Our client and partner business, BamMagazine.com, was wondering about the best time to send an email. When would a marketing email most likely get read and perhaps responded to?
As we searched around, we ran across a really interesting blog post about that very subject. You can click and read the whole post on Haley Marketing’s blog.
What they found out for email marketing was that:
-Most people check emails 6am-8am. At Placemaking Group, we like to send marketing emails out in the morning. This preference probably comes from our Public Relations knowledge that reporters tend to look at their email in the morning. But, now we find out that really early in the morning is even better! Hmmm.
-Weekends are becoming very popular times to check email. It’s surprising to think that lots of people are checking their email during the weekend. But heck, I know I myself am checking email all weekend long. It is interesting to find that the research shows this is true for many people. And it makes sense, when you think about all of the interruptions during the work week, and all the work that needs to get done during the day. Plus, with all of smartphones and iPads, it’s now easier to check your email at all times, wherever you are.
So, we recommended to BamMagazine.com that a great time to send a marketing email is first thing on Thursday morning to get the weekend going or on the weekend!
Seems to me that this information should be common sense. Get your emails sent out early so you can use the rest of your day dealing with the daily tasks of your work schedule. Although, this post brings up a valid point that since a majority of people have smart phones and ipads that emails can be checked at a time that is appropriate for that individual. I believe that it should be a company policy that emails should be sent and read at a given period of time.
I agree with Anthony. People check their email so frequently, especially first thing in the morning. We have become so attached to communicating via CMC, that we almost become excited and hopeful for what awaits us within our inboxes the next morning. However, I think its courtesy to not send emails on the weekends, although, if there is time, responding to some wouldn’t be the end of the world. So many companies actually work on the weekends, therefore it may be crucial to be emailing in the am and right before the weekend begins.
I completely agree with Mr. Costa . Its always advisable to send out email in the morning so that people have a schedule in their mind for the day. This would increase productivity and would help in organizing their daily task. it would also give enough time to make amended and act on them.
I agree with Kelly and Anthony. Checking your email first thing in the morning is best. I think it has become a natural habit among most of our world that they wake up and the first thing they do is check their mail to start their day. However I also find it convenient to receive and check emails during the weekends because people have more time to spend and to actually read and respond to the material. But in result in infringes on the 40 hour work week max that most companies have. Overall, I believe that emails should be sent/checked in the mornings or right before you end your work day.
I also agree with Anthony it seems practical to send your emails sooner rather than later. The sooner the information is out the longer it can linger and be dealt with/ publicized. I also think that weekend emails are practical only because there are less distractions, as previously stated above, people are more willing to read through emails more thoroughly on the weekends but unfortunately acting on them is less likely than if it were during work hours.
I agree with everyone who has previously posted. I wake up in the morning and one of the first things I do is check my e-mail. Most of what I receive are groupons and living social deals, which I have to admit that I do read and utilize. Getting people early on in the day gets them thinking about it early and possibly throughout the day.I also agree that weekends are a good time to get people thinking because most are relaxed and more willing to read a marketing e-mail in that relaxed state.
I agree with all the above posts on this subject. I do think the most important thing regardless of the time of day is to give the people receiving the emails plenty of time to read, digest, and respond to the emails in a timely fashion. More often than not, businesses get in to trouble trying to rush out emails without giving an appropriate amount of time to respond. Touching on the above points, it is best to send emails early in the morning, allowing people the opportunity to commit the information to memory, rather than briefly scanning it.
The most valid point is brought up my Costa. I think it would be extremely beneficial for companies to have set times and dealines for email communication. However because our email and network information is so easily accessable it makes us have to be more responsible for our own response time and checking messages.
I agree with everyone else – the first thing that I do every morning is check my emails. I do feel that many companies are already using this strategy though because most of my “spam” type emails are always waiting for me when I wake up.
This article makes up a valid point that people do check their e-mails mostly in the morning. After a slow morning, usually workdays will pick up somewhat and leave less time for e-mails. However, since nearly every business person does have a smart phone, it wouldn’t be unheard of to send an e-mail in the middle of the day or on the weekend. I believe that when sending an important e-mail, one should do so either first thing in the morning or last thing at night in which case the e-mail wouldn’t get lost in the junk.
very interesting insight. The early morning send-off makes sense to me, especially because most people start their work day by answering emails. But the weekend suggestion surprised me. While I understand that people will spend time with their emails when they have more free time, I would also expect a grand majority of people to check their last work email friday evening, and not pick it back up until they return to work monday morning. Even if this were the case, however, thursday morning marketing emails might still be a good idea just for the sake of letting the thought of it run through their mind over the weekend.
Definitely great information, although I fear it seems to be on the side of common sense. Though, one can never be too careful these days. Web 2.0 (interactive internet such as blogs, social networks, etc), has made communication so easy and effortless than an e-mail blast almost seems to be a thing of the past like putting a job posting in a newspaper). Personally, I believe the question shouldn’t be when to send an email to supportive, but rather IF an email should be sent at all. I know most promotional emails (regardless of the time of day or frequency) fall of deaf ears.
I love this! I am always wondering when to send an email to a potential employer. It totally makes sense to send it in the early morning that’s when I check my email. I completely agree with this post and everyone else who commented on it. Note to self: send your emails in the morning if you want to be read.
A lot of common sense here but I would like to add that what intuitively makes sense may not be what is best. Testing will always give a company the real best time to send for their specific audience. What is best for company A may not be best for company B as all audiences behave differently. Also, one would need to factor in what defines a successful email. If it’s online sales, an email in the morning might give a higher open rate but in the afternoon might yield a lower open rate but more sales.
Marco, you are definitely an expert on the subject! These are just suggestions. Testing is always best. You’re right that it is always important to know what your goal for any form of marketing is.