Email Marketing Hacks: How to Get 50%+ Open Rates & More Sales

In this blog post, we’ll share some proven email marketing hacks that will help you get 50%+ open rates and more sales.

Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to reach your target audience and drive sales. But with so many emails¹ competing for attention in your subscribers’ inboxes, how do you get your messages to stand out and get opened?

1. Use a Strong Subject Line

Your subject line is the first thing your subscribers will see, so it’s important to make it count. Your subject line should be:²

• Short and to the point: Keep your subject line to under 50 characters so it doesn’t get truncated in the inbox preview.
• Relevant to the content of your email: Your subject line should accurately reflect what your email is about.
• Compelling: Your subject line should pique your subscribers’ interest and make them want to open your email.

Here are some examples of strong subject lines:

• “50% Off Your Next Order!”
• “The Ultimate Guide to [Topic]”
• “3 Ways to [Benefit]”

2. Segment Your Email List

Not all of your subscribers are created equal. That’s why it’s important to segment your email list so you can send targeted messages that are relevant to each subscriber.

You can segment your email list by:

• Demographics: Age, gender, location, etc.
• Interests: What your subscribers are interested in
• Behavior: What your subscribers have done in the past, such as making a purchase or clicking on a link

3. Personalize Your Emails

Personalization is one of the most effective ways to increase email engagement. When you personalize your emails, you’re showing your subscribers that you know them and that you’re interested in their needs.

You can personalize your emails by:

• Using your subscribers’ names: This is a simple but effective way to personalize your emails.
• Referring to your subscribers’ past behavior: For example, if a subscriber has purchased from you in the past, you can send them an email with a discount on a similar product.
• Tailoring your email content to your subscribers’ interests: For example, if a subscriber is interested in fashion, you can send them an email about a new clothing line.

4. Use a Strong Call to Action (CTA)

Your CTA is the action you want your subscribers to take after they read your email. It could be anything from clicking on a link to making a purchase.

Your CTA should be:

• Clear and concise: Tell your subscribers exactly what you want them to do.
• Compelling: Make your CTA irresistible to your subscribers.
• Easy to find: Your CTA should be prominently displayed in your email.

5. Test, Test, Test

One of the best email marketing hacks is to test different things and see what works best for your audience.

You can test:

• Your subject lines: Try different subject lines to see which ones get the highest open rates.
• Your email content: Try different email content to see which ones get the highest click-through rates.
• Your CTAs: Try different CTAs to see which ones get the most conversions.

What to Test (with Examples)

• Here are some key elements you should be testing regularly:
• Subject Lines: This is your first impression. Test different approaches to see what grabs attention.

• Example 1: Length:
  • Version A: “Exclusive Discount Inside – Don’t Miss Out!” (Longer)
  • Version B: “Exclusive Discount!” (Shorter)
  • Goal: Determine if shorter or longer subject lines perform better.
• Example 2: Personalization:
  • Version A: “Hey [Name], Check Out These Deals!” (Personalized)
  • Version B: “Check Out These Deals!” (Generic)
  • Goal: See if personalization increases open rates.
• Example 3: Urgency:
  • Version A: “Sale Ends Tomorrow!” (Urgent)
  • Version B: “Our Latest Sale” (Non-urgent)
  • Goal: Measure the impact of creating a sense of urgency.
• Sender Name/From Address: Who the email comes from can significantly impact open rates.
  • Example 1: Company Name vs. Person Name:
    • Version A: “Acme Corp”
    • Version B: “John Smith from Acme Corp”
    • Goal: Test if subscribers prefer emails from a company or a specific person.
• Email Content: The body of your email needs to be engaging and persuasive.
  • Example 1: Length:
    • Version A: Short and concise, focusing on the main offer.
    • Version B: Longer, providing more details and benefits.
    • Goal: Find the optimal length for your emails.
  • Example 2: Tone of Voice:
    • Version A: Formal and professional.
    • Version B: Casual and conversational.
    • Goal: See which tone resonates more with your audience.
  • Example 3: Visuals:
    • Version A: Image-heavy design.
    • Version B: Text-based design with minimal images.
    • Goal: Determine the best balance of text and visuals.

Call to Action (CTA):

• Your CTA is what you want subscribers to do.
  • Example 1: Wording:
    • Version A: “Shop Now”
    • Version B: “Get Your Discount”
    • Version C: “Learn More”
    • Goal: Identify the most compelling CTA wording.
  • Example 2: Placement:
    • Version A: CTA at the top of the email.
    • Version B: CTA in the middle of the email.
    • Version C: CTA at the bottom of the email.
    • Goal: Find the optimal placement for your CTA.
  • Example 3: Button Design:
    • Version A: Large, brightly colored button.
    • Version B: Smaller, more subtle button.
    • Goal: Test different button sizes, shapes, and colors.

Email Timing and Frequency:

• When and how often you send emails matters.
  • Example 1: Send Time:
    • Version A: Sending emails at 10 AM.
    • Version B: Sending emails at 2 PM.
    • Goal: Determine the best time to send emails.
  • Example 2: Frequency:
    • Version A: Sending emails once a week.
    • Version B: Sending emails twice a week.
    • Goal: Find the optimal frequency for your email campaigns.
• Segmentation: Test different ways of segmenting your list.
  • Example 1: Demographic vs. Behavioral:
    • Version A: Segmenting by location (demographic).
    • Version B: Segmenting by past purchase history (behavioral).
    • Goal: See which segmentation strategy yields better results.

How to Test (A/B Testing)

• The most common method is A/B testing (also called split testing). Here’s how it works:
• Choose One Variable: Select one element you want to test (e.g., subject line).
• Create Two Versions: Create two versions of your email (A and B), each with a different variation of the element you’re testing.
• Divide Your Audience: Split your email list into two equal, random groups.
• Send the Emails: Send version A to one group and version B to the other.
• Measure Results: Track the performance of each version (open rates, click-through rates, conversions).
• Analyze and Implement: Determine which version performed better and use that information to improve future campaigns.
• Key Testing Best Practices
• Test One Variable at a Time: To accurately measure the impact of each change, only test one element per test. If you change multiple things, you won’t know which one caused the difference in results.
• Use a Large Enough Sample Size: Ensure your test groups are large enough to provide statistically significant results. A small sample size might not accurately reflect the preferences of your entire audience.
• Run Tests for a Sufficient Time: Don’t make decisions based on just a few hours of data. Allow your tests to run for a reasonable period (e.g., a few days or a week) to account for different subscriber behaviors.
• Document Your Results: Keep a record of your test results and the changes you made. This will help you track your progress and identify patterns.
• Continuously Test: Testing is an ongoing process. Don’t stop testing once you find something that works. Keep experimenting to find even better ways to improve your email marketing performance.

6. Use a Professional Email Marketing Platform

There are a number of great email marketing platforms available, such as Mailchimp, Constant Contact, and HubSpot. These platforms make it easy to create, send, and track your email campaigns.

7. Monitor Your Results

Once you start sending email campaigns, it’s important to monitor your results so you can see what’s working and what’s not.

You can track your email marketing results by:

• Open rates: The percentage of subscribers who opened your email
• Click-through rates: The percentage of subscribers who clicked on a link in your email
• Conversion rates: The percentage of subscribers who⁴ took the desired action after reading your email

8. Use Automation

Automation is one of the email marketing hacks that can save you a lot of time and effort. There are a number of email marketing platforms that offer automation features, such as automated welcome emails, abandoned cart emails, and birthday emails.

9. Build Relationships with Your Subscribers

Email marketing is not just about selling products or services. It’s also about building relationships with your subscribers.

You can build relationships with your subscribers by:

• Sending them valuable content: Provide your subscribers with helpful information that they’ll find useful.
• Being responsive to their questions and comments: Let your subscribers know that you’re listening to them.
• Showing your appreciation for their business: Thank your subscribers for their support.

10. Use Social Media to Promote Your Email Campaigns

Social media is a great way to promote your email campaigns. You can share your email campaigns on your social media channels and encourage your followers to sign up for your email list.

11. Use Email Marketing to Generate Leads

Email marketing is a great way to generate leads for your business. You can use lead magnets, such as ebooks, webinars, and checklists, to entice people to sign up for your email list.

12. Use Email Marketing to Re-engage Inactive Subscribers

If you have inactive subscribers on your email list, you can use email marketing to re-engage them. You can send them a re-engagement email campaign that offers them a special discount or incentive to come back to your business.

13. Use Email Marketing to Promote Your Products and Services

Email marketing is a great way to promote your products and services to your subscribers. Allying some of the above mentioned email marketing hacks, you can send them email campaigns that highlight your latest products, special offers, and promotions.

14. Use Email Marketing to Build Brand Awareness

Email marketing is a great way to build brand awareness. You can send email campaigns that showcase your brand’s personality and values.

15. Use Email Marketing to Collect Customer Feedback

Email marketing is a great way to collect customer feedback. You can send email surveys to your subscribers to ask them about their experience with your business.

16. Use Email Marketing to Announce Special Events

Email marketing is a great way to announce special events, such as webinars, workshops, and conferences.

17. Use Email Marketing to Celebrate Holidays

Email marketing is a great way to celebrate holidays with your subscribers. You can send them holiday-themed email campaigns that offer them special discounts and promotions.

18. Use Email Marketing to Promote Your Blog

Email marketing is a great way to promote your blog. You can send email campaigns that announce your latest blog posts.

19. Use Email Marketing to Run Contests and Giveaways

Email marketing is a great way to run contests and giveaways. You can use email campaigns to promote your contests and giveaways and encourage your subscribers to enter.

20. Use Email Marketing to Build a Community

Email marketing is a great way to build a community around your brand. You can use email campaigns to connect with your subscribers and create a sense of belonging.

Conclusion

Using email marketing hacks we have discussed in this article, is a powerful way that can be used to achieve a variety of marketing goals. By following the tips in this blog post, you can create effective email campaigns that will help you get 50%+ open rates and more sales.

Email Marketing Hacks FAQ

• What is the best time to send email campaigns? The best time to send email campaigns depends on your audience. However, some general guidelines are to avoid sending emails on weekends or holidays.
• How often should I send email campaigns? The frequency of your email campaigns will depend on your audience and the content of your emails. However, a good rule of thumb is to send emails no more than once a week.
• What are some common email marketing mistakes? Some common email marketing mistakes include not segmenting your email list, not personalizing your emails, and not testing your email campaigns.
• How can I improve my email marketing open rates? You can improve your email marketing open rates by using strong subject lines, segmenting your email list, and personalizing your emails.
• How can I improve my email marketing click-through rates? You can improve your email marketing click-through rates by using strong CTAs, making your emails visually appealing, and testing your email content.
• How can I improve my email marketing conversion rates? You can improve your email marketing conversion rates by using strong CTAs, making your emails visually appealing, and testing your email content.
• What are some of the best email marketing platforms? Some of the best email marketing platforms include Mailchimp, Constant Contact, and HubSpot.
• How much does email marketing cost? The cost of email marketing will vary depending on the platform you choose and the features you use. However, there are many free and affordable email marketing platforms available.
• How can I track my email marketing results? You can track your email marketing results by using the analytics features of your email marketing platform.
• How can I use email marketing to build relationships with my subscribers? You can build