Email marketing remains one of the most powerful digital marketing strategies for businesses looking to engage their audience, drive conversions, and build long-term customer relationships. However, success isn’t just about sending emails—it requires a well-structured email marketing strategy that aligns with business goals, customer expectations, and industry best practices.
At THAT Agency, we specialize in crafting effective email marketing campaigns that drive real results. In this guide, we’ll explore 10 proven techniques to enhance your email marketing strategy, along with actionable insights and marketing email examples to inspire your next campaign.
You don’t need advanced AI or tons of data to start personalizing your emails. Even simple tweaks can make a huge difference. Here’s how:
People are naturally drawn to their own name—it’s one of the easiest ways to make an email feel personal. Instead of "Check Out Our New Products", try "Hey Sarah, Something Special Just for You!"
Have you ever browsed a website, left without buying anything, and then received an email about the exact product you were looking at? That’s not magic—it’s smart email marketing.
How to do it effectively:
Everyone likes to feel valued. If someone buys from you frequently, subscribes to your newsletter, or has been with you for a long time, rewarding them with a personalized offer can strengthen customer loyalty.
Ways to reward customers:
Let’s compare two real-life email scenarios. Which one would you rather receive?
Generic Email:
Subject Line: "Big Sale This Week – Don’t Miss Out!"
Body:
"Dear Valued Customer, We’re having a sale this week! Check out our website for more details. Thanks for being a customer."
Personalized Email:
Subject Line: "Hey Sarah, Here’s 15% Off Just for You!"
Body:
"Hey Sarah, we noticed you’ve been checking out our latest handbag collection, and we think you’ll love this deal. As a thank-you for being part of our community, here’s 15% off your next purchase. But hurry—this offer expires in 48 hours!"
"Claim Your Discount Now"
Which one would you open? The second one feels personal, and relevant, and gives Sarah a reason to act.
Your email subject line is the first thing your audience sees in their inbox. If it doesn’t grab their attention, they won’t open the email—no matter how great the content inside is.
Think of the subject line as your email’s headline. Just like a news article or blog post needs an interesting title to get clicks, your email needs a compelling subject line to stand out in a crowded inbox.
But crafting the perfect subject line isn’t just about being catchy—it’s about understanding what motivates your audience to click.
Crafting the perfect subject line takes practice, but there are proven strategies that can help you increase open rates. Here’s what works:
1. Keep It Short and Direct
Most people skim their inbox quickly, so your subject line should be clear and to the point. Ideally, keep it under 50 characters to ensure it’s readable on all devices, including mobile phones.
Examples:
2. Use Numbers and Specifics
Numbers draw the eye and add clarity to your message. Instead of saying "Tips for Growing Your Business", a subject line like "7 Proven Ways to Grow Your Business Faster" feels more concrete and actionable.
Examples:
3. Spark Curiosity
A good subject line makes people want to learn more. If you give away too much information upfront, they might feel like they don’t need to open the email. Instead, tease what’s inside to make them curious.
Examples:
4. Create a Sense of Urgency or Scarcity
People hate missing out on a great opportunity. When you add urgency or scarcity to your subject line, it encourages immediate action rather than waiting until later (and possibly forgetting).
Examples:
5. Personalize Whenever Possible
According to the American Marketing Association, emails that feel personal get higher open rates. If you can, include the recipient’s name, location, or past behavior to make the email feel tailored to them.
Examples:
6. Use Power Words That Evoke Emotion
Certain words trigger emotional responses and make people feel excited, curious, or even slightly anxious about missing out.
Examples of power words:
Examples in subject lines:
7. A/B Test Different Subject Lines
Not every subject line will work for every audience. The best way to find out what resonates most with your subscribers is through A/B testing.
How to do it:
For example, test:
Even small mistakes in your subject line can hurt your open rates. Here’s what to avoid:
Let’s compare two emails promoting a limited-time sale.
Weak Subject Line:
"Big Sale This Weekend – Shop Now"
Strong Subject Line:
"Hurry – Your 20% Discount Expires Tonight!"
When an email subject line directly addresses the recipient's needs and emotions, it has a much better chance of getting opened.
If people don’t open your email, they can’t engage with your content, click your links, or buy from you. That’s why crafting a compelling subject line is one of the most important parts of email marketing.
Here’s what to remember:
A great subject line is like a door to your email—if it’s interesting and inviting, people will step inside.
Today, more than 58% of emails are opened on mobile devices. That means if your emails aren’t mobile-friendly, you could be losing more than half your audience before they even read your message.
Think about the last time you checked your email on your phone. If an email had tiny text, required zooming in to read, or had broken formatting, you probably ignored or deleted it. Your subscribers will do the same if your emails aren’t optimized for mobile.
If you want to increase engagement, clicks, and conversions, making your emails mobile-friendly isn’t optional—it’s essential.
If you’re not sure whether your emails are mobile-friendly, consider this: Would you want to read your email on your phone?
If the answer is no, it’s time to make some changes. Here’s how:
1. Use Responsive Email Design
A responsive email automatically adjusts to different screen sizes, whether someone is reading on a desktop, tablet, or smartphone.
How to ensure your emails are responsive:
What happens if you don’t use responsive design?
Your email could appear cut off, require scrolling from side to side, or display distorted images—all of which create a frustrating experience for your readers.
2. Keep Subject Lines and Preview Text Short
On mobile, subject lines and preview text get cut off faster than on desktops. If your subject line is too long, readers won’t see the full message.
Best practices for subject lines:
Examples of mobile-friendly subject lines:
How to optimize preview text:
Example of a strong subject line and preview text combo:
3. Use CTA Buttons Instead of Text Links
Clicking a small text link on a mobile screen can be frustrating. If your call-to-action (CTA) is hard to tap, people won’t bother clicking at all.
To make your CTA mobile-friendly:
Example of a mobile-friendly CTA:
4. Keep Your Email Layout Simple
The more cluttered your email, the harder it is to read on a small screen. A single-column layout works best for mobile because it’s easy to scroll and keeps the focus on your content.
Mobile-friendly design tips:
5. Test Your Emails on Mobile Before Sending
Even if your email looks great on desktop, you should always test how it appears on a mobile device before sending it to your subscribers.
Ways to test for mobile-friendliness:
Let’s compare two versions of a flash sale email.
Bad Example – Not Optimized for Mobile:
Good Example – Mobile-Optimized Email:
The second version is much easier to read and navigate, making it more likely that the recipient will engage and take action.
If your emails aren’t mobile-friendly, you’re losing out on opens, clicks, and conversions. People expect a smooth experience, whether they’re checking their inbox on a phone, tablet, or desktop.
A mobile-friendly email isn’t just a nice touch—it’s essential for modern email marketing success. Make sure your emails are easy to read, scroll, and click, no matter where your audience is reading them.
One of the biggest mistakes businesses make with email marketing is only sending emails when they have a promotion or announcement. While those types of emails have their place, they don’t do much to build relationships with your audience. That’s where automated drip campaigns come in.
Drip campaigns allow you to send the right message to the right person at the right time—without having to manually write and send every email. They help keep your brand top-of-mind, guide potential customers through the buying process, and encourage engagement over time.
If you’ve ever received a welcome email after signing up for a newsletter, a reminder about an abandoned cart, or a follow-up email after making a purchase, you’ve seen an automated drip campaign in action.
There are many ways to use automated email sequences, but these are the three most effective types of drip campaigns every business should have:
1. Create an Onboarding Email Sequence for New Subscribers
When someone joins your email list, they’re showing interest in your brand. But if you don’t follow up with them, they might forget about you. A welcome email sequence introduces them to your business and guides them toward taking action.
What should an onboarding sequence include?
Example of an onboarding drip campaign:
A well-crafted onboarding sequence turns new subscribers into loyal customers by keeping them engaged from the start.
Nearly 70% of online shopping carts are abandoned before checkout. That means most people who show interest in your products never complete their purchase. An abandoned cart drip campaign can help recover some of those lost sales by reminding customers to return and complete their order.
Why do people abandon their carts?
A well-timed email sequence can bring them back and encourage them to complete their purchase.
Example of an abandoned cart drip campaign:
This sequence gives hesitant shoppers a reason to come back and complete their purchase.
Not everyone on your email list will stay engaged. Some subscribers will lose interest, stop opening emails, or forget about your brand altogether. Instead of removing them from your list immediately, you can send a re-engagement drip campaign to bring them back.
What should a re-engagement sequence include?
Example of a re-engagement drip campaign:
If they don’t respond, you can remove them from your list to maintain a clean and engaged audience.
Marketing Email Example: How a Drip Campaign Looks in Action
Let’s compare two businesses—one that uses automated email sequences and one that doesn’t.
Business A: No Drip Campaigns
Business B: Uses Drip Campaigns
The business using automated drip campaigns builds stronger relationships and generates more sales over time.
If you’re only sending emails when you have a big sale or announcement, you’re missing a huge opportunity. Drip campaigns allow you to connect with your audience consistently, nurture leads, and drive more conversions—on autopilot.
A great email marketing strategy isn’t just about what you say—it’s about when and how you say it. Drip campaigns help you stay relevant, build trust, and turn leads into loyal customers.
Have you ever read reviews before buying something online? If so, you’re not alone. People trust real customers more than marketing messages from businesses. That’s why user-generated content (UGC) is so powerful—it acts as proof that your product or service is worth it.
Instead of just telling people why your brand is great, let your customers do the talking for you. When you include testimonials, reviews, or photos from real users in your emails, it builds credibility and increases conversions.
1. Feature Customer Reviews and Ratings
People want to know what others think before they make a purchase. Adding star ratings, short customer quotes, or full reviews to your emails can make your offers more convincing.
How to do it:
Example: An online store could send an email showcasing its best-selling product with a five-star review and a short customer quote.
2. Showcase Real User Photos and Testimonials
Instead of using only professional product images, show real customers using your products. This makes your brand feel more relatable and trustworthy.
How to do it:
Example: A fitness brand could send an email with a before-and-after transformation photo from a real customer, along with their story about how the product helped them.
3. Encourage Subscribers to Share Their Experiences
People love seeing their content featured by brands. Ask your subscribers to share their experiences in exchange for a discount, freebie, or social media feature.
How to do it:
Example: A clothing brand could send an email that says, “Share your outfit photo with us for a chance to be featured in our next email—and get 10% off your next purchase!”
Have you ever hesitated to buy something, only to see “Only 2 left in stock” and suddenly feel the need to buy it right away? That’s the power of urgency and scarcity in marketing. When people feel like they might miss out, they are more likely to take action immediately.
1. Use Countdown Timers
Adding a live countdown timer inside your email reminds people that time is running out.
How to do it:
Example: An online store could send a 24-hour flash sale email with a live timer counting down the minutes until the sale ends.
2. Use Urgent Phrases
Certain words create a sense of urgency and make people feel like they need to act now.
Best phrases to use:
Example: A travel company could send an email that says, “Only 3 Spots Left for Our Summer Getaway—Book Now!”
3. Show Real-Time Product Availability
If an item is selling fast, let customers know. Seeing "Only 5 left in stock" makes people feel like they need to buy before it’s too late.
Example: An online sneaker store could send an email that says, “These sneakers are almost gone! Only 2 pairs left in your size.”
What if you could know exactly what works best in your emails before sending them to your entire list? That’s what A/B testing (also known as split testing) helps you do.
Example: A brand sends two versions of a newsletter email—one with a question-based subject line and one with a discount offer. After testing, they find that the discount offer version gets 20% more opens, so they use that style for future emails.
If you send emails too often, people might feel overwhelmed and unsubscribe. If you don’t send enough, they might forget about you. The key is finding the right balance.
Example: A business sends a weekly email every Tuesday at 10 AM with marketing insights. Because subscribers know when to expect it, engagement stays high.
If you’re sending emails, you need to follow email marketing laws like CAN-SPAM (in the U.S.) and GDPR (in Europe) to avoid penalties and keep your emails out of spam folders.
Example: A welcome email that says, “You’re in control—manage your email preferences anytime here.” This reassures subscribers that they can opt out if needed.
By following these best practices, you can keep your email marketing trustworthy, legal, and effective.
Email marketing is so much more than just sending out promotions and hoping for the best. It’s about building relationships, delivering value, and keeping your audience engaged—all while optimizing every detail to improve your results. When done right, email marketing helps businesses stay connected with their audience, boost brand loyalty, and drive real revenue.
By implementing these 10 proven techniques, you can:
The best part? Email marketing is a long-term strategy that grows stronger over time. The more you learn about your audience’s preferences and behaviors, the more effective and personalized your emails become. And when you create content that resonates with your subscribers, you’re not just sending emails—you’re building meaningful relationships that lead to repeat customers and long-term success.
At THAT Agency, we specialize in creating high-converting email campaigns that help businesses connect with their audience, drive engagement, and boost sales. Whether you’re looking to refine your current strategy or build one from scratch, our team is here to help.
Let’s work together to elevate your email marketing strategy and get the results your business deserves.
Ready to make your emails work harder for you? Contact THAT Agency today and let’s build an email marketing strategy that delivers real results.
Tags: Digital Marketing, Email Marketing, 2025 Marketing Trends, Email Marketing Strategy
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