How We Turned $5K Email Revenue Into $156K

Hey, it's Arik.

I've been blown away by the response I received to the last email and SMS breakdown I did. My inbox has been flooded with messages from people saying how valuable it was to see real numbers, real strategies, and the actual progression of results over time. So many of you asked for more case studies like this that I decided to dive into another one.

This time, I want to show you something that perfectly illustrates why I'm so passionate about email and SMS marketing, especially for brands that have strong products but haven't figured out how to maximize their customer relationships.

The brand I'm talking about is in the high-performance automotive lighting space. I can't mention their name since I'm sharing real revenue numbers, but what we accomplished together over the past year is a perfect example of what happens when you combine the right strategy with consistent execution.

Let me walk you through their journey and show you exactly how we transformed their email marketing from an afterthought into their second-biggest revenue driver.


The Starting Point: October 2024
Before this brand started working with us in November 2024, their email marketing was essentially non-existent as a revenue driver. In October 2024, their total business revenue was $130,919.53, and email contributed just $5,955.60 of that, a measly 4.55% of their total revenue.

They had zero revenue from email campaigns, which told me they weren't actively engaging their list or creating opportunities to drive sales through strategic messaging.

They had no SMS strategy at all. Zero revenue, zero engagement, zero presence in their customers' text messages.

For a brand selling high-performance automotive lighting (products that customers are passionate about and often purchase multiple times as they upgrade different vehicles or add new modifications) this was a massive missed opportunity.


The First Two Months: November 1 - December 10, 2024
We started working with them at the beginning of November 2024, right as we were heading into the holiday season. This timing was actually perfect because it gave us an immediate opportunity to test strategies during a high-engagement period.

The results from those first two months were encouraging but just the beginning of what was possible. Their total business revenue increased to $418,157.80, and email attributed revenue jumped to $68,356.63, representing 16.35% of their total revenue.

Remember how they had zero campaign revenue before we started? Well, we generated $54,264.04 from email campaigns alone. This showed that their audience was hungry for engagement and communication, they just needed someone to talk to them strategically.

The flows contributed $14,092.59, which was actually lower than their previous flow revenue, but this made sense. We were in the process of rebuilding and optimizing their automated sequences, and some of the old flows were being replaced with better-performing ones.

We still hadn't implemented SMS during this initial period. We were focused on getting the email foundation solid before adding another channel to the mix.


The Transformation: November 1 - December 31, 2025
Fast forward exactly one year, and the results are honestly incredible. Looking at the same two-month period in 2025, their total business revenue grew to $660,341.10, and email attributed revenue exploded to $154,922.30, representing 23.77% of their total revenue.

Let me put this in perspective. In the same two-month period, email revenue went from $68,356.63 to $154,922.30. That's a 126% increase in email revenue year-over-year, during the exact same seasonal period.

Campaign revenue grew from $54,264.04 to $101,916.13, an 87% increase. This shows that our audience engagement strategies were working and that customers were responding even better to our messaging after a full year of consistent communication.

Flow revenue increased from $14,092.59 to $55,061.91, a 290% increase. This is where you really see the compound effect of optimization. Every improvement we made to their automated sequences throughout the year was paying dividends during their peak season.

And finally, we introduced SMS, which generated $2,055.74 in its first implementation during a peak period. This might seem small compared to email, but it represents the beginning of an entirely new revenue channel.


What We Actually Did
The transformation didn't happen by accident. It was the result of systematic improvements across every aspect of their email and SMS strategy.

‣ Campaign Strategy: We implemented a consistent campaign calendar that balanced promotional content with educational and engaging content. In the automotive lighting space, customers want to see their products in action, understand technical specifications, and get inspired by other builds. We created campaigns that served all of these needs while driving sales.

‣ Flow Optimization: We completely rebuilt their automated sequences. The Welcome Series was redesigned to educate new subscribers about their product range and build excitement around the brand. We implemented Browse Abandonment flows that understood the longer consideration period for automotive modifications. The Cart Abandonment sequences were optimized for their specific customer behavior patterns.

‣ Segmentation: We developed sophisticated segmentation based on purchase behavior, product interests, and engagement patterns. Customers who bought LED accessories different messaging than those interested in headlight upgrades. This personalization dramatically improved relevance and conversion rates.

‣ List Growth: We implemented strategies to grow their email list with qualified subscribers who were genuinely interested in high-performance automotive lighting. Quality over quantity was crucial here.

‣ SMS Integration: By 2025, we had introduced SMS as a complementary channel to email. We used SMS for time-sensitive offers, restock notifications, and high-priority announcements.


The Compound Effect
What's really powerful about this case study is how it demonstrates the compound effect of consistent email marketing optimization. Each improvement we made built on the previous ones, creating momentum that accelerated throughout the year.

The audience we built in early 2024 was more engaged and responsive by late 2025 because we'd been consistently providing value and building relationships. The flows we optimized in the spring were performing better during the holiday season because they'd had months to be tested and refined.

The segmentation strategies we implemented allowed us to send more targeted, relevant messages, which improved engagement rates and reduced unsubscribes. Higher engagement rates led to better deliverability, which meant more of our emails were actually reaching customers' inboxes.

The Strategic Lessons

1. Consistency beats perfection. 
We didn't wait until we had the perfect strategy to start implementing improvements. We began with good campaigns and flows, then continuously optimized based on performance data.

2. Flows are your foundation. 
The 290% increase in flow revenue shows the power of well-optimized automated sequences. These work 24/7 to convert prospects and customers without requiring daily management.

3. Campaigns drive engagement.
The 87% increase in campaign revenue demonstrates that regular, strategic communication keeps your brand top-of-mind and creates opportunities for sales.

4. Segmentation multiplies results.
By sending more relevant messages to specific customer segments, we improved conversion rates across all campaigns and flows.

5. Multiple channels amplify each other. 
Adding SMS didn't cannibalize email revenue, it created an additional touchpoint that supported the overall strategy.


What This Means for Your Business
If you're running a brand with passionate customers but your email marketing isn't performing at this level, there's massive opportunity waiting to be unlocked.

The automotive lighting space isn't unique in having passionate customers with longer consideration periods. Whether you're selling fitness equipment, home improvement products, hobby supplies, or any other category where customers are invested in the outcome, these same principles apply.

Start with your flows:
If your automated sequences aren't optimized, you're leaving money on the table every single day. Every new subscriber, every abandoned cart, every purchase is an opportunity for additional revenue if your flows are working properly.

Implement consistent campaigns:
Don't just email when you have something to sell. Create a calendar that balances promotional content with educational and engaging content that builds relationships.

Segment your audience:
Generic messages to your entire list will never perform as well as targeted messages to specific segments based on behavior and interests.

Think long-term:
The compound effect of email marketing means that improvements you make today will continue paying dividends months and years into the future.

🚨 SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY ALERT 🚨

Speaking of getting started with optimization, I want to make you an offer. Because so many of you have been asking for help implementing these strategies, we're giving away $1,200 in credit (that's up to 4 emails with strategy, copy, design, and implementation all handled for you).

This isn't just templates or generic advice. We'll create custom campaigns based on your specific business, audience, and goals, using the same strategic approach that drove the results you just read about.

But this offer is only running until February 5th. If you've been thinking about optimizing your email marketing but weren't sure where to start, this is your chance to see what's possible with professional strategy and execution.

See you next Thursday,
Arik