Let’s be honest — email marketing isn’t the hottest topic on the startup circuit anymore.
In the age of AI, WhatsApp marketing, and influencer-led demand generation, it’s easy to assume that email is outdated. But here’s the truth:

Email marketing still delivers the highest ROI of all digital channels — especially for B2B in India.

Yes, even in 2025.
In my experience, nothing nurtures trust, builds long-term relationships, or drives conversions better than a well-crafted, targeted email.

And if you think Indian B2B buyers don’t engage on email — think again.
According to a 2024 HubSpot India report, 68% of B2B decision-makers still prefer email as their primary channel for business communication.

So, what email marketing strategies actually work today — not in theory, but in the trenches?

Let me show you the 7 tactics I swear by.

1. Personalisation Beyond First Name — Segment Like a Pro

You’ve seen it. The dreaded:

Hi [FirstName], hope you’re doing well…

That’s not personalization — that’s lazy automation.

Here’s the secret:

True B2B email marketing success in India comes from relevance, not volume.

Actionable Tip:

• Segment your audience by industry, company size, job role, or buying stage.

• Create contextual content — for example:

  • For CFOs: “5 Ways to Cut Operating Costs Using Automation Tools”

  • For Marketing Heads: “B2B Campaigns That Tripled ROI in Indian SaaS Companies”

Tool to try: Mailchimp or HubSpot’s smart segmentation feature.

2. Lead With Value, Not With a Pitch

Imagine this...
You open your inbox and there’s a cold email from a vendor. It says:

We provide end-to-end tech solutions. Book a call?

Delete. No value. No context. No trust.

Instead, lead with education.
Teach something first. Build credibility. The sale will follow.

Examples of Value-First Content:

• A free industry benchmark report (e.g., “B2B Tech Trends in India 2025”)

• A short tutorial: “How to Set Up an Automated Lead Funnel for B2B SaaS”

• Case studies that tell success stories

“People don’t want to be sold to. They want to be understood.” – Andrew Davis, marketing expert

3. Write Emails Like You Talk — Human Over Hype

Formal corporate language is dead.
You’re not writing to “a company.” You’re writing to a person with goals, deadlines, and KPIs.

Instead of this:

“Dear Sir/Madam, we hereby propose a unique value proposition…”

Try this:

“Hey Rohan, I noticed your team’s been expanding in the logistics space. Thought you’d find this 2-minute case study useful — we helped a similar client scale ops by 38%.”

Keep it real. Keep it concise.
You’re not writing an essay — you’re starting a conversation.

4. Use Trigger-Based Email Sequences, Not One-Off Blasts

Broadcasting the same newsletter to every contact is a waste of inbox space (and your time).

In 2025, email automation is smarter than ever — and underused in Indian B2B.

Trigger Ideas That Work:

• Visited a pricing page? Send a follow-up email with FAQs and success stories.

• Downloaded a whitepaper? Nurture them with 3-part educational series.

• Didn’t open last email? Resend with a new subject line.

Think of your email system as a 24/7 salesperson.

5. Subject Lines That Hook — Not Just Inform

In crowded inboxes, your subject line is the make-or-break moment.

Here are a few proven formats that still convert well in India’s B2B market:

6. Include a Clear, Single CTA (Call to Action)

Confused emails don’t convert.
Each email should do one thing well — get them to download, book, watch, or reply.

Mistake to Avoid:

“Click here to learn more, or book a demo, or reply to this mail, or check our LinkedIn…”

What to Do Instead:

“Want to see how this works for your business? Book a 15-min walkthrough.”

One goal. One button. One result.

7. Track, Test, Tweak — And Never Stop Learning

If you’re not analyzing your email data, you’re flying blind.

The beauty of email is that everything is measurable: open rates, click-throughs, conversions, and even replies.

Metrics That Matter for B2B in India:

• Open rate (Average benchmark: 22–25%)

• Click-through rate (CTR) (Target: 3–7% in B2B)

• Reply rate for outreach sequences

• Lead-to-conversion rate

What to A/B Test:

• Subject lines (personal vs. benefit-driven)

• Email send time (Tues 10AM often works well)

• CTA button vs. hyperlinked text

Experiment like a scientist, but speak like a human.

Real-Life Example: How One SaaS Startup Scaled Leads by 150%

One of our partners — a Pune-based SaaS startup — was struggling with outbound marketing.
Cold emails had a 2% open rate and almost no replies.

Here’s what changed:

• They segmented leads by industry and created sector-specific email series.

• They added case studies and templates as lead magnets.

• They ran A/B tests on subject lines and found emojis increased opens by 28%.
  

Within 3 months, their open rate hit 32%, reply rate 9%, and demo bookings tripled.

Moral of the story?
Email works — when you work it smart.

Conclusion: B2B Email Marketing in India Isn’t Dead — It’s Just Evolving

If you’ve ever wondered, “Does email still work for B2B in India?”
The answer is a resounding yes.

But only if you:

• Personalize like a pro

• Deliver actual value

• Keep it human

• Automate with intent

• Test like a scientist

“In the age of algorithms, authenticity is your edge.”

Your B2B audience is checking email every day — not to be sold, but to be served.
Serve them right, and they’ll stick with you long after the first click.