You've probably heard that email is the best way to reach your customers. But what are the best ways to ensure your email newsletter gets read?
This blog post will help you with tips on creating an irresistible email newsletter. From catchy subject lines to exciting content, we'll show you how to get your readers hooked.
An effective email newsletter can help you stay top-of-mind with your customers while increasing loyalty and sales.
So, keep reading, and you'll learn the framework for creating an email newsletter today that your recipients can’t live without.
7 Best Tips for Creating Irresistible Newsletters
Follow these tips or mix them to create a formula that works for you and your business.
1. Craft the best email subject line
A subject line is an essential part of an email. It's what makes people want to read the email in the first place. The best subject lines are short and direct and use keywords that pique the reader's interest. Here are my best tips for crafting effective email subject lines:
- Keep it short and sweet. The shorter the subject line, the faster it’ll be to scan, and people will likely read it. Aim for 50 characters or less.
- Get to the point. Be clear about what the email contains. Avoid vague language or meaningless phrases like "just wanted to touch base."
- Use keywords wisely. Choose keywords that accurately describe the email's content and will grab attention. But be careful not to overuse keywords, or your subject line will sound spammy.
- Use personalization tokens. Personalization tokens allow you to insert the recipient's name or other information into the subject line. Using tokens can help create a sense of urgency or relevance for the reader.
- Test different subject lines. A/B testing is a brilliant tool for determining which subject lines are most effective for your audience. Try out different versions and see which ones get the best results.
- Use a subject line analyzer tool to tell you how to improve your subject line. You’ll get a score and suggestions to add powerful words and similar tactics to boost your email subject line’s impact.
2. Provide exclusive content
The newsletter is kind of a club. People who subscribe say, "I want to be part of this thing." They're showing genuine interest in what you have to say and permitting you to appear in their inbox. That's a big deal!
You don't want to exhaust them by sending them the same old stuff everyone else is getting. That's why creating exclusive content for your newsletter subscribers is so important. It shows that you value their attention and loyalty, giving them a reason to keep opening your emails. Plus, it's much fun to come up with new ideas and share them with people who are excited to hear from you.
So ensure you provide content in your newsletter that isn't available anywhere else - not on your blog, social media, or ads. Some examples are:
- Exclusive discounts and coupons
- The first look at new products or services
- Insider information or tips
An example of a promotional email with special offers by McAfee
3. Make it visually appealing
People are visual creatures. And in the world of email, making your newsletter look good is essential to getting people to read it.
Fortunately, you can do a few simple things to make your newsletter more visually appealing:
If you're not a graphic designer, there's no need to worry. There are plenty of beautiful, modern email templates online. Just search, and you'll find tons of options.
Include images. People are more likely to read an email with an image, so ensure to include at least one in each newsletter. Only make sure the image matches the email's content.
Use whitespace. Too much text in an email can be overwhelming. Breaking up the text with whitespace makes it more readable and visually appealing.
Another way to make your emails visually engaging while driving conversions is to use email countdown timers. You’ll need a tool like Powr.io’s Email Countdown app to seamlessly add a countdown timer to your emails.
With a countdown timer, you’ll create the Fear of Missing Out and get more people to take action when you promote your sales events.
4. Keep it concise
People are busy, and their attention spans today are shorter than ever. So it's essential to keep your newsletter concise and to the point.
There are a few ways you can do this:
- Get straight to the point. Don't waste time with small talk or pleasantries. Get right to the heart of what you want to say.
- Keep it short. The shorter your newsletter, the more likely people will read it. So try to keep each email to one or two paragraphs.
- Use bullet points. Bullet points are a great way to make complex information easier to digest. They also make your email look shorter, which can help get people to read it.
5. Make it personal
When you're writing your newsletter, it's important to remember that there's a real person on the other end who will be reading it. So make sure to write in a way that feels personal and friendly.
There are a few useful ways you can do this:
Use a conversational tone. Write as you would speak to someone in person. This will make your newsletter feel more human and relatable.
Address the reader by name. If you have the recipient's name, use it! Addressing someone by name makes them feel valued and special.
Avoid jargon. Jargon is a specialized language that not everyone will understand. So avoid using it in your newsletter to ensure everyone can follow along.
6. Use a call to action
Your newsletter should have a specific purpose - selling a product, promoting a service, or sharing information. And for people to do what you want, you need to include a call to action.
A call to action is a statement or an instruction telling the reader what you want them to do. One idea is "click here to buy now," "sign up for our free trial," or "read more."
The ‘Find positions now’ button invites people to take action.
Your call to action should be clear, concise, and easy for the reader to follow. Otherwise, they're likely to ignore it.
7. Leverage the Zeigarnik Effect
The Zeigarnik Effect is a principle of psychology that states that people are more likely to remember unfinished tasks than completed ones.
In other words, if you can leave your readers with a cliffhanger, they're more likely to stick around until the end. And an email newsletter is a great way to put it into action.
For example, your email subject line could be "You won't believe what happened next..." or "I was so shocked when I saw this..."
Or, if you're promoting a product or service, you could use a call to action like "Click here to find out more."
LinkedIn uses the Zeigarnik effect well. Email recipients want to know who viewed their profile just based on this email subject line.
The possibilities are endless. Make sure your cliffhanger is relevant to the rest of the email's content, or you risk coming across as clickbaity.
Make your emails irresistible and engaging today.
Email marketing is a great marketing technique to help you achieve your business goals, but only if people read your emails.
By following the tips shared here, you can write newsletters that people will want to click on and read. Apply them and see how they can make a difference in your email marketing campaigns.
