Why Capturing Emails Beats Social Media Posts

Most nonprofit organizations default to social media for growth. More reach means more donors, right? Not always. Let’s break it down with numbers. ROI (Return on Investment) Email marketing: $36 for every $1 spent (Data: DMA) Social media ads: $2.50–$5 per $1 spent (Data: HubSpot) Email wins. Less spend, more conversions. Donor Retention Email campaigns: 45% retention rate (Bloomerang) Social media donors: 4% retention rate (M+R Benchmarks) Email wins. You don’t own your social followers. Platforms do. Scalability Email lists: Grow predictably but require nurturing Social media: Explosive reach but volatile (algorithm shifts) Social wins for awareness. Email wins for conversions. How to Use Both (Smartly) Capture leads on social. Turn engagement into email subscribers. Nurture via email. Donors need consistent, direct messaging. Test and track. Measure click-through rates, not just likes. If your fundraising strategy relies only on social, you’re building a house on rented land. Own your audience. Email wins for retention and ROI. Social wins for reach. Smart campaigns use both. Agree? Disagree? Drop your thoughts below. With purpose and impact, Mario

Delete. Unsubscribe. Mark as spam. These are the reactions many assume email marketing elicits. Yet, while social media grabs headlines, email quietly outperforms, driving $36 for every $1 spent. It's the digital marketing channel that refuses to die – and for good reason. Many marketers overlook it, chasing the latest social media trends, but savvy businesses know its power. Here's why email marketing remains a cornerstone of effective digital communication: → Direct access to your audience: Unlike social platforms, your email list is yours. No algorithm changes can cut you off from your subscribers. → Personalization at scale: Modern email tools let you tailor content to individual preferences, increasing engagement and conversion rates. → Cost-effective: Compared to paid ads, email marketing often delivers a higher ROI. Some studies show returns as high as 4200%. → Measurable results: Open rates, click-through rates, and conversions are easily tracked, allowing for continuous optimization. → Builds long-term relationships: Regular, valuable emails keep your brand top-of-mind and foster customer loyalty. → Versatile content options: From newsletters to promotional offers, emails can serve various marketing goals. → Mobile-friendly: With most emails now read on smartphones, it's a perfect channel for reaching on-the-go consumers. Despite claims of its demise, email usage continues to grow. In fact, many Gen Z consumers prefer email for brand communications over social media messages. The key? Providing value, not spam. Businesses that master the art of helpful, engaging emails will continue to reap the benefits of this powerful marketing channel.

Invest where your audience really is: their inbox. Here's why email marketing still reigns supreme. 💌 Social media platforms are powerful, but they don’t belong entirely (or even mostly) under your control. Algorithms shift, platforms rise and fall (hello, TikTok?), and one sudden change can leave you scrambling. Your email list, though? That’s yours. Every email address represents someone who chose YOU. They handed over their inbox—a space they guard fiercely. That’s not just access; that’s trust. But with trust, there’s responsibility. -> Respect their time.  -> Offer value, not noise.  -> Build relationships, not just campaigns. Email marketing isn’t flashy, but its value is timeless. Social media may grab attention, but email builds connections that last. Social media is still essential, but don’t let your strategy rely on rented land. Focus on growing and nurturing an audience you truly own. How are you treating your inbox audience? Are you making their trust worth every click? 

Your social media following isn’t yours. Your email list is. I see businesses obsessing over social media growth—chasing followers, tweaking algorithms, and hoping the next post finally goes viral. But here’s the reality: Social media is rented space. You don’t own it. You’re at the mercy of shifting algorithms, platform changes, and policies you have zero control over. That Instagram audience? Gone if your account gets suspended. That LinkedIn reach? Slashed if the algorithm decides to prioritize something else. That TikTok growth? Useless if the platform is banned. But an email list? That’s owned media. It’s direct access to your audience, no middleman. No algorithm dictating whether your message gets seen. No guessing games about reach. And before you say, “Email is dead”—it’s not. Email is personal. It lands in inboxes, not endless feeds. Email is intentional. People sign up because they want to hear from you. Email converts. It consistently outperforms social media for actual sales. So while you’re building an audience on rented land, don’t forget to build one in a place you own. Social media gets attention. Email builds relationships. The best strategy? Use both—but never rely on someone else’s platform to control your business. Are you actively growing your email list, or are you still at the mercy of the algorithm?

Email marketing is dead, right? Wrong. Let’s dive into why it works, especially in EdTech. First, it's the only thing you truly own. Even on LinkedIn, it's all about doing everything the algorithm wants so a small percentage of your audience sees your post. And surfacing your posts into your network's feed is getting harder and harder. Second, as long as you follow best practices, test and learn from your audience, you will improve open and click-through-rates Third, You can do things you can't do as well on social media. → It’s targeted. ↳ You can reach exactly who you want. → It’s personal. ↳ Nothing feels more direct than an email, and if you do it right, you'll integrate personalization using features from your email service provider. Pro tip: Include your target audience's personal challenges and goals. → It’s cost-effective. ↳ You can get a lot of bang for your buck if you streamline processes. Just don't cut corners -- triple-check your grammar and test on multiple devices (and think mobile-first!). But let’s get into why it’s especially important for reaching K-12 education administrators. Although they are incredibly busy, they still live in their inboxes. They may not have time during the day to check emails, but they do check them daily—even if it means checking in the evening. → It converts. ↳ Email is generally not the first touch with your audience. Typically, your audience has met you at a conference, downloaded a resource, or signed up voluntarily for your newsletter. Note: The exception to this is email list buys (which can also be effective). With that said, email is designed to convert (to download, reply, sign up, etc.), and since they're generally a "warm" contact, they have a higher chance of doing what your email is designed for them to do! Fourth, it can build community. Emails can create a sense of belonging by sharing stories, highlighting achievements, and fostering a community atmosphere. Fifth, you can track what works and what doesn’t. Open rates, click-through rates, and engagement metrics give you clear insights. Sixth, it can help build trust. When done right, they build trust and authority and can foster a direct line of communication. Remember, make all of your emails count. Do this by providing value. Offer something valuable—be it resources, insights, or tips. So....the next time someone tells you email marketing is dead, tell them they're just not doing it right. :) And remember, in the EdTech world, it's not just about sending emails. It’s about building relationships and providing as much value as possible. How are you using email marketing in your strategy? Share your tips and experiences below!

One of the worst decisions you can make for your business is putting all your marketing efforts into social media alone. As a social media/marketing manager, trust me when I say: Newsletters are one of the most underrated and underutilised marketing tools out there. Here’s why: When someone subscribes to your newsletter, they’re already invested in you. They’ve opted in. This means fewer touch-points to make a sale, and when they’re ready to buy, you’re top of mind. If you’re still on the fence, here are 5 reasons your business needs a newsletter: 1️⃣ Social media platforms can disappear at any time. Think TikTok’s potential ban—remember Vine? MySpace? Even Twitter’s had its shaky moments. If you’re relying solely on social media, you’re taking a big risk with your business. Newsletters give you direct access to your audience—no platform drama or algorithm mess to worry about. 2️⃣ You have control. Unlike social media, where algorithms decide whether your posts are seen (by only 5% of your audience on average), newsletters guarantee your content reaches your subscribers’ inboxes. No more relying on the ever-changing feed or platform rules. 3️⃣ It’s a personal way to connect. Email allows you to speak directly to your audience—no distractions, no competition for attention in a noisy feed. You can tailor your messages and build real relationships with your subscribers. 4️⃣ Emails convert better than social media. Studies show email marketing has an ROI of 36:1. That’s $36 for every $1 spent. People who engage with your emails are more likely to become paying customers compared to casual social media followers. 5️⃣ Newsletters are a powerful sales tool. A good newsletter isn’t just “Sale! Sale! Sale!” It’s about reminding subscribers who you are, how you can help, and why they trust you. When the time comes, and they’re ready to invest in your product or service, you’ll be top of mind. Think of your newsletter as a way to add real value. ________ If your plan for 2025 has been to solely focusing on social media, take this as your sign to start a newsletter. PS. I also write newsletters for my clients. If you're interested, drop me a DM with the word "Newsletter," and let's work together to create the perfect newsletter for you or your business!

Why Email Marketing Is My #1 Focus – And Not Social Media 👇 This year, I set a big goal for my business: reach 10k newsletter subscribers. And here’s why email is the most valuable marketing channel for me: 1️⃣ Direct Access, No Algorithms Unlike social media, email goes straight to the inbox. I don’t have to worry if a platform’s algorithm will hide my message. 💬 2️⃣ More Value, Less Noise In my former company, we had too many newsletters, and I found out our customers started reading less. Honestly, most people hate newsletters, because they feel like noise. So, I decided to do things differently: Every email I send has to provide real value. If I don’t think it’s valuable, I don’t send it. My subscribers know they’re only getting quality over quantity, not just another scheduled update. 3️⃣ Building Trust  The email comes directly from my name, from my own inbox. People know it’s me, not a random marketing bot. And that builds a stronger connection. 🤝 4️⃣ Keeping it Unpredictable  Instead of weekly newsletters, I send them out every 6–8 weeks (or even longer). This way, each one is a bit of a surprise. Readers don’t tune out or unsubscribe – many actually look forward to my emails. 5️⃣ Flexible Content in One Place A newsletter lets me cover multiple topics in one email. It’s like a one-stop shop for insights, tailored for my audience and making it more relevant for readers. 🔀 So, how did I go from 0 subscribers to (almost) 10k? - I made email sign-ups a priority, linking it on my social media and website. - I offered valuable content – free book summaries and other resources – in exchange for emails. - I treated my newsletter like a conversation. My subscribers get insights that matter, not a generic update. The Results: ✅ 74% open rate ✅ 36% click rate ✅ A community that’s genuinely engaged If you’re looking for real-world insights and practical strategies, my newsletter is where I share everything I’ve learned about entrepreneurship, productivity, and growth. We are at 9945 subs. Thanks for pushing us over the finish line 🙏 The subscription link is in the comments. 

If Social Media is king, Email Marketing is queen 👸 And here's why: 1. Unlike social posts where the life of your content lasts less than 72 hours and reaches maybe 8% of your audience, emails live on in people's inboxes and have the potential to reach 100% of your send list. 2. Your email list is the only list you own! If your social media pages went away tomorrow, how many people would your business be able to reach? Answer: the number of people in your email list (given you have good domain reputation and healthy emails 🙂) 3. Emails allow you to build a 1:1 relationship with your audience. This is the place to offer exclusive deals, your personal insights, and more transparency into your business to nurture a connection with people. This is why email marketing has consistently been one of the top channels for converting prospects into customers.

Email isn't just a marketing channel. It's your business BACKBONE. 💪 I've seen countless brands chase the latest social media trends while neglecting their email strategy. Big mistake. While everyone's fighting algorithm changes and paying to reach their OWN followers, email marketers are quietly generating 40X better results than social media. But here's the thing: The real power of email isn't in the ROI stats ($40+ back for every $1 spent is pretty compelling). The real power is in the RELATIONSHIP. Think about it... Social platforms own your audience. Email? That's YOUR direct line of communication. No gatekeepers. No changing algorithms. No pay-to-play schemes. Just you and your customers having a conversation. Why is email the ultimate marketing superpower? 👇 1️⃣ It builds genuine relationships 64% of consumers WANT brands to connect with them. And email hits that sweet spot between too invasive (phone calls or SMS text) and too disconnected (social posts). 2️⃣ No gatekeepers controlling access Unlike social media platforms, which deliberately tank organic reach to boost ad revenue, email lets you reach your audience WITHOUT paying a toll every time. 3️⃣ All other channels should feed your email list Your fancy social campaigns? They should have ONE goal: getting people on your email list where the REAL marketing happens. 4️⃣ Unmatched versatility Images, videos, personalization, segmentation... email does it all without platform restrictions. The most successful brands I've analyzed all follow the same pattern: They use other channels to attract leads. But they use EMAIL to nurture, convert, and retain customers. It's what I call the Email Marketing Flywheel: → Attract with value → Build relationships → Delight consistently → Convert naturally → Retain effortlessly So ask yourself: Are you treating email as just another channel? Or are you recognizing it as the backbone of your entire marketing strategy? Because that's exactly what it is. Your business deserves better than algorithm-dependent marketing. Grow your email list. Nurture it. And watch what happens. ✉️