Avoiding Common Email Marketing Mistakes: 11 Costly Errors and How to Fix Them
Steve HalabiUpdated on
Introduction:
Email marketing is a game-changer for bloggers. It allows you to connect with your audience, nurture relationships, and generate consistent income. But one wrong move can send your emails straight to spam or lead to mass unsubscribes.
The problem? Most bloggers don’t even realize they’re making these mistakes.
If your open rates are low, your click-throughs are weak, or your subscribers aren’t converting into buyers, there’s a good chance you’re falling into one of these common email marketing traps.
But don’t worry, you’re about to learn how to fix them!
In This Guide, You’ll Discover:
The 11 most common email marketing mistakes Bloggers make
How to fix them using actionable strategies and AI-powered tools
How to optimize your emails for better engagement and sales
Let’s dive in!
Disclosure: When you buy through a link on this site, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Step 1: Neglecting Email List Segmentation
One of the bloggers’ biggest mistakes is treating their entire audience the same. Sending generic, one-size-fits-all emails leads to:
Low open rates
Lower engagement
Higher unsubscribe and spam complaints
Imagine this: A new subscriber who just joined your list gets the same email as a long-time reader who has already bought your product. This disconnects your audience and reduces conversions.
The Fix: Smart Segmentation & Personalization
Group subscribers by behaviour (new sign-ups, engaged readers, past buyers).
Tag users based on interests and actions (which lead magnet they downloaded).
Use AI-powered tools like Kit or ActiveCampaign to create dynamic email sequences for different segments.
Example:
Someone who downloaded your Affiliate Marketing Guide should receive emails related to monetization tips rather than general blogging advice.
Subscribers who haven’t opened emails in 60 days should be moved to a re-engagement campaign instead of receiving standard content.
“If you’re still sending the same email to everyone on your list, you’re leaving conversions on the table. Kit makes segmentation simple so you can tag subscribers based on behaviour, send more relevant content, and build stronger connections!”
Get Started Here! Kit
Step 2: Overloading Subscribers with Too Many Emails
Sending too many emails too often is a surefire way to annoy your audience and increase unsubscribes.
The Problem:
Subscribers feel overwhelmed
They stop opening your emails
Your email reputation takes a hit (lower deliverability)
The Fix: Find Your Email Frequency Sweet Spot
Stick to 1 – 2 emails per week for best engagement rates.
Test different frequencies using A/B testing.
Allow subscribers to choose their preferred email frequency.
Example:
Let subscribers opt for weekly or bi-weekly emails in their preferences.
A/B test email frequency and analyze unsubscribe rates to find the best balance.
“Finding the right email frequency can make or break your engagement rates. With ActiveCampaign, you can test timing, monitor how often people engage, and keep your subscribers excited instead of overwhelmed!”
Get Started Here! ActiveCampaign
Step 3: Failing to Optimize Subject Lines for Open Rates
Your subject line determines whether someone opens your email or ignores it. A weak, generic, or spammy subject line can kill your open rates.
The Problem:
Boring subject lines get ignored
Spammy phrases like HUGE DISCOUNT!!! land emails in the junk folder
Too long? Gets cut off on mobile
The Fix: Craft High-Converting Subject Lines
Keep subject lines short and intriguing, under 50 characters for mobile.
Use power words and curiosity-based hooks like, This Email Trick Boosted My Open Rate by 42%.
Personalize subject lines with the subscriber’s name for better engagement.
Example Subject Line Improvements
Bad: Here’s My Latest Blog Post
Good: Want More Blog Traffic? Try This 2-Minute Hack
“A great email means nothing if it never gets opened. CoSchedule Headline Analyzer helps you craft subject lines that are short, intriguing, and proven to grab attention in crowded inboxes!”
Get Started Here! CoSchedule
Step 4: Sending Emails Without a Clear CTA
One of the biggest mistakes bloggers make is sending emails without a clear next step. Your readers might enjoy your content, but if you don’t tell them what to do next, they won’t take action, which means missed conversions and low engagement.
The Problem:
Readers open the email but don’t click anything
Too many different links create decision fatigue
Unclear CTAs make subscribers unsure of what to do
The Fix: Use Strong, Actionable CTAs
Every email should have ONE clear goal. Do you want readers to click a link, download a freebie, or reply to your email? Be specific.
Make your CTA stand out. Use buttons instead of plain text links for better click-through rates (CTRs).
Use persuasive language. Instead of Click here, try Grab your free checklist now.
Example:
Weak CTA: Check out my new post.
Strong CTA: Want more traffic? Read this 5-minute SEO guide.
“Your readers want to know exactly what to do next, and you need to make that action irresistible. Neuroflash uses AI to craft CTAs that grab attention, feel natural, and inspire clicks without sounding pushy!”
Get Started Here! Neuroflash
Step 5: Not Personalizing Email Content
Subscribers expect emails to feel personal and relevant. Sending generic, one-size-fits-all messages reduces engagement and makes readers feel like just another number on your list.
The Problem:
Generic greetings like, Hey there feel robotic
No personalization = lower open and click rates
Emails lack relevance because they aren’t tailored to subscriber interests
The Fix: Make Emails Feel More Personal
Use subscribers’ names in subject lines and greetings. (Lisa, Here’s a Quick SEO Trick for You)
Reference past interactions (Since you downloaded our SEO guide…)
Segment content based on behaviour – new subscribers get intro emails, and engaged readers get advanced tips.
Example of a Personalized Email Intro:
Generic: Here’s my latest blog post.
Personalized: Hey [First Name], I saw you grabbed our SEO checklist last week—here’s the next step to boost your blog traffic.
Generic emails are easy to ignore, but personalized ones make people stop and read. Seventh Sense figures out when each subscriber is most likely to engage, so your emails hit inboxes at just the right time!
Get Started Here! Seventh Sense
“Grab the eBook that shows you how to create email sequences that build trust and lead readers toward your offers naturally. If your emails feel random or disconnected, this guide will help you turn them into a purposeful funnel!
Over 60% of emails are opened on mobile devices. If your emails aren’t mobile-friendly, they’ll be hard to read, causing low engagement and high unsubscribe rates.
The Problem:
Emails have tiny text and buttons that are hard to tap
Images don’t resize properly, making emails look broken
Long paragraphs make reading difficult on small screens
The Fix: Optimize Emails for Mobile Readability
Use a responsive email template that automatically adjusts for mobile.
Keep paragraphs short (1-2 sentences max) for easy reading.
Use large, tappable buttons instead of small links.
Example:
Bad Mobile Design: A cramped email with tiny text and multiple links.
Good Mobile Design: Short paragraphs, a single CTA button, and responsive formatting.
“Most of your readers are opening emails on their phones, so if your formatting is off, you’ve already lost them. Litmus lets you preview your emails on every device before you hit send, so they always look sharp!”
Get Started Here! Litmus
Step 7: Using Spam-Triggering Words in Emails
Even if your email content is valuable and engaging, it can still land in the spam folder if you use the wrong words or formatting. This means fewer opens, fewer clicks, and lost revenue.
The Problem:
Certain words (like FREE!!! or Make Money Fast) trigger spam filters
Excessive punctuation (Act Now!!!) signals spam
Emails with too many images and not enough text get flagged
The Fix: Write Emails That Pass Spam Filters
Avoid spam-triggering words (see a list of common spam words here).
Maintain a balanced text-to-image ratio (Aim for 60% text, 40% images).
Use proper formatting, no all-caps subject lines or excessive punctuation.
Authenticate your emails with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC settings (Email providers like Mailchimp and Kit handle this for you).
Example:
Spammy Subject Line: MAKE $$$ FAST WITH THIS SECRET TRICK!!!
Optimized Subject Line: The Simple Way to Grow Your Blogging Income
“Even valuable emails can end up in spam if you’re not careful with wording and formatting. MailTester quickly scans your email for spam triggers so you can fix issues and protect your deliverability!”
Get Started Here! MailTester
Step 8: Not Cleaning Your Email List Regularly
Keeping inactive subscribers on your list hurts your email performance. Email service providers (like Gmail and Outlook) track engagement, and if too many people ignore your emails, your sender’s reputation drops, leading to more emails landing in spam.
The Problem:
Inactive subscribers reduce your open and click rates
Too many bounced emails lower your deliverability score
Higher chances of emails being marked as spam
The Fix: Regularly Clean Your Email List
Remove inactive subscribers (Anyone who hasn’t engaged in 60-90 days).
Send a re-engagement campaign before deleting inactive users. Example: Still Interested? Click Below to Stay Subscribed!
Offer a small incentive (free checklist, guide, or exclusive content).
Use email verification tools like ZeroBounce to remove invalid email addresses.
Example:
Bad List Hygiene: Keeping thousands of inactive subscribers who never open emails.
Good List Hygiene: Running a re-engagement campaign and cleaning up inactive users every 90 days.
“A bloated list full of inactive addresses hurts your engagement and your sender reputation. ZeroBounce automatically verifies email addresses, removes invalid contacts, and keeps your list in top shape!”
Get Started Here! ZeroBounce
Step 9: Skipping A/B Testing and Analytics
Many bloggers send emails blindly without testing what works. You can’t improve open rates, click-throughs, or conversions without tracking and experimenting.
The Problem:
No tracking means no insights into what’s working
Sending the same type of email every time leads to stagnant engagement
Not testing subject lines, content, or CTA placement reduces conversions
The Fix: Use A/B Testing and Analytics to Improve Performance
Test different subject lines to see which gets the highest open rate.
Compare CTA placements (buttons vs. links) and track clicks.
Monitor email analytics inside Kit, Mailchimp, or ActiveCampaign to find out:
Which emails have the highest engagement
What times/days perform best for sending
Which CTA formats drive the most conversions
Example:
No Testing: Always sending emails at 10 AM on Mondays without tracking results.
Data-Driven Strategy: A/B testing email send times and subject lines to increase engagement.
“If you’re not testing, you’re guessing, and that’s no way to grow. Optimail uses AI to analyze your email campaigns, suggest improvements, and help you make data-backed decisions that move the needle!”
Get Started Here! Optimail
Step 10: Writing Overly Salesy or Pushy Emails
While email marketing is great for making sales, being too aggressive can turn off subscribers. If every email is about selling something, your audience will tune out, unsubscribe, or mark your emails as spam.
The Problem:
Too many sales pitches = subscriber fatigue
Emails feel transactional instead of valuable
Readers stop opening emails because they expect another BUY NOW message
The Fix: Focus on Value First, Sales Second
Use the 80/20 rule – 80% of your emails should provide value, while only 20% should be promotional.
Educate before selling – Show how your product or affiliate offer solves a real problem instead of just pushing it.
Use storytelling – Engage subscribers with real-life examples before making an offer.
Example:
Pushy Sales Email: BUY THIS COURSE NOW! LIMITED TIME OFFER!
Engaging Email: Struggling to grow your email list? Here’s a simple trick that helped me triple my subscribers in 30 days.
“Constantly pushing for a sale can turn loyal readers into unsubscribers. Jasper AI helps you write engaging, value-first emails that naturally lead readers toward your offers without the hard sell!”
Get Started Here! Jasper AI
Step 11: Failing to Leverage Automation for Growth
Manually sending emails every week is time-consuming and inefficient. If you’re not automating your email marketing, you’re missing out on engagement, conversions, and revenue while doing extra work.
The Problem:
Manually sending emails wastes time
New subscribers don’t get an onboarding experience
Lack of automation means missed sales opportunities
The Fix: Use Email Automation to Work Smarter
Set up automated welcome sequences to nurture new subscribers.
Use behaviour-triggered emails (send a follow-up when someone clicks a link but doesn’t buy).
Create an evergreen email funnel that continuously sells products on autopilot.
Example Automation:
Subscriber joins your list – Receives a welcome email with your best content
They engage with a lead magnet – Get a follow-up email on that topic
They visit a sales page but don’t buy – Receive a Need Help? email with testimonials
“Manually sending every email is exhausting and limits your reach. With ActiveCampaign, you can build automated, behaviour-based email sequences that nurture, engage, and sell, without lifting a finger after setup!”
Get Started Here! ActiveCampaign
Conclusion: Fix These Mistakes & Boost Email Conversions
By avoiding these 11 costly email marketing mistakes, you can:
Increase open rates and engagement
Convert more subscribers into buyers
Create an email marketing system that works for you
Next Steps:
Run an email audit, see which mistakes you’re making.
Start implementing these fixes step by step.
Test, optimize, and refine your email strategy with AI tools.
Start building and optimizing your email list today!
Ebook: Email Funnels That Nurture and Convert
Build Email Sequences That Guide Readers Naturally Toward Action
Email marketing works best when you have a plan, not just a list. This eBook walks you through how to create simple, effective funnels that build trust, deliver value, and lead your subscribers toward your offers without feeling pushy.
Here’s what you’ll learn inside:
What a good email funnel looks like and how it works behind the scenes
The most common email sequence mistakes and how to avoid them
How to structure your emails to build a connection and drive action
Real examples of funnels that convert for creators and bloggers
This eBook is for you if:
You’re ready to build a funnel that runs in the background and works over time
You’ve been sending emails, but don’t have a clear follow-up strategy
You want to turn subscribers into buyers without being salesy
