There are countless interesting statistics regarding HTML E-mail marketing, below is just a sampling of the statistical facts (from a McKinsey & Company report titled "Harnessing the Power of E-mail"):

• E-mail response rates average 15% vs. 1% for direct mail
• E-mail costs an average 3-10 cents each vs. an average $2 for direct mail
• E-mail generates 80% of responses within 48 hours

Remarkably, despite these facts, there seems to be reluctance among small businesses to embrace the systems that allow for legitimate, legal E-mail campaigns. Direct mail still has a place in marketing, but when facing the numbers why would anyone choose direct mail instead of HTML E-mail marketing? In many cases, an entire years worth of permission marketing can be paid for by foregoing just a single direct mail campaign.