Greetings, fellow email aficionados! 👋 As an email marketer, you know that timing is everything when it comes to the success of your campaigns. Sending emails at the right time can make a huge difference in open rates, clicks, and ultimately, conversions. But when exactly is the best time to send emails? 🤔 In this post, we’ll dive into the science behind email timing and uncover some tips and tricks that can help boost the effectiveness of your email campaigns.

The Fundamentals of Email Timing

First things first: there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the best time to send emails. The optimal time can vary depending on factors like your industry, audience demographics, and even the type of email you’re sending. However, there are some general principles to keep in mind when deciding on the timing of your emails.

Weekdays vs. Weekends

For most industries, weekdays tend to be the most popular days for sending emails. According to data from Mailchimp, Tuesday and Thursday are the two most popular weekdays for sending email campaigns. However, Saturdays and Sundays can also be effective days to send emails if your audience is more likely to be checking their inboxes outside of work hours.

A calendar with Tuesday and Thursday highlighted

Time of Day

The time of day can also have a significant impact on email open and click-through rates. In general, mornings tend to be the best time to send emails, as people are more likely to check their inboxes first thing in the morning. According to Campaign Monitor, the optimal sending times for most industries are between 8am-10am and 2pm-4pm.

A clock with hands pointing to 8am and 2pm

Industry-Specific Timing Tips

While the above guidelines are a good starting point, it’s important to note that the best time to send emails can vary widely depending on your industry. Let’s take a look at some industry-specific timing tips to keep in mind.

Retail

For retail businesses, the best time to send emails is often on weekdays, particularly on Tuesdays and Thursdays. According to a study by Experian, emails sent on Tuesdays tend to have the highest open rates, while emails sent on Thursdays have the highest click-through rates. In terms of timing, sending emails mid-morning or mid-afternoon can be effective.

An image of a store with a clock showing 10am and 3pm

B2B

If you’re targeting a B2B audience, timing can be a bit trickier. According to Hubspot, the best time to send B2B emails is often early in the work week, such as Monday or Tuesday. However, you’ll also want to take into account your specific audience’s work schedules - for example, if your audience works on weekends, it could be worth experimenting with weekend sending. In terms of timing, late morning or early afternoon tend to be the sweet spot.

An image of a group of business people around a table with a clock showing 11am

Non-Profit

For non-profit organizations, the best time to send emails can depend on the goal of the email. For fundraising emails, sending on weekends can be effective, as people are often more likely to have free time to donate. For other types of emails, sending mid-week can be effective. According to Nonprofit Marketing Guide, Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be the best days for sending non-profit emails.

An image of a donation box with a calendar showing Saturday and Sunday

Experimentation is Key

Despite all the tips and guidelines, the best way to determine the ideal send time for your email campaigns is through experimentation. Don’t be afraid to test out different sending times and days to see what works best for your audience. Keep track of your email open and click-through rates to gauge the effectiveness of each send time.

A person looking at email metrics on a computer

With the right timing strategies in place, you can increase the success of your email campaigns and ultimately drive more conversions for your business. Happy sending! 💌

A graphic of a happy email mascot with the text "Happy Sending!"