This episode challenges conventional email copywriting wisdom, offering fresh perspectives on what's truly effective in 2026 for ecommerce. It provides actionable strategies to break outdated 'rules' and optimize email and SMS retention programs for higher engagement and revenue. The content is directly from operators who run and test these strategies daily.
Everyone's copywriting "rules" are recycled from 1960s direct mail and copywriting Twitter . In this episode, Jimmy Kim and Chase Dimond go through 10 sacre copywriting rules and explain why most of them no longer hold up in 2026 inboxes and beyond.From why long-form email is quietly outperforming short copy, to why the "one CTA per email" rule is only half right, to why first name personalization barely moves the needle anymore, this episode breaks down what actually converts vs. what copywriters keep repeating because everyone else does.What they cover:- Why long-form email copy is winning (and how AI changed the math)- The real rule behind CTAs: one goal, not one button- Why personalization tokens are overrated and segment-level relevance wins- Statement hooks vs. question hooks- Why most brand storytelling in email is wasted space- The most under-optimized line in your email (hint: it's not the subject line)- Why the PS line still converts and nobody uses it- Why trying to be funny in email usually backfires- Why fake urgency has trained your customers to ignore you- Writing email copy like you're texting a friend, not presenting to a boardThank you our friends at Omnisend and Retention.com for sponsoring the podcast!Omnisend is an all in one eCommerce email and SMS marketing automation platform that enables marketers to engage customers and drive sales through personalized experiences. https://www.omnisend.com/sendit/Retention.com helps ecommerce brands turn anonymous website visitors into opted-in email subscribers, making it easy to grow your list with flexible, pay-as-you-go pricing. https://Retention.com?utm_source=send_it&utm_medium=podcastLet's hang out IRL! Want to spend two days learning alongside some of the smartest operators in ecom? Join us at Commerce Roundtable in San Diego on September 21-22 for tactical sessions, great conversations, and networking that actually leads somewhere. Use code SENDITVIP to s