Let’s take a moment and think about the emails we actually look forward to reading and receiving.

Email is a perfect medium for bringing your brand to life. It gives you a chance to showcase your personality, just like you would in person.

It’s one of the most effective ways that businesses can connect with their customers. 

The key to success with email marketing is connecting on a personal level with your subscribers. If you’re wondering how to start email marketing, here are a few tips:

1.  Create consistency 

Let’s be honest. We all have a natural tendency to focus on things we recognise, and we are less likely to engage with new information. If you are like most people, which emails do you read first? Do you start with emails from people that you know and trust? Or with the ones from people that you don’t recognise?

If you want to build trust and influence with your audience, warm them up first. Start by thinking about how you can build that relationship before you need it. Develop genuine connections with people so that when you launch your big ask — whether a product launch or crowdfunding campaign — people feel like they already know and trust you.

If you want readers to open your emails, send information that keeps them engaged and intrigued. And that’s what you must aim for if you want readers to be waiting in anticipation of your emails.

2.  Focus on the subject line

Emails are like a crowded room — overfilled with noise. The few that break through the clutter are valuable, but many are dull and time-wasting.

The subject line is arguably the most important part of your email, after all it’s what will determine whether or not people open your message.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Promise them something good

A promise of something good is a big part of what entices people to read your emails. 

And if they know exactly how they’ll benefit from reading further, they’ll eagerly open the next email in their inbox.

• Use power words in your email title

Sensory, emotional trigger words attract attention, and make your subject lines stand out in crowded inboxes. For example if you're selling a product that's better than the competition, use words like "supreme", or "certified" to describe it. Use power words that trigger an emotion connected to their experience with the product or brand (like fun, adventurous, delicious, etc.)

• Make the readers feel curious 

Curiosity drives human beings to learn. So we are curious about almost everything in the world, we just need a little push to get there. 

When you write about topics that are too vague, your readers will feel lost and be less likely to go deeper, but if you pique their curiosity with curious words and sentences, they will be intrigued enough to read your writing more closely.

3. Get your emails read

Email is a great way to engage with your audience, whether you’re trying to sell a product or drive traffic to a website. It brings your content right into their inbox, where it can be interacted with at any time of the day. But that novelty won’t last forever. 

While it’s important to get your emails opened, it’s even more important to make sure they actually engage with your email and don’t just skim.

To make sure they keep showing interest in what you have to say, you need to tell a good story.

• Keep your emails short

Shorter emails inspire more action and make more of a connection with the reader. Challenge yourself to cut your text in half next time you edit, keeping only the most compelling parts.

Eliminate wordiness. Readers lose interest in long-winded paragraphs, even if they are perfectly crafted. Challenge yourself to cut your text by half the next time you edit, and see how it can transform your email.

• Don’t have a one size fits all template

The best emails are personal, entertaining, and informative. Stay present to your customer's needs, then guide them to the right products or services by sending the right information at just the right time. 

Don’t follow a formula. Take the time to craft an email that’s truly personalized, even if it takes you a few tries.

• Make it personal

The word “you” is one of the most persuasive words in the English language. It helps you take the focus off of yourself and focus on your reader’s needs, their struggles and goals.

Your newsletter should always tell a story. Make it personal, so people feel like you’re talking directly to them. To keep things interesting, change up how much text you use and how much imagery you include.

 

Keep in mind

Email marketing is a great way to reach your audience with the right message at the right time. But it's not as simple as it seems, and it's easy to get stuck in the weeds. But by following these best practices, you can optimize the content in your emails, boost their open rates and increase engagement with your brand.