Have you ever wondered why some businesses seem to grow faster than others?
It might not be about what they sell, but how they present themselves.
Businesses that keep their branding consistent see up to 20% more growth and rake in 33% more revenue compared to those that struggle with staying on-brand.
But what exactly does it mean to be on-brand, especially in your emails?
In this article, we’ll look into email branding and why it could be the game-changer your business needs:
Email branding – what is it?
Email branding is about making your emails instantly recognizable and memorable to your readers. It involves using consistent colors, logos, and messaging that reflect your brand’s personality.
Think of it like dressing your emails in your brand’s “outfit” to stand out in a crowded inbox.
Apart from ensuring that emails look good, email branding also creates a connection between you and your audience every time they open your message. When done right, it builds trust and loyalty, so your brand is always top-of-mind.
Top email branding elements
Here are the top elements that make up effective email branding:
#1 Logo
Including a logo in your emails is more than just adding a picture – it’s about reinforcing your brand identity with every message you send.
A test showed that a competitor who used their logo in emails saw a 34% increase in sales, while the market leader who didn’t use theirs experienced a 24% drop.
Your logo is a visual anchor that reminds your audience who you are and what you represent. It’s the first thing people notice and the element they’ll remember most.
So, don’t miss out on the chance to make a lasting impression and feature your logo in all emails you send out.
#2 Colors
Colors play a powerful role in making your brand stick in people’s minds.
Using a signature color can make your brand 80% more recognizable to consumers.
Think about the brands you love – chances are, their colors are one of the first things you remember.
Thanks to sticking to a consistent color scheme in your emails, you create a visual thread that ties all your communications together.
This builds trust and makes your emails instantly recognizable in a crowded inbox.
#3 Fonts
Fonts set the tone for your entire message.
Choosing the right font can impact how your audience perceives your brand.
For example, Verdana and Trebuchet are modern and clean, so they give your emails a fresh feel.
On the other hand, fonts like Times New Roman or Palatino Linotype bring a touch of tradition and reliability.
Picking one font and always using it is how you can maintain brand consistency and make your emails look professional every time.
#4 Visuals
Did you know the human brain processes images roughly 60,000 times faster than text?
Whether it’s an image, an icon, or a simple graphic, visuals grab attention and keep your readers engaged.
They shouldn’t be just pretty pictures – each visual should align with your brand’s message and reinforce your identity.
Using visuals builds a stronger connection with your audience.
Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words, so choose visuals that tell your brand’s story.
#5 Relevant links
Adding relevant links in your emails, like social media profiles or a call to action, is how you can keep the conversation going outside the inbox.
In 2023, about 85% of marketing professionals worldwide included social media links in their email footers, showing just how important this is. Now, you wouldn’t want to stay behind, right?
These links guide your audience to where they can interact with your brand, e.g. by following you on social media, reading your latest blog post, or checking out a new product.
Relevant links help drive engagement and keep your brand top of mind across multiple platforms.
Check this out:
How to add links to your emails
#6 Personal voice
Lastly, the tone of your emails is just as important as the visuals and links you include.
A personal voice makes your messages feel more like a conversation than a marketing pitch.
No matter if your brand is friendly, professional, or a bit quirky, maintaining a unified tone builds a stronger connection with your audience.
It’s about speaking their language and making them feel understood.
When your readers feel like they’re getting a message from a person rather than a company, they’re more likely to engage and respond positively to your branded emails.
Check this out:
Tips for maximum email engagement
Tips and tricks to creating the perfect email brand identity
Now that you know what brand identity exactly is, as well as what it entails, let’s check out the top tips and tricks to mastering your email branding:
#1 Define your brand voice
Your brand voice is how you talk to your audience. Are you more chatty, formal, or somewhere in between? Whatever the answer, there is one rule: keep it consistent across all your emails. This way, your audience knows it’s you from the first line.
Our expert tips:
- identify three adjectives that best describe your brand voice and use them as a guide in all your communications
- read your emails out loud to see if they sound like your brand’s personality
- create a simple voice chart that outlines dos and don’ts for tone and language
#2 Use a branded email template
All emails should look like they belong to your brand. A branded email template with your company logo, colors, and fonts keeps everything looking sharp and consistent.
Our expert tips:
- use your brand colors and fonts consistently across all email templates
- test your template on different devices to see if it looks good everywhere
- keep your template simple to avoid overwhelming your readers
Check this out:
How to set up email templates in Gmail
#3 Create brand guidelines
If you don’t have guidelines describing what your email branding refers to, it’s time to create them. They’re there (or should be) to make sure aspects like logo placement to your tone stay on point.
Our expert tips:
- keep your guidelines easily accessible for everyone involved in creating emails
- include examples of approved and unapproved email designs in your guidelines
#4 Be mindful of email brand guidelines
It’s not enough to develop rules. You should also follow your email brand guidelines to keep everything professional. As a result, you build trust with your audience.
Our expert tips:
- outline specific rules for how your logo and colors should be used in emails
- provide examples of tone and style for different types of emails (e.g., promotional vs. transactional)
- regularly train your team on the rules
#5 Include social media links
Don’t forget to add links to your social media at the bottom of your emails. It’s a simple way to drive engagement beyond the inbox and keep your audience connected with your brand.
Our expert tips:
- place social media icons where they are easily visible, like in the email footer
- use icons that match your brand’s color palette for a cohesive look
- periodically check that your links are active and correct
#6 Keep your contact details clear
Always have your contact details easily visible. It not only makes it simple for your audience to reach you but also adds a layer of trust to your email branding strategy.
Our expert tips:
- include multiple contact options, like email, phone number, and physical address
- place your contact information in the spot in every email, such as the footer
- use simple language for your contact information to minimize confusion
#7 Focus on the subject line
The subject line is the first thing your reader sees. Make it compelling to grab their attention. This small detail can make a big difference in your email campaigns.
Our expert tips:
- keep your subject lines short, ideally under 50 characters, to avoid being cut off
- use action words or questions to pique interest and encourage opens
- A/B test different subject lines to see which resonates most with your audience
Check this out:
How to create effective email subject lines
Email campaign A/B testing: best practices
#8 Maintain consistent branding across all emails
Whether it’s a newsletter, a welcome email, or a sales pitch, every email you send has to look and feel like it came from the same place.
Our expert tips:
- create a checklist of branding elements (logo, colors, fonts)
- save your branded email templates in your email marketing platform for easy access
- periodically audit your emails to check if they’re following brand guidelines
Check this out:
Getting started with a newsletter
What to include in your welcome email
#9 Align your email campaigns with other marketing efforts
Your emails shouldn’t exist in a bubble. Align them with other marketing efforts for a cohesive message across all platforms. This will contribute to creating an overall stronger brand recognition.
Our expert tips:
- coordinate with your social media and content teams for the same messaging
- use similar visuals and themes across your emails and other marketing materials
- schedule your campaigns to complement ongoing marketing initiatives
Check this out:
Benefits of integrating social media with email marketing
#10 Regularly update your email branding strategy
As your brand evolves, so should your email branding strategy. Regularly review and update your approach to stay fresh and relevant in your audience’s inbox.
Our expert tips:
- set a reminder to review your strategy at least twice a year
- keep track of what’s working and what’s not to inform updates to your strategy
- stay informed about email marketing trends and adapt your strategy accordingly
Let your email marketing campaigns shine with Bouncer
Even the most perfect email branding won’t get you the results you want if you’re sending emails to invalid addresses or messy lists.
Imagine putting all that effort into creating the perfect message, only for it to land in a dead inbox or get bounced.
That’s where Bouncer steps in.
Bouncer helps you clean up your email lists, so your well-branded emails actually reach real people.
Plus, with our top-notch verification tools, you can keep track of how your branding is performing. By that, we mean opens, clicks, and conversions.
Don’t let your branding go to waste. Start using Bouncer today and watch your emails hit the mark every time.
