How to Get Readers to Open Your Email
Do people open your email? You work hard writing them and you don’t want them to go unread. Here are 5 tips to get your emails opened and read.
Email marketing is one of the most popular – and effective – ways for entrepreneurs to promote their business. It’s great for building relationships with potential and existing customers. It also offers excellent bang for your buck, having the highest return on investment of any direct marketing tool.
If you’re wondering how to get started with email marketing and create engaging emails that prospects will actually read here are …
5 Tips to Get Readers to Open Your Email
Segment your audience
You probably have an email list you’ve built with subscription forms on your website, but it’s important to divide your subscribers into groups.
Your groups may need to include sales history, demographics, interests, psychographics, and more. This will allow your emails to go to the recipients that are truly interested in them.
For many companies, this starts by creating a persona that represents your ideal customer. Your persona may include occupation, hobbies, marriage status, and anything else you can use to describe them.
As you write new marketing emails, you can write directly to the persona. You’ll be clearer with your communications when you’re able to “talk” directly to a “person.”
Write an interesting subject line
The subject line is the first thing readers see when they get your email. Make sure that it’s clear, direct, and informative. Nearly half of the recipients decide whether or not they’ll open an email based solely on the subject line.
Good subject lines include teasers, questions, numbers, and lists – all of these can entice readers to discover what lies in the body of your email.
Write inviting content
Since a lot of email inboxes display a preview of the first line of the email, recipients are more likely to open your email if they are drawn in by the content.
While it can be difficult to think of creative and exciting messages, there are a few well-tested methods you can try. Start offering helpful tips and updates, rather than simply promoting your business. Include engaging visuals and add personal touches like recipient names.
Remember how they’re reading
We live in a digital world where more than half of all email recipients will view your content on a mobile device. That is why it’s important to make sure your emails are optimized for mobile.
Keep things short and invite readers to find more information in another location – ideally, your website. This serves the dual purpose of allowing readers to tap into your email during a quick break while still having a chance to engage with your business later.
Ask for audience feedback
Chances are your emails are being opened by at least a few people. Ask them for feedback on what they like and dislike, then apply those tips.
Do you need to adjust the design of your emails to make them more user-friendly? Are your subject lines getting cut off by the user’s phone? Did your last email get a little too personal? These are all things that might prevent a first-time reader from opening your emails again in the future.
Check-in with your list subscribers and find out what their expectations are too.
In conclusion
While it can seem challenging to write emails, the more practice you have, the easier it will get.
If have some people that are still not opening your emails then you may want to consider doing a reengagment campaign or cleaning your list.
Don’t have time or desire to write and send your emails? But still want to stay in contact with your list? Contact me I can help write and send regular emails to your list.
I need to work segmenting my list. What do you find is the best way to do this when you’ve gather a bunch of people over the years and you are not sure of the existing quality? In my case, I have past web mixed in with possible peer coaching.
This is so challenging. Do you know where people subscribed at? If you can see the source of the subscription that may help segment. Other than that I would send an email explaining what happened and ask people to select which group they want to be in. You can do this with Mailchimp groups.
That’s probably what I’ll need to do. But yes — I have some old tag running around that I might be able to use as a guide. Thanks for reminding me of that!
That subject line is a funny thing. If you are sending content to a well segmented list and sending content highly relevant to that audience, it may matter less.
Where that subject line really matters – and most businesses need real help – is when sending content to newer subscribers. Until segmented, you need to be very compelling while not having the subject appear to be click-bait or cheesy. Not an easy task.
Good advice on creating one.
I’ve had clients that send a regular email and use the same subject line every week or month. The subject line works because people are looking for it to read the newsletter. AND the client had very interesting content every single time so people were looking for that interesting content.
Amy,
You always share good information. Thank you.
Thanks so much! I appreciate it.