How to Improve Email Open Rate

Now it’s time to talk about how to get more customers to open your emails.

• Get Readers to Open Emails
• Examine the Sender Line
• Utilize a Single Approach for Your Headline
• Inspire Readers to Open Emails
• Create Quality Lists
• Send to the Right List
• Make a Great First Impression
• Make use of Preheader Text
• Be Reliable
• Optimize Your Email

1. Get Readers to Open Emails

To stand out among the sea of emails your readers receive, give them a reason to open and read yours. Use phrases like “what you’re missing” to pique interest and make the email more appealing.

Use “your competitors” when targeting B2B customers. Every company wants to know what their competitors are doing. To avoid getting flagged and unopened, avoid using common buzzwords like “free”, “percent off”, or “reminder”.

2. Examine the Sender Line

For different audiences, different senders may be more effective. Using the company name is common practices that can help readers identify the sender, but it can also feel impersonal and lead to omission.

Alternatively, you could use your name to draw the reader’s attention to the preheader text for more details. Using “name at company” gives you the best of both worlds.

3. Utilize a Single Approach for Your Headline

Your headline should be short but catchy, conveying the email’s content. Knowing your audience and emphasizing the benefits your email brings them is the easiest way to write an effective headline.

4. Inspire Readers to Open Emails

You never know who has read your emails or when someone will open one. Make sure every email you send is useful, high-quality, and enjoyable to read. This will undoubtedly affect future email opening.

5. Create Quality Lists

Your open rate is determined by the quality of your emails. You want content-hungry subscribers, not coupon-hungry ones. Put email collection prompts on your most relevant content.

Once you have your list, segment it into groups based on where they are in your sales funnel. This will help you avoid overloading readers with links and topics. Having specific lists will help you maximize your lead nurturing impact.

6. Send to the Right List

Your open rate will suffer if you cast a wide email net instead of a narrow one. The more specific your target audience for each email, the better. Demographics and sales funnel stages segmentation (prospect, customer, loyalty).

7. Make a Great First Impression

When someone joins your email list, thank them and tell them they will be rewarded. You can use this to quickly wash away any doubts they may have about giving you their email and prepare them for the informative newsletters to come.

8. Make use of Preheader Text

Preheader text is the preview you see before opening an email. Use this space to give the reader a sneak peek inside and a compelling reason to open it. In the absence of a preheader text, your email will use the first line, which may not be as effective.

9. Be Reliable

Email marketing is just as important as developing your brand image and voice. It may take some trial and error to find the right tone, but once you do, stick with it. Readers may look forward to your emails simply because they are written well.

10. Optimize Your Email

Opening an email doesn’t mean a reader will read it. In the email body, provide plenty of value without being too long or salesy. Give them value for their time because they will only open subsequent emails if they liked the first.