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Email marketing success formula of 7, 8, & 9-figure brands

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The Growth Guru Team
February 28, 2025

Discover how 7, 8, and 9-figure brands excel in email marketing with strategies tailored to their scale. From foundational tactics to advanced personalization and data-driven decision-making, learn how to apply these proven techniques to boost your own email campaigns and drive impressive results.

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Email marketing secrets of 7, 8, and 9-figure brands

In the rapidly changing world of e-commerce, email marketing continues to be a powerhouse for driving sales and cultivating customer relationships. The email marketing success formula employed by 7, 8, and 9-figure brands is a testament to its effectiveness. These industry giants have mastered the art of crafting compelling campaigns that resonate with their audience, driving engagement and conversions. From personalized content to strategic segmentation, their approach offers valuable insights for businesses of all sizes. 

Let's dive into the strategies that make these brands stand out and explore how you can implement their winning tactics in your own email marketing efforts.

How do brands use email marketing?

Brands use email marketing to nurture leads, drive sales, and build long-lasting relationships with their customers. By sending targeted, personalized content to their email subscribers, brands can keep their products and services top-of-mind, encourage repeat purchases, and foster a sense of loyalty among their customer base.

Some common ways brands use email marketing include:

  • Sending welcome emails to new subscribers
  • Offering exclusive discounts and promotions to email subscribers
  • Providing valuable content, such as product guides and how-to articles
  • Sending abandoned cart emails to recover lost sales
  • Requesting feedback and reviews from customers
  • Keeping customers informed about new product launches and company updates

Pyramid 7, 8, 9 figure brands

Email marketing strategy for 7-figure brands

Building a strong foundation

For 7-figure brands, the key to email marketing success lies in building a strong foundation. This starts with developing a clear value proposition that communicates the unique benefits of subscribing to the brand's email list. By offering incentives such as exclusive discounts, early access to sales, or free shipping, brands can encourage visitors to sign up and start receiving their emails.

Effective list-building techniques are also crucial for 7-figure brands.

This can include tactics such as:

  • Offering lead magnets, such as free e-books or guides, in exchange for an email address
  • Implementing pop-ups on the website to capture visitors' attention and encourage sign-ups
  • Leveraging social media to promote the benefits of joining the email list
  • Collecting email addresses at in-person events or through partnerships with other brands

Craft engaging content

Once a 7-figure brand has built a solid email list, the next step is to craft engaging content that resonates with subscribers. This starts with creating compelling subject lines that entice readers to open the email.

Some tips for writing effective subject lines include:

  • Keep it short and sweet (ideally under 60 characters)
  • Use action-oriented language that creates a sense of urgency
  • Personalize the subject line with the subscriber's name or location
  • Test different subject lines to see what works best for your audience

The content of the email itself should also be engaging and valuable to the reader.

This can include:

  • High-quality product images and descriptions
  • User-generated content, such as customer reviews or photos
  • Relevant and informative blog posts or articles
  • Exclusive offers and promotions that are only available to email subscribers

Example: Pura Vida Bracelets, a 7-figure brand, uses email marketing to showcase their products and offer exclusive discounts to subscribers. Their emails feature bright, eye-catching images of their bracelets and include customer reviews and user-generated content to build social proof. They also offer subscribers early access to new product launches and sales, creating a sense of exclusivity and encouraging repeat purchases.

Leverage automation

Automation is a powerful tool for 7-figure brands looking to streamline their email marketing efforts. By setting up automated email sequences, brands can nurture leads and keep subscribers engaged without having to manually send each email.

Some basic automation strategies for 7-figure brands include:

  • Welcome series: A sequence of emails that introduces new subscribers to the brand and sets expectations for what they can expect from future emails
  • Thank you emails: Automated emails that thank customers for their purchase and provide any necessary follow-up information
  • Abandoned cart emails: Triggered emails that remind customers about items they left in their cart and encourage them to complete their purchase

Example: Zyppah, a 7-figure sleep apnea device brand, uses automation to nurture leads. When a visitor signs up for their email list, they receive a series of welcome emails that introduce the brand and provide educational content about sleep apnea. This helps build trust and establish Zyppah as an authority in their industry, making subscribers more likely to purchase their product.

Email marketing strategy for 8-figure brands

Advanced segmentation and personalization

For 8-figure brands, email marketing success requires a more advanced approach to segmentation and personalization. By using customer data to segment their email lists, brands can send highly targeted content that resonates with each individual subscriber.

Some ways to segment email lists include:

  • Demographics (age, gender, location)
  • Purchase history (previous purchases, average order value)
  • Engagement level (open rates, click-through rates)
  • Interests and preferences (product categories, email content preferences)

Once the lists are segmented, brands can personalize their email content to speak directly to each group's unique needs and interests.

This can include:

  • Product recommendations based on previous purchases
  • Personalized subject lines and email content that includes the subscriber's name
  • Dynamic content that changes based on the subscriber's location or other factors

Example: Living Proof, an 8-figure haircare brand, uses advanced segmentation and personalization in their email marketing. They segment their lists based on factors such as hair type, purchase history, and engagement level, and send targeted product recommendations and content to each group. This approach has helped them increase their email revenue by 20% and improve their click-through rates by 30%.

Sophisticated automation workflows

8-figure brands also use more sophisticated automation workflows to nurture leads and drive sales. These workflows go beyond basic welcome series and abandoned cart emails to create a more personalized and engaging experience for subscribers.

Some examples of advanced automation workflows include:

  • Post-purchase follow-up series that provide helpful tips and recommend related products
  • Birthday and anniversary emails that offer special discounts or freebies
  • Re-engagement campaigns that attempt to win back inactive subscribers
  • Automated product replenishment reminders for consumable goods

Example: The Honest Company, an 8-figure brand, uses a sophisticated post-purchase automation workflow to keep customers engaged and encourage repeat purchases. After a customer makes a purchase, they receive a series of emails that provide helpful tips for using the product, recommend related products, and offer exclusive discounts for their next purchase. This approach has helped The Honest Company increase their customer lifetime value and improve their overall email revenue.

A/B testing and optimization

Continuous testing and optimization are crucial for 8-figure brands looking to improve their email marketing performance. By running A/B tests on various elements of their emails, such as subject lines, content, and calls-to-action, brands can identify what works best for their audience and make data-driven decisions to optimize their campaigns.

Some elements to test include:

  • Subject lines (length, tone, personalization)
  • Email content (length, formatting, imagery)
  • Calls-to-action (placement, color, copy)
  • Send time and frequency
  • Audience segments and personalization

Example: Bombas, an 8-figure sock brand, uses A/B testing to optimize their email marketing campaigns. They test different subject lines, content, and calls-to-action to see what resonates best with their audience. In one test, they found that using a more casual, conversational tone in their email content led to a 20% increase in click-through rates compared to their standard brand voice. By continuously testing and iterating, Bombas has been able to improve their email performance and drive more sales.

Email marketing strategy for 9-figure brands

Data-driven decision making

For 9-figure brands, email marketing success is all about leveraging data to make informed decisions. By using advanced analytics tools to track and analyze email performance metrics, brands can gain valuable insights into what's working and what's not, and adjust their strategies accordingly.

Some key metrics to track include:

  • Open rates
  • Click-through rates
  • Conversion rates
  • Revenue per email
  • Unsubscribe rates
  • Bounce rates
  • List growth rate

Example: Warby Parker, a 9-figure eyewear brand, uses data to drive their email marketing strategy. They track a variety of metrics, including open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates, and use this data to inform their content and audience segmentation strategies. For example, they found that emails featuring user-generated content had higher engagement rates than those without, so they started incorporating more customer photos and reviews into their email campaigns. This data-driven approach has helped Warby Parker achieve email open rates and click-through rates that are well above industry averages.

Omni-channel integration

9-figure brands also focus on integrating their email marketing efforts with other channels, such as social media and SMS marketing, to create a cohesive and seamless customer experience. By leveraging data from multiple touchpoints, brands can gain a more comprehensive view of their customers and create more targeted and personalized marketing campaigns.

Some benefits of an omni-channel marketing strategy include:

  • Increased customer engagement and loyalty
  • Higher conversion rates and revenue
  • Better customer insights and data
  • Improved brand consistency and awareness

Example: Sephora, a 9-figure beauty brand, uses omni-channel marketing to create a personalized experience for their customers. They integrate their email marketing with their mobile app, website, and in-store experiences to provide a seamless and consistent brand experience across all touchpoints. For example, customers can use the Sephora app to scan products in-store and receive personalized email recommendations based on their preferences and purchase history. This approach has helped Sephora build a loyal customer base and has driven significant revenue growth.

Innovative campaigns

9-figure brands are also known for pushing the boundaries of email marketing with innovative and creative campaigns that stand out in the inbox. By leveraging new technologies and thinking outside the box, these brands are able to create unique and memorable email experiences that drive engagement and sales.

Some examples of innovative email campaigns include:

  • Interactive emails with embedded videos, quizzes, or games
  • Personalized product recommendations based on customer data and behavior
  • Animated or dynamic email content that changes based on user interactions
  • Abandoned cart emails with a twist, such as social proof or scarcity tactics

Example: Glossier, a 9-figure beauty brand, is known for their innovative email campaigns. They use a combination of user-generated content, personalized product recommendations, and interactive design elements to create engaging and memorable email experiences. One of their most successful campaigns was a "Choose Your Own Adventure" email that allowed subscribers to click through different paths to discover new products and learn more about the brand. This campaign had an open rate of over 50% and generated significant buzz and sales for the brand.

Comparison between SMS and Email benefits

Common success elements across all successful brands

Customer-centric approach

Regardless of their size or industry, all successful brands have one thing in common: a customer-centric approach to email marketing. By focusing on the needs and preferences of their subscribers, brands are able to create content and offers that resonate and drive engagement.

Some ways to be more customer-centric in email marketing include:

  • Segmenting lists based on subscriber preferences and behavior
  • Personalizing content and offers based on individual needs and interests
  • Providing value-driven content that educates and informs, rather than just selling
  • Seeking feedback and input from subscribers to improve the email experience

Example: Patagonia, a 9-figure outdoor clothing brand, is known for their customer-centric approach to email marketing. They send a mix of educational content, product recommendations, and customer stories that align with their subscribers' interests and values. They also use customer feedback and data to continually improve their email campaigns and provide a better experience for their subscribers. This approach has helped Patagonia build a loyal and engaged email audience that drives significant revenue for the brand.

Consistent branding and messaging

Another key element of email marketing success is consistent branding and messaging across all campaigns. By maintaining a clear and recognizable brand voice and visual identity, brands are able to build trust and credibility with their subscribers.

Some ways to ensure consistent branding and messaging in email marketing include:

  • Using a consistent color palette, font, and imagery across all emails
  • Developing a clear and distinctive brand voice that aligns with the brand's values and personality
  • Creating templates and guidelines for email content to achieve consistency across all campaigns
  • Regularly auditing email content to align with the brand's overall messaging and strategy

Example: Dollar Shave Club, a 9-figure grooming brand, is known for their consistent and distinctive brand voice in their email marketing. Their emails are witty, irreverent, and always on-brand, with a focus on providing value and entertainment to their subscribers. They also use consistent visual elements, such as their signature orange color and bold typography, to create a recognizable and memorable email experience. This approach has helped Dollar Shave Club stand out in a crowded inbox and build a loyal and engaged email audience.

Common success elements across all successful brands

Customer-centric approach

Successful email marketing strategies focus on customer needs and preferences. Providing value-driven content and building long-term relationships with customers are key. For example, brands can send educational content, exclusive offers, and personalized recommendations to keep customers engaged and loyal.

Consistent branding and messaging

Maintaining a consistent brand voice across all emails is crucial for brand recognition and trust. Brands with strong, cohesive messaging create a seamless experience for their customers. For instance, a brand that consistently uses the same tone, style, and visuals in their emails reinforces their identity and builds trust with their audience.

Man and woman illustraion with graph

Overcoming common email marketing challenges

Dealing with deliverability issues

Ensuring that emails reach the inbox is a common challenge. Brands can improve deliverability by maintaining a clean email list, using double opt-in, and regularly monitoring bounce rates and spam complaints.

Combating email fatigue and unsubscribes

To avoid overwhelming subscribers, brands should focus on sending relevant and valuable content. Personalizing emails and segmenting lists can help reduce email fatigue and unsubscribe rates.

Staying compliant with regulations (GDPR, CAN-SPAM)

Compliance with regulations like GDPR and CAN-SPAM is essential to avoid penalties and maintain trust with subscribers. Brands should include clear opt-out options, honor unsubscribe requests promptly, and ensure they have proper consent for email communications.

Balancing automation with personalization

While automation is crucial for efficiency, it's important to balance it with personalization. Brands should use automation to streamline processes while making sure that the content remains relevant and personalized to the recipient.

Conclusion

The Email Marketing Success Formula of 7, 8, and 9-figure brands provides a comprehensive roadmap for achieving email marketing excellence. By focusing on building a strong foundation, crafting engaging content, leveraging automation, and making data-driven decisions, brands can overcome common challenges and achieve remarkable results.

Ready to implement the Email Marketing Success Formula? Contact Growth Gurus for expert assistance with your email marketing needs, regardless of your brand's size. Let us help you unlock the full potential of email marketing and drive your brand's growth to new heights.

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