Use AI to Improve Your Email Marketing Automation & Efforts

Email marketing is one of the most effective digital marketing channels. But crafting personalized, engaging emails at scale can be challenging. Fortunately, artificial intelligence (AI) tools are revolutionizing email marketing, making it easier than ever to send targeted, high-converting campaigns.

In this guide, we’ll explore how AI can optimize every stage of your email marketing automation process, from planning to execution. We’ll also recommend the best AI email marketing tools to add to your stack. By the end of this post, you’ll have a strategic blueprint for leveraging AI to boost your email marketing results. Let’s get started!

How will AI affect email marketing automation?

Here are some of the key ways artificial intelligence is elevating email marketing:

Personalization at Scale

One of the best practices in email marketing is personalization – sending customized messages tailored to each subscriber. However manual personalization is time-consuming and difficult to scale.

AI tools can dynamically insert subscriber names, location info, purchase history, and more into emails to make them feel highly personalized. This leads to higher open and click-through rates.

Predictive Segmentation

The most effective email campaigns target clearly defined audience segments. But traditionally, marketers have had to manually sort subscribers into segments.

With machine learning algorithms, AI platforms can automatically group subscribers based on behavior, demographics, preferences, and other attributes. This allows for more nuanced, high-converting segments.

Automated Content Creation

From subject lines to body copy, crafting compelling email content is challenging. AI copywriting tools like ChatGPT can instantly generate high-quality email text tailored to your brand voice and audience.

Intelligent Design

Emails need visually appealing designs to engage subscribers. AI design tools allow anyone to create professional email layouts and graphics with minimal effort.

Campaign Analytics

Understanding email campaign performance is crucial for optimization. AI analyzes your email metrics and uncovers insights to inform better campaigns. It also suggests subject lines, send times, templates, and segments likely to boost results.

With these AI capabilities, email marketers can work smarter and faster while maximizing ROI. Next, let’s look at some of the top AI tools purpose-built for email marketing.

Top AI Tools to Enhance Your Email Marketing

ChatGPT by Anthropic

One of the most powerful  AI tools, ChatGPT can instantly generate high-converting email copy tailored to your audience and brand. Simply provide a few prompts and guidelines, and ChatGPT will craft natural-sounding subject lines, preview text, and email body copy.

You can even give ChatGPT your subscriber personas and have it write targeted content for each segment. For email marketers, ChatGPT is like having a virtual copywriting team!

Conversion.ai

Conversion.ai specializes in creating email sequences that engage, nurture, and convert subscribers over time.

Feed it your offer and ideal buyer persona, and Conversion.ai will map out a multi-step email journey – from cold outreach to sales offers. It can generate unlimited personalized email templates complete with subject lines and body copy.

This AI tool takes the heavy lifting out of planning and executing behavioral email campaigns.

Phrasee

Phrasee leverages AI to generate optimized subject lines proven to boost open rates. It continually A/B tests subject line variations to determine what resonates best with each audience.

The platform also provides smart recommendations to improve email content based on your metrics and performance history. Phrasee makes it simple to create higher-performing, click-worthy subject lines.

Mailchimp

The popular email marketing platform Mailchimp incorporates AI capabilities like predictive sending to determine the optimal time to reach each subscriber.

Mailchimp’s AI assistant BrainBot can suggest content ideas and offer writing tips to improve email campaigns. And its Audience Dashboard uses machine learning to uncover insights about your subscribers so you can fine-tune targeting.

ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign’s platform actively learns from your email engagement data to make smart optimizations. Its AI Segment Builder automatically detects subscriber patterns to create dynamic segments for targeting.

The tool also provides real-time alerts if an email campaign is underperforming so you can quickly adjust. And it will recommend design changes likely to increase engagement.

GetResponse

GetResponse packs AI-powered features like autoresponders, smart content suggestions, personalized behavioral outreach, and more.

Its Autopilot tool lets you set dynamic triggers so subscribers automatically get the right email at the right time based on their actions. GetResponse makes complex behavioral email sequences simple.

Moosend

Moosend’s visual email builder uses AI to ensure that designed emails render flawlessly across all major inboxes. Its AI Assistant offers real-time suggestions to improve deliverability, open rates, and more.

Plus, Moosend’s AI-enabled automation workflows help you nurture subscribers based on their behaviors for a hyper-personalized experience.

MailerLite

MailerLite’s AI Assistant Emma provides data-driven suggestions to boost email performance. Emma learns from your audience’s behavior over time, helping to fine-tune your approach.

The platform also leverages AI to create dynamic subscriber segments and automate multi-step funnels based on their actions. MailerLite makes it easy to execute AI-optimized campaigns.

Omnisend

Omnisend uses AI and machine learning to generate predictive insights from your email data. This allows you to understand your subscribers’ preferences and anticipate their needs for timely outreach.

Omnisend’s AI-powered OmniBrowse tool scans your website and online store to serve up product recommendations in emails based on each subscriber’s preferences. It’s an effortless way to create hyper-targeted product promotions.

Klaviyo

With Klaviyo, Einstein AI continuously optimizes your email campaigns based on real-time data. It provides personalized recommendations and automatically applies changes likely to improve results like tweaking subject lines or updating content.

Klaviyo also uses AI to generate actionable segments and to strategically time your emails for maximum engagement at the right moments. Just sync your data sources to Klaviyo, and its AI engine will work behind the scenes to boost email performance.

Strategic Ways to Apply AI for Better Email Marketing

Now that you’re familiar with the top AI email marketing tools, let’s explore some impactful ways to implement artificial intelligence across your email campaigns:

Plan Dynamic Campaigns with AI

Leverage AI content tools like Conversion.ai or ChatGPT to easily map out personalized email journeys tailored to your products or services. Develop campaigns that adapt in real-time based on subscriber behaviors.

Craft AI-Generated Content

Use AI writing assistants to quickly create natural, engaging subject lines, preview text, and email body copy. Or generate 100% AI emails for cold outreach and lead nurturing.

Design with AI

Produce professional email designs in minutes using AI graphic platforms. Or use AI-powered email builders with dynamic content blocks and built-in inboxes to instantly preview and test responsive designs.

Segment and Target with AI

Allow machine learning to automatically sort and label subscribers based on attributes and actions. Develop hyper-targeted campaigns by sending AI-optimized content to each segment.

Send at the Right Time with AI

Tools like Mailchimp and Omnisend can determine the optimal time to reach each subscriber. Use AI-powered email schedulers to send messages when open rates will be highest.

Continuously Optimize with AI

Platforms like Klaviyo and ActiveCampaign provide real-time AI-driven optimization to improve deliverability, open rates, click-through rates, and more. Let AI data crunch the numbers to elevate results.

Monitor Performance with AI

Review AI-generated insights and reports to understand what’s resonating with subscribers. Identify underperforming areas and have AI recommend improvements to double down on what’s working.

Use AI Assistants

Leverage built-in AI assistants and chatbots from your email service providers for data-backed suggestions to boost campaigns. Emma, BrainBot, and others provide personalized tips.

Implement AI Workflows

Automate multi-step email journeys with AI-powered funnels tailored to each subscriber’s actions and needs. Trigger personalized follow-ups, promotions, or next steps automatically.

With the right combination of these AI strategies and tools, you can significantly increase the effectiveness of your email program.

Improving Email Open Rates with AI

One of the biggest challenges in email marketing is getting subscribers to open your emails. Inbox overload is real – the average office worker receives 121 emails per day. So your messages need compelling subject lines and previews to break through.

AI tools can analyze data to predict which subject lines, sender names, preview text, and email formats will boost open rates for each subscriber segment. Platforms like Phrasee use constant A/B testing and optimization to determine the combinations that work.

AI assistants can also suggest tweaks to improve open rates based on your audience’s preferences. With this artificial intelligence, you can capture more attention right from the inbox.

Clean Mail Inbox with CleanMail.com

A cluttered inbox full of promotions hurts your open rates. That’s why cleaning services like CleanMail are useful. CleanMail automatically unsubscribes people from low-quality email lists, newsletters, and notifications they don’t read.

This declutters inboxes, so your emails have less competition for opens. CleanMail also blocks spam and phishing attempts. Essentially, it tidies up mailboxes so subscribers are more likely to notice and open your outreach. This smart inbox maintenance complements your AI email marketing efforts.

Overcoming Challenges and Considerations

While AI has enormous potential for email marketing, it also comes with some challenges to consider:

Potential lack of originality

Heavily AI-generated emails may become overly formulaic and generic over time. Be sure to balance automation with human creativity.

Data privacy concerns

Collecting the subscriber data that fuels AI requires transparency and consent. Make sure opt-in processes are crystal clear.

Oversaturation of inboxes

If every brand leverages AI email automation, subscriber fatigue could increase. Avoid spammy overuse in favor of valuable content.

Difficulty building relationships

Email is still about human connections. Make sure AI personalization aligns with subscriber interests, not just sales.

With thoughtfulness and restraint, AI email tools provide more value than harm. But marketers must listen to subscriber needs and fine-tune campaigns to avoid these pitfalls.

We hope this guide provided a useful introduction to elevating your email approach with AI.

Conclusion

Artificial intelligence presents amazing opportunities to enhance email marketing performance. By thoughtfully integrating AI tools and strategies, brands can craft more relevant, timely, and high-converting campaigns. However, human creativity and ethical practices must remain central.

FAQs

What are the main benefits of using AI for email marketing?

Some of the top perks include:

• Faster email creation and execution
• Increased personalization and segmentation capabilities
• Improved deliverability and inbox placement
• Higher open, click-through, and conversion rates
• Deeper insight into audience preferences and behaviors
• More impactful, well-timed email campaigns
• Automated optimization based on performance

How can I get started with AI for emails?

Begin by researching AI email tools that align with your needs and integrate with your tech stack. Test tools like ChatGPT for easy content creation.

Explore platforms with built-in AI like Mailchimp or ActiveCampaign. Start small by using AI to optimize a single campaign, then expand from there.

What kind of results can I expect from using AI?

Email marketers typically see excellent results from implementing AI. Open rates commonly increase by 15-25%. Click-through rates usually double. Conversion rates can improve 20-40%.

AI optimization also leads to faster email creation and execution. Most importantly, AI saves significant time while boosting campaign ROI.

How much do AI email marketing tools cost?

Pricing varies widely based on the tool. Some AI capabilities are built into free and low-cost email platforms. Basic AI copywriting tools start under $10 per month.

Robust AI solutions for enterprises can cost over $1,000 monthly. Compare options to find an AI tool that fits your budget.

Can AI replace copywriters?

AI writing tools are very powerful, but they can’t fully replace skilled human copywriters yet. AI is best used to assist marketers by providing an initial draft for inspiration.

Humans are still needed for in-depth brand storytelling, emotion, and final polish. The most effective approach combines AI automation with human creativity.

Is AI email marketing ethical?

As with any marketing tactic, the ethics depend on implementation. Follow best practices like transparent opt-in procedures, clear sender identities, useful content, and easy unsubscribes.

Avoid spammy overuse of email automation. Prioritize subscriber relationships over just sales. Used strategically, AI can help craft more relevant, meaningful email experiences.

What’s next for AI in email marketing?

Shortly, we can expect AI to power increasingly personalized and contextually-timed email campaigns. More tools will emerge to simplify AI content creation and optimization.

And the capabilities of AI assistants and chatbots within platforms will become more advanced. The fusion of artificial and human intelligence will propel the next generation of email marketing success.