on moisturizer before you run out.” This is a high-intent nudge that works because it’s grounded in data, and not a generic hypothesis.

Product recommendations that drive revenue

Promoting your products is what eCommerce email marketing is about. But that doesn’t mean that you should go for generic promotions.

Product recommendations shouldn’t feel like fillers. They should feel like the natural next step in the buying process. Which is what they are, when done right.

Moosend makes this easy by letting you add dynamic content blocks that serve a real purpose. You can recommend items based on what customers are already buying or have already purchased, items they spent time browsing on your website, or your best sellers.

Connect the right item to the right customer with dynamic content blocks. Here’s how you can use them with intention:

• Create a product recommendations block for customers who browse specific items often, or those who purchase perishable items on specific time intervals.
• Cross-sell with relevance: Promote heat-protectant spray or a diffuser attachment to customers who bought a hairdryer.
• Send a curated email showing related items to customers who bought a specific product more than three times.

Let’s say that you want to send an email with product recommendations. You can use your favorite Moosend eCommerce template and choose “Product Recommendation” from the layout options:

After that, the process is easy and intuitive. Just select the website you have connected to Moosend and the number of products to be displayed. Your recipient will automatically see recommended items based on your selection and their behavior on your website.

Kick it up a notch by promoting products that are frequently bought together. This works especially well for your cart abandonment or post-purchase emails.

Ready to kick it up a notch? Connect your inventory to the platform and send a “Selling fast!” email to users whose behavior indicates that they’re interested in something but not interested enough to buy.

For example, if a customer has viewed a leather jacket multiple times—or even has added the item to their cart and then abandoned it—, send an email with the number of items left in your inventory. This is an informed nudge that sparks urgency and leads the recipient to completing the purchase.

Let users set their preferences

Asking about user preferences isn’t just courtesy. It’s a strategic move that can reduce unsubscribes and increase engagement. Using a preference center can help you understand what users want to see—and when—eliminating all the guesswork.

Moosend, as well as various other email tools, let you hand that control over to your subscribers without complicating your workflow. Here’s how:

• Decide what data matters. Do you want to give subscribers a say in how often they hear from you and the type of content they should be expecting?
• Use the insights you’ll gather to create fields. For example, you can ask “Which of our emails do you want to receive?” or “How often would you like to hear from us?”
• Build your landing page using your favorite Moosend template. Make sure the user flow is clear—update preferences, hit save, done.
• Link to your preference center in every campaign footer. Or go further and send a dedicated campaign asking subscribers to update their info. You can even embed the link on your website or post-purchase pages for more exposure.

Using the preference center isn’t just about collecting data for the sake of it. Data only matters when you put it to work. It builds trust and reduces unsubscribes. Your audience gets more control. At the same time, you get actionable insights that improve your segmentation and eCommerce email strategy going forward.

Take this for example: A customer signs up for your newsletter. They select skincare—as per our example above—as their primary interest. This can help you tailor your next campaign accordingly by highlighting your latest moisturizer line and sharing tips for the perfect skincare routine.

The customer opens the email, sees the moisturizer and skincare tips, clicks through, and adds the product to their cart.

Their simple preference turned into a personalized experience. Which can turn to measurable engagement and a boost to your bottom line.

Tip: Add your preference center link in your welcome flow, but don’t ask for too much upfront. Let the first email build some value, then follow up with:

“Tell us what you’d like to receive. We’ll only send you emails that are relevant.”

This helps you collect high-quality data without tanking conversions at signup and keeps engagement going beyond the initial nurture sequences.

Countdown timers and a “Wheel of Fortune” for extra engagement

When used strategically, interactive elements like countdown timers and “Wheel of Fortune” popups can push engaged users to act faster. But they must be relevant and well-timed.

Let’s say that you’re running a Valentine’s or Easter promotion like a flash sale or an early access offer. What’s the best way to capture a prospective customer’s attention than a countdown timer?

Including it into your email’s design is easy and intuitive. Just pick your favorite template and choose the “Timer” from the “Items” menu, drag it, drop it, and you’re good to go.

A countdown timer gives customers a visual cue on how long a deal will last. It’s fun and straightforward, but it doesn’t come without rules:

• Use timers only when the offer really has a deadline. Don’t fake urgency.
• Keep the offer simple and visible above the fold. No one should have to scroll to understand what’s expiring.
• Match the timer’s expiration logic to your actual campaign end time.

Besides countdown timers, you can boost engagement with interactive elements like Moosend’s “Wheel of Fortune.” This element can work well during promotional periods when your goal is lead generation or reactivation.

Used sparingly, they offer a low-friction way to exchange fun for function. Customers interact with the element, and you get a signup or a conversion.

Here’s where you can use it:

• High-traffic landing pages
• Re-engagement flows for inactive users
• Seasonal campaigns like “Spin the wheel for a Valentine’s Day discount”

To keep your “Wheel of Fortune” aligned with your brand, make sure to follow some best practices:

• Customize the messaging. Avoid default language like “Try your luck!” unless it fits your tone.
• Limit the rewards to one or two real incentives like “10% off” or “Free shipping” so it doesn’t feel gimmicky.
• Use it selectively. This works best as a moment of surprise, not a default experience.

Tip: If someone spun the wheel but didn’t redeem their code, trigger a follow-up email with that exact offer and a subtle reminder. If they redeemed their offer, on the other hand, exclude them from future spins to avoid fatigue. This gives you control over the experience and keeps users on their toes.

Growth and engagement are methodical, not magic

Growing and engaging your email list doesn’t require guesswork. It requires intention.

Create value by making your offers visible, your messages relevant, and your customer experience frictionless. That means well-placed landing pages that feel like natural entry points. Subscription forms that speak directly to what your customers want. Segmentation that makes every email feel personal. And engagement tools that feel like a seamless extension of your brand, not a marketing trick.

When done right, email becomes more than a channel. It becomes your most valuable growth asset.

You’re about to launch a new product and start mapping out your marketing plan. But with so many marketing channels and tactics available, finding the perfect promotional formula can be challenging.

Consumers today interact with brands across various channels. They might discover your product on TikTok or while listening to a podcast and then visit a physical store to make a purchase. Instead of focusing on just one channel, merging various online and offline tactics can be far more effective.

In this guide, we’ll discuss how to blend online and offline marketing strategies to maximize your reach and impact.

Why You Should Combine Online and Offline Marketing Strategies

According to research by SSRN, consumers use multiple touchpoints before buying a product. While most of the research is done online, they usually buy offline, after looking for discounts and deals.

Integrating online and offline marketing techniques helps businesses:

• Reach a wider audience: Online lets you reach a global audience while offline marketing is usually targeted to local markets. Combining both ensures everyone’s included.
• Build brand trust: Offline marketing tactics, such as events, print ads, and direct mail can build a personal connection with the target audience. Online assets are more convenient and accessible, contributing to a cohesive experience.
• Boost customer engagement: Consumers can connect with your brand in real-time through online and face-to-face through offline practices, creating an engaging customer journey for different customer preferences.
• Gather enhanced data: Combining insights from traditional and digital channels tactics can help understand more about customers’ preferences and behavior to improve your marketing strategies.
• Increase ROI: Integrating online and offline marketing tactics will ultimately boost return-on-investment and conversion rates by combining powerful tactics and touchpoints.

While this integrative marketing approach may require a higher budget to succeed, it can lead to huge success when done properly. Plus, there is always a more cost-effective alternative for risk-aversive marketers and business leaders, based on the marketing efforts they adopt.

Online and Offline Marketing Strategies to Deliver Great Results

Whether you’re a small business owner or a corporate marketing leader, experimenting with different marketing strategies will help you find what resonates with your audience best. Here are some winning tactics to get inspired:

1. Create a consistent experience across assets

Aligning your online presence with your offline efforts contributes to a more cohesive marketing experience. Multiple touchpoints with similar aesthetics help people recognize and remember your brand. Additionally, it’s safer for your budget—relying on a single channel limits your audience reach and increases vulnerability to competition.

For instance, a consumer might watch TV commercials from various car manufacturers without remembering the brand names. But when they come across a similar ad on a billboard or a YouTube video, they begin to make the connection.

Maintaining a stable visual identity is key. The colors, fonts, and website aesthetics should resemble your printed ads, the visuals you use in TV commercials or the banners you create for events.

The same applies to your messaging. While offline marketing campaigns such as billboards and radio ads require different content formats to work out, your tone of voice, values, and copy should align.

Check out this billboard by Porsche. Its simplicity and the main slogan stand out:

Have a look at the commercial for a similar Porsche model and note the similarities in branding and messaging: 

2. Collect emails to send follow-ups

Having multiple touchpoints can increase engagement. But if a buyer purchases in a physical store, how can you keep in contact? By continuing the conversation elsewhere. For example, you can request email addresses at the checkout or during in-person events. You can also offer incentives such as exclusive discounts or coupons to attract more people.

Email marketing offers many opportunities to marketers—from sending personalized emails based on previous purchases, to automating campaigns, to confirming transactions.

To reap those benefits, use email marketing platforms with list management and automation features to hyper-personalize your email campaigns. Add a preference center to the form to learn about their interests and divide them into different segments.

Moosend, for instance, can help you manage your list growth process step-by-step. You can build signup forms and customize premade templates and workflows to send branded emails to your audience, based on their unique preferences.

Try Moosend for free

3. Add QR codes on printed materials

Placing QR codes on printed marketing materials is a well-known, easy-to-implement marketing tactic. These links can lead to various marketing assets based on the goal you’ve set, even call-to-actions to boost conversions.

Let’s explore some common use cases:

• Business cards linking to a website or LinkedIn profile to share more about your expertise.
• Product packaging QR codes leading to product manuals or demos to offer a more enhanced customer experience.
• Brochures with special discounts or coupons directing readers to your website.
• In-store signage offering more information about products and customer reviews.
• Event materials linking to your website, social media or sign-up forms to capture leads.

For example, we recently shared a printed leaflet with a QR code during a conference with a special discount to attract new leads:

4. Cross-promote across online and offline channels

While cross-promotion happens usually among brands, it can also occur across channels. Merge offline channels with online to boost user experience. Apart from QR codes, place social media handles or hashtags on physical documents or in-store. You can also place tablets with interactive content such as quizzes to offer personalized product recommendations.

Moreover, add pictures of your stores on your website and inform visitors about exclusive deals they can claim there. Or promote your in-person events via email invitations with a countdown timer to boost urgency.

Another tactic is adding content from traditional marketing methods on your website or social media. For example, place your latest TV commercial or photos from a recent event on your homepage to boost engagement.

Here, Starbucks sent a birthday email inviting subscribers to redeem their gift in-store.

Subject line: Open on your birthday 🎁 (Actually, you can open now)

5. Combine your analytics strategies

It’s usually easier to gather insights from online marketing strategies than from offline ones. CRM solutions and Google Analytics let users analyze information and make data-driven decisions. But what about offline strategies? To track their progress, you need to blend in online tools.

Share surveys or quick feedback forms with NPS score in-store or during events. Track initiatives such as discounts, freebies, or coupons to see what worked and what needs improvement.

Use trackable URLs, phone numbers, or UTMs to monitor the performance of a printed ad. Discover what initiatives bring more leads and conversions to understand the behavior and preferences of potential customers in-depth.

To gain a holistic view of these strategies, merge analytics platforms and build a unified dashboard with important information. This will also contribute to attribution and ROI analysis, shedding light into strategies that truly work for your target audience, and insights on what improve the rest.

6. Share social proof across channels

Social proof, such as customer testimonials or reviews, plays a key role in boosting brand trust and credibility around certain products and services. Encourage regular in-store visitors to share an online testimonial or post a photo of using a product with a certain hashtag to bring in that effect.

Showcase online reviews in-store next to certain products to motivate visitors to purchase. If you use in-store QR codes or digital signage software like Yodeck to display important product information demos, add reviews to the presentation for maximum visibility.

Finally, collect testimonials from online and offline sources, and send them through an email campaign to boost click-through rates and conversions.

For example, Bite included reviews from notable publishers to increase brand awareness and credibility:

Subject line: We can’t stop smiling 🙌

7. Partner with influencers online and offline

Influencers and affiliates are usually associated with social media marketing, but you can also recruit them during offline marketing efforts. For instance, invite them to trade shows or events to share their expertise and experience with your product or services or collaborate with them to create a product line with their signature.

If you partner with athletes or artists, display them on TV commercials or billboards to gain more traction. Nike has nailed this tactic over the years. In this ad, they portrayed female athletes they partner with who broke the barriers:

Plus, encourage them to make public appearances using your products and offer some freebies to share with their family and friends and bring new customers on board.

8. Run “coming soon” or to “be continued” campaigns

Teaser campaigns can build anticipation and boost engagement metrics, especially if you target younger audiences. Add in-store teasers and include QR codes to direct them to your website for more information. Follow similar practices during offline events to promote your online events or initiatives.

You can also share a “coming soon” post or landing page on social media or offline to collect email addresses and send a special incentive to participants. Create follow-up content to nurture those prospects and convert them into customers.

Storytelling plays a key role in those strategies. Exclusivity and urgency are great motivators. Add a countdown timer to visualize that effect and create FOMO to gain more followers–online and offline.

Combine the Best of Both Worlds

What tactics would you merge first? Think of your audience’s demographics, preferences, and habits and find what suits them best. Collect data from all tactics and spot workable patterns to increase brand awareness and ROI going forward.

Will it happen overnight? No, but you can have fun in the process and learn more about your audience. And this can turn into a great business capital.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions around online and offline marketing:

1. What is online marketing?

Online or digital marketing involves using the Internet and digital tools, such as SEO, social media, email marketing and paid ads, to promote your brands, products or services.

2. What is offline marketing?

Offline marketing refers to the use of traditional marketing tactics to promote a business, such as print media, TV or ad commercials, billboards, and direct mail.

3. What is omni-channel marketing?

Omnichannel marketing is the integration of different online and offline marketing tactics to build a consistent customer experience across different touchpoints, catering to unique customer preferences and habits.

4. What are the benefits of traditional marketing?

Traditional marketing methods are linked to higher credibility and brand recognition, especially for local markets. They leave an impression to prospects as there’s less competition than online platforms.

5. What are the benefits of online marketing?

Online marketing offers cost-effective solutions to reach a global audience, target customers with specific characteristics and even personalize your messaging. You can also deliver different content types, such as podcasts and blog posts, to engage your audience.

Newsletters have become a powerful tool for sharing ideas, nurturing your audience, and even generating income. Whether you’re a seasoned writer, a hobby enthusiast, or someone looking to build a personal brand, starting a newsletter can be a game-changer.

Many creators choose Substack as a hosting platform to share their content. It’s a community of creators and writers who value quality content and want to build meaningful connections with subscribers and peers.

Learn how to build a Substack newsletter step-by-step, from setting up an account for the first time to boosting your readership. Plus, find out the main differences between starting a newsletter on Substack compared to email marketing software like Moosend and Mailchimp.

What is Substack?

Substack is a subscription-based online platform where bloggers, journalists, podcasters, and other content creators publish newsletters to their audience. It lets users manage different publication aspects, such as design, analytics, and paid subscriptions.

Creating an account is free, but if you start monetizing your Substack publications, 10% of your income will be held by the platform. Users get access to promotional features and resources, such as referrals, cross-posting, and SEO to maximize their reach and increase subscribers.

Overall, Substack is a beginner-friendly tool, suitable for all kinds of creators, despite their experience and background, letting them tap into new audiences and grow their subscriber base. The more targeted your content is, the easier it gets to attract the right people.

How to Build a Newsletter on Substack in Simple Steps

Before you start writing and publishing content, do some brief homework. Why do you want to build your own newsletter? What topics will you cover? And who will you target?

While Substack gives you plenty of time and space to experiment with your content before uploading your subscriber list, set some initial goals to make smarter decisions. Let’s continue with the groundwork:

1. Create a Substack account

First, sign up using your email address. If you don’t already have a business email, create one from scratch to watch your Substack activity in one place. Check the terms and conditions box and click on the CTA button.

In the next few steps, you’re asked to fill in your name, your bio, and a publication URL, but you can tweak that information later. There’s also an optional step to upload your email lists from well-known platforms such as Ghost and Patreon.

You can also add the email addresses of friends and family to start building a loyal audience before gaining new subscribers through publications.

Keep in mind that Substack takes privacy measures to protect user’s personal information and complies with privacy regulations such as GDPR and CCPA.

2. Customize your Substack profile

Before crafting your first publication, optimize your profile to showcase your personal or business brand. Pick a publication name that reflects your writing persona and favorite topics so you set the right expectations for readers.

Add a publication URL (if you haven’t already) to help readers find your newsletter. You can also create a custom domain name if you wish to remove Substack from the URL.

The bio will also play an important role, especially if it’s fueled with keywords relevant to the topics you cover. Check out Adam Grant’s bio to get a better grasp:

Add your logo or profile picture to put a face to the newsletter and increase awareness. Then, go to the Dashboard and move to Settings. Choose important features such as primary language and topic categories to help the platform recommend your newsletter to the right people.

Tweak the website design elements, such as colors, fonts, and layout and add a brief description about your content. Plus, you can start customizing your newsletter design by adding a fixed header and a footer.

3. Bring your audience onboard

If you skipped the “Add subscribers” option at the beginning, it’s time to add a few email addresses from family and friends to start building an audience. You can add more email addresses through “Subscribers” and “Settings” sections, but you need to get their permission first.

You also have the option to upload a CSV file with email addresses from other software to save time and bring loyal followers on board from day one. Substack also lets you export your posts, subscriber lists and other data when you wish.

4. Create your first post

And now off to the creative part. Click on “New post” and start typing your first newsletter. Choose a format that suits your content type. For instance, if you’re writing a tutorial, create subsections and bold certain parts to stand out.

Check the menu to see what formatting and features you can use. For instance, add share buttons to help readers spread your newsletters far and wide to attract new audiences. To make your content more interactive, include media and links to other websites.

You’ll also find a header/footer section. Create a distinct header for all posts and add a banner image for this specific newsletter. Finally, craft a footer with a call-to-action to prompt readers to subscribe or recommend your Substack profile to others.

Ready? Click on the preview to see how your newsletter looks for different devices to ensure everything’s spot-on.

5. Monetize your newsletter

While most Substack users don’t create paid newsletters from day one, it’s up to you to decide your monetization strategy. If you have a loyal fan base or simply want to make money from day one, connect your account with Stripe.

Decide the amount pledged subscribers will pay and on what basis, monthly or annually. If you need some benchmark data, check out what other creators you look up to do. You can also let readers pledge for future subscriptions.

And remember, Substack will receive 10% of your income for paid subscriptions.

6. Optimize and publish

Before sending the newsletter to your audience, go to Post Settings. There, you can manage certain options, such as who this newsletter is for, in case of monetization, or adding tags for better discoverability.

Plus, set up an SEO meta title and description to boost your appearance on search engines. You can send a test email to your own address to see the final output.

When you’re ready, go back to your post, and hit Continue. Make some final touches, and schedule your newsletter based on time zones or send it on the spot. Your first Substack newsletter is officially live!

7. Promote and engage with readers

Want to maximize your newsletter reach? Copy the URL and share it on social media, such as LinkedIn or TikTok, or your website to gain more traction. Interact with users on comments and discussion threads to nurture a sense of community and grasp their thoughts.

Word-of mouth can give your Substack newsletter a great boost. Use the Growth features in Settings to boost recommendations and subscriptions by adding relevant call-to-action buttons to your Substack page or other websites. Plus, create a dedicated landing page to showcase your brand and best content to attract new subscribers.

Welcoming new subscribers is also a great practice to boost engagement. Write a heartfelt welcome email setting expectations about future content. These email types usually receive high engagement so add a call-to-action, such as subscribing to exclusive content, to boost conversions.

8. Monitor and analyze metrics

Substack offers access to various stats and analytics to understand your newsletter performance and impact. Here are some of the top metrics:

• Email deliveries
• Email open rates
• Free/paid subscriptions driven by post
• Likes
• Comments
• Shares

These engagement metrics will show you over time what types of content your audience prefers. Track other Substack data simultaneously, such as restacks, traffic, and pledges to spot best performing publications and find a winning formula for your audience. You can also run surveys to improve your content over time.

Substack vs Email Newsletter Platforms

Substack is an online community with major benefits for independent creators and bloggers. But when should someone opt for notable alternative platforms such as Moosend or Mailchimp instead?

Check out a comparison table to pick your ally:

	Substack	Email marketing software
Best for	Independent writers and creators	Businesses, marketers, and organizations
Ease of use	Beginner-friendly without technical complexities	More complex, requires a learning curve
Features	Limited customization options and capabilities	Advanced customization and features (automation, A/B testing, etc.)
Monetization	Yes—a fixed 10% revenue cut	Via integrations with other platforms
Analytics	Basic metrics	Detailed insights and reporting capabilities
Use cases	Community building, collaborations, organic traffic	Organic traffic, sales, and brand awareness
Design	Simple branding options	HTML customizable templates for various email types

So, if you’re an independent writer looking to build your audience and monetize your output all in one platform, Substack is a great fit. However, if you’re a blogger or business owner with concrete sales targets, it’s a limited option.

Instead, a tool like Moosend can help you meet your revenue goals. Through audience segmentation, automated workflows, and premade email templates, you can create highly targeted email campaigns that convert recipients into customers.

Try Moosend for free

Connect With Your Audience Today

What would you like to share with your new readers first? A special coming soon message or a demo article to set the right expectations? Whatever you choose, write in a conversational and direct tone to deeply connect with your audience.

And once you’ve established a strong presence on Substack, think about monetization and available growth techniques to reach new writing heights.

FAQs

Here is a brief Q&A section about Substack newsletters:

1. What is the downside of Substack?

Substack users are dependent on the platform’s terms and conditions and policy changes which can impact their work. Plus, it offers limited customization and monetization options and has a narrow reach compared to more established platforms.

2. Can you create a Substack for free?

Yes, overall Substack is free. If you enable monetization, Substack will automatically receive 10% of your revenue.

3. How do you grow your Substack email list?

Add subscription buttons at prominent places and share your publications on social media and other websites. You can also craft a dedicated landing page, run a referral program, or collaborate with other writers to exchange links.

4. What’s the main difference between WordPress and Substack?

WordPress is a CMS with complex technical and customization capabilities, suitable for various website and business types. Substack is a simpler subscription-based solution for independent writers and creators.

5. Why should you choose Substack over alternative platforms?

Substack is a simple subscription-based platform with built-in monetization that drives reader engagement. It offers features to support list growth and discoverability and nurtures a sense of community.

Business leaders, entrepreneurs, and marketing professionals are often on the lookout for ways to optimize their email marketing campaigns.

Yet, this can turn into a challenge, particularly when it comes to integrating new technologies into existing systems.

This is where an email marketing API (Application Programming Interface) comes into play to help you streamline the process.

In this article, we’ll be looking at how you can leverage email APIs to improve your email campaign efficiency.

What’s more, we’ll go through several use cases, best practices, technical requirements, and security concerns to have everything in place.

What Is API in Email Marketing?

An email marketing API is a set of rules that let software tools communicate and exchange data.

An API is like a power adapter for devices, ensuring different systems connect and work together—even though they weren’t built to do so.

Just as an adapter allows you to plug in your gadgets anywhere, an API converts messages to achieve frictionless communication between applications.

When it comes to email, this functionality plays a critical role for businesses to enhance the capabilities of their email marketing platforms.

Email marketing APIs allow developers to quickly integrate email marketing functionalities into other websites and apps using code.

Simply put, APIs help streamline processes, automate workflows, and break data silos. More importantly, they do so without you having to know every little detail of how each system works.

How Does An Email API Work?

To go a bit more in-depth, an email API allows users to access the application through a coded request and an API key. This key most commonly represents an encrypted string of letters and numbers. It’s also unique to each account.

Once inside, the API connection offers users access to various features and functionalities of the platform—without the need to import and export any information manually from one tool to another.

For example, an email marketing API may connect your customer relationship management (CRM) system with your email marketing platform and sync their databases.

Which, in turn, offers more accurate and detailed insights into customer interactions across multiple channels.

Depending on the type of application you’re integrating with your email marketing platform, you can make the most of any number of the following features:

• HTML email template generation and customization
• Email deliverability
• Bulk email sending
• Email scheduling
• Contact segmentation based on CRM data
• Email personalization enhancement
• Automated workflows
• Spam management
• Metrics tracking and email analytics
• Automated list management
• Webhooks management to send real-time notifications whenever a specific event happens (i.e. when a new customer is added to your CRM database).

One major benefit of email APIs we’d like to emphasize is sending bulk emails to contact lists.

Because API calls often go through extra levels of authentication, these actions are no longer labeled as spammy behavior. This way, you ensure that your emails reach your subscribers’ inboxes rather than their spam folders.

All in all,  an email marketing API protects your sender reputation, helping you increase email deliverability.

Another key point we’d like to touch on is how email API differs from an SMTP and how to tell what’s the right choice for your business needs.

Differences between SMTP and API

Email APIs aren’t the only way to integrate email features. You might have heard the term “Simple Mail Transfer Protocol” (SMTP), too.

While both serve somewhat similar functions, they differ in functionality and operability.

Here’s a straightforward table highlighting the main differences between the two:

It’s not uncommon for third-party apps to come equipped with SMTP. Generally, you’ll only have to choose the SMTP service and enter your credentials to use it.

Whereas you’ll need a bit of coding knowledge to implement an email API connection.

To put it simply, both email marketing APIs and SMTPs offer the same service in terms of email delivery. Their methods are different, though.

The solution that best suits your needs depends largely on your demands and requirements.

An SMTP is a better option if you aren’t interested in taking full advantage of the third-party app’s functionalities.

Since it doesn’t involve coding, it’s convenient for those who need to start sending email campaigns immediately. Also, for users who send emails occasionally.

There are many solutions you can use to get started and see how an SMTP may fulfill your needs. Here is our top list of free SMTP server tools to consider.

Email APIs, on the other hand, are the ideal choice when you want to speed up processes and are in need of customization options and polished features.

Some of them include sending batch campaigns and transactional emails, using customizable email templates, monitoring KPIs, automating workflows, and more.

Now let’s take a look at the most common use cases of email marketing APIs.

Email Marketing API Use Cases

Probably the biggest advantage of using an email marketing API is the almost endless number of ways you can make them work in your favor.

To give you an idea of the possibilities they uncover, we’ve compiled a list of ten relevant email API use cases to consider.

1. Transactional emails

If you’re operating an eCommerce business, sooner or later you’ll have to send different types of transactional emails like order confirmations, shipping notifications, abandoned cart reminders, or review requests.

You can easily manage these campaigns via email APIs. More importantly, using transactional email APIs ensure timely and safe delivery for this kind of time-sensitive campaigns.

Moosend’s API is great for eCommerce store owners who want to have full control over their transactional email sending, allowing them to target their audience at scale.

Transactional email functionality isn’t limited to online stores, though. Businesses in other industries may benefit from it, for example a SaaS company to send campaigns like account activations emails, subscription expiration notifications, and password resets.

Basically, any business could use this feature to send, personalize, and automate important transactional emails. Moosend offers ready-to-use email templates for various transactions:

 

Register here

2. Behavioral personalization

You can use email APIs to connect your email service provider with your CRM and personalize your emails based on past customer behaviors, brand interactions, or preferences.

This helps you deliver tailor-made and valuable content, which, in turn, could increase customer engagement.

3. Dynamic email content creation

Dynamic content is the best way to target your audience based on their behavior and preferences, showing them exactly what they need to act on your message.

When creating dynamic emails, the content is tweaked based on the recipient that receives the message so brands can recommend the most suitable products or services.

A travel agency, for example, has the option to integrate an email marketing API to dynamically generate travel itineraries and recommended destinations based on the subscriber’s search or booking history.

4. Preference centers

Every business can—and should—create email preference centers. With this addition, customers are able to customize product categories based on their needs or choose the frequency and type of email campaigns they receive.

Setting up a preference center is an excellent way to give subscribers control over their communication with your brand and improving key email metrics like opens, clicks, and unsubscribes.

5. Lead scoring and segmentation

With email marketing APIs, marketers can automate their lead scoring based on prospect interactions with their company’s website, emails, or social media.

This system allows users to segment their leads into different categories and send tailored nurturing campaigns depending on their ranking in the scoring system.

For instance, users who sign up for a free trial version of a SaaS product are considered high-interest leads. As such, they’ll receive an onboarding email series as part of the lead nurturing process.

6. Automated surveys and feedback

Another way to use email API is by integrating your email marketing platform with an online survey tool. By doing so, you can use automation to send feedback request emails and follow-ups.

This helps if you want to encourage customer feedback, offer an incentive for their participation, or keep the lines of communication open with respondents.

7. Data analytics and reporting customization

This API use case serves marketers who want to access valuable information about their customers and keep critical KPIs under one roof without the need for manual data transfers.

For instance, marketing agencies may connect their email marketing platform with their preferred analytics and reporting app to create customizable dashboards.

8. Email validation

An email validation API helps businesses verify that email addresses that come into their database are valid. If they aren’t, they remove them in real-time.

As a result, you get lower bounce rates and increased email deliverability.

9. Social media integration

Integrating your social media accounts with an email API allows you to synchronize customer data and use the insights to create targeted email campaigns.

In other words, this API integration allows users to focus on displaying products and services that match the target’s social media interactions.

10. Geotargeted campaigns

Last but not least, use an email marketing API to pull location data from customer interactions and then send geotargeted emails with localized offers or weather-based promotions.

Let’s say you own a restaurant chain with multiple national or international locations. By gaining access to your customers’ location, you can deliver special offers, new menu items, and events specific to the nearest restaurant in their region.

There are many more use cases for email APIs. So, you should keep in mind that this isn’t an exhaustive list.

With an email marketing platform like Moosend, you have access to many capabilities and powerful integrations. Through them, you can do countless other things depending on the third-party app you’re integrating your digital marketing tool with.

But to ensure you’re doing everything right and achieve the best possible results, it’s time to go through the best practices to configure an email marketing API.

Best Practices For Effective Email Marketing API Configuration

To have your email marketing tool work in harmony with your preferred applications and websites, these are the practices to implement.

1. Grant just the necessary API key permissions

One of the most critical security measures when working with email API is to give granular access, in accordance with the principle of least privilege (PoLP).

This translates into granting each API key only the necessary permissions. For example, don’t give edit access to an email API key that needs read-only access.

That way, different functionalities can only be accessed by the designated API keys.

With this in mind, it’s easier to safeguard your system and avoid risks due to misuse.

2. Rotate API keys regularly

When handling API keys, there’s always a chance that an attacker finds its way to a vulnerable or compromised key. Any static API key could pose an exposure and abuse risk.

The solution comes through regularly generating new, unique API keys—ideally on a monthly or quarterly basis.

You should perform the same task every time there’s a change in team members managing the keys. Likewise, if you have reason to believe that one of your API keys may have been compromised.

By rotating API keys often, you ensure that even if they fall in the wrong hands, potential attackers will have limited time using them.

3. Set up an API error handling process 

Each time an API detects an issue, such as invalid input data, it results in errors. API error handling helps users identify and respond to the issue with the ultimate goal of finding ways to address it.

To stay on top of things, make sure your team members document every error handling process. There, they could include past error handling examples and actionable steps to overcome different error types.

You should know, though, that having an API error handling process isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it strategy. As time goes by, they may become less effective. For this reason, monitor and review your API error handling process once a month or so for consistent performance.

4. Know your email soultion’s API rate limiting

The more requests a user sends within a specified time period, the more likely it gets to cause service disruptions.

What rate limits do is that they protect the email API from overload in case it has to handle too many requests. This process ensures ongoing optimal performance for your APIs and frictionless user experience.

Each email service provider sets a specific rate limit that you should be aware of. That’s why it’s essential to read through your email marketing platform’s documentation so you don’t exceed the limit.

What happens in case you do? It may lead to temporary API restrictions, perhaps even account suspension in some cases.

5. Perform API Integration Testing

API integration testing focuses on verifying that every integration component functions as intended. Wondering what components to test? API authentication, error handling, rate limiting, data formats, etc.

With API integration testing, you ensure that each element works properly with the API, minimizing the chances of potential bugs.

It’s important to create a thought-out testing plan that includes several use cases and keep track of the results. With the testing reports at your disposal, you’ll be able to eliminate errors and enhance the reliability of your API.

6. Go through your platform’s API documentation

The last point involves reading your email marketing platform’s API documentation carefully. Although the core strategies for proper implementation remain the same, they may also vary depending on the tool or platform you’re using.

Even the best email API won’t serve you as expected if you don’t have a deep understanding of its usage. Therefore, when choosing for an email marketing service, ensure it provides detailed and easy-to-follow API documentation, as this will make implementation simpler.

Moosend’s API documentation will offer you all the necessary information to connect the platform’s infrastructure with any application.

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Technical Requirements For Integrating An Email Marketing API

Besides adopting best practices, you must take into account other important aspects whenever you’re integrating an email marketing API with a third-party app.

These factors help ensure seamless integration and effective communication between systems.

These include:

• Authentication protocols: By using secure authentication methods like API keys or access (OAuth) tokens, you ensure that only authorized users have access and interact with the API.
• Data formats: Another important aspect is to use standardized data formats like XML or JSON. as they typically ensure compatibility and effective communication between systems.
• Endpoint configuration: You’ll also need to define and configure the API endpoints. These specify the location where API requests need to be sent.
• Webhooks for real-time updates: By implementing webhooks, you enable real-time updates whenever changes occur in the third-party app. This process ensures you’re always on top of these changes and able to take timely action.

Potential challenges during integration

There are also several challenges that you may need to overcome. The most common are:

1. Compatibility issues: There’s always the possibility of compatibility issues between data formats used by the API and existing systems. A generally good practice is to conduct some API integration testing to identify and address them.
2. API changes and updates: Regularly monitoring API documentation or setting up webhooks helps you stay informed about changes or updates. This way, you’ll know what adjustments to make so the integration keeps working properly.
3. Limited technical expertise: Email marketing APIs require some coding knowledge to implement effectively. Less tech-savvy users should choose an email marketing solution that offers easy-to-use API integration options and straightforward documentation for user support.

Take, for example, how InsuranceMarket was able to create email performance reports through Moosend’s API and Google Data Studio in just three easy steps.

It’s as simple as copy-pasting some lines of code, introducing the API key, writing the name of the function in the Google Sheet, and presto, the sheet is populated with the requested marketing campaign data.

Email Marketing API A/B Testing and Optimization

Email marketing APIs are essential in facilitating A/B testing.

Simply put, A/B testing is the process of systematically experimenting with two (or more) elements of an email marketing campaign.

Through an API-enabled A/B testing process, you can determine which elements work better for certain target audience segments. Then, you’ll be able to identify the combinations that generate the most effective results.

As with email API use cases, A/B testing is almost limitless. You can compare different subject lines, visuals, calls-to-action, send times, or designs and find the best-performing variants.

With an email marketing API like Moosend’s, you can execute seamless A/B tests by sending different email versions to specific audience segments.

Afterwards, you’ll only need to collect the data, analyze the results, and optimize your email campaigns for maximum impact.

How to use email marketing API for A/B testing

Here are some tips on how to better leverage email marketing API A/B testing:

• Use the API to automatically segment your audience before the A/B test. This allows for randomized distribution of variants.
• Go through real-time analytics to keep an eye on the tests’ performance and make quick changes based on the data.
• Use dynamic email content generation features to test personalized email elements like customized messages or product recommendations.
• Don’t add too many variables during a single test. It’s generally best to create two different versions varying in a single component (i.e. CTA, send times, etc.) while keeping everything else the same. This way, you ensure testing consistency.
• Integrate your email API with analytics tools to compare your test results with other email metrics and have a more comprehensive performance overview.

Email marketing API-powered A/B testing helps businesses create email campaigns that resonate with their target audience. As a result, they can constantly improve and optimize their strategies.

Email Marketing API and Security Concerns

As with most software solutions and digital connections, email marketing APIs aren’t immune to potential data breaches and other security concerns.

There’s the potential exposure of sensitive user data during API interactions. There’s also the risk of unauthorized access, API key misuse, compliance violations, and other forms of abuse.

There are several things you can do to mitigate these data security risks:

• Data encryption protocols: Robust encryption protocols, such as HTTPS, secure data in transit and prevent data interception.
• Secure authentication: By using secure authentication mechanisms like API keys or OAuth tokens, you reduce the risk of any unauthorized access.
• Proper API key management: Similar to passwords, you shouldn’t share your unique API keys with anyone unauthorized or over communication channels like Slack or WhatsApp.
• Conduct regular security audits: Frequent security checks, audits, and vulnerability assessments help identify and rectify any potential security weaknesses that exist.

By using these measures, you enhance the security of your email marketing APIs and ensure the integrity of your communications and business operations.

Need an Email Marketing Platform With API Integration Capabilities?

Email marketing APIs are a powerful tool for any business looking to enhance their digital marketing and communication strategies.

They provide a seamless integration with all sorts of third-party apps, facilitating automation, dynamic personalization, and data-driven optimization, among other benefits.

If you’re curious about how such an email API connection serves your business objectives, go ahead and register with Moosend for a free trial.

As a content writer, I’ve seen emails that hit the mark and others that sound like a sleep-deprived intern with a thesaurus stitched them together. Or, with AI.

Tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Copilot, and Google’s Gemini surely help streamline the process; however, one-prompt copy isn’t copywriting. It’s filler and, most of the time, fluff.

And if you slap that into your email or social media campaign without edits, you’re not speeding up your workflow; you’re slowing it down.

With that in mind, it’s time to rethink how you approach AI-generated text, not as the final product but as the starting point of your writing process.

Why One-Prompt AI Copy Misses the Mark

Typing a single prompt into ChatGPT and hitting “copy-paste” might feel like a shortcut, but it’s usually a trap because what you get is usually vague, generic, or just plain wrong.

Here’s why that hurts your performance:

• Skips the details: One-prompt copy often makes big promises without explaining how things work, which leaves your reader confused or skeptical.
• Sounds like everyone else: Without context or editing, AI leans on safe, overused buzzwords that strip away your brand’s personality.
• Lacks accuracy: AI can invent features, exaggerate claims, or use fake stats if you don’t fact-check and refine it.
• Ignores your audience: With no direction, AI writes for “everyone,” which usually means it connects with no one.

So, does it mean that you have to stop using AI completely? Well, no. AI is here to stay, but there are some things to consider first, starting with your reader’s perception of AI content.

How Readers Perceive Poor AI Copy

You might think your recipients won’t notice a weak email or text, but they do.

While it may not happen immediately, something feels off, and that “off” feeling builds up. This happens mainly because the writing lacks an authentic voice or tone.

As a result, your readers will disengage. Some will even think, “Why does this sound like five other emails I just deleted?” If that happens, your brand will likely be deleted with them.

I’ve been feeling that way a lot lately. For instance, while the following email copy passed the AI copy detector test, it had no edge or personality. If I didn’t see the sender’s name, I wouldn’t know who wrote it.

Of course, we’ll give it the benefit of the doubt. However, failing to connect the brand with the message is still a big issue.

Keep in mind that not everyone likes AI-generated content. Some readers flat-out hate it. So, if your audience includes people who feel strongly against it, and you keep feeding them AI-flavored copy, don’t be surprised when they unsubscribe or even report your emails.

You’ll see this even more on social media. People talk in the comment section. Someone will call it out if your caption sounds soulless or too robotic. And they won’t be wrong.

So, how do you avoid that? The short answer is to train yourself to identify what AI-generated copy looks like.

How to Spot AI-Generated Text

AI copy often leaves a trail of clues behind. And yes, one of them is the infamous em dash that AI models like ChatGPT seem to favor lately. Sprinkle in enough “cutting-edge solutions” and “seamless integrations,” and suddenly you’ve got too many red flags and copy that makes zero sense.

Below, let’s see how to identify AI-generated pieces of content.

Detecting AI copy manually

This is more of a manual process, so it takes a bit of practice and a sharp eye.

Here are some of the most common red flags to look out for, apart from the awkward punctuation:

1. Over-promising and under-explaining

AI often skips the how, leaving the message vague and unconvincing.

For example, a line like “Triple your sales in a week” sounds impressive, but without details on what the product does or how it works, it feels more like hype than help.

If the claim sounds big but the explanation is missing, that’s a red flag, and you’re probably over-promising without delivering.

2. Vague benefits with no substance

If the benefit isn’t specific or actionable, it probably came from a generic prompt.

Take this example: “Our tool helps you achieve more in less time.”

It sounds good initially, but what does “achieve more” mean? Are we talking about writing emails faster, closing deals, or organizing your tasks?

Without a clear outcome or example, the benefit is just fluff. Compelling copy tells the reader what they’ll gain and how. If it doesn’t, it’s a red flag.

3. Repetitive phrasing

AI text generators circle back to the same point in different words.

It might say “boost your results” in the intro, then again in the CTA, and again in the benefits list without adding anything new.

Sometimes, AI gets stuck in a loop and adds the same word or phrase to every piece of content you ask it to generate.

4. Awkward transitions or filler sentences

AI-generated text often uses generic openers or connector phrases that don’t add value.

For example, a line like “In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, success is just a click away” sounds polished, but it’s just a space-filler meant to sound important, and adds no substance.

If the sentence feels like it could fit in any context, AI’s probably trying (and failing) to sound structured. Look for smooth, logical flow instead of vague scene-setting.

5. Non-existent statistics or made-up data

AI might throw lines like “92% of marketers saw results within the first week.”

This sounds impressive, but it’s entirely made up when you search for the source. AI does that. Sometimes, it may even include a fake link or reference that looks credible at first glance.

This can mislead someone who assumes the stat has been cross-checked, especially when they’re in a hurry. Always verify numbers, sources, and citations. If it sounds oddly specific but leads nowhere, it’s probably fiction.

6. Fake urgency

Urgency is a strong attention-grabber, but without a reason, it’s just noise. AI often creates urgency with dramatic language instead of real incentives.

For example, “Limited-time offer—join today!” sounds urgent, but it feels empty if there’s no deadline, discount, or consequence. Real urgency needs real stakes. Otherwise, it just adds noise and weakens trust.

7. Too many emojis

AI loves throwing in a little sparkle(✨) and then a few more 🎯🔥💼.

If it looks like a party in the subject line or body copy, it probably wasn’t written by a human with taste.

8. Unnecessary alliterations

Lastly, when every phrase sounds like a marketing tongue twister, you’re likely looking at AI.

Take something like “seamless synergies that spark success.” It sounds flashy, but it doesn’t explain anything useful. If your message leans more on rhythm than meaning, it’s time to rewrite.

Using tools to identify AI-generated text

If you performed the above “manual” checks and you’re still unsure whether a piece of content was written by a human or generated by an AI, there are tools that can help.

Platforms like Copyleaks, GPTZero, and Originality.ai use machine learning and natural language processing (NLP) to analyze sentence structure, word predictability, and tone. Then, they’ll give you a score or flag sections that feel too robotic.

Some also include plagiarism checkers to catch content reused from other sources, especially from free AI text generators.

Unfortunately, these tools aren’t a hundred percent accurate, and they can flag human-written text as AI and vice versa.

However, they’re a smart checkpoint, especially if you outsource copy or repurpose content from an AI writing tool. So, your best strategy would be to use them to spot red flags, then apply your judgment to rewrite or refine.

AI-Generated Email Copy Example

Let’s say you want a short email to promote your platform. This is the output that ChatGPT gives:

Now, here’s what doesn’t work:

• Empty buzzwords: Words like revolutionary, innovative, and seamless lack any context. What is the platform? What does it do? The email is all fluff, no substance.
• No clear benefit: “Take your business to the next level” in the subject line is a very overused phrase. Next level of what? Revenue? Efficiency? Lead quality? Readers need something concrete.
• Fake social proof: “Join thousands of happy users” is vague and unverifiable. If you mention users, show real numbers, testimonials, or a use case. Otherwise, it sounds made up and scammy.
• Tone that blends in: This email could be from any SaaS company. There’s no personality, voice, or anything that speaks to a specific audience. It’s forgettable the second you read it.

This email took a few seconds to generate. It surely saved you valuable time, but it still needs fixes.

So the question is: “Should you use it as it is, regardless, just to save a few minutes?”

Why You Still Need to Edit or Just Write It Yourself

AI can help you get started, but nothing beats human-written text, especially when it’s a content type that requires expertise, nuance, or brand voice.

If your product has specific features, a unique audience, or a distinct tone, unedited AI output won’t cut it.

If you still choose to use it, you’ll need to:

• Fix vague phrases
• Fact-check stats
• Rewrite awkward lines
• Remove anything that sounds off-brand

Now, seeing all these red flags, you might wonder, “Why not just write it myself in the first place?” And honestly, that’s a fair point. If you spend 30 minutes rewriting a 10-second AI draft, you’re not moving faster but wasting valuable time.

But what if you stopped treating AI like a shortcut and started using it like a writing assistant?

How to Use AI to Write Better Copy (with Prompts)

AI is surprisingly good at helping you improve what you’ve already written. For instance, it can help you overcome writer’s block with fresh angles or clean up your rough spots when you need an editing tool.

Here are a few practical ways to use AI as a good writing assistant, not a ghostwriter who doesn’t know your brand or audience.

Fight writer’s block

Staring at a blank doc with zero inspiration is more common than you think.

AI tools can help you with emails, blog posts, or social content ideas. Give them a clear prompt or throw in a rough idea and ask for similar options.

Here are a few simple things you can do to fight writer’s block with an AI content generation tool:

• Create blog titles, hooks, or unique angles. Ask for topic variations, related pain points, or even seasonal ideas (e.g., “Give me 10 blog title ideas about email automation for small businesses.”).
• Get SEO suggestions, such as keywords, meta descriptions, or related questions to include (e.g., List long-tail keywords for a blog about email design best practices.)
• If you’re planning a whole post, campaign, or webpage, you can combine text-based tools with AI image generators to visualize your message better.

Email marketing platforms like Moosend have integrated AI Writers into their editors to help you streamline this process without using two separate tools.

Here’s our AI-generated text output for an announcement email.

Try it for free

Polish a rough draft for grammar and flow

If you got your first draft but need help editing it, AI can clean your copy, fix awkward phrasing, catch syntactical and grammatical errors, and smooth transitions without changing your voice.

All you have to do is ask for it with the right prompt.

Prompt: Edit this for clarity and flow, but keep my tone and structure intact.

Editor’s tip: If you want to edit large pieces of text (e.g., an article), ask the AI tool to highlight the changes so it’s easier to spot them and decide whether to apply the suggestions.

Simplify technical jargon

If your copy contains internal terms or complex product language, AI can help make it more accessible to your audience.

However, you still need to edit it to ensure everything has been correctly simplified.

Prompt: Rewrite this paragraph in plain language that a first-time user would understand.

Here’s an example:

Turn a bulleted list into a structured email

AI can shape your ideas into a clean narrative or message if you’re more of a bullet-point person.

This way, you can use your ideas and tone to complete your task faster and smarter.

Prompt: Turn this list of product benefits into a short, clear email with a CTA.

Here’s the AI-generated text for our email that ChatGPT gave us. Again, the copy isn’t perfect, but with some tweaking and your brand voice, it can be.

You can also do the opposite for large chunks of text, asking AI to summarize benefits, pain points, etc., into bullet points.

Create variations of subject lines

Sometimes, you need to have alternatives. AI can quickly generate multiple subject line ideas, offers, CTAs, and more for A/B testing.

You can also paraphrase your original copy idea if you want to use it in multiple locations.

Prompt: Give me 5 subject line variations based on this email.

You can even specify the length and tone. Here, we used “Keep them short and punchy” to get more relevant results.

Add storytelling elements to dry copy

AI won’t write your brand story or invent a personal anecdote, but it can help you bring flat copy to life with small additions.

For instance, you can include some scene-setting, relatable moments, or hooks that give your message more personality.

Prompt: Add a short, relatable example to this paragraph that shows the benefit in action.

Further reading: Learn how to use email storytelling for more engaging campaigns in our dedicated guide.

Writing Better Prompts with the C.R.E.A.T.E Framework

AI-generated text becomes better when you give your generator clear, focused instructions. Here, you can use the C.R.E.A.T.E framework to craft more relevant prompts:

• Character: Give your AI generator a character or job. For example, “You’re an email marketer for a beauty brand.”
• Request: Use natural and straightforward language. The more details you include, the better the results.
• Examples: Share references or styles you want it to follow.
• Adjustments: Tell it what to include, avoid, or adjust based on your needs.
• Type of output: Ask for bullet points, a paragraph, a table, or whatever works best for you.
• Extras: Ask questions, ignore earlier responses, or request explanations to improve relevance.

Also, you can try these simple prompts to fine-tune your copy without losing your voice or control:

• Make this email sound more conversational without losing clarity.
• Rewrite this paragraph to be more concise, but keep the key message.
• Add a clear, compelling CTA to this email.
• Give me a version of this subject line with a sense of urgency.
• Suggest 3 headline variations for this section and keep them benefit-focused.
• Edit this email for mobile readability, shorten sentences, and break up text.
• Turn this product description into a launch teaser for email or social.

For more strategies, prompt ideas, and output examples, check our ChatGPT prompts for email marketing and AI email marketing guide.

Use AI-Generated Text Strategically

AI tools aren’t magic wands. They don’t replace your voice, your strategy, or your understanding of your audience. They’re here to help, but only when used the right way.

If you copy and paste raw output from a single prompt, you risk sending off-brand emails.

The real value of AI comes when you treat it like a writing assistant. Use it to smooth out grammar, simplify complex ideas, or add some flair. Guide it with clear prompts, edit the results, and ensure the final message still sounds like you.

At the end of the day, whether your copy starts with a human or a machine, it still needs to earn the click. So, write smart, not fast.

FAQs

Below, you’ll find answers to common questions about AI-generated text.

1. What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is an AI model created by OpenAI that generates and understands text in a natural and human-like way. It’s built to help with conversations, answer questions, and support tasks like content creation, coding, planning, and more.

2. Are AI generators safe to use?

AI text generators are generally safe to use, as long as you use them responsibly. Always fact-check the output, avoid sharing sensitive information in your prompts, and review for accuracy, especially if the content will be published.

3. How do I know if content was written by AI?

You can use AI detection tools like Grammarly, GPTZero, Originality.ai, or JustDone. These tools analyze tone, predictability, and phrasing to estimate whether content is AI-generated. They’re not perfect, but they help spot red flags, especially in long-form or outsourced copy.

4. Will using AI-generated content hurt my SEO?

Search engines like Google focus on quality content and helpfulness, not how it was created. While it won’t punish websites for using it, AI-generated thin, repetitive, or inaccurate content can affect rankings. You should always edit and refine AI output to meet your audience’s needs and SEO standards.

With most businesses now owning online stores, new strategies to increase revenue are emerging. An early form of driving online revenue is through eCommerce affiliate marketing.

It’s when an eCommerce brand collaborates with third-party entities so they promote its products or services. In other words, a mutually beneficial relationship where online stores achieve more sales and affiliate marketers more commissions.

This profitable marketing channel keeps growing. In fact, affiliate marketing spending in the US is estimated to reach almost 12 billion during 2025.

But how can an eCommerce business embark on this journey?

Today, we are going to explore the best eCommerce affiliate marketing programs for building authentic partnerships with partners and earning additional revenue.

Ready to dive in?

What Is eCommerce Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing for eCommerce is a way to advertise an online store’s products through lasting partnerships and a variety of strategies.

The process is as follows. After forming the partnership, the affiliate partner—influencer, entrepreneur, blogger, or publisher—receives a unique affiliate link. With it, the partner promotes the product or service to their target audience.

When a prospective customer clicks on the referral link and makes the purchase, the affiliate platform tracks the conversion. Finally, the partner earns a commission as a reward for the sale.

The commission rate varies depending on the affiliate marketing program. You can earn money per referral or receive recurring compensation.

We should note, though, that affiliate marketing for eCommerce and eCommerce marketing are two different fields. To save you from confusion, let’s distinguish the one from the other.

Ecommerce Marketing vs. Ecommerce Affiliate Marketing

The main difference between eCommerce and eCommerce affiliate marketing is that they operate differently.

Ecommerce marketing is a broader term encompassing how a business sells its own products and services online directly to clients. The sales could come from their online shop website or store where they sell goods or other actions like email marketing campaigns or paid ads.

Meanwhile, an affiliate marketer directs visitors to eCommerce websites, promote their goods on the company’s behalf. Through a unique affiliate link, the affiliate earns a commission for each purchase made by clicking on this link.

What’s great about affiliate marketing is that it can be a breeze—with the right affiliate program at your disposal, of course.

Looking for more reasons to invest in eCommerce affiliate marketing? Below you’ll find a list of benefits of joining such a program.

Why Should You Use an eCommerce Affiliate Program?

All the more professionals are trying to grasp the potential of eCommerce affiliate marketing.

So here you have all the advantages for using affiliate marketing program as an eCommerce:

Low risk and cost

With most marketing strategies, you invest resources upfront to create content that hopefully leads to potential sales. It might be your team’s time, a dedicated professional, ad budget, and so on.

The key word here being potential. While when you depend on affiliates, they produce the content on your behalf and you only get to pay them once the click results in a sale. Basically, what you have is more control over your investment and less financial risk.

Access to niche and diverse audiences

It’s not unusual for affiliates such as bloggers and influencers to have a global reach. They may also come from multiple niches and target various audiences, as long as these align with your objectives and offer engagement opportunities.

So, by partnering with them, you access diverse market segments that you might otherwise miss-especially if you’re trying to enter a new region. This flexibility allows you to experiment with audience segments and build brand awareness through the affiliate’s network.

Social proof

In most cases, you have to work hard to get quality social proof: creating NPS surveys or polls, going through customer reviews, editing testimonials.

Whereas with affiliate marketing, it’s the third-party that does the work by producing valuable social proof for you. Content that you can reuse across touch points, from product pages to re-engagement emails.

The best part is that the affiliate’s audience is far more likely to trust them than a brand message or a customer testimonial. So, they enhance the credibility of your value proposition without feeling so promotional.

Scalability

Affiliate marketing is easy to scale. You can work with as many affiliates as needed to drive revenue and keep searching for new opportunities as you achieve optimal results. You’re not limited by parameters like ad spend or geography to grow.

As more affiliates join and thrive, your program becomes more efficient and popular. And since you track performance in real-time, you can double down on what works and make adjustments when something doesn’t.

How to Evaluate an eCommerce Affiliate Marketing Program

Although there are multiple and clear benefits, not all eCommerce affiliate marketing programs are created equal. Therefore, you should consider the following parameters when evaluating them:

• Commission rate: This is probably the most important factor to keep in mind during your research. The higher the commission, the more you’ll earn per purchase.
• Commission type: Even with low commissions you can get a steady revenue stream. So, you should also check the type of commission offered. Is it recurring or does the program reward you only for unique customers?
• Product: To make the most of your affiliate marketing efforts, you need a product that’s relevant to your niche. Also, the kind of product you choose to promote is directly linked to the value it could offer your audience.
• Payment methods: In other words, check how the payments are processed. A new affiliate who is just testing the waters perhaps will hesitate to create a PayPal account if that’s the only payment method available.
• Payout threshold: Many eCommerce affiliate marketing programs have a minimum payout, meaning the amount the third-party must earn before withdrawing commissions. This might prove to be counterintuitive for people who need the earnings as soon as possible.
• Cookie duration: This term refers to the period within which the brand tracks and compensates referrals. It directly affects the income you make since not all visitors will act instantly on your message. So, if the program only offers 24-hours cookie life, some of your efforts could go to waste.
• Resources and support: Regardless of your experience, you always need some kind of guidance when joining an affiliate program. Therefor, it’s important to read reviews and program lists to understand the level of support you’ll get. Affiliate resources, marketing material, and dedicated managers contribute to success.
• Brand reputation: The same goes for the overall reputation of the business you’re about to promote. A solid and flawless reputation ensures that the products or services will meet the expectations set and you won’t disappoint your audience.

Top eCommerce Affiliate Programs & Networks

There are hundreds of eCommerce affiliate marketing programs, each with its own niche and quirks.

A suitable affiliate network or program should boost your traffic, conversions, and revenue. So, we made sure to keep these aspects in mind while hunting for the best options.

Look for potential partners in the following table:

Now scroll on to learn more about our first pick, Moosend.

1. Moosend

Commission: Up to 40% lifetime recurring

Cookie duration: 90 days

Payout method: PayPal, Wire Transfer, Stripe

Moosend is an email automation platform that enables you to create and automate email campaigns. It offers sophisticated tools, such as form and landing page builders and AI-powered eCommerce features.

Through their straightforward and top-rated affiliate program, promoting the product is simple. Besides that, the tool offers a 40% lifetime recurring commission model.

Affiliate program benefits:

This eCommerce affiliate program allows marketers to easily make money online for every plan purchased. Besides having a steady revenue stream, you get extra commissions if your contacts upgrade.

Your commissions increase even if your referrals apply for the free trial and then upgrade. Plus, with a 90-day cookie, you give them enough time to convert.

Since Moosend hosts its affiliate program on Partnerstack, you access their reporting tools to track your performance. Moreover, Moosend’s team will support you with SEO tips, predesigned templates, and a 30-day free trial to test the platform.

Also, they offer a detailed affiliate resource center with ready-made assets like banners and social media posts. There’s also an Affiliate FAQ Center that answers potential questions.

Overall, Moosend has high-paying commissions and an established brand name that make the program a must-have.

• How to get started:

Joining this affiliate marketing program is easy and for free. Just click on the “Become an Affiliate” button on the landing page to complete the application form. Once approved, you can log in your affiliate account.

There, you’ll find your unique Referral Link in the Summary section of your dashboard. The platform allows you to create custom links, too, and save them in case you want to reuse them.

• Who is it for:

Marketers, content creators, publishers, digital agencies

Pros	Cons
Up to 40% commissions	Limited product offering
90-days cookies
Easy to use
Wide set of affiliate resources

2. Amazon Associates

Commission: Ranges from 1% to 20% commission.

Cookie duration: 24 hours

Payout method: Direct deposit, check, or Amazon gift card.

Amazon Associates is undoubtedly the most popular online marketplace. As such, it offers one of the largest eCommerce affiliate marketing programs worldwide.

With a myriad of products available (3000 product listings), they help content creators monetize their traffic by choosing between multiple product categories.

Affiliate program benefits:

Another great thing is that there’s no limit. In other words, you can earn commission from as many items as you want. This flexibility makes Amazon Associates a top choice.

To qualify for the eCommerce affiliate program, though, you need to have an established online presence and recent and original content on your site.

Amazon affiliates get up to a 20% commission from qualifying purchases. But you should remember that the commission mostly depends on the product type.

You get paid approximately 60 days after the month’s end. Moreover, the minimum payout is $10 for direct deposit or Amazon gift cards and $100 for check.

Signing up with Amazon means you are an affiliate partner of Amazon, not of the brands selling there. However, you could partner directly with brands through Amazon’s Creator Connections program, allowing you to earn extra commissions.

• How to get started:

First, you need to create an account by tapping on the “Sign up” button on the Amazon Associates page. After completing the form, Amazon will check your application while also ensuring you have qualified sales and robust content online.

Once approved, you can start sharing different products with your audience, using the customized link-building tools that Amazon provides.

• Who is it for:

Content creators, bloggers, publishers

Pros	Cons
Millions of digital and physical products	Confusing policies
Commission rates of 1% to 20%	Long payout times (60-days)
Provides link-building tools	Short cookie duration

3. eBay Partner Network

Commission: Rates between 1% and 4%

Cookie duration: 24 hours

Payout method: PayPal or direct deposit

eBay Partner Network is an affiliate site that connects millions of sellers and buyers worldwide. It’s designed and managed by eBay, that is to say the second largest eCommerce site behind Amazon.

Like Amazon Associates, this affiliate marketing option for eCommerce suits individuals who want to promote different types of physical and digital products available on eBay.

Affiliate program benefits:

With over 2.3 billion listings from a wide set of categories, you’ll find products that fit the tone of your blog posts and landing pages.

eBay Partner Network’s commission rate vary based on the category of the product, ranging from 1% to 4%. eBay processes payments once a month via direct deposit or PayPal with the minimum payout at $10 (or its equivalent in your region’s currency).

Moreover, by connecting with buyers all over the world, you have more opportunities to generate a passive income. eBay Partner Network facilitates the process through an extended collection of eCommerce affiliate marketing tools.

Also, you can track your performance in real time through intuitive tools and comprehensive reports. Plus, you ensure all eBay links include your tracking information through the Smart Links feature.

In a nutshell, this program has all you need to build ads and campaigns, drive traffic, and increase revenue.

• How to get started:

Once you hit the “Sign up” button on eBay’s Partner Network page, you’ll be asked to subscribe using your email, Google, Facebook, or Apple. When signing up for an affiliate account, pick the ideal affiliate model based on your business.

After that, you have to integrate your website, app, and social media channels with eBay.

• Who is it for:

Bloggers, reviewers, comparison site owners

Pros	Cons
Over 2.3 billion listings	Low commission rates
Monthly payouts	Short cookie duration
No restrictions for sharing

4. Rakuten Advertising

Commission: Different commission rates

Cookie duration: No set duration

Payout method: PayPal, check (where available), or direct deposit

Rakuten Advertising is a shopping platform that brands use to advertise their products. It also brags for being an eCommerce affiliate marketing leader with 25+ years of experience.

Their main goal is to connect brands with their audience through strategic expertise, advanced affiliate technology, and data-driven insights.

Affiliate program benefits:

What differentiates Rakuten Advertising from other options is its unique earnings parameters.

Set at different levels, this network offers three commission structures:

• Dynamic, offering variable payouts based on product category.
• Coupon codes, allowing brands to set rules based on the coupon code usage.
• Multi-touch, which rewards the first click marketing attribution.

Basically, the commission rate and cookie duration depend on each advertiser or publisher.

Regarding payments, contacts need to close out any commissions by the end of the month. Afterwards, Rakuten must pay you the following week; however, you need at least $50 amount to make a withdrawal.

Another key point is that Rakuten Advertising uses AI capabilities. You may use them to tailor your content based on changing marketing conditions and predict campaign performance using real-time insights.

They also have an AI-driven Partnership Discovery tool, which recommends successful partners in your product category so you don’t miss out on fruitful affiliate marketing opportunities.

• How to get started:

On Rakuten Advertising’s page, click on the “Become a publisher” option at the top. Provide the required information and then hit Register.

After you click on the verification link sent via email they’ll prompt you to set up your account, adding details like your business setup (individual/ part of company). Once done, you’re ready to navigate through your dashboard.

• Who is it for:

Advertisers, publishers, influencers

Pros	Cons
Multiple payment options	Slow or non-responsive customer support
Three commission strategies	Minimum payout threshold of $50
Helpful resources (e.g., eBooks)

5. Bluehost

Commission: $65 per qualified sale

Cookie duration: 30 days

Payout method: PayPal (2% processing fee) or direct deposit

Bluehost is a web hosting provider that helps beginners create and post content on WordPress websites through various eCommerce tools. Joining their eCommerce affiliate marketing program is for free.

Affiliate program benefits:

The payout structure is pretty straightforward since the platform pays a flat $65 commission for each qualified purchase. But you first need to reach the minimum payout threshold of $100.

Usually, the platform processes payments after 45 to 70 days, and you get the money via PayPal or direct deposit. We should clarify, though, that Bluehost doesn’t cover PayPal’s 2% processing fee.

As a Bluehost affiliate, you also gain access to the tool’s broad selection of banners and ads. Among them, you’ll find the ones that fit your website so you can promote your affiliate link effectively.

Through the affiliate dashboard, you monitor how different campaigns perform and see accurate metrics relevant to your niche. This way, you get to improve and increase commissions in future activities.

Furthermore, the support team is available to guide you on how to make your eCommerce affiliate marketing work, sharing actionable tips from top-performing affiliates.

• How to get started:

On Bluehost’s Affiliate Program page, click on the “Join now” button. This action will direct you to the Signup page. Before completing the form, you’ll have to read through the contract terms.

After you sign up, you’ll receive a unique affiliate link that you can later share on your preferred channels.

• Who is it for:

Digital marketers, freelancers, agencies

Pros	Cons
Beginner-friendly	Long payout times
Quick sign up	Minimum payout threshold of $100
Long cookie duration

6. Shopify

Commission: Up to $150 for full-priced plan referrals

Cookie duration: 30 days

Payout method: PayPal or direct deposit

Shopify Affiliate Program helps online businesses grow their brand awareness and gain access to exclusive engagement opportunities.

Through Shopify, you join thousands of affiliates worldwide. It’s free to join the program but you must meet specific requirements. These include being familiar with Shopify or other eCommerce platforms and produce original content like videos, blog posts, or online courses.

Affiliate program benefits:

In Shopify’s eCommerce affiliate marketing program, the minimum payout is $10. But there’s no limit to the amount you can earn as Shopify doesn’t have a cap of how many merchants you can refer.

Plus, Shopify allows you to choose between getting paid once your balance reaches a specific amount or leveraging bi-weekly payments.

By joining, you get access to a library of creative assets like lead magnets that you can use to promote your affiliate link and increase conversions.

Furthermore, Shopify offers detailed performance insights directly on your dashboard. If you find that you can do better, resources like playbooks and guides are available to help you boost referrals.

• How to get started:

Click on the “Apply now” button on Shopify’s Affiliate Program page. After agreeing to the contract terms, fill out the application form with your personal information.

In most cases, applications are answered upon within 5 working days. If your application gets approved, Shopify sends a confirmation email with helpful tools to get started. Also, they let you access their third-party affiliate software and native affiliate tracking app to manage your links.

• Who is it for:

Video creators, bloggers, course educators, entrepreneurs

Pros	Cons
High-earning affiliate program	Low-tier plans aren’t eligible for commission
User-friendly	Bounty commission instead of recurring
Native affiliate tracking app

7. NordVPN

Commission: 40% to 100% for new sign-ups, 30% for renewals

Cookie duration: 30 days

Payout method: PayPal or wire transfer

NordVPN is a trusted virtual private network service that keeps public Wi-Fi and private Internet access secure. Due to its global reach, affiliate marketers use it to grow their customer base in every country.

While they offer data protection through encrypted connections regardless of the region, they also have an affiliate marketing program that helps users promote the product effectively.

Affiliate program benefits:

Here, you have a 30-day cookie, but their generous commission rates makes up for the short time period.

NordVPN’s affiliate marketing program offers sign-up commissions of 40% to 100% for new sign-ups. When it comes to renewals, you get a 30% commission, regardless of the subscription plan.

This program has a $10 payout threshold. Plus, since NordVPN uses CJ Affiliate and Impact, the payout schedule depends on which affiliate network you use.

Unlike other eCommerce affiliate marketing programs in this list, you don’t need to own a site or blog to become an affiliate. Your social media accounts or YouTube channel will do.

If you’re new to this, NordVPN has a specialized account manager to help you out. They will provide SEO suggestions, too.

• How to get started:

With NordVPN, it’s easy to start earning. You just have to take three simple steps. First, you create an account by hitting the CTA on their affiliate page. Once you complete everything, you should wait for them to review your application.

Upon approval, they’ll notify you via email. Then, visit your affiliate dashboard to find links and promo materials such as banners and ads so you can begin driving sales on your preferred marketing channels.

• Who is it for:

Cybersecurity experts, YouTubers, tech influencers

Pros	Cons
High-quality marketing materials	No recurring commissions
Great commission rates	Stringent criteria for approval
Trusted brand

8. Fiverr

Commission: Different commission rates

Cookie duration: 30 days after the first click

Payout method: PayPal or Payoneer for commissions under $1,000 (wire transfers when it exceeds this limit)

Fiverr is known for its freelance networking services that allow businesses to connect with a wide range of service providers.

It’s free to sign up, and after you join as an affiliate, you gain access to marketing materials and tools that make promoting Fiverr a simple task.

Affiliate program benefits:

Fiverr affiliates choose different payouts depending on which product or service they want to promote. You can use the Fiverr Affiliate links provided to advertise Fiverr on a multitude of platforms, including social media, podcasts, and email campaigns.

Moreover, Fiverr has a fixed cost per acquisition (CPA) once your customer buys for the first time, no referral limits, and a lifetime attribution. Basically, the CPA ranges from 25% to 70% per purchase amount. After that, you get a revenue share of each purchase made in the following 12 months.

Although Fiverr Affiliates get paid once a month (on a net 30 basis), they can’t claim payments until their account reaches the threshold of $100.

Suppose you can’t figure out how to get started. In that case, you can access tutorials, eBooks, and even a dedicated affiliate manager.

• How to get started:

On Fiverr Affiliates’ page, tap on “Join now”. You will have to fill out your personal details. After completing the signup form, log into your account to set up your partner dashboard. There, you should add things like payment details and links to the sources you’ll use to promote the tool.

• Who is it for:

Freelancers, content creators, online educators, agencies

Pros	Cons
Various valuable marketing materials	Commission schedules get complicated
Dynamic commission systems	Minimum balance of $100
More than 400 service categories

9. Teachable

Commission: Up to 30% recurring commission

Cookie duration: 30 days

Payout method: PayPal, Stripe, direct bank transfer

Teachable is a beginner-friendly platform that sells digital courses. Particularly, it helps professionals host and design their sessions and students build their ideal online course plan.

Therefore, it’s a great choice for those who want to teach online courses in their field. Before joining their affiliate program, anyone can create a free account and test some of its features to see if it’s a good fit.

Affiliate program benefits:

This is a high-paying affiliate program, with a 30% recurring commission on any subscription purchase, which may reach up to $1,000 or more per month. Plus, you get a 30-day cookie to have enough time to promote Teachable.

You get paid for the commissions every month as long as you remain a Teachable customer. But you should know that you’ll keep earning the commission only for their first year of usage.

As a Teachable partner, you get access to historical earnings per click or product and email content upon platform updates.

Besides that, Teachable gives you an overview of all your affiliate codes and track website engagement to improve your overall strategy.

• How to get started:

The first step includes creating an account. Then, fill out the application form’s fields and take the time to read the terms and conditions.

After submitting the form, you’ll receive a confirmation email and wait for someone at Teachable to review your application. Once they follow up, you’ll be able to visit the affiliate dashboard.

• Who is it for:

Educators, B2B entrepreneurs

Pros	Cons
High-paying commission rates	Lengthy signup process
Beginner-friendly platform	Lack of educational resources for affiliates
Recurring commissions

10. Wix

Commission: $100/sale flat

Cookie duration: 30 days

Payout method: Wire transfer

Wix is a user-friendly web publishing platform that helps people worldwide create their websites and customize them even with no technical skills.

Enrolling in the Wix Affiliate Program gives you all the tools you need to receive competitive payouts per sale.

Affiliate program benefits:

The commission type is flat, so you’ll receive a $100 commission for every contact who buys a Premium plan. You get unlimited referrals, too. Basically, this performance-based model allows you to earn more depending on the traffic you bring in.

However, you’ll have to reach a threshold amount of $300 per month to receive the commission. Also, affiliate commissions are paid within approximately 45 days after the end of the month.

Besides that, you may choose from high-performing and fresh creative resources to promote your affiliate links.

• How to get started:

Navigate to the platform’s affiliate page and tap on the “Start Earning Now” button. Once you do, you’ll have to fill in the form. You also should confirm that your site doesn’t publish abusive content, a basic requirement for joining the program.

As soon as you’ve read the terms and conditions, you may submit the form. If your application gets approved, you’ll receive an email with a link that will direct you to your affiliate dashboard.

• Who is it for: 

Website owners, bloggers

Pros	Cons
$100 bounty payment	$300 monthly threshold amount
Intuitive dashboard with creative materials	Invoicing process is low
Unlimited referrals	Limited payment options

11. BigCommerce

Commission: 200% per client’s first monthly payment or $1500/ per enterprise plan

Cookie duration: 90 days

Payout method: PayPal

 

BigCommerce is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) in the eCommerce industry that many people use to create their own online store.

In addition to that, they have an eCommerce affiliate marketing program to refer visitors and increase your income.

Affiliate program benefits: 

Their affiliate program is among the highest-paying programs, allowing you to earn 200% for every new referral, with no minimum commitments or commission caps.

Moreover, if you snag an enterprise customer, you receive $1,500.

BigCommerce also has a performance-based tier; the more referrals you drive, the more money you earn. Although the commissions aren’t recurring, the generous affiliate fees make the tool worth it.

When you join, you’ll get access to pre-made banners, emails, and other promotional materials that save you time and effort during content creation and linking. Plus, this affiliate program offers direct access to a dedicated account manager who will share helpful strategies for business growth.

You’ll definitely need powerful tracking capabilities, too. Through their affiliate dashboard, you get comprehensive insights into your clicks, trials, and commissions.

• How to get started:

Once clicking on the “Apply now” button on the BigCommerce affiliate landing page, you’ll be directed to the signup form. Completing the few custom fields is a matter of minutes. You’ll need to specify your website and how it will be of value to the platform-among other data.

They will review your application within a few days and then answer back while granting you access to your affiliate dashboard.

• Who is it for:

eCommerce consultants, content creators, web developers

Pros	Cons
Powerful reporting and tracking	Limited information about the program on the page
Premade creative resources	No recurring commissions
No sales limit or obligations

12. WP Engine

Commission: Ranges from $100 to $200 minimum

Cookie duration: 180 days

Payout method: Direct deposit or Automated Clearing House (ACH)

WP Engine is a popular digital experience platform with premium web hosting services that helps businesses run their websites more efficiently.

In addition to their experience hosting for WordPress sites, they offer an affiliate marketing program for professionals to maximize their earnings.

Affiliate program benefits:

Their affiliate program offers bounty payments per purchased plan. The commissions depend on the hosting plan that your referral selected.

For instance, you’ll get $100 for a Lite plan subscription. Whereas for high-tier plans, you’ll earn at least $200 (or more if the monthly cost of the plan is higher).

We should also highlight that WP Engine allows for multiple referrals per month so you can earn bonus commissions. However, they don’t offer commissions on upgrades and add-ons.

WP Engine affiliates should wait for their referrals to pass through a 62-days qualification period before getting paid. After that, WP Engine issues commissions around the 20th of each month.

When you sign up for WP Engine’s affiliate program, you have access to creative resources such as pre-designed banners and co-branded landing pages to customize to your taste. And you’ll receive exclusive affiliate discounts and seasonal promotions that you can share with your audience.

• How to get started:

Use the “Register Now” CTA on the WP Engine affiliate program to visit the signup form and fill in your personal data. The WP Engine team will review your application.

When they approve it, they will let you access your affiliate dashboard, which includes all the valuable resources to get started.

• Who is it for?

Agencies, tech bloggers and influencers

Pros	Cons
Long cookie lifetime (180 days)	Limited audience due to the product’s pricing
Generous commissions	Referrals’ 62-days qualification period
Affiliate discounts and promotions

13. HubSpot

Commission: 30% per referral, recurring (for up to 1 year)

Cookie duration: 180 days

Payout method: Direct deposit or PayPal

HubSpot is an all-in-one marketing solution that integrates CRM, marketing automation, and sales to address audience needs.

You can join their affiliate marketing program for free by completing a five-minute application.

Affiliate program benefits: 

As a partner, you receive a 30% recurring commission for up to 1 year, which could reach more than $1,000 per sale. This is your starting point as a new HubSpot affiliate.

In addition to that, HubSpot offers a tiered affiliate marketing program. So, if you reach the higher tier (Elite Affiliate), you increase revenue through custom commissions. In this plan, you also have direct access to a dedicated affiliate manager.

HubSpot also has a generous cookie window of 180 days while the minimum balance to make withdrawals is set at $10.

There’s a large creative library, too, with over 400 promotional assets (demo videos, banners, training guides) at your disposal. Another helpful asset is the publicly available Affiliate Program Agreement which sorts things out for you right there on the affiliate page.

By using Impact—a third-party affiliate platform—you can optimize your promotions and add unique tracking parameters to monitor your performance.

• How to get started:

To apply to the program, click on the “Become an affiliate” button on the dedicated page. On the application form, you’ll be prompted to fill in your business information.

Keep in mind that this process includes a “Promotional Information” where you’ll share the domains you’ll use to promote the platform. HubSpot will check your application within 2-3 working days. Upon approval, you gain access to their affiliate resource center and marketing assets.

• Who is it for:

Content publishers, SaaS review sites, B2B marketplaces

Pros	Cons
180-days cookie duration	No commissions for returning customers
400+ promotional assets	Some assets are only available in high-tier plan
Trusted brand

14. Semrush

Commission: Up to $200 per sale

Cookie duration: 120 days

Payout method: PayPal or Electronic Funds Transfer

Semrush is an all-in-one SEO tool that allows more than 10 million marketers to drive more sales through search engine optimization and keyword research.

Besides that, its affiliate program gives professionals the opportunity to earn commissions both for trials and paid plans.

Affiliate program benefits:

Semrush’s affiliate program has high commissions since you get up to $200 for every sale you make based on the solution and plan purchased. As a bonus, you get $10 for every new trial, too.

They don’t stop there, though, since Semrush offers you extra incentives such as new-affiliate special incentives.

Furthermore, affiliates gain access to thousands of ready-made promotional assets and training resources to optimize their strategy.

Payments are subject to Impact’s affiliate network that Semrush uses. You can get your commissions 27 days after the month’s end or schedule a specific day for each payout. Otherwise, you may get paid when you reach a specific threshold. The minimum threshold for withdrawals is $10.

• How to get started:

Join Semrush’s affiliate marketing program by tapping on the “Apply now” button so you fill out the application. You’ll have to specify how you’re planning to promote the tool, too.

Semrush takes a few days to review applications. Once you get the approval, you’ll access all the promotional assets to enhance your affiliate efforts.

• Who is it for:

Marketing agencies, course and video creators, publishers

Pros	Cons
Competitive commissions per sale	High-ticket product
120-days cookie lifetime	No commission for subscription renewals
Dedicated support team

15. Leadpages

Commission: Up to $400 for each referral (10-50%)

Cookie duration: 30 days

Payout method: PayPal or wire transfer

Leadpages is a popular lead generation software for businesses to create websites and landing pages and build a robust online presence.

Plus, their eCommerce affiliate marketing program offers generous commissions that make it stand out.

Affiliate program benefits:

Leadpage’s affiliate program is helpful for those who want to earn up to 10-50% in recurring commissions per sale. For initial sales, you can get up to 40% commission rates.

Keep in mind, though, that you only earn commissions for as long as your referrals remain Leadpages clients.

Leadpages remits commissions within 15 days after the calendar month in which the referral occurred. Also, you may withdraw them only if you reach the $50 threshold.

Leadpages supports affiliate partners through educational content like tutorials and special promotions to share with their audience.

• How to get started:

First, submit your application through the “Become an Affiliate” CTA in the right corner of the affiliate landing page. Usually, it takes two business days for application approval.

After this timeframe, they will contact you through a message and send you an onboarding email with all you need to know to begin your affiliate marketing journey.

• Who is it for:

Marketers, content creators, influencers

Pros	Cons
Competitive and recurring commissions per sale	High-ticket product
Straightforward payment structure	Low commission base
Early access to new templates and features

16. Coinbase

Commission: 50% per trading fee for first 3 months

Cookie duration: 30 days cookie duration

Payout method: PayPal or bank transfer

Coinbase is one of the best-known crypto exchange platforms. Through it, users can buy and sell cryptocurrency.

Combined with a successful affiliate marketing program, it offers people worldwide a chance to make money through this financial system.

Affiliate program benefits:

If you become a Coinbase affiliate, you’ll earn 50% of your referees’ trading fees for the first three months that the customer uses the platform. Normally, Coinbase remits commissions within 30 days from the end of the invoice date.

Coinbase gives you access to campaign testing tools so you can further optimize your affiliate efforts. In addition to that, you have 20+ customizable performance reports.

However, we should highlight that Coinbase’s affiliate program is no longer available in the UK. Another thing to consider is that there’s a low acceptance rate. Coinbase states you should have at least 45k website or app unique visitors. They should be passionate about crypto, too.

• How to get started:

Navigate to Coinbase’s affiliate landing page and hit the “Become an affiliate” button. After that, you’ll get directed to the form where you must complete a bunch of data, including the methods you’ll use to generate traffic.

The applications are managed by Impact within a few working days. However, some users report the approval took longer. Upon approval, you can the marketing assets and tracking software.

• Who is it for:

Finance bloggers and influencers, crypto enthusiasts

Pros	Cons
High commissions	Low acceptance rate
Lots of marketing assets	Recurring commissions last 3 months
Intuitive affiliate dashboard	No option for crypto payment

Start Your Affiliate Journey With Moosend

Anyone can benefit from eCommerce affiliate marketing as it’s a profitable and proven method for making passive income—and increasing your customer base.

Your next step is to partner with Moosend to achieve more revenue! 🤝

Moosend’s affiliate program helps you grow your businesses through tiered commissions, allowing you more accounts as you upgrade.

Also, you have all the resources you need in one place, from email swipes to social media posts.

So, what do you say? Sign up for Moosend’s affiliate marketing program today!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Simple answers to common questions.

1. How do I start eCommerce affiliate marketing?

To jumpstart your eCommerce affiliate marketing strategy, here are some steps you need to take:

1. Select a platform, such as a blog, YouTube, or Instagram.
2. Decide on your niche so you can rank higher in search engines.
3. Find and join an affiliate program, which you can find on this list or through a Google search.
4. Generate traffic by creating high-quality content.

2. What are the benefits of affiliate marketing?

Here’s why you should create your own affiliate marketing campaign:

• It’s convenient and flexible. Affiliate marketing is cost-effective and easy to set up.
• It’s low risk. Most affiliate programs are free to join.
• You can work from home. You only need an Internet connection to get a continuous return on investment.

3. What is the highest-paid affiliate program?

Brands like Fiverr, HubSpot, Semrush, Bluehost, Shopify, and BigCommerce offer the highest-paying affiliate programs.

4. Do I need to create an account to become an affiliate marketer?

While the eCommerce affiliate marketing programs in this list won’t ask you to create an account, we strongly suggest that you do. By testing the waters first, you learn each tool’s strengths so you can better promote them to your audience.

What did you do after you hit “Send” on your last email campaign? If you just glanced at your open rate, gave a little nod of approval, and moved on, perhaps you’re missing something.

What if your email was trying to tell you more?

Email campaigns don’t end when you hit send. They’re just getting started. For publishers, your newsletter isn’t just a way to get more traffic or sales. It’s a conversation with your readers. But how do you know what they’re saying back?

By reading your email data like a book.

Your newsletter metrics is a goldmine of audience insights, with every open, click, and scroll being a breadcrumb that leads you to what your readers really want.

In this post, we’ll show you how to make sense of it all, go beyond surface-level email metrics and start reading the story your data is telling you.

Campaign Reports: The story behind your bottom line

For some industries—like eCommerce, for example—campaign reports are just about money and the time periods that are most profitable. But for publishers, a thorough explanation of their bottom line can reveal true momentum.

Understanding your campaign reports can help you keep a steady stream of revenue by appealing to your audience’s content needs. Here’s how:

• Time your campaigns more strategically. Maybe your Monday newsletters consistently lead to more subscription upgrades. Time to lean into that.
• Spot your high-value audience segments. Which groups are more likely to subscribe, click affiliate links, or download your premium content?
• Understand what types of content perform best. Are subscribers converting after reading investigative features, curated listicles, or daily news recaps? This will help you prioritize content creation.

Let’s look at an example.

You’re an independent digital publication. You send a “Top 10 Weekly” email with an interesting digest, some gated content, and opportunities for paid subscriptions at a lower fee.

When you look at your metrics, there’s nothing out of the ordinary. Your open and click-through rates look solid. But a closer look shows that there are barely any conversions.

It’s time to check out the campaign dashboard in Moosend.

This area of your dashboard consists of the following sections:

• Performance overview shares a snapshot of how your latest newsletter campaign performed in terms of opens, clicks, and engagement
• A/B performance overview gives you insights into the version of your subject line, layout or copy that drew in more readers
• Track recipient activity shows how each subscriber interacted with your campaign
• Track link clicks reveals the parts of your newsletter that got the most clicks
• Track email clients and devices helps you understand how your readers are tuning in, be it through mobile, desktop, tablet, or even specific email apps
• Track activity by location pinpoints where in the world your audience is most active

That data can help shape your next email marketing campaign. You can see how many readers click on the “Download Now” CTA for the free resources and how many opted for content that was behind a paywall. You can also see how many users opened your email through a mobile device, and the countries where readers are most engaged.

That way, you’ll know whether your next campaigns should target paying subscribers, located in Sweden, who use mobile devices to open their emails, or focused on free resources for readers located in China, who prefer to open their emails through their tablet.

Or you can go even deeper and perform more granular refinements with a custom report.

Just click on the “Custom Reports” tab and select your favorite widget. Since we’re investigating the conversions of free to paid subscribers in our example, we’re going to select the “Performance Chart” to have a holistic view of the clicks and visits that turned into subscriptions:

What would the result be? A thorough understanding of how the number of subscribers increased due to our example’s email campaign.

Custom fields: Build for reader relevance

An email listing all your latest articles will most likely be a red flag for many of your subscribers.

On the other hand, a newsletter that filters stories based on the recipient’s favorite genres and articles relevant to their specific interests will grant you better engagement overall.

If creating an email that changes dynamically to fit every recipient sounds a bit complicated, just use Moosend’s custom fields.

A custom field collects extra details about your readers as they sign up. That way you can go beyond a first and last name—that’s what default fields are for—and gather insights into what genres they love or which newsletters they want in their inbox.

Instead of sending one-size-fits-all campaigns, you can craft newsletter campaigns centered around each subscriber’s preferred genres, publication frequency, or favorite authors and topics.

Here’s what that looks like in action:

Let’s say your publication offers a weekly newsletter with assorted topics titled “Weekly Digest.” When subscribers sign up, they choose their favorite topics, preferred content types, or favorite authors. This information is stored using custom fields:

• preferred_content_type
• favorite_author
• subscription_date
• location

These custom fields let you personalize your email content with each subscriber’s data. So instead of a generic message like “Hey there, check out our newsletter,” you can send something like: “Hey [First Name], this week’s top [preferred_content_type] is here, including a feature on [favorite_author]”
As you can see, custom fields pull in stored data to personalize static text. It’s up to you to make sure the content aligns with what the subscriber expects.

So how do you make this work?

If you’re sending the same newsletter to everyone, you can use custom field tags like {{preferred_content_type}} and {{favorite_author}} to insert subscriber-specific details into your subject lines or body text. This makes each email feel personal without building multiple campaigns.

To create your custom field, simply click the “Add New Custom Field” button in your email list section:

Since you’re collecting more in-depth data that is specific to each subscriber, make sure to mark your custom field as “required.” That way, you’ll collect the information that will shape your next personalized campaign. But there’s an added bonus.

Subscribers who will go the extra mile to tell you what they’re interested in are subscribers that would love to receive your content, which will translate into better engagement for you down the line.

So, let’s imagine you have four members on your list, all with very different tastes, who are going to receive a newsletter with your brand-new releases. The members are John, who loves fantasy, Eric, who prefers bone-chilling horror, Penny, who is into economic chronicles and non-fiction, and Evie, who is an avid romance reader.

• John will receive an email with the subject line “This just in: [favorite_author] new epic trilogy.”
• Eric will receive a newsletter with a subject line detailing the latest crime fiction release.
• Penny will open her “This just in: [preferred_content_type] with new data and picks form global economic forums.”
• Evie will see some of her favorite romance authors mentioned in a subject line made just for her.

Everyone gets a “This just in” newsletter, but they see their preferences mentioned in an email so tailor-made, they’re bound to open it.

A/B testing: What makes subscribers “read more”

While many marketers have a strong sense of their audience, A/B testing often reveals unexpected insights, reminding us that data can challenge even our best instincts.

A/B testing can very well be a publisher’s editorial assistant for email. It doesn’t guess. It doesn’t assume. It tests two variables of the otherwise identical email and provides data-backed insights based on recipients’ reactions.

Deciding your winning message doesn’t have to do with copy alone. You can test variables like the subject lines and body copy, or you can get a more in-depth understanding of user preferences by testing your design’s elements—a GIF here or a bright color there can make a world of difference—and get even more granular by testing real sender names.

A/B testing is a way to have users decide the look and feel of your email.

Let’s take the subject line example. Create two subject lines that will differ in one key variable. Like this:

After that, decide the percentage you will be testing your subject line against, and the factor that determines the winner—unique opens or unique clicks?

The remaining percentage of subscribers will automatically get the winning version of your email once your A/B test is wrapped up.

Don’t stop at subject lines. Try to kick it up a notch by testing your CTAs:

“Start reading” vs. “See the full story”

“Subscribe now” vs. “Join our reading list”

The difference is that the first one is short and imperative, whereas the second one is longer and suggests a course of action.

What will your readers choose? That’s for them to know and you to find out—and incorporate into your next email campaign.

You might learn your readers prefer plain-text layouts over visual ones. Or that they prefer animated content in the form of GIFs, but only on announcements and not regular newsletters.

What you learn will surprise you and help you craft sharper, smarter, and more reader-focused email campaigns.

Extra Tip: One test might not be enough to draw solid conclusions. Run the same test more than once—or tweak and retest—to confirm if the result was consistent or just a one-off. Patterns over time give you real confidence in what works. The more you test, the more you’ll learn, and those insights will help you create sharper, more focused email campaigns that actually resonate with your readers.

Turn your emails into editorial gold

Open rates and clicks are a start, but real insights come when you dig beneath the surface.

With detailed reports, smart use of custom fields, and solid A/B testing, you’re going beyond email campaigns. You’re building an ecosystem that’s constantly learning from what your audience does and turns your campaigns into your best-performing publishing product.

Did you find out something unexpected about your audience? Then, it’s time to redesign your email campaigns to match their preferences.

June doesn’t knock, it shows up in flip-flops with a Pride flag in one hand and a beach towel in the other. And honestly? It has every reason to.

This month is about celebrating identity, embracing inclusion, honoring parents, protecting the planet, and preparing for Father’s Day. With summer in full swing, it’s also the perfect time to fire up your seasonal sales.

Our June email marketing guide will break down the key dates worth targeting and give you fresh ideas to turn them into high-performing campaigns. We’ll also share real brand examples, inclusivity tips, and ready-to-use templates to help you launch faster and connect more meaningfully.

June Email Planner Overview: What to Send

June’s a busy month, so to give you a hand, here are the important dates to add to your email marketing calendar:

• LGBTQ+ Pride Month: All month
• Men’s Health Month: All month
• Summer Sales: All month
• Global Day of Parents: June 1
• World Environment Day: June 5
• World Oceans Day: June 8
• Father’s Day: June 15
• Juneteenth: June 19
• World Refugee Day: June 20
• Summer Solstice: June 21
• International Day of Yoga: June 21

Now let’s create some awesome June email marketing campaigns for each one of them.

1. LGBTQ+ Pride Month

Pride Month is a time to honor identity, amplify voices, and show support in real and meaningful ways.

For brands, this isn’t about rainbow logos or trendy hashtags but about authenticity, inclusivity, and allyship. If you participate, do it with intention and always listen first.

To get your messaging right, consider consulting/collaborating with a member of the LGBTQ+ community to help you out.

Email campaign: The focus should be visibility and support, not sales alone. Here are some great campaign ideas to use throughout the month:

• Spotlight series: Share stories from LGBTQ+ employees, creators, or customers. Uplift their voices and let them lead the narrative.
• Give back initiative: Partner with LGBTQ+ organizations and tell your subscribers how their purchases or engagement make a difference.
• Inclusive sale: Highlight items that support self-expression and individuality, or launch a limited Pride collection with a donation element.
• Educational emails: Share LGBTQ+ history, milestones, or resources your audience might appreciate.

When to send: Start early in June to introduce your audience to the theme. Then, keep the conversation going throughout the month with spotlights, initiatives, and community updates.

Subject lines: Make sure your creations are respectful and appropriate. You can also add emojis to stand out in the inbox.

• Pride Month Is Almost Here! 🌈 (Tattly)
• 🏳️‍🌈 The Unsung Heroes of Pride Month (BARK)
• We stand with the LGBTQ+ community. 🌈 (Burt’s Bees)

Email copy: Use inclusive language that reflects a diverse audience. Be respectful and avoid tokenism. If you’re sharing stories, let people speak in their own words.

Visuals: Choose bold, celebratory colors while keeping email accessibility in mind (contrast, readable fonts, etc.). Use the rainbow thoughtfully, and don’t overdo it. To make it more personal, include pride parade images.

CTAs:

• Celebrate With Us
• Hear Their Stories
• Support the LGBTQ+ Community

Example: Bobbi Brown Cosmetics

Bobbi Brown’s Pride Month email is personal, respectful, and inspiring.

The campaign features LGBTQIA+ creators and team members, including their Executive Director of Global Artistry. Each person shares what Pride means to them, focusing on lived experience rather than branding.

The layout divides each story using soft, rainbow-inspired color blocks. It has a clean, vertical structure that makes it easy to read. The tone is empowering and inclusive, and the visuals reflect various identities.

The CTAs, “Follow on Instagram” and “Learn more,” support ongoing connection and advocacy. This is a great June email marketing campaign to promote relationship building and spotlight members of your community.

Subject line: Celebrate Pride with us

2. Men’s Health Month

June is also Men’s Health Month, apart from Pride Month. This is a great time to raise awareness about the physical and mental health challenges men face and to encourage open conversations about wellness, strength, and support.

Brands can use it to check in, break stigmas, and offer resources or content that helps men care for themselves, inside and out.

Email campaign: Create promotional and educational content for your audience. You don’t need to be in the health or fitness industry to take part. Any brand can lead with care. Here are some great ideas to use:

• Wellness check-in: Share quick daily tips or a short health checklist your audience can follow.
• Expert insights: Collaborate with a healthcare provider or coach to create a guide or FAQ.
• Relevant offers: Promote items that tie into self-care, stress relief, or physical wellness.

When to send: Begin early in the month with an awareness email. You can follow up with a featured product or tips, and close out with a story or giveaway.

Subject lines:

• COMFORT FOR THE MEN IN YOUR LIFE 🧑‍💼 (MeUndies)
• Treat yourself (Giant Bicycles)
• Men’s Health Month: Let’s talk about it

Email copy: Avoid making assumptions or promoting outdated stereotypes. Instead, focus on simple actions and create a safe space for the conversation.

Visuals: Opt for a clean, minimal layout with calming colors (blues, greens, or neutrals). Real imagery that reflects different ages, body types, and lifestyles will make your design inclusive and diverse.

CTAs:

• Prioritize Your Health
• Read the Guide
• Small Steps Start Here

Template: Promoting wellness

You don’t need a complex design to make an impact. A clean template like this will work perfectly for educational and promotional June email marketing campaigns.

Use high-quality images that reflect strength, movement, and real moments. Also, keep the design clean with short sections to drive action and promote readability.

Lastly, choose clear, motivating email CTAs to encourage small steps toward better health.

Use this template

3. Summer Sales

With the official start of summer on June 21, it’s the perfect time for your seasonal sales and promotions.

Whether you’re selling products, services, or experiences, a series of summer-themed campaigns will boost engagement and drive action before the busier month of July.

Also, if you started your pre-summer campaign in May, June is now the perfect time to transition into your full summer promotions.

Email campaign: Launch an email series throughout June with tips and promotional offers. Think “get ready for summer” rather than hard selling. Here are some campaign ideas you can add to your sequence:

• Summer bundles: Pair popular products and offer them as ready-for-summer packs.
• Limited-time flash sales: Create urgency with weekend-only deals or a 24-hour offer.
• Summer guide: Combine your products or services with lifestyle content, such as playlists, beach reads, or travel tips.

When to send: Plan up to four different June email campaigns, one for each week. Space them out carefully to avoid overwhelming your audience with too many marketing messages.

Subject lines: Create summer-y copy and sprinkle some fun emojis to make your campaigns more engaging.

• 🍓 Announcing the June Heartberry Bundle 🍓 (Cheekbone Beauty)
• Fresh-Squeezed Summer Colors 🌞💙 (Allbirds)
• Which summer fave are you trying next? (Supergoop!)

Email copy: Write light, energetic, and action-focused copy. For better results, use words that evoke summer feelings like “sun,” “fun,” “breeze,” and “fresh.” Focus on fast shopping, quick decisions, and simple rewards. Summer doesn’t need to be complicated.

Visuals: Use bright colors like yellow, turquoise, coral, or soft greens. Images of beaches, pools, outdoor fun, and sunny scenes are perfect for setting the mood. Also, don’t forget to add plenty of white space and bold CTAs to encourage clicks.

CTAs:

• Get Summer-Ready
• Dive In
• Grab Your Faves

Example: Supergoop!

Supergoop!’s summer email campaign is an excellent example of how to keep things dynamic and eye-catching.

The email uses a simple GIF to showcase multiple products in one compact space. Using GIFs is a smart way to highlight an entire kit or set without creating a cluttered design.

The layout is also clean and vibrant, with a blue-sky background that instantly signals summer. Bold typography and an above-the-fold CTA (“Get Your Set”) make it easy for readers to engage at first glance.

Subject line: Exclusive kits & sets made for summer!

Further reading: Find more ideas, examples, and tips in our Summer Email Marketing guide.

4. Global Day of Parents

Global Day of Parents, which occurs every June 1, honors parents and caregivers worldwide.

It’s a great chance to celebrate family in all forms, aligning perfectly with the spirit of inclusion during Pride Month.

Use this occasion to show that your brand supports diverse family structures and recognizes that love and care come in many forms.

Email campaign: Create a heartfelt campaign for parents, guardians, and caregivers of all kinds. Focus on appreciation, storytelling, and the everyday moments that matter most. For instance, share thank-you notes, curate thoughtful gift ideas, spotlight diverse families, or support nonprofits that uplift parents, children, and LGBTQ+ families.

When to send: Deliver your email on June 1 to celebrate the day in real time. Later that week, you can extend the conversation with a follow-up social media post or a user-generated content feature.

Subject lines:

• The secret to getting it all done as a busy parent (The Bump)
• Send Mom and Dad some love (Misty’s Florist)
• Give your family the gift of better sleep (Endy)

Email copy: Your tone should be warm, inclusive, and genuine. Acknowledge all kinds of families, such as single parents, adoptive parents, LGBTQ+ parents, and anyone stepping into a caregiving role.

Visuals: Add soft colors like blues, greens, or warm neutrals. Candid, real-life photography of families and moments will work perfectly here. For a more personal touch, use handwritten email fonts.

CTAs:

• Say Thank You
• Meet the Families
• Shop the Gift Guide

Template: Celebrate parenthood

Here’s a simple email template to create a heartfelt promotional email for Parents’ Day or any other June email marketing message you want.

The focus is on one image and meaningful copy. Below, you have simple category buttons to guide readers to browse without feeling pressured.

The earthy color palette and clean layout help keep the focus on your message, making it easy for your audience to engage with your call to action.

5. World Environment Day

Unlike previous June celebrations, which focused on people, World Environment Day on June 5 shifts the spotlight to our planet.

This global call urges everyone to take action against climate change and promote sustainability, especially as forest fires and environmental crises become more common worldwide.

Businesses can use this moment to show real commitment, not just through words, but through meaningful actions.

Email campaign: Plan a campaign that focuses on your sustainability efforts, eco-friendly products, or partnerships with environmental causes. Authenticity is key here. For example, you can share how your brand reduces waste, responsibly sources, or gives back to environmental causes.

When to send: You can deliver your campaign a day or two before June 5 to give your audience time to participate or plan ahead.

Subject lines: Your copy needs to be clear and actionable. To make it more unique, add environment-themed emojis, like trees, flowers, or the Globe.

• World Environment Day: help protect nature 🌍 (WWF)
• Products your skin and the environment will love (Sigma Beauty)
• Nature is so in right now. (ModCloth)

Email copy: Stay transparent and focus on actions over buzzwords. If you highlight products, briefly explain why they’re better for the planet.

Visuals: Natural, earthy tones like green, beige, and blue fit the occasion. To make your campaign more impactful, add real-life images of nature, recycling, or eco initiatives.

CTAs:

• Join the Movement
• Learn About Our Impact
• Go Green With Us

Example: Ettitude

Ettitude’s campaign shows how to combine a product promotion with real impact.

The email highlights their partnership with SeaTrees, pledging to plant mangrove trees for every sheet set purchased. The design is nature-driven, with ocean imagery, soft colors, and fonts that echo their message of restoration and sustainability.

This approach makes it easy for customers to connect purchases to meaningful action.

Subject line: Plant trees in your sleep 💚

6. World Oceans Day

Just a few days after World Environment Day, World Oceans Day (June 8) invites us to focus on the heart of our planet: its oceans. This is the perfect follow-up in a short email series about protecting the Earth.

While June 5 is about broad environmental action, this day focuses on ocean health, marine life, and how everyday choices impact water ecosystems.

Email campaign: You can set up a follow-up campaign that continues your environmental campaign with an ocean-first message. Educate, engage, and empower your audience with ways to protect the seas through your products, brand values, or lifestyle tips.

When to send: Schedule your campaign for June 8 or as part of a series starting with World Environment Day on June 5.

Subject lines: To avoid confusion, make sure your subject line differs from World Environment Day. You can also add wave emojis to make it more relevant.

• A World Oceans Day Watch 🌎 (MVMT)
• Happy World Oceans Day. (Rothy’s)
• World Oceans Day 🌊 (Caudalie)

Email copy: Keep it informative, focus on 1–2 key facts, and have a clear takeaway. Be honest about what you’re doing and how your subscribers can participate.

Visuals: Shades of blue, soft gradients, or wave patterns are perfect for this campaign. You can also use ocean wildlife or coastline imagery, as well as simple graphs, to highlight the impact of your actions.

CTAs:

• Protect Our Oceans
• Dive Into the Detail
• Shop Plastic-Free

Example: Caudalie

Caudalie’s June email marketing campaign for World Oceans Day works because it’s not just a one-off message but part of a long-term commitment.

Their plastic cleanup initiative started in 2020, and this email shows proof of action with real numbers and a clear breakdown of their impact.

From beach cleanups to recycling and transformation, the process is visual and transparent. This is perfect for brands that want to go beyond surface-level support and show what real sustainability looks like in practice.

Subject line: World Oceans Day Is Here🌊

7. Father’s Day

After Mother’s Day in May, it’s time to give dads, father figures, and caregivers their moment.

Father’s Day falls on June 15, and it’s the perfect time to celebrate the people who show up, step up, and support others in countless ways.

Whether it’s biological dads, stepdads, grandfathers, or chosen family, this day is all about appreciation and your email should help your audience show it to their favorite people.

Email campaign: Plan a thoughtful message highlighting gifts, memories, or small gestures. Here are some ideas to consider:

• Gift guide: Curate items by interest (tech, wellness, foodie, outdoorsy, etc.).
• Early promotions: Let your customers prepare early for the day.
• Last-minute gifts: Include express shipping options or digital gift cards.
• Opt-out campaign: Not everyone celebrates Father’s Day so subscribers can opt out of related emails. It’s a small thing that shows empathy and respect.

When to send: Start your primary campaign 7–10 days before June 15 and follow up with a reminder or “last chance to ship” email closer to the date. Interestingly, we received Father’s Day promos as early as mid-May, while some brands were still sending emails through June 18. You can plan accordingly based on your offers and shipping window.

Subject lines:

• Not interested in Father’s Day emails? 🧡 (Etsy)
• 10 Father’s Day Gifts Cooler Than a Tie (Sweetwater)
• SALE: 20% Off for Father’s Day (HELM Boots)

Email copy: Avoid clichés and keep it inclusive, highlighting that “dad” looks different for everyone. Acknowledge non-traditional families and chosen parents, too. Your tone needs to be thoughtful and sincere.

Visuals: Neutral, earthy colors (navy, gray, olive, tan) are a great fit, but don’t be afraid to experiment with different combinations. Choose real photography over stock images as it is less posed and more personal.

CTAs:

• Shop Father’s Day Picks
• Find the Right Gift
• Celebrate Father Figures

Example: Gucci

Gucci’s June email marketing campaign is a great example of using vibrant visuals and email copywriting for a unique result.

The brand features its adidas x Gucci collaboration to show distinctive gifts, using bold colors, energetic visuals, and playful nostalgia for a fresh, modern take on gifting.

The message celebrates all father figures in a personal, expressive, and unexpected style. The copyline “for all the fathers in your life” is also a subtle but essential nod to inclusivity.

Subject line: Combined Codes for Father’s Day: adidas x Gucci

Further reading: For more ideas, look at our Father’s Day email marketing guide.

8. Juneteenth National Independence Day

Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, marks the day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans in Texas learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

It became a federal holiday in the U.S. in 2021, but it has long been honored as a day of liberation, reflection, and Black joy.

This may sound like a history lesson, but it’s your chance to listen, uplift, and celebrate Black voices, businesses, and stories.

Let’s see how to do it respectfully.

Email campaign: Feature Black-owned businesses, share educational resources, or donate to racial justice causes. You can also promote products that support equity-focused initiatives.

When to send: Deliver your email on June 19 to celebrate with your audience.

Subject lines:

• 30% Off Sitewide 🎉Juneteenth Celebration🎉 (Beauty Bakerie)
• A Moment to Remember: Honoring Juneteenth (Saatchi Art)
• honoring Juneteenth: looking back to look forward (Bath & Body Works)

Email copy: Create authentic content and avoid generic statements. If you’re donating or partnering, name the organizations. You want to focus on community, history, and forward action, not self-congratulation.

Visuals: You can include artwork, portraits, or quotes from Black creators (with permission, of course). It’s best to avoid overly branded visuals and let the message lead instead.

CTAs:

• Join the Movement
• Support Black Voices
• Learn About Juneteenth

Example: NYX Cosmetics

This June email marketing campaign by NYX gets it right by focusing on the meaning of the holiday.

The copy is clear, respectful, and educational. It explains what Juneteenth is and why it matters without centering the brand.

The design also uses bold black with red, yellow, and green accents to reflect cultural significance. There’s also an invitation to join a live Instagram event, offering a way to engage beyond the inbox and promote community.

Subject line: Honoring Juneteenth ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏻✊!!!

9. World Refugee Day

Falling just a day after Juneteenth, World Refugee Day (June 20) is a powerful reminder that care, and dignity must extend across all borders.

This global day honors the strength, courage, and resilience of refugees around the world, allowing you to stand for something bigger.

Email campaign: Use this moment to raise awareness, show support, and promote stories. For instance, you can share refugee journeys through blog features, interviews, or collabs, promote a limited item where proceeds go toward aid, or pledge your support to a nonprofit.

When to send: Plan your campaign for June 20. You can also create and send different campaigns throughout the day to educate your audience and promote a good cause.

Subject lines:

• Standing with refugees, worldwide 🌍
• Stories that matter. People who inspire.
• Join us in honoring World Refugee Day

Email copy: Focus on dignity and resilience. Avoid anything that feels heavy-handed or disconnected from your brand’s voice. If you’re donating or partnering, name the cause clearly.

Visuals: Use real, documentary-style portraits (with permission) to create an authentic connection.

CTAs:

• Support Refugees
• Hear Their Stories
• Donate Now

Example: Canva

Canva’s “Design for a Cause” campaign is another example of brands taking meaningful action. Teaming up with UNHCR, Canva turned children’s drawings into graphic elements for sale, donating proceeds to refugee education programs.

The bright, joyful, and community-driven visuals prove that impact can also feel hopeful.

This June email marketing message balances storytelling, beautiful design, and clear CTAs while educating readers on the stakes: nearly half of school-age refugee children aren’t in school.

Subject line: Find out how using Canva can improve refugee education

10. Summer Solstice

The longest day of the year is finally here! If you’ve been running a summer sales campaign, now is the perfect time to turn up the heat.

June 21 will give you a natural high point to anchor your entire June sequence. So, let’s see how to go bold, celebrate the season, and give your audience a reason to click.

Email campaign: Turn the Summer Solstice into a standalone sales push or the highlight of your summer series. Use it to drop your biggest promo, launch a limited-time product, or surprise subscribers with freebies or playlists.

When to send: Plan your main campaign for June 21. Use the days before to tease what’s coming and follow up with a “last call” if your offer extends past midnight.

Subject lines: If it’s a standalone email, use urgency with phrases like “today only” or “limited time.” If part of a series, tie it to your ongoing campaign, like “the highlight of our summer sale” or “your mid-season moment.”

• ☀️FLASH SALE☀️ Don’t Miss Our Summer Solstice Deal (Fit Factory)
• Fresh till sunset: summer solstice essentials (Bobbi Brown)
• SUMMER SOLSTICE GIVEAWAY!!! (Tofino Soap Company)

Email copy: Use summer-y language, such as glow, sunshine, golden hour, fresh, bright, etc. Make it sound like something your audience wants to open, not just another sale.

Visuals: Choose sunny tones like yellow, coral, and turquoise paired with seasonal imagery, such as beaches, popsicles, flowers, and sunglasses.

CTAs:

• Celebrate the Solstice
• Shop Now, Shine Later
• Grab the Day’s Offer

Example: Motorola

Motorola’s June email marketing campaign cleverly incorporates seasonal energy with strong copy and subtle visuals. Each phone display features bright, summery scenes (popsicles, sunsets, etc.), which turn product images into part of the theme.

The copy, “Say ‘hello’ to the longest day of the year and incredible smartphone deals,” connects the promotion to the Solstice without overexplaining. It’s a solid example of cleverly handling a seasonal email and focusing on the offer.

Subject line: SUMMER SOLSTICE SALE 🌇 Up to $600 Off (Motorola)

11. International Day of Yoga

While everyone’s targeting the Summer Solstice, you can celebrate International Day of Yoga on June 21.

This is your chance to do something more mindful or combine the Summer Solstice and the International Day of Yoga for a high-impact message.

Email campaign: Send a wellness-focused email that invites your audience to slow down. For example, share a quick yoga or stretch routine, feature yoga-related items, or digital resources. If you want to focus on yoga and mental health, you can draw inspiration from these Mental Health Day email examples.

When to send: To avoid overwhelming your audience, send your yoga email campaign early in the morning and then deliver your Solstice promotion later on, or vice versa.

Subject lines:

• It’s International Yoga Day 🧘🏼‍♀️ (CBD For Life)
• Start Your Day with Yoga (Gaiam)
• Detox Yoga Flow (GetACTV)

Email copy: Keep the copy friendly and supportive, encouraging your audience to take a moment for themselves.

Visuals: Use soft, muted tones like sage, lavender, and sand, along with images of yoga poses, sunrises, and quiet indoor moments.

CTAs:

• Flow With Us
• Explore the Calm
• Start Your Reset

Example: CBD For Life

This International Day of Yoga-inspired email from CBD For Life hits all the right design notes: calm visuals, centered messaging, and a tone that promotes mindfulness and balance.

The visual of a yoga pose beautifully increases the brand’s wellness focus.

The copy flows naturally, connecting daily routine with self-care. However, the CTA (“Shop CBD”) could have been more prominent through size or placement.

Subject line: It’s International Yoga Day 🧘🏼‍♀️

Further reading: Explore our Email Marketing for CBD brands for more ideas and tips.

How to Make More Inclusive June Email Campaigns

Pride Month is a great time to assess how inclusive your email marketing is, not just in June but all year round.

Below are some tips to ensure your email copy is respectful to everyone.

• Use inclusive language: Avoid gendered phrases like “For him/her.” Try “everyone,” “you,” or “they” to keep it open.
• Offer opt-outs for sensitive holidays: Not everyone celebrates Father’s Day or Pride Month. Give your audience the choice to skip those emails and build trust.
• Show real representation: Feature diverse people across race, gender identity, body type, and ability in your images and campaigns.
• Celebrate without tokenizing: If you feature LGBTQIA+ creators or products, credit them and share their work authentically, not just as a seasonal gesture.
• Check your forms and preferences: To offer a smoother experience, use inclusive language in signups, preferences, and personalization settings.
• Back it up with action: If you’re promoting Pride, share how you support the community through donations, partnerships, or internal change.

Lastly, run your campaign copy through a tone checker (like Grammarly’s or Hemingway Editor’s tone detectors) or have a community member review it to catch anything unintentionally inappropriate.

June Email Marketing Templates

Got the tips, now it’s time to create your June emails.

To help you launch faster, we’ve compiled some easy-to-customize email templates for occasions like Pride Month, Father’s Day, and your summer sales kickoff.

Just sign up for a free Moosend account, pick your favorite design, and turn it into an engaging email.

Register for free

Pride Month template

Celebrate inclusivity with confidence. This bold, high-energy template is perfect for Pride Month campaigns focusing on color, identity, and community.

Use it to promote discounts, highlight LGBTQIA+ creators, or share words of support. The visuals and standout CTA make it ideal for simple yet effective messages.

Summer sales design

Designed for promotions that shine, this vibrant, product-focused layout is built for peak summer energy. Add your discounts, limited-time offers, and bundle deals, and you’re ready to roll.

With plenty of room for visuals and strong sales-oriented elements, it’s also great for Summer Solstice, Global Day of Parents, and International Day of Yoga campaigns.

Father’s Day newsletter template

This warm, heartfelt template hits the right emotional notes for Father’s Day without overcomplicating your offer.

With soft colors, a center visual, and clear copy space, it’s ideal for showcasing your gift guide or personalizing your message to different father figures.

Make a Splash with June Email Marketing Campaigns

Whether celebrating Pride, honoring fathers, protecting the planet, or launching your hottest summer offer, now’s your time to connect with purpose.

Every subject line, visual, and CTA is a chance to build trust, drive impact, and make people feel seen.

So, go beyond basic campaigns, show up with strategy, heart, and creativity, and don’t forget to be inclusive. That’s what makes all the difference.

And if you need a reliable partner to bring it all to life, sign up for a Moosend account and start building your next big campaign today.

Email authentication and the sender’s domain name reputation are crucial in whether your email reaches Gmail’s inbox or gets tossed into the spam abyss.

But how does Google evaluate different combinations of SPF, DKIM, DMARC, IP/domain reputation, and content red flags?

To find out, I ran a series of tests, each simulating real-life sending conditions.

Tested Scenarios & Detailed Observations

For this experiment, I used live domains, high- and low-reputation IPs, different authentication setups, and even risked a few awkward conversations with family members, like “Why did you send me something about Netflix being hacked?”

To keep things consistent, I used:

• Domains with varying reputations
• Gmail/Gsuite accounts (inbox + spam folder checks)
• Google Postmaster Tools for added insights
• A mix of real subject lines, bounce domains, and tracking URLs

Let’s walk through each scenario.

1. Gmail still delivered to inbox without DKIM

Without DKIM, can a message still be trusted by Gmail if SPF and DMARC are properly configured?

Observations:

To my surprise, Gmail handled it quite gracefully. While the sending domain lacked DKIM, Gmail did check the DKIM of the tracking /bounce domain, which passed.

The message landed in the Promotions tab without issues or delay.

Here’s what helped:

• The sender domain had a valid SPF and a p=none DMARC policy.
• The Return-Path header correctly displayed the sender’s domain name (not a generic third-party one).

Takeaway: DKIM matters, but with SPF, DMARC, a clean Return-Path, and a solid IP reputation, you can still land in Gmail’s inbox

2. No DNS Authentication at all (No SPF, DKIM, or DMARC)

No authentication equals total failure, right?

Observations:

Yup. As expected, Gmail immediately sent the message to Spam despite the IP’s good reputation.

• No SPF? No idea who sent this.
• No DKIM? Can’t verify you.
• No DMARC? No enforcement.

Takeaway: Even the best IP in the world can’t save you from Gmail’s “No DNS = No Trust” attitude.

3. Only DKIM (No SPF or DMARC)

Can DKIM save the day if SPF and DMARC are missing?

Observations:

The message landed in the Spam folder. Even worse, Gmail displayed a big scary warning: “Be careful with this message. It may be spoofed.”

This was due to the From header domain not aligning with the signed DKIM domain, and without SPF or DMARC, there was no enforcement to reassure Gmail.

Takeaway: A single authentication method (DKIM) isn’t enough. Gmail wants to see a full authentication picture before trusting your messages.

4. Low reputation IP & high reputation domain

Will a trusted domain name save the email from a misbehaving IP?

Observations:

The message landed in Promotions, not Spam. This shows that Gmail gives more weight to domain reputation than IP alone.

Why? Because a domain is like your identity. IP addresses can be shared, rented, or rotated. This is why we constantly warn against purchased lists.

Even if your IP is fine, when people start flagging your domain, you’ve got a problem. Gmail doesn’t care how good your intentions were. It only sees the angry clicks on “Report Spam.”

Takeaway: Google is team “Domain First.” Treat your domain’s reputation like it’s your credit score. Because, well… it’s your credit score.

5. Bad reputation for IP and domain

Does bad IP and domain reputation get you straight to Spam?

Observations:

The answer is yes. The message was instantly flagged as spam, so there’s no surprise there. Even with neutral content, Gmail didn’t take the risk.

Takeaway: There’s no “but the content was nice!” defense here. Fix both IP and domain reputation before even thinking of sending.

6. Suspicious subject line & high-reputation IP/domain

Does a strong domain reputation protect you when your subject line screams “phish“?

Observations:
Okay, I’ll admit it…I was nervous about this one. I used one of my actual domains with a solid reputation and sent a subject line like:
“Netflix: Urgent Action Required.”

My test list? Friends and family (bless them).

The result: The email landed in the promotion folder; no spam, no flags. Gmail didn’t panic.

However, repeated tests could raise suspicion over time. Why? Because Gmail watches:

• User interaction (opens, clicks, spam reports)
• Subject line patterns
• Content similarity to known phishing templates

Takeaway: You might be safe once, but Gmail’s memory is long. Suspicious phrasing is risky, even if your domain is Snow-White-clean.

7. Suspicious subject line, bad domain reputation & high IP reputation

Can a good IP hide a bad domain and sketchy subject line?

Observations:

Gmail flagged the message. The subject line, “Verify your account immediately,” didn’t help.

When the content felt borderline (like fake urgency or vague offers), it went straight to spam.

Takeaway: A bad domain and sketchy content? Gmail says “Nope.” Even a good IP can’t save you from a shady history or subject lines that scream danger.

8. Suspicious subject line, bad domain reputation & bad IP reputation

C’mon, you already know.

Observations:

Straight to Spam, faster than you can say “unsubscribe.”

Takeaway: Worst-case scenario. You might as well not hit “Send.”

9. Bad reputation tracking domain, high sender domain & medium/high IP

What happens if the tracking link domain has a bad rep?

Observations:

Gmail delivered the message to the Promotions tab without hesitation.

It seems that Gmail separates the tracking domain’s rep from the sender’s (unless the domain is flagged as a known phishing domain).

Takeaway: You’re safe… for now. But don’t push your luck.

Findings & Key Takeaways

After testing all of the above, here’s what stood out.

The good

• Domain reputation carries the most weight
• SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are absolutely necessary before sending a campaign
• Gmail evaluates recipient behavior (reports, opens, clicks)
• Suspicious content won’t always send you to Spam, but repeated behavior will

The not-so-good

•  A clean IP won’t fix a dirty domain
• A strong domain can’t carry spammy content forever
• Don’t hide the sender’s domain name behind another domain name of your ESP.
• Bad actions will follow you once you will migrate to another service.

Gmail’s Not Just Checking Authentication, It’s Checking You

Gmail’s filters are smarter than ever, so passing authentication isn’t enough. To earn inbox placement, you need to prove a few things:

• You’re a legitimate sender
• You’re sending content people actually want
• Your recipients trust you

You now need to focus on building your domain reputation. Send emails to people who genuinely want to hear from you. And whatever you do, don’t try to game the system because Gmail doesn’t fall for tricks.

If you’re still thinking, “But I only sent one email with a weird subject line,” well, Gmail remembers, just like an elephant, but with algorithms.

Have you experienced similar deliverability mysteries? Let’s discuss them in the comments or send me a message. Maybe not one with “URGENT: Confirm Bank Details” as the subject line.