Marketing

Email marketing for small business: how to send campaigns people open

How to plan, build, target and schedule email campaigns and newsletters, and keep them out of spam.

By Oceanic Funnels TeamUpdated 7 min read
The short answer

Email campaigns work when they go to people who asked for them, say one useful thing, and arrive from an authenticated domain. In Oceanic Funnels OS, verify a sending domain first, then go to Marketing → Email → Campaigns, build your email from a template, preview on desktop and mobile, pick recipients with smart lists or segments, and send now, schedule, or send in batches to pace large lists.

Set up your sending domain first

You need a verified sending domain before sending campaigns. Follow our email deliverability guide for SPF, DKIM and DMARC.

What to send

  • Newsletters: tips, news and one call to action, monthly or fortnightly.
  • Offers: seasonal promotions to the right segment, not everyone.
  • Announcements: new services, new locations, events.
  • Content: your latest blog post or guide.

Build and send

  1. Go to Marketing → Email → Campaigns and create a campaign.
  2. Choose a template or build your own: content, images and links.
  3. Preview on desktop and mobile and send yourself a test.
  4. Choose recipients using smart lists or segments, and add tags, link tracking and UTM tracking in Additional Settings.
  5. Send now, schedule for a set time (you can reschedule until an hour before), or use batch sending for large lists.

Write emails people open

  • Short, specific subject lines. Avoid all caps and spammy words.
  • Write like a person, from a person.
  • One main link or button.
  • Mobile-friendly layout with readable text.

Automated emails vs campaigns

Campaigns are one-off sends. For follow-up that runs on its own, like welcome series and nurture sequences, use workflows.

Want this set up for you?On Growth and Done-For-You, our team builds it into your system.
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FAQ

Questions, answered

Do I need a sending domain?

Yes. A verified sending domain is required before sending campaigns, and it's essential for deliverability.

Can I schedule email campaigns?

Yes. Schedule for a future date and time, or use batch sending to pace large sends.

How much does email cost?

Email sending is pay-as-you-go from your wallet, with no per-contact pricing. Contacts are unlimited on every plan.