You are sending out marketing emails regularly but your click-through rates are not up to speed? In this article, we’ll tell you how to improve your email click-through rates (CTR) in 7 steps.
But not only that. We’ll also cover what kind of click-through rate you should aim for. Plus, we’ll share possible reasons why your click rate is low in the first place.
How do I increase my email click-through rates?
1. A/B test your subject lines
Usually, subject lines come into play when we look at your email open rates. But your subject lines also influence your click-through rates. Think about it this way: if no one opens your emails they also won’t click on the link inside the email. So, testing new subject lines and constantly improving your open rates is mandatory.
2. Vary email length
If you always send out long emails, try to make it shorter and vice versa. It could be that your subscribers are bored with your emails because they always look and sound the same. It doesn’t excite them and therefore they don’t feel enticed to click on the link.
Your emails can be long but your copy should never be long-winded. If you can, show your emails to a friend or colleague you trust and ask for their honest feedback. Maybe they have additional ideas to make your emails more interesting.
3. Include social sharing buttons
According to Econsultany, including social sharing buttons in emails gave their click-through rate a 30% boost. If your subscribers have the opportunity to share your offer on social media, they will spread the word for you. They might not be interested in your offer but they likely know someone who is.
4. Use segmentation
Your email list shouldn’t be one big list complied of everyone who ever subscribed to you. Your subscribers are at different stages. Some are loyal buyers. Some are completely new on your list. And some might be close to unsubscribing.
Your email marketing should be reflective of the different stages subscribers can be in. If you have no segments you might send out an offer to people who already bought it. Of course, they won’t click.
Plus, someone who is new should receive a different email than someone close to unsubscribing. That’s what segments are for. Segments will increase your overall email marketing strategy and will help with your click-through rates.
5. Personalization
While you are using your email list for marketing purposes you want to make it look as little as marketing as possible. Make your emails look like it’s coming from a friend or relative.
In other words, make your emails personal. Use the recipient’s name, ask them to reply, and treat them as human beings.
If your subscribers feel valued they will click more often.
6. Keep it simple
It might sounder counter-intuitive but your emails don’t have to look pretty. Emails with fewer graphics often perform better because they include fewer distractions.
Also, keep the number of links in your email to one or two so readers don’t get confused or overwhelmed.
Use easy-to-understand and conversational language. Simplicity is key to improve your email click-through rates.
7. Include a P.S. section
The P.S. section has one purpose: repeat the most important parts of your email in short form. There will always be people who skip right to the P.S. without reading the whole email. These people can still be converted into buyers. The only mistake you can make is to not have a P.S. section at all.
What is a good click-through rate for emails?
Before you run off and implement those click-through rate boosters for your influencer email list, let’s determine what kind of CTR you should aim for.
First of all, click-through rates depend on your industry and many other things. The following numbers are just benchmarks.
According to campaignmonitor, you can strive for a click-through rate of about 2.5% (if your email open rate is about 15-25%)
Why is my email click rate so low?
Your email CTR is below average? Here are a few possible reasons:
1. Timing
If your click-through rate is low it might simply be that you are sending your emails at the wrong time.
Every list is different. The best thing you can do is A/B test your send time. Send the same email at different times and see which performs best.
2. Private domain vs public domain
The domain you send your emails from matters as well. If you use a public domain like Gmail or Yahoo your emails could go to spam – which means fewer people get to see your emails. Private domains have a much better sender reputation and go to spam less likely.
3. How old is your list?
If your list is old it can also hurt your click-through rates. Some of the email addresses might not be in use anymore. And those who are still on your list are fatigued and disengaged.
Email lists are living and breathing things. Make sure to add new subscribers regularly to keep it alive.
4. Boring subject lines
As we mentioned above, how many people open your emails determines your click-through rates as well. If your open rates go down look at your subject lines. Could they be more exciting or creative? Try a new approach to get your emails opened.
5. Confusing “from” name
Some companies use a “from” name such as “marketing”. This is a problem because subscribers will have no idea whom the email is from. Use a friendly and credible “from” name that indicates who you are.
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