The Life Expectancy of The Email

15 replies
A thought crossed my mind recently involving the future
of email (or electronic mail). I was wondering how long
email technology has in the realm of internet marketing
or e-commerce.

It seems as though each decade there is some advancement
that just blows similar technology of years prior out the water.

What's your take on this? You think that the email
will go into extinction? Of course, this would in all
likelihood make email marketing void.
#email #email marketing #expectancy #internet marketing #life #technology
  • Profile picture of the author Tom Addams
    What a great post! This really has me thinking . . .

    I would say that the poor old email has already seen a massive decline in usage; I would imagine it happened around the time of Myspace's popularity, and has further declined after Facebook became the social network leader.

    People nowadays are increasingly communicating via social networks. Whereas 10 years ago, one might message a few friends the same email (Party's At My House!), these days only a simple update is required.

    I'm not sure we'll see the death of email for quite some time - after all, we've had snail mail for hundreds of years (longer?) - but I can see social communicating eclipsing it with rapidity.
    Signature

    I Coach: Learn More | My Latest WF Thread: Dead Domains/ Passive Traffic

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8893420].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Robert X
    One word: Facebook (or, is that 2 combined words?)


    That's the now. I have people communicating with me that way exclusively.

    Robert Cottom
    The Warrior Syndicate
    Signature

    [

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8893422].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author butters
    Originally Posted by kevin timothy View Post

    A thought crossed my mind recently involving the future
    of email (or electronic mail). I was wondering how long
    email technology has in the realm of internet marketing
    or e-commerce.

    It seems as though each decade there is some advancement
    that just blows similar technology of years prior out the water.

    What's your take on this? You think that the email
    will go into extinction? Of course, this would in all
    likelihood make email marketing void.
    Email is like SMS, while SMS is on the decline, it still makes a hell of a lot more money then apps like whatsapp. The email is a way for companies, government agencies, schools etc... getting in contact with the respective audience. No other service offers this really, all these messenger services like FB messenger are on a personal level. Email allows for a more professional level, e.g., a doctor confirming an appointment maybe, it isn't going anywhere from what I can see.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8893423].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Tom Addams
      Originally Posted by butters View Post

      Email is like SMS, while SMS is on the decline, it still makes a hell of a lot more money then apps like whatsapp. The email is a way for companies, government agencies, schools etc... getting in contact with the respective audience. No other service offers this really, all these messenger services like FB messenger are on a personal level. Email allows for a more professional level, e.g., a doctor confirming an appointment maybe, it isn't going anywhere from what I can see.
      That's an excellent point.
      Signature

      I Coach: Learn More | My Latest WF Thread: Dead Domains/ Passive Traffic

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8893429].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        A lot of the chit-chat and bulk CC: email that used to make the rounds has moved to Facebook, etc.

        Email for business communication is alive and well. Most businesses aren't anywhere near tapping email's potential as a profit generator.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8893919].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author dmarc
    I don't necessarily think email is going away any time soon. I think that the way people are accessing is changing.

    There is a growing trend in mobile devices, and people sending/receiving email from their phones and tablets more and more, rather than from their desktops/laptops.

    I think it will be a while though, before there is any significant change or decline with email.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8893425].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author salegurus
    I don't think you should worry yourself about the future of email....
    Signature
    Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.

    ― George Carlin
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8893957].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author cyberzolo
    Originally Posted by kevin timothy View Post

    A thought crossed my mind recently involving the future
    of email (or electronic mail). I was wondering how long
    email technology has in the realm of internet marketing
    or e-commerce.

    It seems as though each decade there is some advancement
    that just blows similar technology of years prior out the water.

    What's your take on this? You think that the email
    will go into extinction? Of course, this would in all
    likelihood make email marketing void.
    Email will be around for a while ppl still use it everyday
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8894254].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author lotsofsnow
    Why would email go away ?

    Postal mail did not go away because of email either.
    Signature

    Call Center Fuel - High Volume Data
    Delivering the highest quality leads in virtually all consumer verticals.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8894326].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Derek_Gehl
    I think email will continue to be effective for certain demographics for a very long time to come. I don't see a massive shift away from email happening until the current generation of teenagers move into the business world. They are the ones that are NOT using email and have fully adopted other channels of communication.

    I also think it depends on your niche. For example if you target B2B email will continue to be dominant for a very long time to come. Alternatively if you promote to say 'gamers' other channels may be come more dominant.

    But for now, if I have a choice between sending my communications via email, twitter, FB, G+, etc. I will always choose email as primary.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8894331].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Bill Jeffels
    Remember when we used to put a letter in a #10 envelope and mail it? We still do.

    Email isn't going anywhere. And making money from email marketing will only get better.

    People will always make money as long as they have a way of communicating.

    Bill


    .
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8894360].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author schttrj
    I don't think email is going anytime soon.

    Why?

    What's the best way to have a private virtual communication with someone, WITHOUT any external distraction?

    Emails.

    You may get entertained by a few other attractions here and there.

    But you will never leave your wife!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8896007].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
      If you want to sign up for a social networking site, like Facebook or Twitter, you need an eMail address. Usually, the only way I know I received a message on Facebook is because I got an eMail from Facebook informing me.

      I don't think eMail will be going away any time soon.

      One would hope, however, that it will change and improve. More reliability and less spam would be great improvements.
      Signature

      Dan's content is irregularly read by handfuls of people. Join the elite few by reading his blog: dcrBlogs.com, following him on Twitter: dcrTweets.com or reading his fiction: dcrWrites.com but NOT by Clicking Here!

      Dan also writes content for hire, but you can't afford him anyway.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8896129].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    Here's a question to ponder...

    If email marketing is dying, and no one reads emails anymore, how come so many Facebook pages work so hard to get your email address?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8897001].message }}

Trending Topics