Email marketing

Marketing. The promotion of a commercial product or service conveyed in an email message.

The US CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 defines email marketing as any message in which the primary purpose "advertises or promotes a commercial product or service, including content on a website operated for a commercial purpose."

Examples of email marketing include:

Coupons
Newsletters
Peer Initiated Invitations
Product Announcements
Promotional Emails
Reconfirmation Email Campaigns
Special offers

Email marketing attempts to encourage the recipient to take an action:

Make a purchase
Download content
Register for a service
Attend an event
Visit a store

The promotional intent of the email requires adherence to regulations, like CAN-SPAM in the US, CASL in Canada, or GDPR in the EU.