Why 90% Fail at Email Competitor Analysis

The Silent Killer of Email Marketing Success

You’ve spent hours crafting the perfect email campaign. The subject lines are catchy, the CTAs are irresistible, and the design is flawless. But when you hit “send,” crickets. No opens. No clicks. No sales.

Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Most businesses struggle with email marketing because they ignore one critical step: email competitor analysis.

As a 10-year email copywriting person, I’ve seen brands waste thousands of dollars on campaigns that flop—not because their emails are “bad,” but because they’re blindsided by competitors. Let’s fix that.

Why Email Competitor Analysis Matters

Email competitor analysis isn’t about copying your rivals. It’s about learning what works (and what doesn’t) in your niche so you can:

• Boost open rates by 40%+ with proven subject line formulas.
• Avoid spam traps that land your emails in the junk folder.
• Outperform competitors by spotting gaps in their strategies.

Yet, 90% of businesses fail at this. Here’s why—and how to avoid their mistakes.

5 Reasons Why 90% Fail at Email Competitor Analysis

1. They Spy on the Wrong Competitors

Most newbies analyze giant brands like Amazon or Nike. Big mistake. These companies have massive budgets and audiences—what works for them won’t work for you.

✅ Fix: Study competitors your size in your niche. For example, if you sell eco-friendly yoga mats, analyze small sustainable fitness brands, not Lululemon.

2. They Ignore the “Hidden” Data

Newbies focus on flashy elements like subject lines but miss goldmines like:

• Send times: Does your competitor email at 10 AM on Tuesdays?
• Segmenting: Do they tailor emails to first-time buyers vs. loyal customers?
• Post-purchase sequences: How do they upsell or retain buyers?

✅ Fix: Use tools like Mailcharts or Owletter to track competitors’ email frequency, timing, and segmentation.

3. They Forget to Test

Copying a competitor’s strategy without testing is like wearing someone else’s glasses. It might not fit.

✅ Fix: Run A/B tests on:

• Subject lines (e.g., emojis vs. no emojis).
• CTAs (“Buy Now” vs. “Get My Discount”).
• Email length (short vs. long-form).

4. They Miss the “Why” Behind the “What”

A competitor’s email might look simple, but it’s backed by deep audience research. For example, a skincare brand’s “10% off” email could target repeat buyers who prefer discounts over loyalty points.

✅ Fix: Reverse-engineer their strategy:

• Sign up for their emails.
• Track their campaigns for 30 days.
• Ask: “What problem does this email solve for their audience?”

5. They Give Up Too Soon

Email competitor analysis isn’t a one-time task. Competitors evolve, and so should you.

✅ Fix: Schedule monthly “spy sessions” to:

• Audit competitors’ new campaigns.
• Update your swipe files.
• Adjust your strategy.

How to Master Email Competitor Analysis (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Build Your Competitor Shortlist

• 3-5 competitors: Similar size, audience, and niche.
• Tools: Use SEMrush or SimilarWeb to find rivals.

Step 2: Sign Up for Their Emails

• Use a burner email (e.g., TempMail) to avoid inbox clutter.
• Track their welcome series, promotions, and post-purchase emails.

Step 3: Analyze Their Best-Performing Emails

• Look for:
  • Subject lines: Length, emojis, personalization.
  • Content structure: Storytelling vs. direct sales.
  • CTAs: Placement, wording, urgency.

Step 4: Steal Their Strategy (Ethically!)

• Example: If a competitor’s “abandoned cart” email uses humor (“Your cart is lonely!”), test a similar tone.
• Never copy-paste their content.

Step 5: Track and Optimize

Use Google Analytics to compare your email performance against competitors.

Tools to Simplify Email Competitor Analysis

• Mailcharts: Track competitors’ send frequency and designs.
• Owletter: Analyze their subject lines and send times.
• Hunter.io: Find competitors’ email addresses for sign-ups.

Conclusion: Stop Guessing, Start Analyzing

Email competitor analysis separates winners from losers in email marketing. By avoiding the 5 deadly mistakes and using the step-by-step framework above, you’ll craft campaigns that convert—without reinventing the wheel.

Your homework: Pick one competitor today and dissect their latest email. What can you learn?

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