Does mail merge send individual emails

Mail merge, in the context of email marketing, typically refers to the process of sending personalized emails to a large number of recipients using a template and a list of data. While mail merge can be used to send individualized emails, it's not always the case.

Here are a few scenarios:

  1. Batch sending: In this scenario, a mail merge campaign sends a single email to a large group of recipients, with each recipient receiving the same email content. The email is not personalized to each individual, but rather is sent in bulk.
  2. Personalized batch sending: In this scenario, a mail merge campaign sends a single email to a large group of recipients, but the email content is personalized for each recipient using data from a list (e.g., names, addresses, interests). Each recipient receives the same email content, but with their own personalized details.
  3. Individualized sending: In this scenario, a mail merge campaign sends a unique email to each recipient, with the email content tailored to that individual's specific data and preferences. This is often referred to as "one-to-one" email marketing.

To achieve individualized sending, you would need to use a more advanced email marketing platform or a custom solution that can dynamically generate and send unique emails for each recipient. This approach requires more complex setup and infrastructure, but can provide more targeted and effective email campaigns.

In summary, while mail merge can be used to send individualized emails, it's not always the case. The level of personalization and individualization depends on the specific implementation and the capabilities of the email marketing platform or solution being used.