5 simple ways to improve your email open rates

Email is a great way to connect with your customers and prospects but, if you’re suffering from low open rates, you may feel as though you are failing to effectively use it to have an impact on your business. The good news is that there are some simple steps you can take to increase your open rates!

1. Make your subject line enticing

This is your chance to grab the attention of the recipient, so make sure you take time to write a snappy subject line that really encourages him to open your email. Personalisation, using the recipient’s name within the subject line, is one way to stand out from the rest. Make sure you avoid spammy words such as ‘FREE’ and try not to overuse punctuation, such as exclamation marks.

2. Pick a clear name and email address to send from

Getting the sender name and email address right can play a big part in encouraging recipients to open your emails. Make sure your sender name is short enough to ensure that it can be seen on any device and is instantly recognisable as your company. An email address can say a lot about who you are and what you do, so make it informative and friendly. Sending from ‘DONOTREPY’ email addresses is one sure fire way to sound impersonal and harm your open rate.

3. Manage unsubscribes

There’s not much point sending your emails to people who don’t want to receive them, so make sure it’s easy for people to unsubscribe and stop receiving your emails. Alternatively, give people the option to ‘opt in’ to which type of emails they want to receive from you when they sign up, meaning that they effectively can control the volume of emails they receive. That way, your emails are more likely to be opened and read and less likely to be marked as spam.

4. Segment your database

Segmenting your email list is a seriously easy way to increase your open rates by simply dividing your email list into specific groups, allowing you to send more highly targeted mailings. Example metrics to use for segmentation include; age, gender and date of last purchase. You can then tailor emails and campaigns to ensure that they are suitable for individual segments which will not just increase open rates, but increase engagement too!

5. Time your emails effectively

It might seem obvious, but the time at which you send your emails can have a big impact on whether or not they are opened by the recipient. Every business is different of course, and there is no right or wrong time - although it’s best to avoid very late at night or very early morning. Different segments of your list may also be more likely to open your emails at different times, that’s why it’s worth trying out some split testing to help you to establish when the best time for you to send your emails is.

Comment below to let us know any other tips you have to increase open rates!