Why Email Still Beats Social Media (Even Today in 2025)

Social media might get the attention, but email offers get the sales. James discusses how the businesses that understand this are quietly winning.

Podcast: Download (Duration: 13:04 — 18.2MB)

Every year, a new “must-have” marketing trend rolls in—AI tools, chatbots, viral TikToks, SMS automation. And yet, every one of these platforms still asks you for the same thing: your email address.

Why? Because email remains the most powerful and profitable asset in your business.

Go from six to seven figures this year with help from James

Table of contents:

1. You own your email list—not the platforms
2. Social is for scrolling. Email is for selling.
3. The revenue is in the list
4. Treat it like a relationship, not a bulletin board
5. Send more, not less
6. Segment, automate, and make offers
7. The bottom line

You own your email list—not the platforms

Building your audience on social media is like building a house on rented land. Your Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook account could be shut down tomorrow without warning. Algorithms shift, platforms disappear, and influencers with massive followings are left scrambling when their reach vanishes overnight.

But your email list? You own it. You can download it, back it up, and move it anywhere. There’s no middleman, no algorithm to please. It’s your direct line to your audience—and that makes it incredibly valuable.

Download Your No-Fluff Guide to Profitable Email Marketing in 2025 (and the PDF transcription)

Social is for scrolling. Email is for selling.

People aren’t on Instagram or TikTok to buy. They’re there to be entertained, to scroll, to kill time. They may click a few ads or follow someone interesting, but the buying intent is low.

Email, on the other hand, signals commitment. When someone gives you their email address, they’re raising their hand and saying, “I want to hear more.” It’s the digital equivalent of walking into a store, not just glancing through the window.

The revenue is in the list

A strong email list is a proven revenue driver. One of James’s clients made $50,000 in a weekend from a single email. Another sold out a group offer without a single phone call—just emails. Repeat purchases, upsells, abandoned cart recoveries—email marketing is where the real sales happen.

And it works 24/7. With email automation in place, your messages go out automatically to the right people at the right time. While you sleep, your email list is working for you.

Treat it like a relationship, not a bulletin board

Email only works when you treat your list with respect. It’s not about “blasting” your database with pitch after pitch. It’s about sending value-packed messages that feel personal and useful.

Write like a human. Keep it conversational. Avoid overly designed HTML emails that don’t even render well on mobile. People want authenticity and clarity—not clutter.

Send more, not less

Many business owners hesitate to send emails out of fear: “What if people unsubscribe?” But here’s the truth—if they’re not reading or engaging, they weren’t your audience to begin with. More isn’t the problem. Irrelevance is.

In fact, some of the most successful email marketers send daily emails—and their audiences stay engaged because the content is good. Inbox deliverability improves when your audience opens, clicks, and engages with your messages regularly.

Segment, automate, and make offers

Want to get better results from your email marketing? Start with segmentation. Understand why someone joined your list in the first place, and tailor your messages to match their intent.

Set up automations to onboard new subscribers, follow up with cart abandoners, and re-engage past customers. Combine that with timely, relevant email offers, and you’ll start to see how powerful this channel really is.

Selling through email isn’t about pressure—it’s about helping someone move from where they are to where they want to be. Done right, it’s a service, not a pitch.

The bottom line

Email is one of the oldest technologies on the internet—and still one of the most profitable. It’s personal, it’s direct, and you fully control it. You can take away James’s website, his social media, his ad accounts—but if he still has his email database, he’s back in business tomorrow.

So if you’re spending hours crafting TikToks but barely touching your email list, it might be time to rethink your strategy.

Ready to scale your online business but not sure how? Let’s talk about your next growth step

Liked the show? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts

Grab your copy of Work Less, Make More! James went from working a full-time job to running a profitable business, having the freedom to travel, surf and spend time with family, and in his book you will find everything you need to know about how you can actualize the life you want, so you too can finally work less, and make more!