What is an Email Blast: A Guide to Wholesome Email Broadcasts
Email blast, also known as a broadcast message, mass email, or e-blast, is used to promote products, services, or important announcements. An e-blast is a marketing technique where a single message is sent to a large email list simultaneously.
A blast email is usually a one-off email that may be a part of the overall marketing strategy with an aim to reach more people quickly and efficiently. However, these one-time messages may not be the safest method if they don’t follow legal regulations and personalization strategies.
That’s why following best practices is important to help you enhance customer interaction. Let’s define eblast and explore how mass emails work, how to add value to each blast, and when to send email blasts.
What is an E-Blast?
In simple terms, email blasts are mass emails sent to many recipients at once. Another word for email blast is mass email, bulk email, or one-time send.
One such email could be a promotional message, marketing newsletter, or an email announcements that the business needs to send all its email subscribers.
These one-off bulk messages usually don’t enable recipient replies but may include links to products or company information. Many businesses use just the term ‘blasts’ to refer to mass emails that are not personalized or segmented.
Mass sales messages in the form of emails have high success rates, and are usually used for:
- Product or service promotions,
- Announcing sales, discounts, or special offers,
- Sharing company news or updates,
- Sending newsletters or informational content,
- Inviting recipients to events or webinars.
Although one time email blasts closely resemble email marketing newsletters, they are completely different aspects of email marketing.
Email blast vs Newsletter
The table below compares the email blast and a newsletter.
| Feature | Email Blast | Newsletter |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | One time promotional or urgent message. | Regular emails and updates. |
| Frequency | Is sent occasionally. | Sent on a scheduled basis (weekly, monthly, etc.) |
| Content Type | Promotional offers, announcements, urgent updates. | Company news, industry insights, educational content. |
| Audience | Large audience, often less targeted. | Targeted audience, usually subscribers. |
| Personalization | Minimal, often generic. | More personalized, sometimes segmented. |
| Goal | To drive immediate action (purchase, sign-up, event attendance). | To build relationships, engage the audience, maintain brand awareness. |
| Examples | Flash sale, limited-time offer, product launch. | Monthly company newsletter, industry trends, tips & insights. |
Email broadcasts are usually promotional but can also include feedback requests, educational content, holiday greetings, and so on. If you’re a regular blast sender, you can combine social media to enhance the effectiveness.
Using social media and sending e blasts are examples of marketing strategies used to promote products and engage audiences.
What is an E-blast Service?
A blast email service is a platform that helps you send mass emails to a large group of audience at once. These services help automate, design, and track your email performance from one place.
Key Features of E-blast Software
- Mass email sending: Allows you to send bulk emails with ease and efficiency.
- Templates and design tools: Helps you create blasts quicker with ready-made email campaign templates.
- Personalization and segmentation: Allows you to send targeted emails to multiple audiences.
- Automation: The tools use automation best practices to help you set up drip campaigns or schedule emails.
- Analytics and reporting: Lets you track open rates, click rates, and conversions.
- Compliance tools: Ensures adherence to anti-spam laws and GDPR regulations.
Popular E-blast Services
- Campaign Refinery,
- Hubspot email marketing,
- SendinBlue (Brevo),
- Klaviyo,
- ActiveCampaign.
Some of these services let you send free email blasts on the trial pricing. Verify the pricing plans and feature sets before choosing an e-blast tool.
Email Blasts vs Email Campaigns
Both email blasts and sequenced email campaigns are methods of sending marketing or communication emails, but they often differ in their purposes.
We’ve laid out the key differences between sending email blasts and an email campaign in the table below.
| Aspect | Email Blast | Email Campaign |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Quickly reach a large audience with a single message. | Communicate with recipients over multiple emails as part of a broader marketing strategy. |
| Timing | Does not have a set timeframe. It’s a one-time message. | Is usually scheduled and sent in intervals as a sequence. |
| Content | Usually focuses on a single message or offer. | Content may be diverse and strategized according to the different stages of the customer journey. |
| Engagement strategy | Often focused on immediate promotions, announcements, or offers. | Designed to build relationships, provide value, and guide recipients through the sales funnel. |
| Metrics Tracked | Open rates, click-through rates, and conversions are usually tracked. | Aside from the basic metrics, businesses may track engagement rates, lead progression, and overall campaign performance. |
| Customization | Limited or no customization due to mass distribution. | More opportunities for personalization and segmentation. |
| Automation | Can be automated or sent manually. | Is generally automated to send pre-scheduled emails based on triggers and criteria. |
| Relationship building | Less emphasis on long–term relationship building. | Focuses on lead nurturing, customer retention, and building brand loyalty. |
Email campaign blasts are strategic groups of messages sent to targeted audiences, while the main objective of e-blasts is to reach as many people as possible in one go.
Still, mass emails can help develop customer relationships and produce results like email campaigns when appropriately utilized.
Are Email Blasts Effective?
Mass emails are a cost-effective way to reach more people in a relatively short time. You can use them in addition to your regular email campaigns to promote something special such as a one-time discount or an event.
Here are 5 vital reasons to use bulk emails:
- Cost-effective marketing: They enable you to reach thousands of subscribers without wasting resources.
- Increased flexibility: The instant aspect of these emails allows you to inform subscribers of time-sensitive information or promotions quickly.
- Build and maintain relationships: Well-planned broadcasts remind customers of your brand value. When you deliver valuable content, subscribers are likelier to stay loyal to your brand.
- Drive traffic and conversions: You can drive traffic to your website, landing page, or online store by including relevant links in your mass emails.
- Trackable email metrics: Email broadcasts help you measure results immediately and understand your audience better.
Broadcasts simplify communication; you don’t have to spend hours planning these messages. However, not all recipients may find your messages relevant, increasing the risk of spam complaints.
That’s why it’s super important to learn how to navigate the e-blast landscape without tripping on the legal compliance wires.
How to Safely Send Email Blasts Using an E-blast Tool
When your e-blasts don’t follow legal regulations, they could quickly tank your sender reputation and email deliverability. The best way is to use a trusted email platform to send personalized mass emails.
Follow these protocols to ensure your emails reach the inbox and not the spam folders:
- Choose a reliable email marketing tool: Use a trusted email marketing tool like Campaign Refinery to help you manage, track, and optimize campaigns effectively.
- Build and maintain your list: Practice email list hygiene by regularly removing invalid contacts from the email list.
- Follow email marketing regulations: Include a one-click unsubscribe link in all emails and adhere to email laws.
- Craft high-quality emails: Use a professional email template and optimize for mobiles.
- Monitor and optimize: Regularly monitor your email blasts using built-in analytics tools and optimize effectively.
- Schedule and automate: Automate follow-ups and nurture leads over time through thoughtful e-blasts.
Use the specialized tools to segment your audience and tailor messages to increase relevance.
Personalized emails have more effect — track your email metrics to know what works best for each of your audiences and create content around it.
Email Broadcast — Important Metrics to Note
Analyzing your broadcasts will help you evaluate the effectiveness of your campaigns overall.
Here are 5 important metrics to note.
| Metric | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Open rate | An overall average open rate of 19.96% |
| Click-through rate | A range from 1% to 5% |
| Bounce rate | Below 2% |
| Unsubscribe rate | Not more than 0.5% |
| Spam complaint rate | Less than 0.1% |
Since bulk emails can occasionally raise suspicion among ISPs, it is good to frequently evaluate your spam complaint rates.
For example, Campaign Refinery’s maximum complaint level is 0.1%. Clients will lose their active sender status if spam complaints exceed the threshold.
How to Send an Effective Email Blast?
The secret to writing an excellent broadcast message is to infuse your brand personality and also make it relevant to your audience.
Here’s an exhaustive list to help you create better mass emails.
1. Define Your Goals
Define your goal to guide your messaging — do you want to create more sign-ups? Increase sales? Or drive more traffic to your store?
Respect your subscribers’ time and think if your broadcast will provide value to them. For example, if they subscribe to your mailing list to stay updated about your brand, send them relevant email newsletters instead of random announcements or invitations.
2. Build a Quality Email List
Any email list you purchase or build without consent can risk your relationship with subscribers. Ensure your email list consists of people who opted-in to receive your communication and provide clear unsubscribe options in your emails.
Your goal should be to grow your email list organically through website signups, social media, events, and other channels.
Just for reference, Campaign Refinery allows permission-based opt-in subscribers only. Cold or 3rd party data is prohibited on the platform. Any use of this data type will result in an immediate ban from the platform.
You can also grow your email list through:
- Compelling opt-in forms: Place opt-in forms on your website, social media, and other channels. Encourage visitors to subscribe to your email list through discounts and offers.
- Utilize gated content: Offer valuable resources such as e-books, whitepapers, and marketing guides in exchange for visitors’ email addresses.
- Offer exclusive membership or VIP access: Create exclusive memberships and provide early access to sales and premium content.
- Offer email referral incentives: Motivate existing subscribers to refer others to join your email list through discounts or special perks.
- Optimize landing pages: Design dedicated landing pages with compelling copy and clear benefits of joining your email list.
3. Use a Sophisticated Email Automation Platform
Choose an email service provider that will help you with hassle-free email delivery so that you can focus on your content and strategy. Plus, you can always use the ESP’s built-in segmentation and personalization tools to enhance your email deliverability rates.
With Campaign Refinery, you can set up broadcasts in a few easy steps. Edit the message, choose an audience group, and save the content. You can also set tags and suppression lists and schedule your broadcast messages.
4. Segment Your Audience
Email segmentation is the most important part of sending a mass email — divide your audience into smaller groups to send highly targeted messages.
You can segment subscribers for your email marketing blasts by these 5 categories:
- Demographic information: Divide your subscribers based on age, income, location, or job title.
- Purchase history: Analyze your subscribers’ past purchases to understand their product preferences.
- Engagement level: Segment your audience based on their level of engagement on your website and emails, such as open rate, click-through rates, and other email metrics.
- Interests and preferences: Gather recipient interests through surveys and feedback emails.
- Lifecycle stage: Divide audiences based on their place in the buyer’s journey to send relevant, personalized content.
You can further use advanced segmentation criteria and divide subscribers by their activity levels, such as email opens, click-throughs, and so on.
Campaign Refinery allows you to set segmentation criteria for each contact, such as subscription type, engagement level, and first and last names. You can also use the tags feature to further separate audiences on a micro-level.
5. Include a Clear Call-to-action
The next step is to ensure your audience is ready to take the desired action — include a clear and compelling CTA in your one off emails.
Be mindful of the CTA best practices:
- Use action-oriented language: Point out what actions you want prospects to take. Use action verbs such as ”Get this now” or “Subscriber for more” to prompt immediate action.
- Create a standout design: Make your CTA design visually appealing with bold colors and font styles.
- Place them in notable areas: Check if the CTA button is large enough for people to click.
- Optimize for mobiles: Ensure your CTA is not too close to other elements and optimize it for mobile devices.
- Use a primary CTA: Focus on one CTA and mention your value proposition.
- Create urgency and scarcity: Use phrases like “Limited-time deals” or “Offer ends soon” to urge customers to purchase instantly.
The type of CTA you use will depend on what action you want the potential buyers to take.
If you’re looking for hands-on support, here’s how Campaign Refinery can assist you with your broadcasts.
How Can Campaign Refinery Help?
Sending one-off emails has never been easier — Campaign Refinery offers a broadcast dashboard with engagement metrics, broadcast status, and other functions.
Once you become a client, you can create broadcasts by these methods:
- Choose a broadcast option on the dashboard,
- Create a new broadcast by pressing the ‘+’ button,
- Click on the broadcast name to edit a message, apply/remove tags, create suppression lists, and schedule the broadcast,
- Define your audience segments,
- Preview your e-blast or clone and duplicate it,
- Schedule and wait for results!
You can also use our unique Engagement Broadcast Gamification feature to increase conversions with your broadcasts. Rewards can be PDF downloads, bonus chapters, etc.
If you’re looking for real-world inspiration, we’ve compiled a list of examples to get your creative juices flowing.
3 Brilliant E-blast Examples
Feel free to download these examples for future reference.
1. Year-in Review
OLIPOP sets the mark with its year-in-review email broadcast — it’s no fluff, simple and to the point. The achievements column shows the brand’s place in users’ lives. The email copy emotionally connects with the audience, creating a sense of belonging.
2. Apology Explained
Methodical Coffee is excellent at apologizing — the email is an apology for the typo in their previous blast campaign. Adding a lively standpoint, the brand makes customers laugh instead of cringe at their mistakes.
3. Hacks For a Healthier Life
Newsletters are always unique — they are packed with images, useful information, and compelling CTAs. Meetup makes it even more special with their 8 hacks for healthier living. Since the brand focuses on community building, the newsletter helps busy people adapt to better food habits.
Email Blast Templates
Now, let’s review the best-performing eblast templates for different email campaigns to skyrocket your email engagement.
Promotional Email Blast (Flash Sale) Template
Subject: 48-Hour Flash Sale – Up to 50% Off
Big savings are here! For the next 48 hours only, enjoy up to 50% off on our best-selling products. Don’t miss out—once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Use Code: FLASH50
Sale Ends: [Insert Date & Time]
[Shop Now ] (CTA Button)
P.S. This deal is exclusive to our email subscribers—lucky you!
Best,
[Your Brand Name]
Announcement Email Blast (Product Launch) Template
Subject: Introducing [Product Name] – Be the First to Try
We’re thrilled to introduce [Product Name], designed to [brief benefit statement]. Get ready to experience [key features] like never before!
Why You’ll Love It:
[Feature 1]
[Feature 2]
[Feature 3]
Be among the first to try it!
[ Learn More ] (CTA Button)
Best,
[Your Brand Name]
Event Invitation Email Blast Template
Subject: You’re Invited: [Event Name] – Reserve Your Spot
We’re hosting [Event Name], and you don’t want to miss it!
Date: [Event Date]
Time: [Event Time]
Location: [Event Venue or Virtual Link]
Come network, learn, and engage with industry leaders! Secure your spot before seats run out.
[ Register Now ] (CTA Button)
Best,
[Your Brand Name]
Welcome Email Blast Template
Subject: Welcome to [Brand Name]
Hey [First Name],
Welcome to [Brand Name]! We’re so glad you’re here. Here’s what you can expect from us:
Exclusive deals & offers
Insider tips & updates
First access to new products
As a welcome gift, here’s [discount code or freebie] just for you!
[ Get Started ] (CTA Button)
Cheers,
[Your Brand Name]
Cart Abandonment Email Blast Template
Subject: [Customer Name], Did You Forget Something?
Hey [First Name],
We noticed you left some great items in your cart. Don’t worry—we’ve saved them for you. But hurry, they won’t last forever.
Your Items:
[Product 1]
[Product 2]
Complete Your Order Now & Enjoy [Discount or Free Shipping]
[ Return to Cart ] (CTA Button)
P.S. Need help? Our team is happy to assist.
Best,
[Brand Name]
Re-engagement Email Blast Template
Subject: We miss you, here’s a special treat
Hey [First Name],
We noticed you haven’t visited us in a while, and we miss you. To welcome you back, here’s [discount, freebie, or exclusive offer] just for you.
Your Exclusive Offer: [Offer Details]
Expires: [Expiration Date]
[Come Back & Save ] (CTA Button)
Let’s make this reunion special.
Best,
[Brand name]
No matter how great your emails are, they don’t mean anything if they end up in spam. Let’s summarize the best practices to help you stay safe.
Email Blast Best Practices: How to Safeguard Your Sender Reputation
Protecting your sender reputation is important to maintain deliverability and ensure your broadcasts reach your recipients.
Let’s recap the best practices to ensure a safe reputation:
- Obtain explicit consent: Only send broadcasts to recipients who have opted-in to receive your communication.
- Use double opt-in: Implement a double opt-in process where recipients confirm their email addresses. This helps you maintain an email list with valid addresses and comply with legal regulations.
- Provide clear opt-out options: Make it easy for recipients to unsubcribe from your emails through a visible opt-out option.
- Send relevant content: Send emails tailored to customer preferences and likes.
- Maintain consistent sending practices: Avoid sudden fluctuations in email sending practices to always be in the good books of the ISPs.
- Maintain a clean email list: Always update your email list and remove unwanted email addresses. Campaign Refinery offers an automatic email list cleaning tool that extracts harmful and inactive email addresses from your list every 30 – 180 days. You can adjust the schedule based on your business needs.
Most importantly, pay attention to your email send timing; sending e-blasts when your audience is the most active increases the likelihood of higher engagement.
The Best Time to Send an Email Blast
The peak time to send an email blast is between 10 am and 12 pm. This is when most recipients are active in their inboxes.
Here’s data on the best send times for different industries.
| Industry | Best Time to Send E-blast |
|---|---|
| Marketing | 5 pm – 7 pm |
| Travel | 3 pm – 5 pm |
| Leisure-based topics | 10 am – 12 pm |
| Finance | 7 am – 10 am |
Your email timing could differ based on factors such as audience type and content. A/B test email timings to find an ideal fit. You can also use email software to segment the audience and schedule emails accordingly.
Get Your Email Blasts Delivered to the Inbox
While e-blasts may be easy to send, they don’t always land in your subscribers’ inboxes due to irrelevant messages, poor email send times or not complying with legal regulations.
Sending too many mass emails can also get tiring since you must repeat the same process each time. Luckily, there’s a solution!
Campaign Refinery helps you deliver personalized e-blasts through a powerful automation system with the highest deliverability rate on the market. That means cleaner and valid email lists, personalized email content, and higher conversions in return.
We only work with senders that follow permission-based marketing.
If you’re struggling to build your email list the right way, we have a special gift: learn to gather and engage more audiences through one simple strategy.
The secret to gaining more subscribers and dramatically increasing lead magnet consumption is in The Lead Magnet Multiplier Shortcourse, the one-stop shop for the most effective strategies that will boost your sender reputation and drive conversions.
Get started with sending email blasts that inform, inspire, and delight your audiences — apply to become a Campaign Refinery Client today!
FAQ
Broadcast email definition
A broadcast email is a one-time email sent to a large group of people. These emails are usually announcements, promotions, or urgent messages.
Is it eblast or e-blast?
Both are correct forms and can be used interchangeably.
