What is Bulk Email ?

Bulk email is when one email is sent to multiple recipients. The number of bulk email recipients per email can vary from the hundreds to thousands, to tens of thousands. Bulk emailing is generally used by companies to direct market services and goods to consumers.

Although bulk email shouldn't be equated with spam email, many spam emails are sent using the process of bulk emailing. The Radicati Group, a technology marketing firm, released a report in May entitled, “Email Statistics Report 2009-2013”, in which it estimates worldwide email traffic in 2009 to reach 247 billion email messages per day. The report also notes 81% of all email traffic is spam.

Due to prolific bulk email abuse, many consumers may be reticent when opening an email they feel is sent to them in bulk.

Who Uses Bulk Email?

Bulk email is used by both individuals and businesses, although it's generally thought of as a direct marketing tool used by companies. An individual might use a bulk email to send dinner invitations, distribute vacation photos, or to send a birth announcement. Bulk emailing needs vary by individual and are generally sent to friends and family whom he or she knows.

Companies commonly use bulk email to create direct email marketing campaigns that promote services or goods to consumers. A bulk email can be used to reach existing clients, as well as reach prospective clients. Many companies create multiple bulk email versions and target each one's message to a particular group of people.

Bulk Email Allows Timely Reach with Less Expense

Bulk email can be an effective method to mail a large set of recipients quickly and for a lower expense

when compared to traditional postal mail. These advantages must be weighed against the disadvantages of whether a recipient will open the email and continue to opt-in for future emails, or if a spam filter will block the bulk email from being delivered.