According to HubSpot, email marketing has an astonishing ROI that tops $36 for every $1 spent.
Impressive, right?
It makes you wonder why every company isn’t rockin’ an email list.
While I’m not here to debate whether I think you should use your customer email addresses for communication (you should), or who you should use to write them (me!). No, today’s blog is for chatting about the email subjects that got me to look twice.
1. Chew on This: 6 FREE Toys
From BarkBox, this one hit home. With three dogs that go through toys like most humans go through dental floss, toys get expensive.
It works because it’s ultra-specific, unique, and useful. BarkBox is offering free toys to dog owners—that’s a unique proposal sent to a very specific mailing list full of people who love their pets.
Oh yes, hope sells. So does the temptation of a free bonus.
2. [Download] Your free PDF is here today!
Most of us dread signing up for yet another email list. Yet, sometimes that signup offers a really tempting freebie in PDF format.
In these cases, we’re usually looking for it and ready to hit “download” the moment it appears. So telling the recipient exactly what to expect (ultra-specific), complete with deadline (urgent), and useful makes them go for it.
3. Ancient Romans’ Favorite Sauce
If you’re a history buff and a foodie, this subject likely hit home. Even if you aren’t, that curious part waiting for a chance to strike probably drove you to open it.
This email, from HistoryFacts.com, came in last week. As a history and food lover, I instantly opened it. It works because it is ultra-specific, useful (for history buffs and foodies), and unique. Heck, even if you’re not into history, that line may get you to open it.
I will say that once I opened the article linked to from the email, I was disappointed. Nowhere in that article was mention of the ancient Romans’ favorite sauce. There was a fermented oil made from fish parts, but…I suppose I was hoping for a more direct ———>> “Here is the Romans’ favorite sauce” section header.
The lesson? Make sure your content directly answers the questions your readers ask based on your email.
4. Transform your travel photos.
Adobe has a gift for excellent marketing…and knowing their customer. Their email lists are highly segmented, making it possible for all their email communications to be highly relevant to their client base.
Besides, wouldn’t you want better travel photos?
5. No BONES about it: the BEST skeleton decor is HERE!
I’ve been on Joann Stores’ email list for a very long time. And, if there’s one thing I noticed is their emails are highly relevant and timely.
This Halloween email came in last week, so it may seem early. However, most people begin their Halloween plans months ahead of the day—those costumes don’t make themselves! The sooner Joann can get its name back in your mind for costuming supplies, the better.
6. Help Shape the Future of PenTips
PenTips is my favorite after market Apple Pencil tip supplier. I’m an affiliate and get a little kickback from sales through links like the one at the beginning of this paragraph.
Thanks to my existing relationship with them, I’m more likely to open their emails already. And when they add a simple help request into the mix—you bet I’ll click.
Although this subject doesn’t have the urgency or uniqueness of some of the others, it is ultra-specific and potentially useful to products that I may be inclined to purchase in the future.
7. We noticed a PAWS in your purchase
Oh yeah, Chewy came in with an awesome homophone in their abandoned cart email. This is a perfect example of why copywriters are happy to break spelling and grammar rules if it’ll push the point correctly.
8. We’ve missed you! Here’s $20 toward your next purchase.
It’s a little long, but still falls within a reasonable character count. This subject is effective for the stores that use it—after all, we love saving money! How many times have you told someone how much you saved before copping to how much you had to spend to get it?
9. Improve Performance & Streamline Workflow With TurboHub
This one is from A2 Hosting a webhost that provides various hosting services for everything from small businesses to enterprise level clients.
It’s specific, unique, and might be urgent if your team has wasted time on updates and resources.
10. [Download] Your Editing and Proofreading Worksheets
The Grammarist rounds us out with our last item, promising a download of free editing and proofreading worksheets. If you’ve ever struggled with this task, a set of worksheets would be helpful.
Word to the Wise…
Spellcheck it first, then read it aloud. You’ll be more likely to spot things like this: [Newletter] The enterprise AI edition. If you’re on Grammarly’s email list, you’ll see it.
