5 Tactics I Used To Improve My Open Rate By 12%.

And Sometimes Even By 15-20% 🧵

Currently, my open rate ranges between 45-47% with nearly 15k subs.

My last email had a 48% open rate.

With iOS15 putting fear into every email we send, I thought I'd break down how I've been able to increase my open rate by 12% on avg.

Gimme 4 min...

1. Emoji Identity

This is something I stole from Morning Brew.

Morning Brew includes a "☕️" in all of their subject lines for good reason.

Because the repeated use of the "☕️" ingrains their identity in a reader's inbox.

And so I did the same.

Example: Morning Brew

Every email I send, the subject line starts with the "🔍"

And when you signed up for Marketing Examined, I let you know in the welcome email that each email subject line would start with the "🔍" " so that you would know it's me.

Example: Marketing Examined

2. Ask For A Reply In Your Welcome Email

The almighty spam and promotion folder where open rates go to die.

And where newsletters go to be forgotten.

One of the most effective ways I've found to combat this is by asking for a simple reply in your Welcome Email.

Good copywriting is a superpower.

Amazon, the second most valuable brand in the world, puts an emphasis on teaching its employees how to write.

They know good copy equates to more customers.

These are the 8 tips to write like an Amazonian 🧵

1. Keep Your Sentences Under 30 Words.

I'd keep them under 15 words.

They should be Kevin Hart short.

And only focus on one idea.

Short sentences help break down info into bite-size pieces.

This makes the communication smoother.

Digestible info = Retained info

2. Replace Adjectives With Data

In 1880, Mark Twain said, “When you catch an adjective, kill it."

In Amazon's case, don’t kill them -- replace them with data.

Why?

Because numbers are eye candy.

It organizes info into a logical order.

3. Eliminate Weasel Words

Weasel words kill sentences.

They're vague. Boring.

If you’re going to use adjectives -- use descriptive adjectives.

NOT interpretive adjectives.

Ex:

Interpretive - We went on a long boat ride.

Descriptive - We went on a 5-hour boat ride.

4. The “So What” Test

Re-read your writing and ask, “so what?”

Can the reader understand the sentence, paragraph, or page?

Does it make sense?

Does it provide value?

Are they learning?

This helps give you an understanding from the consumer's perspective.

The best marketing affects a human's behavior.

It leverages psychology to impact people's perceptions and decisions.

Understand it and you'll influence consumer's buying decisions.

Use these 12 psychology tips to influence your audience 🧵

1. Theory of reciprocity

As humans, we’re more likely to do something for someone after they’ve done something for us.

When you consistently provide value to your audience -- they’re more likely to reciprocate by supporting you.

This builds brand advocates.

2. Too many choices

Too many choices means too much confusion.

This affects a consumer's ability to make a decision and demotivates them from doing so.

Reduce your options.

Increase your conversion rate.

3. Decoy Effect

Perspective influences decisions.

With the decoy effect, you alter the consumer’s perspective by making the highest ticket item look like a deal.

Ex:

Small Popcorn: $3
Medium Popcorn: $6.50
Large Popcorn: $7

The large feels like a great deal.

4. The Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon

This phenomenon is when you see something for the first time then feel like you start seeing it everywhere.

Once you become aware of something you start to look for it unconsciously.

This then convinces you that it really is everywhere.

Compelling copy combined with good storytelling is an unfair advantage.

An unfair advantage that the Wall Street Journal used to drive $2 Billion in revenue over 28 years using the same sales letter.

Here are 7 copywriting tips to help you write sticky stories 🧵

1. Use Familiar Words

Every audience has words familiar to their interests.

Injecting these words into your stories connects the familiarity gap.

And unfamiliar words create seclusion.

Gary Provost with a great example:

2. Inject Real Stories

Your story is your social proof.

The more a consumer can see that you were once in their shoes, the more that consumer will see you as the guide they’ve been looking for.

Customers want to know you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.

3. Your Brand Isn’t The Hero

The customer is always the hero.

And their goal is the destination.

Your brand provides the map.

The visualization from start to destination is how you sell them.

4. Use Emotional Tones

Emotions are your best friend.

They’re what get people to take action.

And the best writers use emotional tones to transfer information through characters, plots, and conclusions.