💡 3 Habits of Highly Effective Email Marketers

Curiosity, Strategy, and Experimentation for Long-Term Success

From: Just West of Otay Lakes

Hey – It’s Luis.

Welcome to Day 9 of the 30-Day Writing Challenge!

Yesterday, I attended the team’s holiday dinner. Breaking bread with others is always a blessing. It’s important to celebrate milestones and wins in the marathon of life.

Now, on to today’s writing...

Are you curious about how to succeed in email marketing?

After nearly 20 years of experience, I’ve discovered that success in this field isn’t about luck or guesswork. It’s about developing three essential habits:

1. Stay Curious

“Success leaves clues. People who succeed at the highest level are doing something differently than everyone else does.” –Tony Robbins

Read widely—marketing classics, best-sellers, and the books your ideal customers are reading. Stay informed about new technologies and emerging markets. Watch trending movies and shows to stay connected to pop culture.

Curiosity is your secret weapon. It helps you uncover how things work, enabling you to make unexpected connections and “Think Different.”

2. Be Strategic

“You can’t rely on one single marketing message; instead you need to think in sequences. Instead of relying on a single communication to make your point, you use a sequence of communications that build on each other.”–Jeff Walker, Launch

Email marketing isn’t about sending one-off messages—it’s about creating thoughtful campaigns. Every successful campaign includes three key elements:

• A well-defined list (or segment)

• An irresistible offer

• A compelling reason to act now

Pro Tip: Use a Google Sheet to plan your campaigns 90 to 180 days in advance. With time and practice, you’ll learn to plan campaigns like a chess grandmaster, always thinking several moves ahead.

3. Run Experiments

"Concentrate your time, your brains, and your advertising money on your successes. Back your winners, and abandon your losers." –David Ogilvy, Ogilvy on Advertising

In email marketing, testing is everything. My success depends on crafting campaigns that drive clicks, sales, and profits—and this requires constant experimentation.

Here’s a truth I’ve learned: The more emails you send, the more opportunities you create for growth. Not every campaign will be a winner, but each one is a chance to learn, refine, and improve.

Bonus Habit: Steal Like an Artist

“Keep a swipe file. It’s just what it sounds like—a file to keep track of the stuff you’ve swiped from others. It can be digital or analog—it doesn’t matter what form it takes, as long as it works. You can keep a scrapbook and cut and paste things into it, or you can just take pictures of things with your camera phone.” –Austin Kleon, Steal Like An Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative

A swipe file is your creativity vault. In 2016, I saved this headline from Victor O. Schwab’s How to Write A Good Advertisement:

“New cake-improver gets you compliments galore!”

Four years later, I adapted it for a campaign. That’s the power of a swipe file—it ensures you’re never starting from scratch, even when inspiration feels far away.

Final Thought

Success in email marketing comes from staying curious, thinking strategically, and experimenting fearlessly. Add these habits to your toolkit, and you’ll be on your way to achieving big results.

P.S. What’s a habit that has helped you grow in your career? I’d love to hear about it!