Yes — and by a wide margin. The latest industry studies put email marketing ROI at around $36 for every $1 spent, ahead of social, paid search and display.
Why email still wins
- You own your list. No algorithm can take it away.
- Conversion is high. Email converts 3x better than social media.
- Fully automatable. Welcome series, abandoned cart, win-back run themselves.
- Measurable. Open, click, conversion — every step tracked.
What to track
- Open rate (industry average ~21%).
- Click rate (~2.5%).
- Conversion rate.
- Unsubscribe and complaint rates.
How to start
- Pick a tool with strong deliverability.
- Build an opt-in list.
- Send valuable content, not just promo.