Write Better Emails: 10 Copywriting Hacks

Email marketing can feel like shouting into a void. You craft what you think is the perfect message, hit send, and then…crickets. It’s a common struggle. Many marketers and copywriters grapple with low open rates and even lower click-throughs. But it does not have to be this way. You can turn things around. The secret to getting results lies in the words you use. The following is about to explore 10 copywriting hacks to help you write better emails and get the attention that you deserve.

1. Know Your Audience Deeply

Before you write a single word, you must first understand who you’re writing to. This isn’t just about knowing their basic demographics like age or location. It’s about understanding their needs, their pain points, and what motivates them. Think of your audience as individuals with unique personalities and desires. Not just a faceless crowd.

For example, if you’re selling a project management software, you need to know if your audience are project managers, team leads, or business owners. Each of these groups has different needs. A project manager needs to know about task assignment and timeline tracking. A team lead would want to see how the software improves team collaboration. A business owner would be focused on how the software increases productivity and profits.

To know your audience deeply:

• Create buyer personas: Develop detailed profiles of your ideal customer, complete with their job titles, responsibilities, goals, and frustrations. This will make it easier to picture who you are writing for.
• Analyze data: Look at your email analytics, website behavior, and social media engagement. This helps to see what interests your audience and what type of messages they are most responsive to.
• Send out surveys: Ask your audience directly about what they want to see in your emails. Tools like SurveyMonkey or Google Forms make this easy.
• Engage in conversations: Read comments, reply to emails, and talk to your customers on social media. These interactions can offer a window into their thoughts and preferences.

By truly understanding your audience, you’ll write better emails that resonate with them. Instead of shooting in the dark, you’ll be targeting your message to a specific person. It’s like giving a gift that’s exactly what they wanted.

2. Craft a Subject Line That Demands Attention

Your subject line is your first impression. It’s the gatekeeper to your email. If it doesn’t capture attention, it will most likely end up in the trash folder. Subject lines should be concise, compelling, and relevant. They need to pique curiosity. And make the reader want to learn more. Think of your subject line as a movie trailer. You want it to show just enough to hook viewers. But not so much that it gives away the whole show.

Here’s how to craft subject lines that demand attention:

• Keep it short: Many people read emails on their phones. So, your subject line needs to be short enough to be seen in full. Aim for under 50 characters.
• Create a sense of urgency: Use words like “Last chance,” “Limited time,” or “Today only” to prompt immediate action.
• Personalize your subject lines: Use the recipient’s name or other data you may have about them. This helps make the message feel less generic and more personal.
• Ask a question: Questions often stir curiosity. They make the recipient want to seek an answer in the body of your email.
• Offer value upfront: Tell your audience what’s in it for them. Use phrases like “Free guide,” “Special discount,” or “Exclusive offer.”
• Use numbers: Numbers make the subject line more specific and can add value to your message. Something like “5 steps to…” makes people more likely to click through.
• Avoid spammy words: Steer clear of words like “Free,” “Guaranteed,” or “Money,” since those can trigger spam filters. And make your audience assume that your email is junk.

Testing out a few subject lines is a good idea. See which ones get the best open rates. Tools like A/B testing in your email platform can be a great help. And will give you data to show you what resonates most with your audience.

3. Write a Compelling Opening Line

Your opening line must keep the reader engaged. Many people will scan the first few sentences to decide if the whole email is worth their time. The opening must be interesting. It needs to make them want to read on. Don’t waste your first line on a boring pleasantry. Jump right into something that will grab their attention.

Here are a few ways to write a compelling opening line:

• Start with a question: Posing a question will involve the reader right away. “Are you struggling with…” or “Have you ever wondered…?” can be good starters.
• Mention a problem: Show that you understand a common pain point for your reader. This makes them feel understood. And willing to hear your solution.
• Use a surprising fact: Share a fact or a statistic that your reader will find interesting. This piques their interest and makes them want to learn more.
• Make a bold statement: A strong, confident statement can make a big impact. It can capture your reader’s attention and set the tone for the rest of the email.
• Refer to something they just did: If they recently downloaded a guide or made a purchase, mention it. It can make the email feel more relevant.

The opening line has to transition smoothly into the rest of your message. It’s the first step in building a connection. It’s what makes the reader stick around and pay attention.

4. Keep Your Message Concise

People are busy. They don’t have time to read long, rambling emails. Your email should be to the point and easy to digest. Cut out all the extra words that don’t add value to your core message. Aim to get your point across with as few words as possible. Every word should serve a purpose.

Here’s how to write concise emails:

• Use short paragraphs: Long walls of text are overwhelming. Break up your email into short paragraphs of 2-3 sentences.
• Use bullet points and lists: Bullet points and numbered lists make the email easier to scan. And make it easier for your reader to grasp the information.
• Stick to one main idea per email: Don’t try to cover too much. Focus on one key message and drive that point home.
• Avoid jargon: Use simple, straightforward language that everyone can understand. Stay away from technical jargon or industry-specific terms that may confuse your reader.
• Cut out filler words: Remove words like “very,” “really,” “actually,” and “just.” These words often add no value to your message.

By writing concisely, you’ll make it easier for your readers to understand your message. You will also improve engagement. Remember, people appreciate you respecting their time.

5. Use Active Voice and Strong Verbs

Active voice is clear, direct, and engaging. It makes your writing stronger and more dynamic. It puts the subject of the sentence in control of the action. Passive voice can sound weak and vague. Strong verbs inject energy and power into your message. They create a feeling of movement and action.

• Active voice: “Our team created the new software.”
• Passive voice: “The new software was created by our team.”

In the active sentence, “our team” is doing the action. In the passive, the focus is on the software. And the team is doing little more than being mentioned. You can always identify passive voice when the sentence contains a variation of the verb “to be” and a past participle.

To use active voice and strong verbs, you have to:

• Identify passive sentences: Look for sentences where the subject is receiving the action, not doing it.
• Change to active voice: Put the subject in charge of the action. For example, change “The report was written by the manager” to “The manager wrote the report.”
• Use strong verbs: Replace weak verbs like “is,” “are,” and “was” with stronger, more action-oriented verbs. Instead of “The customer was happy,” try “The customer cheered with joy.”
• Remove adverbs: Adverbs often weaken the impact of your verbs. Instead of “She walked quickly,” try “She sped up.”

By using active voice and strong verbs, you make your email more compelling. You will also ensure that your message is direct and clear.

6. Create a Personal Connection

Emails should feel like they’re coming from a person, not a corporation. The message should be warm and friendly. The use of a conversational tone helps your audience feel like they’re talking with a friend, not a sales rep. You want to form relationships, not just make sales.

Here are ways to create a personal connection:

• Use “you” more than “we”: Focus on the reader’s needs and interests. Not your own. This shows that you care about them.
• Use contractions: Contractions like “you’re,” “it’s,” and “we’ll” make your writing sound more natural. And like you are having a conversation.
• Include personal stories: Sharing personal experiences can help you to connect on a deeper level with the reader. It also makes you more relatable.
• Write like you talk: Use the language you’d use if you were speaking directly to the reader. This helps make your writing come across as authentic.
• Show empathy: Acknowledge your reader’s feelings. Show you understand their problems and that you are there to help.

By making your emails personal, you’ll build trust. And that will foster more meaningful relationships with your audience. The goal is not to sound like a robot. But a genuine human who cares about the reader.

7. Include a Clear Call to Action (CTA)

Every email should have a clear call to action. What do you want the reader to do? Buy a product? Visit a webpage? Register for an event? Your CTA needs to be very obvious and easy to follow. It should also inspire the reader to take immediate action. Don’t leave them wondering what to do next.

Here’s how to write an effective call to action:

• Use action verbs: Start your CTA with strong action verbs. “Buy Now,” “Sign Up,” “Download,” or “Learn More” are good options.
• Make it prominent: Use buttons, bold text, or contrasting colors to make your CTA stand out.
• Keep it short and sweet: Your CTA should be concise and easy to read. Don’t try to cram too much text into one button.
• Create a sense of urgency: Use words that trigger a fear of missing out, such as “Limited time offer” or “Don’t miss out.”
• Offer a reason to act: Explain to the reader why they should take the action. Focus on benefits and how the offer will improve their lives.
• Make it easy to act: Link directly to the page where the reader can take the action. Remove any extra steps that could cause them to abandon the process.

A well-written CTA guides your reader to the next step. And it also increases the likelihood that they will take action. Without it, your reader may finish reading. Then get lost without knowing what to do next.

8. Use Visuals to Enhance Your Message

Visuals can enhance engagement and help you get your point across more effectively. Images, videos, and GIFs can break up the text. They also make your email more visually appealing. People process visuals faster than text. So they can be a good way to convey your message quickly.

Here’s how to use visuals effectively in your emails:

• Choose relevant images: Your visuals should enhance the core message of your email. Not simply look cool. If you are promoting a new product, use a high-quality picture of the product in action.
• Use GIFs sparingly: A GIF can add a touch of fun to an email. But too many can distract or annoy your audience.
• Keep the size down: Large image files slow down the load time of emails. Which may frustrate your readers. Use an image compression tool to optimize the file size.
• Use captions: Captions can provide context for your images. And they also improve the accessibility of your emails.
• Include videos when possible: Videos are a great way to grab attention and to keep the reader engaged. This is ideal if you’re showing a new product or giving a quick tutorial.

Visuals should help you communicate your message more effectively. If you do it right, they’ll engage your readers. And also help them to remember your core message.

9. Always Proofread Before Sending

Typos and grammatical errors can destroy your credibility. Even one small mistake can make your email look unprofessional. Before you send it out, always take the time to proofread your work. Check for any errors in spelling, grammar, and syntax. A second set of eyes can catch mistakes you may have missed.

Here are a few proofreading tips:

• Read your email out loud: This helps you spot errors and awkward phrasing that you may not see when reading silently.
• Use a grammar checker: Tools like Grammarly can help you identify and correct errors in your writing.
• Take a break: Step away from your email for a while. Then come back with fresh eyes. This makes it easier to spot mistakes.
• Ask someone else to proofread: Get another person to review your email. A fresh perspective can help you see errors you might miss.
• Check the links: Make sure all the links in your email work. And that they lead to the right page.

Proofreading is a critical step. It ensures your email looks professional. And that you are communicating clearly to your reader.

10. Test and Refine Your Emails

Email marketing is not a static process. What works today may not work tomorrow. It’s important to always test your emails and refine your approach. Track your open rates, click-throughs, and conversions. Use this data to see what works and what doesn’t. Be willing to try new things.

Here’s how to test and refine your emails:

• A/B test subject lines: Try out different subject lines to see which ones get the best open rates.
• A/B test CTAs: Test different call-to-action buttons. See which ones get the most clicks.
• Test different email layouts: Experiment with different ways of presenting your message. See which ones are most effective.
• Analyze your data: Track your email metrics. See what works best with your specific audience.
• Use data to guide your decisions: Make changes based on data. Not assumptions.

By testing and refining, you can get the most from your email marketing efforts. It is the secret to continuous growth and improvement. So do not be afraid to try new things, as that’s the only way to get better.

How Do You Apply These Hacks?

These 10 copywriting hacks can feel like a lot. It can be hard to incorporate them all into your emails. But you do not have to start with everything at once. Begin with one or two tactics. Focus on the ones that feel most natural to you. And that is a good place to start.

You could begin with:

• Knowing your audience: Start by creating a buyer persona. This will give you a better understanding of the needs and preferences of your readers.
• Writing concise subject lines: Spend time writing subject lines that grab attention and create a sense of urgency. These small changes can make a big difference.
• Crafting a call to action: You can begin by focusing on having a very clear call to action. This will help your audience know what to do next.

As you get more comfortable, you can add more tactics. The goal is to create a process that gets you closer to writing better emails. That can resonate with your readers and drive results.

Why Your Email Copy Really Matters

Many might think email is a thing of the past. But the truth is that it is still the number one channel for many businesses to reach their audience. But, the quality of your message will determine if people will engage with it or not. Copywriting is not just about words. It’s about crafting messages that connect, inspire, and convert. Bad copy results in ignored messages. And wasted opportunities. Good copy, on the other hand, builds trust. And moves readers to take action.

Good email copy will:

• Improve open rates: A strong subject line encourages people to open your email. And a compelling opening line makes them want to keep reading.
• Increase click-through rates: Clear, concise writing and a prominent CTA will inspire your audience to click and learn more.
• Boost conversions: By writing persuasive copy, you can influence readers to buy your product, download your resource, or do anything else you want them to do.
• Build relationships: By writing in a personal tone, you connect on a human level and make your emails more meaningful.
• Strengthen your brand: Consistent quality will improve your image. It shows you are a professional and reliable business.

Email is not a dying channel. Instead, it is more alive than ever. However, its value will only get realized if the messages sent are compelling. With excellent copywriting, you can turn each email into a powerful tool for achieving your goals.

Are You Ready to Write Better Emails?

Writing good emails is not a simple thing. It’s a mix of strategy, creativity, and hard work. The 10 copywriting hacks we’ve just covered can help you achieve a dramatic difference.

From knowing your audience deeply to testing and refining your messages, these tips will help you become more skilled at writing better emails. With each email, aim to be clear, concise, and compelling. Don’t be afraid to try new things.

By using these hacks, you’ll get closer to mastering the craft of email copywriting. And in the process, improve open rates, click-throughs, conversions, and engagement. So, what are you waiting for? The next email you send can be great. You are the one that will make it so.