Email Marketing Glossary

Term	Definition
Email Marketing	The practice of sending targeted emails to a group of recipients to promote products, services, or build relationships, often as part of a broader digital marketing strategy.
Subscriber List	A database of email addresses from individuals who have opted in to receive communications from a brand or organization.
Opt-In	The process where users voluntarily provide their email address and consent to receive emails, ensuring compliance and engagement.
Opt-Out	An option for recipients to unsubscribe from email lists, typically via a link at the bottom of emails.
Double Opt-In	A two-step confirmation process where subscribers must verify their email address after initial sign-up to confirm interest.
Newsletter	A regularly scheduled email that provides updates, news, or valuable content to subscribers to maintain engagement.
Autoresponder	An automated email sent in response to a specific action, such as a welcome message after subscription.
Drip Campaign	A series of automated emails sent over time to nurture leads, based on user behavior or a predetermined schedule.
Segmentation	Dividing an email list into smaller groups based on criteria like demographics, behavior, or preferences for targeted messaging.
Personalization	Customizing email content, such as using the recipient's name or tailored recommendations, to increase relevance and engagement.
A/B Testing	Comparing two versions of an email (e.g., subject lines or content) to determine which performs better based on metrics.
Open Rate	The percentage of recipients who open an email, indicating the effectiveness of subject lines and sender reputation.
Click-Through Rate (CTR)	The percentage of email recipients who click on one or more links within the email, measuring content engagement.
Bounce Rate	The percentage of emails that fail to reach the inbox, due to invalid addresses or other delivery issues.
Hard Bounce	A permanent delivery failure, often due to an invalid or non-existent email address, leading to list removal.
Soft Bounce	A temporary delivery failure, such as a full inbox or server issue, which may resolve on subsequent attempts.
Spam	Unsolicited or irrelevant emails, often leading to complaints and damaging sender reputation if not managed properly.
CAN-SPAM Act	A U.S. law regulating commercial emails, requiring opt-out options, accurate headers, and no deceptive subject lines.
GDPR	The General Data Protection Regulation in the EU, mandating explicit consent and data protection for email marketing.
Subject Line	The text that appears in the recipient's inbox, designed to entice opens by being compelling and relevant.
Preheader Text	A short summary text that follows the subject line in email previews, providing additional context to encourage opens.
Call to Action (CTA)	A prompt within an email encouraging recipients to take a specific action, like "Shop Now" or "Learn More."
Landing Page	A dedicated web page where users are directed after clicking a link in an email, optimized for conversions.
Conversion Rate	The percentage of email recipients who complete a desired action, such as making a purchase or filling a form.
List Hygiene	The process of cleaning an email list by removing inactive or invalid addresses to improve deliverability.
Re-engagement Campaign	Emails sent to inactive subscribers to encourage them to interact again, often with incentives or surveys.
Welcome Email	The first email sent to new subscribers, introducing the brand and setting expectations for future communications.
Transactional Email	Automated emails triggered by user actions, like order confirmations or password resets, focused on utility.
Promotional Email	Emails aimed at driving sales or promotions, such as discounts, product launches, or seasonal offers.
Email Template	A pre-designed layout for emails that ensures consistency in branding, formatting, and responsiveness.
Responsive Design	Email design that adapts to different screen sizes, ensuring readability on mobile devices and desktops.
ESP (Email Service Provider)	A platform like Mailchimp or Constant Contact that handles email sending, tracking, and compliance.
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)	The standard protocol for sending emails across the internet, used by ESPs for delivery.
Deliverability	The ability of emails to reach the inbox rather than spam folders, influenced by sender reputation and content.
Blacklist	A list of IP addresses or domains flagged for sending spam, which can block email delivery.
Whitelist	A list of approved senders that ensures emails from those sources reach the inbox without filtering.
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail)	An email authentication method that verifies the sender's domain to prevent spoofing.
SPF (Sender Policy Framework)	A protocol that specifies which IP addresses are authorized to send emails from a domain.
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance)	A policy that builds on SPF and DKIM to protect against email spoofing and provide reporting.
Warm-Up	Gradually increasing email sending volume from a new IP to build a positive sender reputation.
Cold Email	Unsolicited emails sent to prospects without prior contact, often used in sales outreach.
Lead Magnet	A valuable incentive, like a free ebook or discount, offered in exchange for an email address.
Nurture Sequence	A series of emails designed to educate and build trust with leads over time, guiding them toward conversion.
Email Automation	Using software to send emails based on triggers, schedules, or user behaviors without manual intervention.
Behavioral Trigger	An automated email sent in response to specific user actions, like browsing a product or abandoning a cart.
Cart Abandonment Email	Emails reminding users of items left in their shopping cart, often with incentives to complete the purchase.
Win-Back Campaign	Emails targeted at lapsed customers to encourage them to return and make another purchase.
Email Blast	Sending a single email to a large portion or the entire subscriber list, often for announcements.
Multivariate Testing	Testing multiple variables in an email (e.g., subject, image, CTA) to optimize performance.
Sender Reputation	A score based on factors like bounce rates and complaints, affecting email deliverability.
Unsubscribe Rate	The percentage of recipients who opt out after receiving an email, indicating content relevance.
Complaint Rate	The rate at which recipients mark emails as spam, which can harm sender reputation.
List Growth Rate	The rate at which an email list increases over time, through new subscriptions minus unsubscribes.

Email Marketing Glossary

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