Sending emails but no one is reading? Here’s what works. Simple tips to make sure your emails don’t end up ignored, deleted, or in spam. Get more people to open, read, and take action without overcomplicating things.
Shirin Niasati
Author
Shirin Niasati is a Product Owner and Website Developer at Persisca Technologies, specializing in digital solutions.
Email marketing is not dead. But bad email marketing? That’s a different story. If your emails aren’t getting opened, if no one is clicking on your links, or if your emails feel like shouting into the void, you’re probably doing it wrong.
Good news: it’s not that hard to fix. You don’t need fancy tricks or big words. You just need to send emails people actually want to read. That’s it.
1. Write Subject Lines That Make People Click
The subject line is the first thing people see. If it’s boring or sounds like spam, your email is toast.
Here’s what works:
- Keep it short (under 50 characters is best).
- Make it feel personal (use their name if possible).
- Make them curious (but don’t trick them).
- Use simple words, like how you talk in real life.
Bad example: “Exclusive Offer Inside! Don’t Miss This Opportunity”
(Sounds fake and like every other email.) Good example: “Mike, quick question for you” (Feels real and personal.)
2. Don’t Make It About You
People don’t care about your company. They care about themselves. If your emails talk too much about what you do and not enough about what they get, you’re losing them.
Instead of:
🚫 “We’re the leading provider of marketing solutions…”
Try:
✅ “Struggling to get new leads? Here’s what’s working right now.”
Make it about their problem, not your business.
3. Write Like a Human, Not a Robot
Nobody wants to read corporate jargon. Keep it simple. Write how you talk. Imagine you’re sending a quick message to a friend.
🚫 “We are pleased to introduce our latest service, designed to maximize efficiency.”
✅ “Hey, we just put together something that might make your life easier.”
4. Keep It Short and To the Point
People don’t have time to read long emails. Get straight to the point. If they have to scroll too much, they’ll close it.
A good email should:
- Say who you are (briefly).
- Say why you’re reaching out.
- Say what’s in it for them.
- Have one clear call to action (more on that next).
5. Tell Them What to Do Next
If you don’t tell people what to do, they’ll do nothing.
Instead of:
🚫 “Let us know what you think.” (Too vague.)
✅ “Click here to book a free call.” (Clear and direct.)
Make it easy. One link, one button, one action.
6. Send Emails at the Right Time
Timing matters. If you send emails when people are busy or sleeping, they’ll never see them.
Best times to send: 📅 Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday (avoid Mondays and weekends). ⏰ Between 8-10 AM or 4-6 PM (when people check their inbox).
Try different times and see what works best for your audience.
7. Don’t Spam People
No one likes getting too many emails. If you send too often, people will unsubscribe or mark you as spam.
A good rule:
- Once a week or every two weeks is usually enough.
- Only email when you have something valuable to say.
8. Make Sure Your Emails Look Good on Phones
Most people check emails on their phones. If your email is hard to read on a small screen, it won’t get read.
Check before sending:
- Use short sentences and small paragraphs.
- Make sure buttons and links are easy to tap.
- Avoid tiny fonts or images that don’t load properly.
9. Test Before You Send
Always send a test email to yourself. Check for typos, broken links, or weird formatting.
- Does it look good on desktop and mobile?
- Is the subject line interesting?
- Is the call to action clear?
10. Keep Track of What Works
If no one is opening or clicking, you need to change something.
Look at these numbers:
📩 Open rate (how many people opened your email).
📤 Click rate (how many clicked a link).
🗑️ Unsubscribe rate (if too many people leave, your emails might be annoying).
If your open rate is low → Try better subject lines.
If your click rate is low → Make your call to action stronger.
If too many people unsubscribe → You might be emailing too much or saying the wrong things.
The Bottom Line
Email marketing isn’t magic. It’s just about sending the right message, to the right people, at the right time.
- Write subject lines people want to click.
- Keep emails short and clear.
- Talk about their problems, not your business.
- Send emails when people are actually checking.
- Track results and improve as you go.