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Differences in Mobile and Desktop Email Usage

smart phone

Knowing how and when people use access their email is important as a salesperson. These factors play into whether or not you’ll get a reply on your email, and can give you a better idea of what’s going when you don’t get a reply. If you use software like Cirrus Insight, which has email scheduling, tracking, and analytics features, then having an understanding of the human behaviors influencing your numbers can give you an idea of what to expect and where you can improve. Mobile has changed how we interact with email and how email is used throughout the day. Let’s see what lessons we can learn from the stats.

Stats of Major Trends in Email

All stats are taken from the compiled list by emailmonday.com:
  • As of May 2015, at least 33% of email opens are on mobile.
  • Email openings on mobile have grown over 180 % from 2011.
  • 75% of Gmail users access their account on mobile.
  • 23% of campaigns first opened on mobile were later opened a second time by consumers.
  • Replies sent from mobile are 60% shorter than those from desktops.
  • 91% of consumers check email at least once a day on mobile.
  • Email is the most popular feature on mobile.
  • Over 70% of mobile purchases are influenced by promotional emails.
  • However, desktop is still the preferred method for clicking or buying from an email.
Mobile-Email-example


Usage Times for Mobile

People begin their days with their mobile devices. A third of mobile users will have checked their email before breakfast. They may not be likely to respond, right away, but emails are usually opened on mobile in the morning when first up and when commuting to the office. People to check their phones before they have easy access to their primary computer. Once people are in the office, email checking on mobile stays steady until you get into mid-afternoon where it starts to drop off. People are then more likely to use mobile email again before going to bed. 

Usage Times for Desktop

Desktop usage has two major email spikes. The first is in the morning when people first get to work, or when they accomplish their first tasks, and want to take a break. The second major spike happens after lunch. During the lunch hour, people move away from their computers, but like to check-back in afterwards. By 3 p.m. people are once again trying to be focused on primary tasks, but as the week goes on afternoon attention spans become shorter. 

Takeaways for Salespeople

If you’re using Cirrus Insight, or other email tracking software, then you might notice trends of people opening your emails on mobile and then waiting to reply on their desktop. They also could be more likely to check your email quickly on mobile and then forget about it. Having your email show up right at the beginning of the work day or after lunch can increase your likelihood of getting a reply. The other data shows that optimizing for mobile is becoming increasingly important, even people are opening email on their desktop, they still want responsive emails that work well on mobile. Promotional emails are usually the best way to grab someone’s interest when they’re using email. If you can make the buying process effortless, you’ll be more likely to sell more form mobile.

Erika Desmond
Erika Desmond

I bring 7 years of graphic design experience with 2 years of marketing experience from on the job training and experience. I've helped build Cirrus Insight into the company it is today from my start as a graphic design intern while earning my degree at Maryville College. Growing alongside Cirrus as a company has been an especially rewarding experience.

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