Mastering Email Marketing: Tips for Higher Open Rates

 Let me guess…

You’re putting time and effort into your email marketing, but hardly anyone is opening your emails.

You’ve built a list, created content, maybe even added a discount or two… and still, crickets.

You’re not alone. One of the biggest frustrations business owners face with email marketing is this:

“I’m doing the work, but it’s not getting seen.”

Here’s the thing, email marketing is still one of the best ways to connect with your audience and drive sales. But if your emails aren’t being opened, it doesn’t matter how great your content is.

So let’s fix that.

In this blog, I’m going to walk you through exactly why open rates might be low and what you can do to get more people clicking on your emails with curiosity (and not just sending them straight to the trash).

Let’s dive in.

Your Emails Aren’t Getting Opened

You spend time writing an email. You add a nice image, a strong CTA, maybe even a personal touch… and then, nothing.

You check the stats and your open rate is sitting somewhere around 10–15%.

That means 85–90% of the people you’re emailing aren’t even seeing your message.

Why? There could be a few reasons:

  • Your subject line isn’t catching their eye

  • Your emails are landing in spam or promotions folders

  • You’re sending too often or not enough

  • You’re talking about what you want to say, not what they want to hear

It’s frustrating because email marketing should work. When done right, it brings one of the highest returns on investment of any marketing channel. But if no one’s opening your emails, that ROI is dead in the water.

Low Open Rates Mean Missed Sales

Let’s get real. If people don’t open your emails, they don’t:
 - Click on your offers
 - Learn about your services
 - Buy from you

You’re missing opportunities and leaving money on the table.

Even worse? If your open rates stay low for too long, email platforms (like Gmail or Outlook) will start pushing your emails into the junk or promotions folder automatically.

Once that happens, it’s even harder to get back into your audience’s main inbox and attention.

That’s why it’s so important to get your open rates up now, before your list goes cold or you get labeled as just another “promo email.”

Tips to Boost Your Open Rates and Get More Eyes on Your Emails

Let’s walk through some practical, simple steps you can take today to increase your open rates and actually get your emails read.

1. Nail the Subject Line

This is your first impression. If the subject line doesn’t grab attention, the rest of your email doesn’t stand a chance.

What works:
 - Keep it short (under 9 words is ideal)
 - Spark curiosity (ask a question, hint at value)
 - Use personalization (like their first name)
 - Avoid spammy words like “Free!!!” or “Buy now”

 Example:


Instead of “Spring Sale is Here!” try “Quick tip to save $$$ this week” or “[Name], ready to save time this weekend?”

Your goal is to make them curious enough to click. Simple, real, and helpful wins over clever or salesy every time.

2. Send at the Right Time

When you send your emails can affect whether people open them. If you send at the wrong time, your message gets buried in their inbox.

Try sending during times when people typically check email, like weekday mornings (around 9–11 AM) or early evenings (around 6–8 PM).

And test different days too! Some audiences respond better on Tuesdays or Thursdays, while others might open more on Sundays.

Pro Tip: Look at your email platform's analytics to find when your audience usually opens emails...then optimize based on that.

3. Segment Your List

Not everyone on your list is the same. So why send them all the same email?

When you segment your list (grouping people by interest, location, or behavior), your emails become more relevant and more likely to be opened.

 Examples of segments:

  • New subscribers

  • Past customers

  • People who downloaded a freebie

  • People who clicked on a specific link

If you run a pet supply store, don’t send cat owners a deal on dog treats. The more tailored the message, the more opens you'll get.

4. Make It Personal

People like to feel like you’re talking to them, not just at them. Personalizing your emails, even a little, can make a big difference.

- Use their first name in the subject line or greeting
- Mention something they’ve done (like a recent purchase)
- Write like a human, not a brand

Example:
 “Hey Sarah, here’s a little something for your morning routine…”

That’s way more engaging than “Hello valued customer.”

5. Clean Your List Regularly

This one’s big.

Over time, some people will stop opening your emails. And that’s normal. But keeping them on your list hurts your open rates and your sender reputation.

Every few months, remove people who haven’t opened an email in 60–90 days.

Not only will this improve your open rate percentage, but it helps you avoid getting flagged as spam by email providers.

Send a re-engagement email before you remove them. Something like:

“Still want to hear from us? If not, no worries...you can unsubscribe below.”

6. Deliver Real Value (So They WANT to Open)

This is the secret to long-term success: make your emails so valuable that people actually look forward to opening them.

You don’t have to give away the farm. Just be helpful. Be entertaining. Be consistent.

- Share quick tips
- Answer common questions
 - Give behind-the-scenes peeks
 - Offer exclusive deals

If your emails always feel like a sales pitch, people will stop clicking. But if they know you’re giving something useful? They’ll open every time.

From 12% to 38% Open Rates

We recently worked with a client who runs an online fitness coaching business. Their open rate was stuck around 12%, and they were starting to lose faith in email marketing altogether.

Here’s what we did:

  • Rewrote their subject lines to be more casual and curiosity-driven

  • Segmented their list into “beginners,” “current clients,” and “inactive leads”

  • Cleaned the list by removing cold subscribers

  • Started sending short, value-packed tips instead of long newsletters

Within a month, their open rate jumped to 38%, and their click-through rate nearly doubled.

The best part? They booked 7 new coaching calls just from one email.

It wasn’t magic. It was just a better strategy.

Better Emails = Better Business

If your emails aren’t being opened, they’re not doing their job. But with a few smart tweaks, you can turn things around quickly.

- Grab attention with subject lines
- Send at the right time
- Segment and personalize
- Clean your list
- Offer value, not just promotions

Email marketing isn’t dead...it just needs to feel more human.

Want Help Fixing Your Email Strategy?

If you’re tired of low open rates and wasted effort, we’re here to help.

Fill out the form below for a FREE consultation, and we’ll look at your current emails, figure out what’s working (and what’s not), and give you a simple strategy to start seeing better results..fast.

Claim Your Free Email Marketing Strategy Session Now: https://rmmarketings.com/#freemarketinganalysis

Let’s make your next email the one they can’t wait to open.

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