Even in 2025, email isn’t dead — it’s smarter than ever.
In a world of TikToks and Reels, it’s easy to think email is outdated. But the truth is, email marketing remains one of the most powerful tools for building relationships with prospective partners and students.
Nearly 300 billion emails are sent every day, and yet the best-performing campaigns are the ones that feel personal, relevant, and valuable.
For organizations helping students study abroad, email is the perfect way to:
Build trust with schools and partner institutions
Share stories and opportunities with students
Drive traffic to websites and campaigns
Nurture leads throughout the marketing funnel
When done right, email isn’t just another message in the inbox — it’s a conversation starter
Every effective email follows the same journey as the buyer funnel in our Outbound Marketing Framework:
1. TOFU (Top of Funnel) – Awareness: attract attention with value
2. MOFU (Middle of Funnel) – Consideration: build trust and relevance
3. BOFU (Bottom of Funnel) – Decision: make it easy to take action
For most schools and study-abroad programs, the focus should be on TOFU and MOFU — creating awareness and engagement that lead naturally to partnership discussions.
A/B testing, or split testing, compares two versions of an email to see which performs better.
You send:
Version A to half your audience
Version B to the other half
Then, track which version earns more opens, clicks, or replies. This simple experiment helps you learn what resonates — and refine your messaging continuously.
Run tests when you:
Launch a new outreach campaign
Experiment with subject lines or CTAs
Try new tones (story-driven vs. data-driven)
Aren’t sure whether emotion or logic motivates your audience more
From our Funnels & Outbound Framework at Red Umbrella Studios:
Keep it short — under 250 words
Include one clear ask
Use Cialdini’s Six Principles of Persuasion:
Authority: show your expertise
Reciprocity: offer something free or valuable
Liking: express empathy and shared goals
Social Proof: reference success stories
Commitment: encourage small actions (like clicking a link)
Scarcity: highlight limited opportunities
Follow CAN-SPAM and GDPR requirements:
Include real contact info and address
Provide a clear opt-out option
Use an honest “From” line
Follow proven best practices:
Send mid-week (Tuesday–Thursday)
Use short subject lines (10–40 characters)
Respond quickly to replies
Automate follow-ups with tools like HubSpot or Make.com
Here are two versions of a Red Umbrella Studios outreach email for study-abroad partnerships:
Subject: Let’s bridge the gap between U.S. dreamers and European campuses
Body:
Hi [First Name],
Every year, thousands of American students dream of studying in Europe — but many never find the schools that truly fit them.
At Red Umbrella Studios, we help organizations like yours become the bridge between those students and the schools abroad they deserve.
We design scroll-stopping campaigns, story-driven videos, and targeted strategies that amplify your partners’ voices and show what makes each school stand out.
More visibility → more interest → more enrollments.
We’d love to offer you a complimentary digital audit to show how your outreach could go further — and how to bring more students across that bridge.
Subject: Helping more U.S. students pack their bags for Europe
Body:
Hey [First Name],
You know the story — a student dreams of studying in Europe… then gets lost in the noise online.
That’s where we step in. At Red Umbrella Studios, we specialize in helping study-abroad organizations reach those students before the dream fades.
Through creative storytelling, social strategy, and digital campaigns, we shine a light on your partnered schools, showing their unique strengths and guiding students toward real opportunities abroad.
We’re opening a few new collaborations this quarter and would love to show how we can amplify your mission.
After sending both versions, we compare:
Open rate: which subject line performs better
Click rate: which CTA gets more engagement
Replies: which tone connects more
That’s the power of A/B testing — continuous learning and improvement.
In a crowded inbox, strategy always beats volume.
When you combine smart testing, authentic storytelling, and persuasion psychology, your emails can go from ignored to irresistible.
At Red Umbrella Studios, we help study-abroad organizations and schools grow their digital footprint, reach motivated students, and tell stories that travel.
Ready to start your own campaign? Let’s talk.