How To Write Great Email Copy [10 Quick Tips]

Let's be honest – when it comes to email marketing, it's easy to feel like a tiny fish in a big, overcrowded pond. 

With countless emails flooding inboxes every day, it can be tough to stand out from the sea of promotional messages and spam. But fear not, aspiring email marketers! The key to success is crafting copy that's not only effective but also engaging and downright delightful to read, and we’re here to help you do it. 

In this blog, we're serving up 10 email marketing tips for writing compelling email copy that'll hook your audience, convey your message with pizzazz, and help you meet your marketing goals. So, grab a cup of coffee and let's dive in!

1. Get To Know Your Audience

The first step to writing compelling email copy is to know your audience. Understanding your target demographic's pain points, interests, and communication preferences will help you tailor your content to their needs and interests. 

Before you start typing away, take the time to think about who you're writing to: What motivates them? What kind of tone will resonate with them? What do they want to hear from you? Forget all other email marketing trends – if you don’t get to know your audience, you won’t get very far! 

2. Make Your Subject Line Pop

Your subject line is the first thing your audience sees, and it can make or break whether they decide to open your email. You could have the best email content in the world, but if your subject line is dull or uninteresting, your readers won't even get to the good stuff.

So, how do you make your subject line pop? You need to make it irresistible! Use puns, questions, or intrigue to get your reader to open up. Be creative, be bold, and don't be afraid to try something new.

3. Keep it Short and Snappy

People have limited attention spans, and your audience is no exception. Keep your email copy short and to the point, conveying your message in as few words as possible. Aim for around 200-300 words, and try to break up the text into small, digestible chunks.

Remember, you're not writing a novel here. Your goal is to give your reader a quick and compelling reason to engage with your brand. As our client Veritas Group discovered, keeping your emails short gives people a reason to be intrigued and curious about your company, which leads to increased click through rates! 

4. Talk Like a Human

No one likes a robot (sorry, ChatGPT). Use a conversational tone, and avoid stuffy corporate speak. Your goal is to make your readers feel like they're having a conversation with a friend, not a faceless corporation.

One way to achieve this is by using contractions. Contractions make your writing sound more natural and relaxed, which will help your readers feel more comfortable with you. You should also aim to limit your use of industry jargon, and keep the tone as light as you can while still sounding professional. 

5. Hook Your Reader With a Killer Opening Line

The opening of your email should hook your audience and draw them in. Consider starting with a joke, a fun fact, or a personal story. You could also use a startling statistic or a thought-provoking question to get your reader thinking.

Remember, your goal is to make your reader feel like they're part of a conversation, not just a passive recipient of your marketing message.

6. Show Them the Benefits, Not Just the Features

When describing your product or service, focus on the benefits it provides rather than its features. People are more interested in what your product can do for them than its technical specifications.

For example, if you're selling a weight loss program, don't just list the program's features (meal plans, workout routines, etc.). Instead, focus on the benefits that those features provide (losing weight, feeling more energetic, etc.).

7. Use Social Proof To Build Trust

Social proof, such as customer reviews or testimonials, can be a powerful tool for convincing your audience to take action. Incorporate social proof into your email copy to build credibility and trust with your audience.

For example, you could include a testimonial from a satisfied customer or showcase the results of a recent survey. This will help your readers feel like they're not alone in their interest in your product or service.

8. Create a Clear Call-To-Action

Your email should have a clear and concise call-to-action (CTA) that tells your audience what you want them to do next. Make sure your CTA is prominently displayed and easy to understand.

For example, if you're trying to get your readers to sign up for a free trial of your software, your CTA might say something like, "Click here to start your free trial."

9. Add Visual Interest

A picture is worth a thousand words, and adding images to your email can help break up the text and make your content more engaging. Use high-quality visuals that are relevant to your content, and make sure they are optimized for email (i.e., not too large or pixelated).

You could also use gifs or videos to add visual interest to your email. Just make sure that the media you're using is appropriate for your audience and fits with your brand's voice and tone.

10. Test and Refine Your Approach

Finally, the key to successful email marketing is to constantly test and refine your approach. Pay attention to your open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates, and use that data to inform your future email campaigns.

Try out different subject lines and CTAs using A/B testing, and switch up your content strategies to see what resonates best with your audience. And don't be afraid to get creative – sometimes the best ideas come from trying something new!

Need a Helping Hand? 

Writing great email copy doesn’t have to be a marketing chore. Done right, it's an opportunity to engage and connect with your audience on a personal level! By putting these 10 email marketing tips into practice, you'll be able to create content that not only grabs your reader's attention but also showcases your brand's unique voice and personality. 

And if you ever need a helping hand, the team at Wild Fig Marketing is here to offer expert guidance and support. In fact, we created this FREE 10 Quick Email Marketing Tips PDF for you to download so you can reference it whenever you’re writing email copy. 

Now, go forth and craft those emails like the email marketing rockstar you are!

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