Email is a huge part of our daily lives. Whether it’s for work, staying in touch with old friends or managing your endless stream of subscriptions and Amazon orders, email is everywhere. But how many do you actually look forward to reading? Not that many, right? So, how do you make sure your emails don’t end up ignored or marked as junk? Here are five psychological tactics that can help you create emails that people will want to open and read.
Show Reader’s What They’re Missing
FOMO (fear of missing out) is real. When you highlight what your readers could be missing out on, it grabs their attention. Start your email off by mentioning a key benefit or an intriguing piece of information that they might not have known about before. Common opening phrases begin with, “Did you know,” “What if…” or “Why”? This tactic creates curiosity and makes your readers want to continue reading to find out what they’re missing out on.
Social Proof
In general, we humans like to follow the crowd. We’re all influenced by what others think and do. When we see a movie, we opt in for the box office hits. When we see a new Instagram reel trend, we must partake (and do it better). This is a psychological bias called social proof. When we read or see that someone has benefited from something, we immediately want in on it. For example, here are two reads, one is controlled, and one contains social proofing:
Controlled Variant: “Check out this new tool!”
Social Proof Variant: “Over 1,000 marketers found this tool helpful!”
Which one would you lean more towards?
Showcase Scarcity
Taylor Swift’s concert tickets sell out in a matter of seconds – not just because she’s the most well-known pop singer worldwide, but because her tickets are hard to come by. However, Swiifties aren’t the only ones to experience scarcity. Scarcity entices a sense of urgency and prompts one to take action immediately. By utilizing phrases like “Limited-Time,” “Today Only,” or “This Exclusive Offer Ends Soon,” in your emails, you’re prompting your readers to take action while they still can, resulting in increased open rates, engagement and conversions.
Give Before Asking
People naturally want to reciprocate what they receive. If you offer something of value first – like a helpful tip, a free trial or a discount – they’re likely to respond positively to your request. Providing free content is also effective. This can include a newsletter, free downloadable pdfs, social media content or informative articles that offer insights or solutions to your recipients’ pain points. Be genuine and provide value.
Speak Directly to Them
Did you know 98% of marketers cite personalization as a major factor that improves their relationships with their customers? Think about the last time you got an email that felt as though it was written just for you. It felt good, right? By addressing your readers by name or referencing any past interactions you’ve had can make them feel important and significant. It shows you’re not just sending a mass email but that you value them as an individual.
Mastering email communication isn’t just about getting your message across; it’s about building a genuine connection with your readers. The goal is to engage, inform and inspire action. With these strategies, people will not only read your emails but look forward to receiving them.
At JSK Marketing, we understand the importance of a well-crafted email. If you’re ready to take your email marketing to the next level, we’re here to help. Contact us today to get started, and head over to our website to subscribe to our monthly newsletter to gain more digital marketing insights.
