What Is CC in Email?
CC stands for carbon copy. In email, CC is a field that lets you send a copy of a message to additional recipients, beyond the main recipient(s) in the “To” field.
People included in CC receive the email and can see everyone else who was CC’d.
For example:
To: alex@company.com
CC: manager@company.com, team@company.com
This is commonly used when you want to keep someone informed, even if they’re not the primary person you’re addressing.
Why CC Matters in Email Marketing
CC is mostly used in one-to-one communication (sales, support, partnerships), not in email marketing campaigns.
In email marketing, messages are typically sent through an email service provider (ESP) to a list of recipients—not through a personal inbox with CC and BCC fields.
However, CC is still relevant in contexts like:
- Sales prospecting emails
- Partnership outreach
- Customer support follow-ups
- Internal approvals or coordination
CC vs BCC
CC (Carbon Copy)
- Everyone can see who was CC’d
- Used for transparency and keeping others in the loop
BCC (Blind Carbon Copy)
- Recipients cannot see who was BCC’d
- Used to protect privacy or email multiple people discreetly
In marketing emails, BCC is not recommended for bulk sending. It can cause privacy issues and deliverability problems. An ESP is the correct tool for sending campaigns.
Best Practices for Using CC
- Use CC only when the extra recipient truly needs visibility
- Avoid CC’ing too many people (it creates noise)
- Don’t use CC as a way to pressure someone into responding
- In professional contexts, explain why someone is CC’d if needed
Key Takeaway
CC (carbon copy) lets you send a visible copy of an email to additional recipients. It’s useful for keeping people informed in one-to-one communication, but it’s not a best practice for sending marketing campaigns. For email marketing, an ESP should always be used instead.