Email Marketing vs Social Media: Which Brings Better ROI?

In today’s digital landscape, understanding the ROI (Return On Investment) of email marketing versus social media is crucial for every brand that wants to spend smarter and convert better.

At Brandgeko, we often get asked: “Between email and social, which channel drives better results?”
The answer lies in understanding email marketing vs social media ROI, not just in terms of engagement, but in measurable profit.

According to recent data, email marketing consistently outperforms social media in terms of ROI, conversions, and cost efficiency. But that doesn’t mean social platforms don’t play a vital role. The smartest brands today use both, each for what it does best.

Let’s break down the real differences between email marketing vs social media ROI, so you can make smarter marketing decisions backed by numbers and strategy..

Email Marketing: The ROI Powerhouse

• According to Omnisend, email marketing delivers an average ROI of $36 for every $1 spent, compared to social media’s ~$2.80. Omnisend+2Bulkisender -+2
  
• Automated emails tend to perform especially well: in 2024, they accounted for 37% of all email orders despite being only about 2% of total sends. Omnisend
  

GoDaddy highlights that email is cost-effective, measurable, and more direct, making it easier to segment audiences and tailor content. GoDaddy

Social Media: Strength in Reach & Engagement

While email wins on ROI and conversion, social media still holds critical advantages:

• It’s unmatched for brand visibility and awareness. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook help you reach potential clients who’ve never heard of your brand. SocialSellinator+1
  
• Social media facilitates real-time engagement: comments, likes, shares, instant feedback. That builds community and trust around your brand. SocialSellinator+1
  

For certain campaigns (product launches, promotions, brand storytelling), social media can generate buzz quickly. But often, it requires paid ads, which can reduce ROI unless well-targeted.

Email marketing vs Social media

What This Means for Your Business (Especially with Brandgeko)

At Brandgeko, we observe that:

• Businesses with strong email lists and automated workflows tend to see more consistent returns.
  
• Social media is essential for positioning, culture, visuals, and growth of reach, but without an email strategy, a lot of audience interest remains under-monetized.
  

So in many cases, you don’t choose one or the other, you combine both for maximum impact:

• Use social media to gain attention and drive email sign-ups.
  
• Use email to nurture and convert that audience.
  
• We recommend allocating budget & strategy across both, with a tilt toward email if your goal is direct ROI and payback.
  

When to Prioritize Email vs Social Media

Choose email first when:

• You have a list of subscribers or customers.
  
• Your goal is sales or conversions.
  
• You can create segmented, personalized content.
  

Choose social media first when:

• You’re building brand awareness or entering a new market.
  
• You want to leverage visuals/video or storytelling.
  

You need to engage and build community fast.

At the end of the day, the debate around email marketing vs social media ROI isn’t about competition; it’s about balance.
Email marketing delivers higher returns per dollar spent, while social media fuels visibility and engagement that email alone can’t match.

The winning strategy?
Use social media to attract and nurture attention, and use email marketing to convert that attention into loyal customers.

If your brand’s current mix leans too heavily on one side, you’re probably leaving revenue on the table.
At Brandgeko, we specialize in helping brands build the perfect synergy between social and email, so every channel you invest in brings measurable ROI.

Need clarity on where your best returns come from?
Contact BrandGeko today for an audit of your email marketing vs social media ROI strategy.