How To Write Emails That Get Opened

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Emails remain one of the most powerful tools for business communication and marketing. In this guide, you will learn how to write emails that get opened and read by your audience. Writing effective emails requires more than just typing a few words, it’s about crafting subject lines, preheaders, and content that capture attention and drive engagement.

📧 Why Email Open Rates Matter

Open rates are the first indicator of whether your emails are effective. If people don’t open your emails, your message, offers, and content never get seen. High open rates:

  • Increase engagement

  • Drive traffic to your website or landing pages

  • Improve ROI on email campaigns

  • Build stronger relationships with your audience

Understanding why people open emails is the foundation of successful email marketing and a key part of how to write emails that perform.

3D model of an opened email in white and red with @ symbol on the paper, showing how to write emails visually

🔹 Crafting Irresistible Subject Lines

The subject line is the first thing readers notice. A strong subject line will grab attention and encourage clicks. Tips to create compelling subject lines:

  • Keep it short and clear (30–50 characters ideal)

  • Use action words like “Discover,” “Boost,” or “Learn”

  • Create curiosity without being misleading

  • Personalize when possible with the recipient’s name or interest

  • Avoid spammy words like “Free” or “Urgent”

Examples:

  • “Boost Your Productivity With This One Email Trick”

  • “How to Save Time Every Day Using Email”

Person typing on a laptop to craft effective email subject lines

🔹 Writing Engaging Preheaders

The preheader appears next to or below the subject line in most inboxes. It should complement the subject line and entice readers to open:

  • Keep it concise (40–100 characters)

  • Highlight benefits or key takeaways

  • Align with the email’s main content

Example:

  • Subject line: “Boost Your Productivity With This One Email Trick”

  • Preheader: “Simple strategies to make your emails work harder for you”

Graphic of multiple closed orange emails with one open in the middle, illustrating emails that get noticed

🔹 Timing and Frequency Tips

Sending emails at the right time impacts whether they get opened. Consider:

  • Optimal sending times (usually mornings or mid-week for B2B)

  • Avoiding weekends or holidays unless contextually relevant

  • Sending at consistent intervals to build trust and expectation

  • Testing different times and days for your specific audience

White alarm clock on a surface with pink and blue background, representing timing in email sending

🔹 Personalization Strategies

Personalization increases open rates and engagement:

  • Use the recipient’s name in the subject line or greeting

  • Segment your audience by interest, behavior, or past purchases

  • Customize content based on location, past interactions, or preferences

  • Avoid overdoing it — it should feel natural, not robotic

Mastering these strategies is a critical part of how to write emails that consistently get opened.

White characters connected on a black background, with one highlighted to show personalization in emails

🔹 Testing and Optimizing Your Emails

Constant improvement is key:

  • A/B test subject lines, preheaders, and send times

  • Monitor open rates, click-through rates, and conversions

  • Analyze which types of content generate more engagement

  • Make data-driven adjustments to improve results

Green paper on a table with “Testing” written in black and a magnifying glass on top, representing email testing for performance

🔹 Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these errors to maximize open rates:

  • Writing vague or boring subject lines

  • Using all caps or excessive punctuation

  • Ignoring mobile optimization

  • Overloading emails with too much content

  • Sending irrelevant emails to unsegmented lists

Open book page with “Common Mistakes” highlighted in pink, showing errors to avoid when writing emails

💡 Final Thoughts

Writing emails that get opened is a skill that combines creativity, strategy, and audience understanding. By learning how to write emails, crafting compelling subject lines, preheaders, and personalized content, and testing and optimizing constantly, your emails can cut through inbox clutter and deliver real results.

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