Email Marketing ROI Calculator
Understanding Your Email Marketing ROI
Email marketing remains one of the most effective digital channels, frequently boasting an average ROI of $36 for every $1 spent. However, to maximize your returns, you must track the specific metrics that drive revenue. This calculator helps you forecast the profitability of your email blasts by analyzing the funnel from list size to final purchase.
How is Email ROI Calculated?
The formula for Return on Investment is straightforward: ((Gains – Costs) / Costs) x 100. In the context of email marketing, we break this down into several key performance indicators (KPIs):
- The Funnel Logic: We start with your total recipients and apply your open rate to find your active audience. We then apply the CTR (Click-Through Rate) to see how many people reached your landing page, and finally, the conversion rate to determine sales.
- Campaign Costs: This includes your ESP (Email Service Provider) monthly fee, the cost of copywriting, graphic design, and any paid incentives or discounts offered in the email.
- Revenue: Calculated by multiplying the total number of conversions by your Average Order Value (AOV).
Example Scenario
Imagine you send an email to 10,000 subscribers. Your campaign costs $500 for design and software. If you have a 20% open rate (2,000 opens) and a 2.5% CTR (50 clicks), and 3% of those clickers buy a $100 product:
50 clicks x 3% conversion = 1.5 sales.
1.5 sales x $100 = $150 Revenue.
ROI: (($150 – $500) / $500) = -70% ROI.
In this example, the low click volume indicates you either need a larger list, a higher CTR, or a more expensive product to break even.
Tips to Improve Your Email ROI
- Segment Your List: Sending relevant content to specific groups can increase open rates by up to 50%.
- A/B Test Subject Lines: Small changes in your subject line can lead to massive jumps in open rates.
- Optimize for Mobile: Over 60% of emails are opened on mobile devices. If your buttons are too small to click, your CTR will suffer.
- Clean Your List: High bounce rates damage your sender reputation. Remove inactive users to ensure your emails actually reach the inbox.