Email Marketing in 2025: Why It’s Not Working for You and How to Fix It.
JANUARY, 09 / 2025
Let’s get one thing straight: email marketing is still king.
It generates more business than all other platforms combined. Yes, you read that right—combined. According to McKinsey & Company, for every $1 spent on email marketing, you can expect a $40 return.
So why isn’t it working for you?
If your emails are getting ignored, landing in the dreaded Promotions tab, or worse—marked as spam—don’t panic. You’re not alone. Email marketing in 2025 isn’t just about sending pretty emails or catchy subject lines. It’s a battle for attention in an overflowing inbox, and the stakes have never been higher.
The good news? Fixing it isn’t rocket science. Here’s a no-BS guide to why your email campaigns are falling flat—and how to turn things around.
It generates more business than all other platforms combined. Yes, you read that right—combined. According to McKinsey & Company, for every $1 spent on email marketing, you can expect a $40 return.
So why isn’t it working for you?
If your emails are getting ignored, landing in the dreaded Promotions tab, or worse—marked as spam—don’t panic. You’re not alone. Email marketing in 2025 isn’t just about sending pretty emails or catchy subject lines. It’s a battle for attention in an overflowing inbox, and the stakes have never been higher.
The good news? Fixing it isn’t rocket science. Here’s a no-BS guide to why your email campaigns are falling flat—and how to turn things around.
Step 1: How To Get Your Emails Delivered
Before your email can work its magic, it has to actually land in someone’s inbox. Sounds obvious, right? But achieving high inbox deliverability is tougher than ever thanks to sophisticated filtering systems. Here’s what you need to know:
1. Choose the Right Platform
If your list is under 10,000 subscribers, start with MailChimp for top-notch deliverability. Larger list? Consider platforms like ActiveCampaign, GetResponse, or Drip. These tools help maintain a clean sender reputation.
2. Check Your Sender Reputation
Think of your sender score as your email’s credit score. Head to Senderscore.org to check yours. A score above 90 is good; above 95 is great.
Tip: Warm up your IP address by sending emails to smaller batches of your list first. Gradually increase as your reputation improves.
3. Engage Your Audience
To avoid getting flagged as spam, send valuable, engaging content. Follow the 2:1 rule: two-thirds of your emails should offer content and value, while one-third can focus on promotions.
1. Choose the Right Platform
If your list is under 10,000 subscribers, start with MailChimp for top-notch deliverability. Larger list? Consider platforms like ActiveCampaign, GetResponse, or Drip. These tools help maintain a clean sender reputation.
2. Check Your Sender Reputation
Think of your sender score as your email’s credit score. Head to Senderscore.org to check yours. A score above 90 is good; above 95 is great.
Tip: Warm up your IP address by sending emails to smaller batches of your list first. Gradually increase as your reputation improves.
3. Engage Your Audience
To avoid getting flagged as spam, send valuable, engaging content. Follow the 2:1 rule: two-thirds of your emails should offer content and value, while one-third can focus on promotions.
Step 2: How To Get Your Emails Opened
Even if your email lands in the inbox, it’s useless if it doesn’t get opened. Here’s how to ensure your emails don’t get ignored:
1. Nail the Subject Line
Your subject line is your first (and sometimes only) chance to grab attention. Keep it personal, short, and intriguing. Here are a few winning formulas:
2. Write Like a Friend
Emails from a faceless company scream “promotion” and end up ignored. Instead:
3. Test Your Timing
When you send your email matters. Studies show:
1. Nail the Subject Line
Your subject line is your first (and sometimes only) chance to grab attention. Keep it personal, short, and intriguing. Here are a few winning formulas:
- “Hey”: The highest-open-rate subject line in history (sent by Barack Obama).
- “Can I ask you something?”
- “You won’t believe this...”
2. Write Like a Friend
Emails from a faceless company scream “promotion” and end up ignored. Instead:
- Use a sender name that feels personal (e.g., "Jamie from Mont-Royal Digital").
- Avoid logos and heavy graphics. A plain-text email feels more authentic and gets higher open rates.
3. Test Your Timing
When you send your email matters. Studies show:
- Best days: Tuesday and Thursday.
- Best times: 10 AM, 2 PM, or late evening (8 PM - midnight).
Step 3: How To Get Your Emails Clicked
Open rates are great, but clicks drive conversions. To get those precious clicks, your email needs to entertain, engage, and persuade.
1. Be Entertaining
People crave something fun and exciting in their inboxes. Inject humor, tell stories, or share personal anecdotes. Boring emails don’t get clicks.
2. Use Clear, Commanding CTAs
Don’t ask your readers to click—tell them. Here are some proven call-to-action phrases:
3. Ditch the Fancy Designs
1. Be Entertaining
People crave something fun and exciting in their inboxes. Inject humor, tell stories, or share personal anecdotes. Boring emails don’t get clicks.
2. Use Clear, Commanding CTAs
Don’t ask your readers to click—tell them. Here are some proven call-to-action phrases:
- “Claim your spot here.”
- “Click now to see what it’s all about.”
- “Sign up today and start seeing results.”
3. Ditch the Fancy Designs
- Forget HTML-heavy templates with flashy buttons and graphics. Plain-text emails look personal and genuine, making readers more likely to click.
Bonus Tips for 2025 Email Success
- Preheader Text That Burns with Intrigue This snippet appears next to your subject line in the inbox. Use it to spark curiosity without giving away the whole story. Think of it as a movie trailer for your email.
- Switch Up Your Senders Emails from different names (e.g., Jamie@montroyaldigital.ca, Sarah@montroyaldigital.ca) improve open rates and maintain your sender reputation.
- Spy on Your Competitors Sign up for newsletters from competitors and industry leaders. Study their subject lines, timing, and content—then do the opposite to stand out.
The Bottom Line
Email marketing in 2025 is a mix of art and science. It’s not just about sending messages—it’s about delivering value, building trust, and standing out in a sea of sameness.
If you’re ready to stop wasting time and start seeing results, it’s time to implement these strategies.
And if you’d rather skip the trial-and-error? Let us do the heavy lifting for you.
At Mont-Royal Digital, we specialize in crafting high-converting email campaigns that actually work.
Ready to take your email game to the next level?
Book your Free 45-minute strategy call Today!
And let’s create a plan tailored just for you.
Text author: Zakaria Naciri
