Recently, I came across a statistic that blew my mind about email marketing.
Email as a Preferred Communication Channel: 60% of consumers prefer to be contacted by brands through email, making it a vital channel for marketing communications by OptinMonster.
In a world where many assume email is outdated, the reality is quite the opposite. Our experience working with dozens of brands demonstrates that email remains a relevant, effective, and profitable channel. One that should be in your marketing plan.
But here’s the catch with email marketing: your subject line determines success in milliseconds. Experts like Jay Schwedelson, Ann Handley, and Seth Godin emphasize that subject lines can make or break your campaign instantly.
10 Email Marketing Tactics That Are Working Right Now—And How to Apply Them Today
We created this blog post to share proven strategies you can implement immediately to boost engagement, open rates, and conversions in your email campaigns.
1. Keep It Short
Theory: Stick to 1–5 words for maximum impact. Shorter lines command attention and work well on mobile.
Why: Most people read emails on their phones. Long lines get cut off, and your impact vanishes.
Example: “Flash Sale! 3 Hours Only”
2. Start with Numbers
Theory: Numbers tap into a psychological trigger. Our brains love lists because they promise easy-to-digest information.
Why: Numbers offer specificity and create curiosity. They signal value.
Examples:
- 3 Things You Missed
- 24-Hour Deal
- 5x Faster Results
3. Use UPPERCASE for the First Word
Theory: All caps command attention.
Why: UPPERCASE words break the visual flow of an inbox, drawing the eye faster.
Examples:
- NEW Deal Inside
- EXCLUSIVE for You
- LIMITED Time Only
4. Use [Brackets] to Add a CTA or Insight
Theory: People scan their inboxes. You need structure to stand out.
Why: Brackets add structure and create urgency or clarity.
Examples:
- You’re Invited [Save Your Spot]
- Open Now [2 Left]
- [Read Time: 2 min] Big News
5. AVOID these Words
Theory: Passive and vague words get lost in the sea of emails received each day
Why: Conduct a quick search in your inbox and see how many emails you ignored because they have these words in their subject line. To help your open rates, avoid the following:
- “Learn”
- “Discover”
- “Explore”
- “Register”
- “Reminder”
- “Find out”
- “Join”
6. Personalize beyond first names
Theory: Being different catches attention.
Why: Relevance converts. Too many emails already have my first name, don’t be afraid to stand out.
Examples:
- Geography – Hot in Grand Rapids, MI
- Life Event – For New Parents
- Company Size – SMBs Only
- Spend Habits – Budget-Friendly Tip
- Interest – For Coffee Lovers
- Company Name – Is Acme Secure?
- Past Purchase – Your New Sofa?
- Job Role – For CFOs Only
7. Send from a Real Human, Not a Brand
Theory: Emails from a named individual perform better than those from a company name.
Why: Trust increases when recipients feel they’re communicating with a person.
Example: Erica from BoldBiz
8. Use Pre-Header Text Strategically
Theory: To get your email opened, use the pre-header space should tease, not repeat, the subject line.
Why: The pre-header is a sneak peek into the value they’ll find in the email. Use it wisely.
Example:
Subject: “5 Tips for Social Media Growth”
Pre-Header: “#2 is what influencers won’t tell you.”
9. Use ALT Text That Sells
Theory: You can increase the chances of getting people to download the images in your emails if you give them a reason to.
Why: Most users won’t enable images by default. Make your ALT text descriptive and action-driven.
Bad: “Image”
Good: “Click to see this in action ”
10. Re-send to Non-Openers with a Twist
Theory: After 48–72 hours, re-send your email to non-openers—but change the subject line.
Why: It’s a simple move that often recovers 5–10% more opens.
Example:
Original: “Your New Go-To Workout Plan”
Re-send: “Missed This? [No Judgment]”
Or better yet, use A/B testing to do this right away when you are sending it.
For the last 4 years we have partner with MailerLite to offer email marketing to our clients. We have been impressed by the results and the easy of use of this platform. Here is our affiliate link in case you would like to join and get to know more about MailerLite.
We offer automated services, so you can continue connecting with clients in your sleep! If you are ready to take your email marketing to the next level, contact us and we’ll make sure you are leveraging these 10 email marketing tactics.
0 Comments