Letting Go of Hotmail, But Fondly Remembering the 90’s: Let’s Make Sure Those Emails (and My Newsletter) Actually End Up in Your Inbox
Ah, Hotmail—the email equivalent of a Discman. Functional? Sure. Practical in 2025? Not so much. For many, it’s a nostalgic nod to the simpler times of Britney Spears, Discmans, and chain emails.
But for those of us sending newsletters and emails, Hotmail is more of a roadblock than a time capsule. Bounced emails are a real problem, and it's a lot to manage for an inbox stuck in 1998. Let’s dive into why it might be time to hold onto the memories, but let go of that Hotmail address.
It's A Numbers Game
Let’s start with the basics. For most newsletters, an open rate of 20-30% is considered average, with some exceptional campaigns climbing to 50% or higher. Then there’s the unsubscribe rate, which hovers around 0.1-0.2%. A small percentage, sure, but it still stings every time someone clicks “I’m out.”
Click-through rates (CTR), where people actually interact with your email—like clicking that big shiny button—typically fall between 1-5%. That’s the dream, right? Seeing those clicks is like getting a high-five from your subscribers.
And then there are the bounces. Bounces are emails that don’t make it to their destination, usually because of invalid addresses or other technical hiccups.
Have you ever looked at a bounce report and wondered, "Why are the addresses always Hotmail?" You’re not alone.
Hotmail: The Discman of Email (And Why You’re Still Holding On)
Hotmail, now part of Outlook, is like the Discman of email addresses—still functional, but definitely not what most people are using these days. If you’ve tried to log into Hotmail recently, you know it’s a bit of an ordeal. Hotmail doesn’t even have an app anymore. You have to Google “Hotmail login” and hope for the best.
And yet, Hotmail lives on. For many, it’s the email account where unwanted newsletters, promotional offers, and digital clutter go to die. It’s the email equivalent of giving a fake number to someone at a party—just enough to be polite, but not something you actually check.
But let’s not pretend Hotmail users are all about efficiency. If you’re still rocking a Hotmail account, odds are good you’re clinging to the glory days of the late ‘90s and early 2000s. Back when Britney Spears and Limp Bizkit ruled the charts, and the height of tech was burning a mix CD for your best friend.
Hotmail Was The Gateway Computer of Email Addresses
Hotmail feels like a time capsule from the days of frosted tips, pooka shell necklaces, and Reservoir Dogs posters on the wall.
Maybe your Hotmail inbox is still filled with chain letter emails. Maybe you fondly remember playing Sim City on a Gateway computer or slipping on your DC shoes before cruising around in a Chevy Cavalier. And you know what? I get it. Those were simpler times.
Back then, a Discman and a wallet chain were all you needed to feel unstoppable. Social media didn’t exist, streaming services weren’t charging $15 for mostly filler content, and every appliance in your house wasn’t built for its own obsolescence. If holding onto your Hotmail address helps you keep that connection to a simpler era, who am I to argue?
Hotmail’s Impact on Your Newsletter: A Polite Push Toward Progress
For those of us sending newsletters, though, Hotmail presents a very real challenge. Emails to Hotmail addresses often bounce, which doesn’t just mean your message didn’t get through—it also affects your sender reputation the way things work behind the scenes. Too many can hurt your ability to reach inboxes at all.
So, what’s the solution? Regularly cleaning your email list. Remove invalid addresses, encourage subscribers to update their info, and maybe—just maybe—gently nudge those Hotmail holdouts to upgrade to something a little more modern.
Britney is Timeless, but Hotmail Isn’t: Let's Make Sure Those Emails Actually Arrive
Nostalgia is powerful, and there’s nothing wrong with holding onto the things that bring you joy, like your favorite playlist, or that DVD box set of Friends. But sometimes, progress has its perks, too. You can still keep the vibe of 1998 alive while enjoying the convenience of a modern email platform.
And who knows? Maybe one day, the pooka shell necklaces and Discman playlists will come back in style. But for now, let’s make sure those emails actually make it to your inbox.
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