Do you ever feel frustrated when you spend time crafting the perfect email only to have it end up in your receiver’s trash folder? You’re not alone. Many businesses struggle with low email open rates, and this significantly affects their marketing efforts.
But if you’re willing to put in a little extra effort, there’s a good chance you can skyrocket those open rates. And when we say extra effort, we don’t mean emailing your entire contact list. We’re discussing implementing foolproof strategies to make your emails stand out.
Curious to know what they are?
This blog post will reveal ten tried and tested ways to boost your email open rates and get your message in front of eager eyes. However, instead of directly jumping into the strategies, let’s first understand what email open rate is and why it’s crucial.
What Does Email Open Rates Mean?
Email open rate refers to the percentage of recipients who open and view an email sent to them. This metric is valuable for assessing the success of your email campaigns. It reflects your audience’s level of interest and engagement based on the subject lines and preview text you’ve used in your emails.
A higher open rate generally indicates that your subject lines are compelling and resonate with your audience. In comparison, a lower open rate may suggest room for improvement in capturing your readers’ attention.
Why Is It Crucial to Have a High Email Open Rate?
Having a high email open rate is crucial for several reasons, as it directly impacts the success of your email marketing efforts. Here are some key reasons and associated metrics:
- Increased Engagement: A high email open rate indicates your audience finds your content interesting and relevant. This heightened engagement can lead to higher click-through rates (CTR) and increased interaction with your emails. The average email open rate across all industries is 21.33%, but it varies depending on the industry.
- Better Conversion Rates: When recipients open your emails, they are likely to take the desired actions, such as purchasing or clicking on a call-to-action. This can result in improved conversion rates and a higher return on investment (ROI).
- Enhanced Brand Loyalty: Consistently delivering valuable content that resonates with your audience builds trust and loyalty. A high email open rate reflects a strong connection between your brand and its recipients.
So how do we do that? Let’s find out!
10 Tips to Grow Your Email Open Rates
Here are some tips you can use to increase the chances of your emails being opened:
1. Short and Catchy Subject Lines
Do you know that 47% of email recipients decide to open emails based solely on the subject line? Yes, your subject lines are pivotal in determining email open rates.
Consider your own inbox habits — when faced with a barrage of marketing emails, you likely scan subject lines to identify the most compelling ones worth your time, don’t you?
Look at some strategies that can make your subject lines stand out:
- Keep It Short: Make it quick — 7 words, 41 characters max.
- Add Emojis: Sprinkle in emojis for fun! Not too many, just enough to shine.
- Personalize it: Make it like chatting with a friend. Be you, be cool.
- Test & Learn: Try different subject lines. See what works best.
- Trendy & You: Stay trendy, but don’t forget your own style. Be unique!
- Open It Excited: Imagine opening it yourself. What grabs your attention?
2. Experiment With Your Sender Name
Apart from the subject line, the sender’s name is a crucial factor influencing whether subscribers open an email. According to user surveys, nearly half (45.90%) of emails are opened based on the sender’s name.
While most companies stick to using the name of their business or website as the sender’s name, you can capture extra attention by trying something different. Take OptinMonster, for instance.
They often use “Angie at OptinMonster” as the sender name for their marketing emails. It’s a more personal and friendly approach that helps them stand out in a sea of emails from businesses.
3. Go for Plain-Text Emails
Another great tip to boost your email open rates is to send plain-text emails instead of HTML-designed ones. Plain-text emails have a more personal and authentic feel, making them stand out in a crowded inbox. In fact, as per a study, the plain text style version delivers a conversion rate of 60% among customers via email.
Additionally, many spam filters are programmed to flag HTML emails as potentially suspicious, so sending plain-text versions may improve deliverability.
4. Clean Up Your Email List
Wondering if your subscribers are still interested in what you have to say? It happens — people change emails, lose interest, or move on. To ensure your audience stays engaged, cleaning up your email list regularly is a good idea.
If someone hasn’t opened your emails in the last 6 months, it might be time to say goodbye. It might feel a bit sad to see your subscriber count drop, but holding on to inactive folks can mess with your stats. A low open rate might lead you down the wrong marketing path.
Before you hit the delete button, try reaching out with a friendly “We Miss You” campaign. Take Brooklinen, for example — they nailed it!
And here’s a simple trick — every now and then, ask your subscribers to update their info and preferences. It keeps the engagement vibes alive!
5. Segment Your Subscribers
What if you could send personalized emails based on subscriber behavior, interests, and preferences? You can! By segmenting your email list, you can create targeted campaigns that resonate with specific groups of subscribers.
This personalization not only makes your subscribers feel valued but also increases the chances of them opening and engaging with your emails. A study shows that segmented and precisely targeted email campaigns bring a remarkable 77% return on investment (ROI).
Use data points such as past purchases, website activity, or demographics to divide your list into smaller segments. Then, craft tailored messages that speak directly to their needs and interests. You can even go for interactive content for better segmentation of your audience.
6. Maintain a Consistent Sending Schedule
You may find it weird, but it does make a difference when you send your emails. You can take help from the data you collected from your email marketing campaigns to determine which day and time works best for your audience. Some studies suggest that Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are the most popular days for sending emails.
However, it may vary depending on your target audience and industry. Once you have determined a consistent time and day, stick to it so your subscribers know when to expect an email from you.
According to a report by Mailbutler, 27.45% of emails are scheduled for Monday. So, if you send out your emails on a consistent schedule, there is a higher chance of them being opened and read. Additionally, consistency also helps in establishing trust with your subscribers.
7. Check Your Sign-Up Process
Think about when someone joins your email list. You want them to know what they’re getting into and then deliver on those expectations. Look at your sign-up form and ask:
- What’s in it for them when they sign up?
- What will they get from you?
- How often will they hear from you?
Also, think about how you’re adding people to your list. Are you asking for permission before adding new contacts? People like it better when they choose to join. Plus, it helps you avoid problems like spam complaints that can stop you from reaching the folks on your list.
8. Use Interactive Content
a. Run a Contest/Giveaway
People love free stuff, and running a contest or giveaway client gift is a great way to incentivize them to open your emails. Make sure the prize is relevant to your target audience and promote it heavily in your subject line. For example, if you are running a beauty brand, then you can create a contest like “Makeup Photo Contest” and give a prize to the users.
By mailing such giveaways, you will be more likely to increase your email open rates and engage your subscribers.
b. Survey Your Audience
Send a brief online survey with 1–3 questions to gauge the topics your readers are most interested in. This direct approach allows you to collect valuable feedback and preferences directly from your audience.
c. Use Polls for Feedback
You can use polls in your email content if you don’t want to send a full survey. These quick and interactive questions are great for engaging your audience and gathering feedback on specific topics or products. By involving your subscribers in the decision-making process, they will feel more connected to your brand and be more likely to open future emails from you.
d. Engage Your Audience with Quizzes
Quizzes, when done right, add a touch of fun to your content that your audience will appreciate. For example, if you are running a fitness firm, you can create a quiz like “What kind of fitness plan do you need to follow?” and include questions that assess their fitness goals, preferences, and habits.
This will pique your subscribers’ curiosity, and they’ll look forward to receiving your emails. Quizzes also provide an interactive element that keeps readers engaged and interested in your words. They are also a great way to gather valuable information about your audience’s interests, preferences, and needs.
However, if you think creating surveys, quizzes, and polls is a time-consuming process, then Outgrow can help you out.
It’s a no-code tool that lets you create quizzes, surveys, polls, contests, assessments, and much more in minutes. You can create interactive content in your brand style and color without going too technical.
Final Thoughts
That concludes our guide on enhancing email open rates. Don’t forget that the effectiveness of your email marketing relies on a strategic blend of compelling content, personalization, and understanding of your audience. Interactive content, in particular, plays a significant role in achieving these goals.
However, if you are unsure about how to create it, Outgrow is here to help! The best thing? It offers a 7-day free trial without needing a credit card. So, start exploring and creating interactive emails that will boost your open rates!
