Ever hear that the fortune is in your mailing list?
It’s true. But only if you know how to get your subscribers to actually open your emails.
I don’t know about you, but I yawn every time someone tells me about the size of their mailing list. You know why? Because if their subscribers aren’t eagerly opening every single one of their emails, reading them, and clicking the “buy” links, then list size doesn’t matter. It’s the responsiveness of your list that matters, not the size.
The first step to building a responsive list is to get your subscribers to open up your emails.
Here are five ways to do it…
1. Write irresistible subject lines.
One of the keys to boosting your open rate is to write emails with click-worthy subject lines. Generally, this means your subject line should present a benefit and/or arouse curiosity.
Let me give you a couple examples:
- Who else wants 100% more web traffic?
- How to lose weight quickly and easily…
- Impress your friends at your next dinner party…
- The secret anti-aging method found in your fridge…
Now it’s your turn. Ask yourself, what is the single biggest benefit someone will receive if they open up your email?
Whatever that is, present it in the subject line. If possible introduce curiosity (the last example above is a good example of a curiosity-arousing subject line).
2. Create a recognizable “from” field.
If your subscribers know you by your personal name but your email “from” field is your business name, they may not recognize your email. If they don’t recognize it, they won’t read it, they’ll trash it, and they may even hit the “spam” button on it. So be sure you’re using a name that your subscribers will recognize instantly.
3. Provide great content in every email.
When your subscribers first join your list, they’re likely to read every email you send them for the first couple weeks. As such, be sure to provide great content right away to impress your subscribers. The more impressed they are at the outset, the more likely it is they’ll keep opening your emails in a month from now, a year from now, five years or more.
4. Give your subscribers what they want and expect.
Whether you know it or not, you’ve created expectations in your newsletter about what kind of content you’ll send and how often you’ll send it. If you suddenly “re-purpose” your newsletter for any reason, your open rate is going to plummet, and you may even start losing subscribers.
For instance, there are quite a few marketers who promote something for a friend just to help out the friend. But if the friend’s offer doesn’t match the subscribers’ expectations, those subscribers aren’t going to be as willing to open the email next time.
Let me give you a specific example…
Example: If you have a science fiction newsletter and you promote your friend’s romance novel, your future open rate may decline because you’re not giving your subscribers what they want and expect.
5. Build anticipation.
Still another way to increase your email open rate is to build anticipation for future emails at the end of your current emails.
Example: “Keep an eye on your inbox, because in just three days from now you’ll discover the #1 trick for getting a puppy to stop chewing your shoes, instantly!”
Conclusion: You just discovered five surefire ways to boost your email open rate.
But you know what? These methods are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to boosting your open rate and creating emails that get results. For more information make sure you check out Inbox Economics