Email marketing is one of the best ways to connect with your audience and grow your business.
But if you are not using the right strategies, your emails will get ignored. Many struggle with low open rates, poor engagement, and a lack of sales.
The good news is that small tweaks can lead to big improvements. Here are 11 email marketing tips that will help you get better results fast.
This post includes affiliate links to products I love and recommend, meaning I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.
1. Write Subject Lines That Get Opened
If your subject line is weak, your email will never get read. It needs to be short, clear, and intriguing. Keep it to 4 or 5 words max so it does not get cut off in inboxes.
Better subject lines use curiosity, urgency, or a benefit.
- Instead of “Check out this sale”, say “Huge sale ends soon”
- Instead of “Read this update”, say “Big news inside”
Action Steps:
- A/B test two different subject lines on a small part of your list before sending the final email
- Avoid spam triggers like “free,” “hurry,” and “limited-time offer”
- Use a subject line analyzer tool like CoSchedule Headline Analyzer to check effectiveness
➡️ You will also love: 10 Email Ideas That Will Make Your Subscribers Beg for More
2. Focus on One Clear Message Per Email
Too many ideas in one email confuse people, and they stop reading. Every email should have one main goal, like getting a reply, making a sale, or getting a download.
- If you are promoting a freebie, do not also push a sale
- If you are asking for a reply, do not clutter it with links and distractions
Action Steps:
- Before writing, ask yourself: “What is the one thing I want them to do?”
- Keep your CTA short and direct, like “Download your guide here”
- Use a PS section at the bottom if you need to mention something extra
➡️ Need help planning your emails? Read: How to Make an Email Marketing Strategy That Prints Money on Autopilot
3. Keep Emails Short and Easy to Read
People skim emails. So don’t use big paragraphs or your subscribers won’t read your emails.
- Use only one or two sentences per line to make it easy to read
- Short emails under 150 words often perform better
- Bullet points help break up the text
Action Steps:
- After writing, cut 20 percent of the words while keeping the meaning
- Use bullet points when listing ideas, just like this
- Format for mobile first since most emails are read on phones
➡️ Want to grow your email list fast? Read: How To Grow Your Email List For Free – 11 Easy Ways
4. Personalize Beyond Just “First Name”
Personalized emails get more replies and clicks. Go beyond just using their name by mentioning their past actions, purchases, or interests.
- If they downloaded any lead magnets, follow up with “I saw you grabbed my [XYZ] guide. How is it working for you?”
- If they click on a specific product, send an email related to it.
Action Steps:
- Use merge tags to insert personal details like past downloads or the last product viewed
- Create segments based on interests and send tailored emails
- Check your email provider’s automation features to personalize further
➡️ For more email marketing tips, check out: A Beginner’s Guide to Successful Email Marketing
5. Make Your Call to Action (CTA) Clear and Clickable
If your CTA is vague or hidden, people will not click.
- Instead of “Click here”, say “Grab your free guide now”
- Instead of “Check this out”, say “Watch the video here”
Action Steps:
- Use one main CTA per email to avoid confusion
- Make it a button or bold text so it stands out
- Place the CTA at least twice, midway and at the end of the email
6. Send Emails at the Right Time
Remember, timing affects open and click-through rates.
- My audience opens emails at 8:15 PM EST, but yours might be different
- Some audiences prefer mornings, while others check emails at night
Action Steps:
- Test sending at different times and see when your audience opens emails most
- Look at your email analytics to find the best send time
- Try sending on weekends, since some audiences engage more then
7. Avoid the Spam Folder with These Simple Fixes
If your emails land in spam, nobody will see them, but that’s not what you want, right? So to the next steps.
Action Steps:
- Use MailMeteor’s spam checker to test deliverability
- Keep the image-to-text ratio low, since too many images can trigger spam filters
- Use a verified email domain instead of free ones like Gmail or Yahoo
8. Resend Emails to People Who Did Not Open
Many emails go unopened, but resending can recover lost engagement.
Action Steps:
- Wait 2 to 3 days, then resend with a new subject line
- Change the email preview text to make it look new
- Exclude people who already opened it to avoid annoying them
9. Use Storytelling to Build Connection
Stories make emails more engaging and help readers connect with you.
- Instead of saying “I have a freebie”, start with “I struggled with [pain point]. Here is what helped me.”
Action Steps:
- Write a short, personal story before making your offer
- Keep it real and relatable, no need for fancy writing
- Use a storytelling formula: struggle, lesson, solution
RELATED: Complete Guide To Business Storytelling Without Pulling Your Hair Out
10. Always Test Before Sending
Broken links and missing personalization can hurt credibility.
Action Steps:
- Send a test email to yourself first
- Open it on desktop and mobile to check the formatting
- Click every link to make sure they work
11. Keep Your Email List Clean
Inactive subscribers hurt your email deliverability. Make sure you clean your email list at least once every 3 months.
Action Steps:
- Run a re-engagement campaign to try and win back inactive subscribers
- If they do not engage, remove them to keep your list healthy
- Check your list every 3 months and clean it up
➡️ Using a tool like MailerLite makes this process much easier. It helps you manage subscribers, automate re-engagement emails, and keep your list in top shape so more of your emails reach the inbox.
Conclusion
Small changes can lead to higher open rates, better clicks, and more sales. Test these email marketing tips and track what works best for your audience.
➡️ Want more email list growth tips? Read: How To Build an Email List With Pinterest Fast
Petra Šranc (CEO of Big Income Paradise) is passionate about teaching female entrepreneurs how to do Social Media Marketing to grow their business online. She also focuses on teaching Social Media content tactics to skyrocket traffic, leads, and sales. 
