Flizz Blog

Why Ecommerce Brands Should Rethink Ads and Double Down on Email Marketing

When you think of scaling your ecommerce brand, ads are probably the first thing that come to mind. Meta, Google, TikTok—everyone’s running them. But here’s the kicker: while ads can spark quick wins, they’re not built for sustainable growth. If you’re relying on paid ads alone, you’re leaving serious money on the table. The real long-term revenue engine? High-impact email marketing.

Why Ads Alone Are a Dead End

Let’s be real: ad costs are soaring, privacy updates are squeezing targeting, and customer acquisition is getting tougher every quarter. In North America, The Netherlands, and Denmark, CPMs have jumped 20-35% year over year. That’s a lot of spend for less return.

  • Rising costs: The average cost per click (CPC) for ecommerce ads has jumped from $0.70 to $1.25 in just two years.
  • Diminishing returns: Conversion rates from ads are stagnant or dropping, especially for DTC and Shopify brands.
  • Short-term focus: Most ads are built for instant sales, not customer retention or lifetime value.

If your entire growth plan rides on ads, you’re setting yourself up for a cycle of spending more to earn less.

Email Marketing: The Underestimated Powerhouse

Here’s what top-performing ecommerce brands know: email marketing is the backbone of retention, repeat purchases, and actual profitability. Done right, an email marketing campaign can drive 30%+ of your store’s total revenue—without the unpredictability of ad platforms.

What Sets Email Apart

  • Direct line to your customers: No algorithms or pay-to-play. Your clients’ emails are your most valuable asset.
  • Automation at scale: Free email automation and abandoned cart flows keep sales flowing 24/7.
  • Personalization: Email campaigns let you speak directly to customers based on their behaviors, preferences, and purchase history.
  • High ROI: Email marketing services consistently deliver $36–$42 for every $1 spent. Try getting that from ads.

How High-Converting Emails Outperform Ads

Let’s compare. Ads grab attention; emails build relationships. With a strategic ecommerce email strategy, you can:

  • Recover abandoned carts with targeted flows and reminders
  • Boost retention using post-purchase sequences and winback campaigns
  • Increase lifetime value with tailored ecommerce newsletters and exclusive offers
  • Own your data by building a clients email list that you control, no matter what happens with ad platforms

Brands using Klaviyo flows or working with a specialized Klaviyo email agency see up to 20% higher repeat purchase rates. That’s the kind of compounding growth ads can’t deliver.

The Smart Move for Modern Brands

If you want to future-proof your growth, shift from ad-blasting to building real customer relationships through email and marketing automation. The best email marketing firms know this isn’t just about blasting out offers. It’s about crafting a full-funnel experience—from welcome flows to ecommerce retention emails—designed to maximize every customer touchpoint.

Ready to Level Up?

Stop wasting budget on spray-and-pray ads. Let Flizz show you how a done-for-you email marketing campaign can drive predictable, scalable sales for your ecommerce brand. Book your free strategy session now.

Ads might get you seen, but email marketing keeps you paid.
Make your next move your smartest move—invest in email marketing as a service and watch your ecommerce store thrive.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What makes email marketing more effective than ads for ecommerce brands?

Email marketing offers a direct line to your customers without relying on costly ad platforms. It enables personalized campaigns, automated flows like abandoned cart recovery, and drives higher customer retention and lifetime value, resulting in a significantly better ROI compared to ads.

How does Flizz help ecommerce brands with email marketing?

Flizz is a done-for-you email marketing agency specializing in ecommerce. We design, write, and deploy high-converting email campaigns including Klaviyo flows, abandoned cart sequences, and post-purchase emails that boost sales, retention, and overall customer lifetime value.

Can email automation really replace paid ads for customer acquisition?

While paid ads are useful for quick customer acquisition, email automation excels at nurturing relationships, recovering abandoned carts, and maximizing repeat purchases. For sustainable ecommerce growth, integrating email marketing automation is essential alongside paid ads.

Which ecommerce platforms does Flizz support for email marketing?

Flizz primarily works with Shopify stores but also serves DTC brands, Amazon sellers, subscription box companies, and other ecommerce founders across North America, The Netherlands, and Denmark, offering tailored email marketing strategies for each.

Are there free email marketing automation tools available for ecommerce brands?

Yes, many platforms offer free email automation features, including some entry-level Klaviyo plans. However, professional email marketing services like Flizz provide strategic design, copywriting, and deployment to maximize effectiveness and revenue impact.