How to increase open rate of your emails?

Different email marketer has different measure to success of their email marketing campaigns, for example, no. of sign-up to events or newsletter, no. of sales. However, the first thing to do is to get your email opened.

What influence open rate?

What can recipients see in their inbox? "From" and subject. So, identify yourself clearly and concise and attractive subject line will help. In addition, the source of your email list can be critical, warm-call emails like newsletter to customers or members will generate more opens than cold-call emails.

1. "From" or sender display name

If you are asked why you open emails, because you know and trust the sender, for examples, familiy members, friends. In commercial world, if you subscribe  company's newsletter, you will open it. If you are customers purchased products before, you are interested to open emails from the company introducing latest products. Thus, you need to identify yourself in "from" field to include your company or brand, not mkt@reasonables.com but "Reasonable Spread". If you are distrubutor of a brand, you'd better include both your company name and the brand name.

2. Subject line

Writing good subject can be an art. The common saying is specific and relevant to the readers. For example, "Top 10 reasons to buy ...", "Save 10%", "5 Great ideas"

There are a no. of ways to think of subjcect line and the contents of the emails: before-after, fear, emotions, slice of life, fantasy, testimonial, authority, curiosity, sense of urgence. For example, how to comply with a new law reinforcement; Sales Promotion: "3.7g Servo","11.1 LiPo" and "Fokker EDF Airplane";

Promotional words like "Special offer", "Free", "Limited time", "Buy now" may not improve open rate but it can boost your sales.

Experiment different subject line to see which one work best.

3. Timing

Timing is an important factor. If your products, services and news are seasonal, no one will buy your Christmas gift after Christmas, right? And it's tremendous sales during Christmas and New Year holidays.

Here is a sample open rate in different week day and time: