Inbox Impact: Mastering Email Marketing to Drive Action and Engagement
For social enterprises and impact organisations, every email is an opportunity - not just to update, but to mobilise, inspire, and amplify your mission. The challenge? Email marketing has more moving parts than many leaders realise. From email flows and list segmentation to subject line craft and design, there’s a lot to master.
That’s why, in our most recent Coaching With Purpose session with expert marketer Liz, we unpacked the entire ecosystem of effective email marketing.
What became clear in the session with Liz is just how much there is to master in email marketing - from flows and segmentation to design and subject lines. For many leaders, that realisation sparks both inspiration and a healthy sense of overwhelm.
Here’s a snapshot of what we covered - and what you could be learning if you join us.
Why Email Marketing Still Matters
Despite the rise of social platforms, email marketing remains one of the most powerful ways to connect with your audience:
ROI remains high – Every $1 spent generates an average of $36 (Litmus, 2025).
Direct and measurable – No algorithms, no guesswork - you own the channel and the data.
Story-driven – Perfect for sharing impact updates, success stories, and mission-led calls-to-action.
Key Elements Every Leader Needs to Master
Here are some of the crucial areas we explored with Liz:
✨ Email flows that nurture trust – Welcome sequences for new supporters, re-engagement flows for lapsed audiences, and campaign sequences designed to drive donations or event registrations. Each flow has its own purpose and best practices.
✨ List segmentation strategies – Beyond the basics, think demographics, supporter type, and even spend behaviour (e.g. big givers vs first-time donors). Segmenting your list ensures each audience receives messages that feel relevant.
✨ Email design and copywriting – Clean design and scannable copy are essential. Liz shared why mobile-first layouts, clear hierarchy, and benefit-driven language can make the difference between an email being read or ignored.
✨ Crafting subject lines that get opens – Subject lines are the make-or-break moment. We explored curiosity-driven hooks, urgency cues, and value-led phrasing - plus how to A/B test them for maximum impact.
✨ Competitor research with Milled – Tools like Milled.com let you peek into competitor email strategies, helping you see what others in your sector are doing with timing, design, and offers - so you can adapt and innovate without reinventing the wheel.
From Overwhelm to Strategy
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the number of elements involved in email marketing - but the leaders in our session quickly realised that with the right frameworks, these pieces fit together into a strategy that drives action.
Here’s how you can start turning insight into impact:
Pick one flow to optimise – For most, the welcome series is the easiest win.
Segment smarter – Even dividing between engaged vs unengaged audiences will boost results.
Tweak design and copy – Make sure every email has one clear goal and CTA.
Test subject lines – Small shifts in wording can double your open rates.
Learn from competitors – Use tools like Milled to see what’s working in your space.
Want to Go Deeper?
This blog only scratches the surface of what Liz covered in our Coaching With Purpose session. From email flows and segmentation to design psychology and competitor analysis, the full training gave leaders a roadmap to transform email from “just another comms task” into one of their highest-performing channels.
If you’ve ever sent an email and wondered why didn’t that land?, this is your chance to master the craft and turn every send into impact.
👉 Apply to join Coaching With Purpose today - so you don’t miss the next session where we tackle the marketing strategies that matter most.