How Email Cadence Impacts Open Rates

Info
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Source: NP Digital
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Date: April 2025
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Category: Email Marketing
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Study Methodology: NP Digital study of 30 companies testing weekly email frequencies.
Essential Statistics
- One email per week averages a 33.8% open rate.
- Two emails average 30.1%.
- Three emails average 29.4%.
- Four emails average 27.3%.
- Five or more weekly emails drop to 26.2%.
Key Takeaways
- Open rates gradually decline as frequency increases.
- Email fatigue is real but manageable with strong content.
- More sends aren’t inherently bad: low-value sends are.
- Segmentation becomes essential at higher frequencies.
- Cadence strategy should align with subscriber expectations.
Actionable Insights
Start with Weekly Sends
Maintain strong open rates while building trust.
Increase Frequency for Engaged Segments
Send more often only to subscribers who consistently engage.
Audit Every Email for Value
Remove low-impact sends before raising cadence.
Watch Unsubscribe Trends Closely
Let user behavior guide how often you communicate.
Use Automation to Reduce Fatigue
Lifecycle flows improve engagement without cluttering inboxes.