Best Time to Send Marketing Emails (And Worst Times to Avoid!) 

Email marketing is a great way to connect with your audience. But it’s not just about what you send—it’s also about when you send it. If your email lands at the wrong time, it may get lost in a crowded inbox or ignored. The right timing can help your email get the attention it deserves.

In this blog post, we’ll go over the best time to send marketing emails, the worst times to avoid, and how to figure out the perfect timing for your audience. We’ll also give you tips to make your email marketing more successful.

Why Email Timing is Important?

You might be asking, “Why does the time I send my email matter?” Well, timing can make a big difference in whether your email gets opened or ignored.

Think of it like hosting a party. If you invite people at the wrong time—like too early or too late—they might not come. But if you invite them at the right time, more people are likely to show up. The same thing happens with emails. If you send your email when people are checking their inboxes, they are more likely to open it. But if you send it at the wrong time, it might get buried under other emails.

So, getting the timing right is important to make sure your email gets noticed.

Best Times to Send Marketing Emails (Backed by Research)

You might wonder if there’s an exact science to the best time to send marketing emails. While every audience is different, studies have found that some general trends can help guide you. Let’s take a look at the best times based on data:

1. Tuesday and Thursday Mornings

Research shows that Tuesday and Thursday mornings are among the best times to send marketing emails. Between 10 AM and 11 AM is often the best window. Why is this? Well, by Tuesday, most people have settled into their workweek. They’re not yet overwhelmed by the tasks of the week, and their inbox is less cluttered than on Monday. On Thursday mornings, people are still focused and productive, but they’re not yet distracted by the weekend.

So, Tuesday and Thursday mornings are perfect for catching people when they’re still in work mode but haven’t become distracted by other tasks.

2. Mid-Morning (Around 10-11 AM)

If you can’t send your email on Tuesday or Thursday morning, mid-morning between 10 AM and 11 AM on any weekday is still a great time. This is because people tend to check their emails after completing their morning tasks. By this time, they’re settled into their workday, making them more likely to open your email.

It’s important to remember that people typically check their inbox right after they start their workday. They want to know what emails are waiting for them before they get into more serious work. So, if you can send an email in this time frame, you’ll have a better chance of reaching your audience.

3. Early Afternoon (Around 1-3 PM)

Another effective time to send marketing emails is early afternoon, specifically between 1 PM and 3 PM. After lunch, people often take a short break or catch up on emails before diving back into their tasks. They’ve had some time to relax and might be more open to reading emails, especially if they’re interesting or relevant.

If your emails are aimed at working professionals, this time is excellent because it’s when they might be most likely to check their inbox after a lunch break.

4. Weekdays (Monday to Friday)

For most audiences, weekdays work better than weekends for email marketing. Emails sent on weekdays, particularly Tuesday to Thursday, tend to perform better because people are more likely to be focused on work and checking their emails regularly.

Monday mornings, however, can be tricky. People are often busy catching up on tasks from the weekend and might not have time to check emails right away. Similarly, Friday afternoons are another time to avoid because many people start winding down for the weekend.

5. Late Morning to Early Afternoon for B2B

If your audience is mainly business-to-business (B2B), the late morning to early afternoon window works best. Between 10 AM and 1 PM during weekdays tends to be when business professionals are most likely to check their email and engage with marketing messages.

Since B2B audiences are typically more focused on work tasks, you want to target these key hours when they’re actively looking at their inbox but not yet distracted.

The Worst Times to Send Marketing Emails (Avoid These!)

Just as there are great times to send marketing emails, there are also times to avoid. Sending an email at the wrong time could lead to it being ignored, deleted, or buried under other emails. Let’s look at the worst times to send your marketing emails.

1. Early Morning (Before 8 AM)

Emails sent too early in the morning, especially before 8 AM, usually won’t get the attention you want. Most people are not checking their emails first thing in the morning, and even if they do, they’re probably just scanning their inbox before moving on to other tasks.

Since people are still getting ready for their day, your email might get lost in the mix. It’s best to avoid sending marketing emails before 8 AM, especially on weekdays.

2. Late Evening (After 8 PM)

Sending emails too late at night is also a mistake. After 8 PM, many people are winding down for the day and may not be checking their emails. Even if they do check their inbox, they’re probably not in a work mindset and might ignore your email.

Emails sent in the evening are also at risk of being buried under a pile of fresh emails the next morning, leading to missed opportunities.

3. Weekend Mornings and Evenings

Weekends are generally not the best time to send marketing emails. People are less likely to check their work emails during the weekend, especially in the mornings and evenings. While some people may check their inboxes on weekends, it’s usually not the best time to send an email that requires a response.

If you want your email to get noticed, it’s better to send it during the workweek when people are more focused on work and checking their emails regularly.

4. Mondays and Fridays (for Some Audiences)

While Monday mornings can be a great time for some industries, for many people, Mondays are busy, stressful, and filled with tasks. This means they may not have the time or focus to check marketing emails.

Similarly, Friday afternoons are not ideal because people often check out early for the weekend. They’re thinking about their plans, and checking emails isn’t a priority.

How to Determine the Best Email Timing for YOUR Audience?

To find the best time to send marketing emails to your audience, start by looking at your past email campaigns. Check when you got the most opens and clicks. This can help you see which days and times worked best. For example, if emails sent on Thursdays get more attention, use that information for future emails.

Another way to find the right time is by segmenting your email list. People don’t all check their emails at the same time. Some may check first thing in the morning, while others do it later. If you group your subscribers based on their habits or interests, you can send emails at the times that work best for each group. 

You can also try A/B testing. This means sending two versions of the same email at different times to see which gets more opens. After testing a few times, you’ll know the best time to send emails to your audience. 

Pro Tips to Optimize Email Timing 

Here are some additional tips for optimizing your email timing to get the best results:

• Use Automation Tools: Email automation can be a huge help when trying to send emails at the perfect time. Many email marketing platforms offer automation tools that allow you to send emails based on your audience’s behavior or a specific schedule. This can save you time and ensure you’re always sending emails at the best time.
• Monitor Industry Trends: Different industries may see better engagement at different times. For example, retail emails may perform well in the evening when people are relaxing at home, while B2B emails may perform best during work hours. Keep an eye on trends in your specific industry to stay on top of when your audience is most likely to engage.
• Maintain Consistency: Once you find the best time to send marketing emails, try to maintain consistency. Sending emails at the same time and day each week helps your audience know when to expect them. This can lead to higher open rates and stronger engagement over time.

Wrap-Up

The best time to send emails depends on your audience, industry, and goals. However, in general, the best times are Tuesday and Thursday mornings or early afternoon. The worst times to send emails are early mornings, late evenings, and weekends.

Now that you know the best time to send marketing emails, it’s time to put that knowledge into action. Don’t let your emails get lost in crowded inboxes. Start sending your emails at the right time today! Need help optimizing your email strategy? Demson Consulting is here to help. Get in touch with us to improve your email marketing and boost your engagement!

FAQs

1. What is the best time to send marketing emails?
The best time to send emails is typically on Tuesday or Thursday mornings, around 10-11 AM.

2. How can I figure out the best time for my audience?
Analyze your past email campaigns, segment your email list, and use A/B testing to find the best time for your audience.

3. Is it bad to send emails on weekends?
Yes, weekends generally see lower engagement. It’s better to send emails on weekdays, especially from Tuesday to Thursday.

4. What time should I avoid sending marketing emails?
Avoid sending emails early in the morning (before 8 AM), late in the evening (after 8 PM), or on Mondays and Fridays for most audiences.

5. How can I optimize my email timing?
Use automation tools, monitor your industry trends, and be consistent with your email-sending schedule to optimize your email timing.