How to Get More Email Opens (Without Being Spammy)

Let’s be real—email marketing is one of the most powerful ways to nurture leads and drive sales. But if your emails are sitting unopened in inboxes (or worse, landing in the spam folder), they’re not doing much for your business.

You already have enough on your plate—running a business, managing a team, and trying to carve out family time. The last thing you need is to waste effort on emails that don’t even get read.

So, how do you get your audience to actually open your emails—without resorting to clickbait or spammy tactics? This post will give you straightforward, actionable strategies to increase your email open rates while keeping your brand’s integrity intact.

Craft Compelling Subject Lines

Your subject line is the first impression your email makes. If it doesn’t grab attention, your email is getting skipped.

The Subject Line Sweet Spot

• Keep it short – 6-10 words is the ideal length for mobile and desktop users.

• Spark curiosity – Questions, teasers, or open loops make people want to click.

• Make it personal – Emails with personalized subject lines are 26% more likely to be opened.

  
  

Subject Line Strategies That Work

Here are some effective subject line approaches:

✅ Ask a question – “Are your emails getting ignored?”

✅ Create urgency – “Only 24 hours left to grab this freebie!”

✅ Use a bold statement – “Why your email list isn’t converting (and how to fix it)”

✅ Include personalization – “Sarah, here’s the strategy you need right now”

What to avoid? Words like “free,” “guaranteed,” “cash,” and “winner” can trigger spam filters and kill your open rates.

Personalization and Content Relevance

Even the best subject line won’t help if the content inside feels generic or irrelevant. Your audience is busy—they don’t have time for fluff.

Why Personalization Matters

Your subscribers don’t want to feel like just another email address on your list. When emails feel tailored to their needs, they’re more likely to engage.

How to Make Your Emails More Relevant

🔹 Segment your audience – Not every subscriber needs the same email. If someone just joined your list, they shouldn’t get the same email as a long-time client. Use segmentation based on behavior, interests, or stage in the buying journey.

🔹 Use their name – A simple “Hey [First Name]” can increase engagement.

🔹 Speak to their struggles – What’s keeping them up at night? Address that directly. Example: “Feeling overwhelmed with your marketing? Here’s a 10-minute fix.”

🔹 Make it valuable – If your email is just a sales pitch, expect it to be ignored. Deliver tips, insights, or solutions they can use right away.

Avoiding Spam Filters

If your email lands in the spam folder, it doesn’t matter how great your content is—no one’s reading it.

How to Stay Out of Spam

🚫 Avoid spammy words – Words like “free,” “winner,” “exclusive deal,” and “cash” can trigger spam filters.

📩 Keep your email list clean – If people aren’t opening your emails, remove them. Inactive subscribers lower your sender reputation, making it more likely your emails get flagged as spam.

👍 Send from a real email address – “no-reply@yourbusiness.com” feels impersonal and can hurt deliverability. Use a real name or branded email instead.

💡 Use a trustworthy email service provider – Platforms like ConvertKit, Flodesk, or ActiveCampaign have built-in tools to help improve deliverability.

Timing and Frequency

Your audience’s inbox is flooded daily—so when you send your email matters.

Finding the Best Send Time

There’s no universal "best time" to send emails, but research shows:

📌 Tuesdays and Thursdays tend to have higher open rates.

📌 Mornings (8-10 AM) and afternoons (1-3 PM) perform best.

📌 Avoid weekends—unless you know your audience engages then.

Pro tip: Test different send times and track your results.

How Often Should You Send Emails?

💬 Consistency is key. If you email too often, you risk annoying your audience. Too rarely, and they’ll forget who you are.

📆 Recommended frequency:

• 1-2x per week – Enough to stay top of mind without overwhelming.

• More frequent during launches – But make sure each email delivers value, not just a sales pitch.

  
  

Conclusion

If you want more people to open your emails, remember:

✅ Your subject line matters – Make it short, intriguing, and personalized.

✅ Deliver value – Speak directly to your audience’s needs and challenges.

✅ Stay out of spam – Avoid trigger words and clean your email list regularly.

✅ Test your timing – Find when YOUR audience is most engaged.

The goal isn’t just more opens—it’s more engagement and conversions. Start testing these strategies and see what works best for your audience.

Bonus Tips

📊 A/B test subject lines – Test two different subject lines and see which gets more opens.😂 Use humor or storytelling – People connect with personality. Make your emails fun and relatable.

📌 Include a strong CTA – Tell people exactly what to do next: “Click here to book a strategy call with me.”

Want help streamlining your marketing and getting better results? Let’s talk.

Click here to schedule a strategy session.