National email week is celebrated every year in the second week of June. This year, it will take place from June 10 to 16. Emails have changed the world and improved everyone’s lives. They are the preferred way to communicate because they are easy, low-cost, and effective. 

History

The Journey of Email: A Brief History

The concept of email began to take shape alongside the development of the internet. Here’s a quick look at its evolution:

1965: The earliest version of email, known as MAILBOX, was developed at MIT. It allowed users to leave messages for others on a shared computer system.

1971: Ray Tomlinson, working on ARPANET, introduced the email system that included the "@" symbol to route messages. This laid the foundation for the email systems we use today.

1980s: Internet service providers began connecting individuals globally, and email hosting services started to appear.

1993: The term "electronic mail" was commonly shortened to "email," and its use surged as the internet grew more widespread.

1999: By the end of the 90s, the internet had nearly 400 million users, making email an integral part of daily communication.

Today, emails are indispensable in our digital world, serving as a backbone for personal, professional, and commercial interactions.

The importance of emails

Emails are essential in several key areas:

Business communication: Used for internal communication, client interactions, marketing, and customer support.

E-commerce: Important for order confirmations, shipping notifications, promotional offers, and customer service.

Education: Facilitates communication between students, teachers, and administrative staff, and is used for sending assignments and announcements.

Healthcare: Used for appointment reminders, patient communication, and sharing medical information securely.

Personal communication: Keeping in touch with family and friends, sharing news, and managing personal matters.

Email marketing

Email marketing is when businesses use email to communicate with their customers. It's a direct way to inform customers, boost brand awareness, and promote products or services.

Here are some types of marketing emails to include in your strategy:

• Welcome emails
• Newsletters
• Promotional emails
• Lead nurturing or re-engagement emails
• Transactional emails (e.g., confirmation or password reset emails)
• Feedback or survey emails
• Milestone emails (e.g., birthday or anniversary emails)

Email marketing best practices

A successful email marketing campaign can engage previous customers, attract new ones, and help you meet your marketing goals. 

When creating your email marketing campaign, remember to craft eye-catching subject lines, structure your message well, and keep the design simple. Only email those who have opted in, time your emails strategically, and regularly monitor and test your campaign.

Tips & tricks from Shop Circle

“Email marketing is one of the best ways to stay in touch with your audience and build lasting relationships with them. If you keep a healthy balance between giving valuable content and promotional offers, you can build a loyal customer base and have meaningful interactions. It's the perfect blend of business and creativity.”

Emina D. - Junior Email Specialist

“What I love about email marketing is how it allows businesses to reach their customers directly and personally, and after almost two years in this field, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful it is for connecting with people. By segmenting email lists and using personalization techniques, we can tailor our messages to specific audiences, making our communication much more relevant and engaging. This direct approach has allowed us to connect with our merchants on a deeper level and deliver content that truly resonates with them.”

Zejneba A. D. - Email Specialist 

“By sending relevant, interesting material straight to your audience's inbox, email marketing creates a personal connection with them, fosters enduring relationships, and successfully increases sales.”

Aldin D. - Junior Email Specialist