4 Actionable Email Marketing Tips to End the Year Strong
“With ad costs skyrocketing during Q4, email becomes the most profitable channel because you’re not renting attention — you own the relationship.” – Chad S. White
The busiest and most profitable time of the year is coming fast. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the holiday season can make up 30 to 40% of your yearly revenue.
If you wait until November to prepare, you’re already behind. The good news is you don’t need a huge overhaul to see big results. Here are 4 simple things you can do right now to make sure you finish Q4 strong.
1. Warm Up Your List Before the Big Push
If your audience hasn’t heard from you in a while, don’t just show up on Black Friday with a discount email. That’s a quick way to get ignored or hit the spam folder.
Start sending value-packed emails now
Share gift guides, holiday checklists, or quick stories from customers
Re-engage inactive subscribers with a simple “still want to hear from us?” campaign
Quick win: Send at least 2 warm-up emails this month to boost engagement and deliverability.
Why it matters: Email deliverability is everything during Q4. Inboxes are slammed with 60 to 70% more emails during November and December, and ISPs watch engagement closely. Brands that keep a consistent cadence see higher inbox placement and click-through rates. Keeping your list warm now makes sure your Black Friday emails actually get seen.
2. Optimize Your Popups for Holiday Traffic
Holiday traffic is gold, so don’t let visitors leave without joining your list.
Add a holiday offer like “Unlock 15% Off Your First Holiday Order”
Keep the form short, usually email-only works best
Try urgency-driven copy like “Join now for early access to Black Friday deals”
Quick win: Update your pop-up this month with a holiday-themed incentive or with a "VIP/Early Access List" CTA.
Why it matters: Conversion-focused popups are one of the fastest ways to grow your list before BFCM. Average email popups convert between 3 and 10%, but when tied to holiday urgency or exclusive offers, that number can double. More subscribers in October means more buyers in November.
3. Segment Your Audience for Smarter Offers
Not everyone on your list is the same, so treat them differently.
Give VIPs early access or exclusive bundles
Target past buyers with “Gift it again” or “Complete the set” campaigns
Use location data for shipping cutoff reminders
Quick win: Build 3 segments right now: VIPs, recent buyers, and inactive subscribers.
Why it matters: Segmentation is the difference between a 2% click-through rate and a 10% one. According to Klaviyo, VIP and early-access segments convert up to 30% higher than general sends. Targeted offers like shipping cutoff reminders also build urgency, which can boost conversions by as much as 22%. Smart segmentation equals more sales and fewer unsubscribes.
4. Map Out Your Send Calendar Now
Scrambling last minute kills results. Having a plan keeps you in control.
Plan teaser emails for mid-November
Schedule Black Friday morning blasts and follow-ups throughout the weekend
Don’t forget Cyber Monday reminders and a post-sale push for late shoppers
Quick win: Create a simple doc with send dates and subject line ideas today.
Why it matters: Brands that map out their BFCM calendar early see higher consistency and better results. Data shows that sending multiple times per day during Black Friday weekend can increase conversions by 50%. A clear plan keeps you from under-sending when inbox competition is at its peak.
Want the Full Playbook?
These 4 tips will get you moving in the right direction, but they’re only the start.
If you want to go deeper, grab the free Q4 Email Marketing Guide. Inside you’ll find:
A proven week-by-week BFCM send timeline
Pre-sale hype campaigns that drive higher conversions
Automation strategies that account for 50 to 70% of revenue
Holiday and New Year campaigns that keep sales rolling after BFCM
Design and deliverability tips to stand out in the busiest inbox season
👉 Download the Free Q4 Email Marketing Guide and get set up for your best holiday season yet.
