Some think sending emails out is an outdated strategy for reaching potential customers. The numbers say otherwise.
Email marketing is still among the most effective marketing channels, with an ROI of $44 for every $1 spent. In fact, a good number of marketers rely on emails to increase their leads and conversion rates.
However, a successful email campaign is more than just hitting send.
You can’t send out emails and not measure whether your actions are effective. It will hurt your campaigns, and it will also put a dent in your resources. As much as possible, you want to maximize your marketing.
One way to do this is to have a clear understanding of this email marketing metric—the email clickthrough rate (CTR).
Email clickthrough rate: What is it, exactly?
Email clickthrough rate is the percentage of recipients taking action on a link within your email. It is a critical metric that measures the effectiveness of your email campaign. A high clickthrough rate indicates that your message is resonating with your audience and they are taking the desired action.
Tips for Optimizing Email Clickthrough Rates
An experienced email marketing agency will implement these tips to improve CTR.
Hook With Subject Lines
The subject line is the first thing a recipient sees, and it can have a huge impact on your email campaign. A great subject line grabs attention and entices the recipient to open the email. Hook your readers by arousing curiosity, urgency, or humor.
Here are some you can employ:
- Urgency: “Last Chance to Save 50% on Your Favorite Products!”
- Curiosity: “The Secret to Doubling Your Conversions Revealed”
- Humor: “Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road? Our Spring Sale, of Course!”
Personalize Content
Personalization is no longer nice to have. In today’s marketing world, it’s already a necessity. According to a Campaign Monitor survey, personalized subject lines can increase open rates by 26%. Personalization goes beyond simply adding the recipient’s name to the email. It uses data such as the recipient’s past purchases, browsing history, and demographics to create relevant content. Here are some examples:
- Past purchases: “We noticed you recently purchased X, here are some related products you might be interested in.”
- Demographics: “As a new mom, we know you are short on time. Here are some quick recipes for busy moms.”
- Browsing history: “We saw you were looking at X product. Here’s a 10% discount on your first purchase.”
Schedule Appropriate Sending Time
You can’t simply send out emails on a whim. Timing is critical. You have to catch your recipients when they’re more willing to read emails and take action. Sending an email at the wrong time can result in it being buried in the recipient’s inbox or, worse, deleted without being read.
Studies show that the best time to send an email is at 10 am. But it isn’t universal. Every audience is different. That’s why it’s a must for you to know and understand your audience’s behavior. This strategy will allow you to test and optimize your email send outs.
Use Prominent CTAs
The call-to-action (CTA) is a central element of your email campaign. It is the action you want the recipient to take. For example, clicking on links or filling out forms. A great CTA is visually appealing and stands out from the rest of the email.
- Button CTAs: Use a button with contrasting colors to make it stand out, and add text that conveys the action, such as “Shop Now” or “Learn More.”
- Text CTAs: Use bold or underlined text to make it stand out, and keep the message short and action-oriented, such as “Download Now” or “Claim Your Free Trial.”
Improve Visuals
The visuals in your email can make or break the clickthrough rate. Emails with images have a 42% higher clickthrough rate than those without one. When adding images, use high-quality images relevant to your message. Remember to ensure that all your visuals are rendered properly in different email clients. You can always take advantage of a professional email coding service, and experienced designers and developers will follow your brand’s style and requests. The goal is to convey your brand’s personality.
Here are some tips for improving the visuals in your email:
- Use a consistent brand style: Use similar or complementary colors, fonts, and imagery to ensure your email aligns with your brand’s identity.
- Define white space: Use white space strategically to make the email visually appealing and easy to read.
- Make it responsive: Ensure your email is optimized for all devices, including desktop, tablet, and mobile.
Key Takeaways
With these strategies, you can optimize your email campaigns for higher clickthrough rates and ultimately drive more conversions. Regularly test and optimize your email campaigns to achieve the best results.
To summarize:
- Use curiosity, urgency, or humor in your subject lines to grab the reader’s attention.
- Personalize your content by using data such as past purchases, demographics, and browsing history to create relevant messages.
- Test and optimize sending time to ensure your email is read when it’s most likely to be seen.
- Use visually appealing CTAs, such as buttons or bold text, to encourage clicks.
- Optimize your visuals by using consistent branding, white space, and responsive design.
