Your Best Email Writing Tips?

[JasonParker]

I'm in the middle of writing some new e-mails.

What are some good email writing tips you're keeping from everyone on here?

Go on... lay it out there...

[Rockwell]

Nobody wants to read a long email. Done.

[JasonParker]

Originally Posted by Lutzi

Nobody wants to read a long email. Done.

Nice.

My short e-mails drive more traffic.

My long e-mails pre-sell better BUT I only use them when needed.

So I normally send short and punchy ones.

[ThomasOMalley]

Use stories in some of your emails. They are very powerful.

Use questions in your subject line and other parts of your copy. Use questions that they cannot answer with a yes or no.

An example is "What are the best ways to get a divorce?" Then the reader must read more to find out the answer to that question.

[Alex Cohen]

The first thing, of course, is to get the email opened.

Curiosity, news, and celebrity are three good persuasion triggers to include in an email subject line.

Alex

[Jay White]

Got 7 free videos that might help. Check out the Youtube link at the left.

[JasonParker]

Originally Posted by Jay White

Got 7 free videos that might help. Check out the Youtube link at the left.

Thanks Jay.

I actually studied some of your email copywriting stuff back in 2008.

I'll check out the videos.

[Pusateri]

I make my living with email. The most important thing is to know your list.

My messages average 400-600 words, sometimes as long as 1200. They move the goods.

But that's MY list. I know them...what gets their attention...what keeps them interested...what gets them to buy.

[Ken Strong]

Originally Posted by JasonParker

What are some good email writing tips you're keeping from everyone on here?

Not exactly an email writing tip, but important nonetheless...

ALWAYS send yourself a test email before sending it out to your list. I'm always amazed how often I get emails that start out, "Hi, [firstname]," or have dead links, etc.

[JasonParker]

Originally Posted by Ken Strong

Not exactly an email writing tip, but important nonetheless...

ALWAYS send yourself a test email before sending it out to your list. I'm always amazed how often I get emails that start out, "Hi, [firstname]," or have dead links, etc.

lol... nice one.

[RRG]

Originally Posted by JasonParker

I'm in the middle of writing some new e-mails.

What are some good email writing tips you're keeping from everyone on here?

Go on... lay it out there...

A couple of top marketers I follow and respect advocate mailing your list every day (M - F).

[JasonParker]

I was asking my friend who's a $10k+ copywriter the same question.

He says...

A good subject line and good body copy makes the reader think "WTF?"

[MarkJones]

It's all about testing..

Over the last couple of weeks i've been testing shorter and shorter emails and seeing some great results with short emails..

Look into using images in your emails as well if your email marketing program is quality... Images have increased my email CTR 15%.

Also test branded vs unbranded emails to see what your database responds to the best, every list works different, you just need to see what works the best for your list.. Or more to the point, you need to train your list into responding to the type of marketing you want to send..

Mark

[Pusateri]

Originally Posted by MarkJones

Look into using images in your emails as well if your email marketing program is quality... Images have increased my email CTR 15%.

Good tip. Images increase response for me too.

Also, mix things up. Your audience starts to expect your messages to look a certain way...follow a certain format. Play against that once in a while.

I normally use 400-600 words, but every so often I send a micro message, just a compelling sentence and a link.

[JasonParker]

What kind of images are we talking about here?

Like images to enhance the emotions of the copy or images of the product or other?

[Pusateri]

The images are usually related to what I'm talking about in the email, not necessarily a product shot. I use them to break up the text, or even just so I can put a caption under it (which is also a link.)

An example: the theme of one email I sent was 'vigilance' (always be on the lookout for certain dangers.) The image was of a meerkat, standing bolt upright and looking straight at the viewer while baby meerkats were playing on the ground around it. That message go a lot of clicks.

[Daniel Scott]

Personally, I prefer to let the email just have a link and the sales page do the selling. I've gotten my best response rates that way...

Although if it's a product launch and you're sending the same link out multiple times, obviously you have to write longer emails to try and persuade the people who didn't buy before. But sometimes that can be as easy as pointing out what people who have already bought the product are saying, as an example.

I've also found much better open and click rates by writing my subject in lower case. So instead of...

"Name, You've Gotta Check This Out..."

I use...

"Name, you've gotta check this out..."

My own testing, and that of my clients, has also shown that not using a name at all sometimes outperforms using the [name] fix, because a lot of people write their name weird when they fill in those forms.

-Daniel

[Izzy9]

Thank you for sharing ideas on maximizing email upsells. I have no success story yet and I find it very informative that so many people are sharing their formulas here.

[ephame]

Interesting to hear the input about images in the e-mail, this is something we have overlooked. Thanks

[ewenmack]

This one is for contacting potential offline clients.

Subject line is always [product name] wanted

Example; spa pool wanted

Always no caps.

I'm not saying what goes in the body, because when you get 75%
of respondents phoning you, then it's just too valuable.

Best,
Ewen

[JasonParker]

Here's a tip from my arsenal.

About 2 months ago I started looking at e-mails the same way you might think of sales pages or any type of ad.

So I'll have control e-mails and I'll try to beat that control.

By sending out the control e-mails more frequently I'm able to make more money consistently.

Until my subscribers get ad blindness for a control e-mail, I can roughly estimate how much money I'm going to make whenever I send it out.

[jaiganeshv]

Use news that create fear amongst people and related it with your business and send email as if it answers on how to overcome that fear..

Example: during the recent stock market fall (historic 600+ points) i got emails from Ron Douglas that evening just after market close talking about the loomy economy and stock market crash and how his system would help people in that situation of economy


Thank you
Jai

[Marc Rodill]

Interesting question and answers. I saw someone mention mailing your list once a day.

Does anybody recommend going over that? 2,3,4,5,6? What's the limit?

What about mailing for multiple offers in one day?

And has anyone tested different "from" names?

Thanks,

Marc

[Ken_Caudill]

"And has anyone tested different "from" names?"

God, I love this place.

[JasonParker]

I've run different from limes but there is no way to split test that kind of thing.

Well I'm sure there is a way but I don't know how.

I like switching up my from lines.

But I also think it's important to comply with the can spam act when testing different from lines.

[Greg Wildermuth]

Long emails are okay, but keep paragraphs short. Make them really short. And format it so that the text is not too wide from side to side.

[r2r]

First no one wants to read long email.

[Dietriffic]

Here's what I'm realising...

If you entertain them, nothing else matters.

Length, frequency, offers, etc, etc... none of it matters. It only matters if you don't entertain.

People have boring lives. At least, they feel bored. They crave entertainment.

Entertain and you win. Period.

[WebCEO Official]

We have a good article on this topic webceo.com/newsletter/10-rules-to-improve-email-deliverability/

[ThomasOMalley]

Originally Posted by r2r

First no one wants to read long email.

This old chestnut never dies!!!! Many people have had great success with longer emails. Your sweeping statement is just plain wrong.

For example, Joe Vitale has had great success with longer emails to his list.

Again, it depends on what you're trying to accomplish and make sure you have good copy in your email.

[marknyc4643]

Originally Posted by JasonParker

I'm in the middle of writing some new e-mails.

What are some good email writing tips you're keeping from everyone on here?

Go on... lay it out there...

Simple:

Testing Testing Testing Testing Testing Testing Testing Testing

Take three different approaches to writing your emails and see what gets users to respond or whatever action your trying to get..assuming this is direct response and not branding.

And continue this practice..sometimes you will be very surprised at what works when you continuously split test.

You were very light on details so that is all I can give lol.

[Reeveso]

Here's the best email tip you'll ever receive.

Understand EXACTLY who you're talking to.

Instead of focusing on stupid little tips and tricks, just take that to heart and REALLY "get it". Do that and you'll be an incredible email marketer

[JasonParker]

Short e-mails generally generate more clicks.

But long e-mails can pre-sell the dog out of a product.

[writeandreview]

Originally Posted by Daniel Scott

...not using a name at all sometimes outperforms using the [name] fix, because a lot of people write their name weird when they fill in those forms.

-Daniel

Ha. I do this.

I regularly receive emails addressing "Chump McGee", "Loser Face Jerk", "Mandingo" and "Ralph Mouth".

It helps put some of those really "special" offers (you know the ones) into perspective.

[The Magician]

As an email junkie (gotta build that swipe file somehow), I have this advice, in the form of a request: make the bloody things interesting! Personal, credible, funny or poignant, and real.

[filthy]

The email should be of smaller size so it don't kept in the spam folder and the the subject for the email must shows the relevant stuff it contain in it.

[fasteasysuccess]

Hey Jason-
You're welcome to check out the link below in my signature that I added for free cheat sheets in emails, writing and websites.

[georgetownplumber]

Howdy -

I've got a site up for a plumbing client - doing decent with SEO - but I'm going to start adding email campaigns to the mix of marketing, before i Start getting copy bids - what Email service do you recommend?

Awebber? Mailchimp(heard mixed reviews about them? Infusionsoft? etc

OR - DO I just install one of the freebies that comes with my hosting Cpanel?

[fasteasysuccess]

Aweber would probably be your best best depending on your list and what you're trying to do with it. Infusion Soft is way more expensive, but has a lot more features if you get into multiple campaigns.

Overall for delivery rates and price, aweber i feel is one of the best choices.

[JasonParker]

I like aweber and getresponse.

I don't like what I hear about mail chimp and affiliate marketing.

[jukeboxhero]

1. Sell the click NOT the product or service inside your emails

2. clever subject lines with low click throughs indicate a lack of congruety between your subject line and body copy.

3. Use p.s's to presell the next email in your series to increase open rates.

4. Sign up for frank kern, eban pagan, ryan diess, and perry whats his face (adwords dude)... then study the hell out of them. Swipe them (in a cool way). Ive taken a Kern email... then "made it my own"... and pulled $5,000 out of a list that wouldnt even budge on a 50% off sale.

5. Dont try to reinvent the d#mn wheel. If youre seeling to the IM crowd and you see the big boys are using html that looks very similar to a text file with 65 character width... then there's a pretty good chance that theyve already tested it and Thats what works.

just my 2 cents

5.

[jukeboxhero]

oh one more... I have lists with ConstantContact, 1shoppingcart and ebizac and constant contact is the ONLY one of those that consistently gets through the yahoo spam filter is constant contact... and roughly 35% of emailsmI get are yahoo.com

[Zero]

I also recommend getting on to Ben Settle's list. He's fantastic at email copywriting - he has a full course about it, as well as the recently released 'Email Players' monthly newsletter.

I've learnt some great stuff. Frank Kern as well, is another master.

[kaper7]

Email your targeted list things of value for free and an offer using gentle pressure. You want your list to look forward to hearing from you. You will not get that if you email them everyday or two. Wheb you offer solutions to your list biggest problem and make yourself scarce, they will not only open your mails but click whatever links you provide.

That being said, only 10% of your links should be an affilate offer and they should be products or services that you've tried personally. If you are emailing your list more than twice a week, it should be an established plan that they've agreed to such as a course.

[Yoel Cohen]

It really depends on the relationship you have with your list.
I stick to the following...

1. Be honest.
2. No hype.
3. Catchy subject line - get them to open it
4. 50 Words or less - get them to click
5. Max 2 links in the message - should not look like spam.
6. Don't promote garbage - builds trust and long term value.
7. Don't send out offer after offer

[MontelloMarketing]

Most important thing most marketers forget is...

Respect your list.

[William Prawira]

My personal Email-writing tip is :

Write as if you are writing to a close friend of yours. Don't think of them as your customer or your business partner...Give them value...Give them something good, and they'll stay for a long time

[Suellen Reitz]

I have a few suggestions... some may be repeats...if so, sorry..

1. Subject line is like a headline...treat it accordingly
2. End subject line with a ... it makes the eye want to keep reading
3. Make them currious to want to open
4. Make sure first line of copy syncs with subject line, since it will be shown before opening
5. Keep paragraphs short.
6. Keep width of copy about 1/3 of page
7. Make sure you have your URL before fold
8. Make call to action perfectly clear and w/ benefit
9. Use second url as anchor text
10. Always use P.S. (it's the second most read part)
11. Keep it short w/ bullet points for the skim readers
12. Send email to yourself first to test and make sure it looks right
13. Better not to use name in first line... people know it's a marketer anyway
14. Don't try to sell the product... sell the click
15. Be sure and give them a good reason to click.. (free what ever....)
16. Separate on your auto responder the open vs un-open emails and send follow up for non opened... subj line indicating why it is important to open
17. Don't over send... and make sure u give more content than sales pitch
Good rule of thumb is no more than 2 or 3 emails a week (more during launch)
18. Don't do too many list swaps. You will burn out your list
19. Sep. lists of buyers and non-buyers... treat your buyers like gold
20. Write conversationally like to a friend
21. Give them extra bonuses and gifts from time to time unexpectedly... they will appreciate the gift and will open more often to see what's inside

[Raydal]

How to write autoresponder email series--part 1 - YouTube

-Ray Edwards