Email is one of the most prolific forms of communication in our society. It has become a necessary tool for everything from work to personal correspondence. It can be an incredibly useful and powerful tool if you know how to strategically use it.
According to a study done by the Radicati Group, there are nearly 300 billion emails sent every day. With so many emails being sent on a daily basis, it can be hard to make yours stand out.
12 Tips to Make Your Email Stand Out
1. Keep it short and sweet
Most people have a very short attention span, so it is important to get your point across quickly and efficiently. According to a study conducted by Microsoft, the average attention span is now 8 seconds. Make sure you're being succinct and to-the-point.
For example, if you are emailing a potential client, introduce yourself and explain why you are emailing them in the first sentence. Then, get straight to the point and explain what it is you can offer them.
To make sure your email is short and to the point, try to keep it under five sentences. If you have a lot of information to include, try breaking it up into bullet points.
2. Have a catchy subject line
Your subject line is the first thing that the recipient will see, so it is important to make it count. Often, people will base their decision on whether or not to open an email solely on the subject line. According to a recent study, about a third of email recipients open an email based on the subject line alone. This means that your subject line needs to be attention-grabbing and relevant to the email content.
For example, if you are emailing a potential client, try to personalize the subject line. Instead of using a generic subject line like “follow up,” try something like “ Hey (name)! Following up on our conversation about XYZ”. When you cannot master this yourself, you can consider an email subject line generator for better results.
3. Use images
People are visual creatures, so it is important to use images in your email. Research finds content that includes images receives over 90% more views than content that does not. However, it is important to use images sparingly. Too many images can be overwhelming and make your email seem cluttered.
4. Use color
Just like images, people are drawn to color. According to a study by Canon, using color in your email can increase response rates by up to 44%. However, it is important to use color wisely. You want to make sure that the colors you use complement each other and are not too jarring.
For example, if you are emailing a potential client, you might want to avoid using bright colors like neon green or pink. Instead, try using more subdued colors like blue or grey.
5. Use whitespace
Whitespace is the empty space on a page. It is vital to use whitespace in your email to break up the text and make it easier to read. According to a study by Interaction, people are more likely to retain information when it is presented in short paragraphs with plenty of whitespaces.
6. Use bullet points
Bullet points are a great way to list information in a concise and easy-to-read format. According to a study by the Nielsen Norman Group, 79% of test users are more likely to scan text when it is presented in a list format.
7. Highlight important information
It is important to highlight the most important information in your email so that the recipient can quickly and easily find it. Use bold or italics. According to a study by Small Business Genius, over 40% of people say that they scan emails rather than read them word for word.
8. Use personalization
Personalization is key when it comes to emails. According to a study by Experian, emails that are personalized have 29% higher open rates and 41% higher click-through rates than those that are not.
To make your email more personalized, try using the recipient’s name in the subject line or body of the email. You can also include information about their company or industry.
9. Have a strong call to action
Your email should have a clear call to action so that the recipient knows what to do next. According to a study by Wordstream, emails with a single call to action have 371% higher click-through rates than those without.
Make your call to action brief and clear. It should also be placed prominently in the email so that it is easy for the recipient to find.
10. Test your email
Before you send your email, it is important to test it to make sure that everything is working properly. This includes testing the links, images, and call to action. You can also test different subject lines to see which one is more effective.
11. Proofread your email
Make it a habit to proofread before sending your email. This will help you avoid any embarrassing mistakes or typos.
When proofreading your email, it is important to read it out loud. This will help you catch any errors that you might not have noticed otherwise.
It is also a good idea to have someone else proofread your email for you. This will help you catch any mistakes that you might have missed.
12. Plan when you’ll send the email
When sending your email, it is important to remember that timing is everything. According to studies, the best time to send an email is between 9:00 am and 11:00 am.
It is also important to consider the day of the week when sending your email. According to studies, the best days to send an email are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Before you hit send on your next email, make sure to keep these 12 tips in mind. And if you’re looking for some help getting started, check out Delesign. Delesign can help put together an email campaign that will grab attention and get results.
Krisana is a journalist turned SEO Content Writer with keen interest in tech, software, and innovations. She is an avid fan of Elon Musk and wants to be part of the future Human Mars Mission. In the meantime, she spends her time researching and writing about everything that could make life a better place on Earth. Outside of work, Krisana dedicates her time with her two lovely kids.
