How To Get Your E-mails Opened Without Any “Copywriting Kung-Fu”
Okay, I’ve witnessed amazing open and click-through rates in some of the e-mails I’ve sent over the years and here’s my shocking discovery:
It has almost nothing to do with copy!
Before you toss stones at me, hear me out…
Because I swear this is true:
You see, your open rate depends more on your relationship with your readers, how much value you give, and whether or not they’re excited to hear from you every day, than anything you could ever say with your “copywriting kung-fu”…
NOTE: You’ll also get astronomically higher open and click-through rates if your list is small, fresh, and filled with people who have already bought something from you recently…
But there are “sneaky” ways to boost your open rates and clicks…
For instance, if you’re a parent then you’ve probably “bribed” your kid with cookies or ice-cream before, right?
I’m right, right?
Well, e-mail marketing isn’t that different. The obvious way to get your readers to click your links is to “bribe” them with something they already want.
So, find out what their “cookies” are!
Gosh, along the same lines…
I can’t help but remember a dumb joke kids still tell to this day with an obvious but important lesson for e-mails marketers:
“Why did the chicken cross the road?”
Of course, the obvious answer is, “To get to the other side!”
And that’s why people click on your links too!
Maybe that’s obvious, but it’s totally true.
So, make sure you tell your reader’s what they’ll get “on the other side” of your link. You know, “bribe” them with “cookies”, valuable information, or entertainment.
Sheesh, sometimes marketing is so unbelievably simple it boggles the brain.
Hey, if you enjoyed these E-mail marketing tips, tricks, and secrets, then why not share them with your friends on Facebook and Twitter today? It’s definitely appreciated. 
Thank you.
To your success,
Jason The “Better Networker”
New Here? Well then, join the “Better Bunch” by signing up for more free network marketing tips delivered straight to your inbox. It’s real easy to do. 
48 Comments
Michael T. Makahamadze on May 25th, 2010
Hey Jason,
As always…..you put out what sounds so simple, but is in fact very powerful.
I like the bribery bit. Sort of baiting them. Copy still teaches you how to make them ‘take ownership’ of the information on the other side of the link, so that they have no choice but to want to click it.
I always appreciate reading your posts….Nuggets of valuable information.
Thanks
Michael
[Reply]
May 25th, 2010 at 10:46 am
Are you saying I’m the “Miyagi” of Network Marketing tips? 
[Reply]
May 25th, 2010 at 11:03 am
Wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think so.
I always learn here.
Michael
[Reply]
May 25th, 2010 at 4:07 pm
Hector Cuevas on May 25th, 2010
Jason,
I totally agree… although having good copywriting skills helps – telling them “what’s in it for them” when they click the link will most certainly get you better results..
talk soon
Hector
[Reply]
May 25th, 2010 at 10:48 am
Yeah, I guess, I should have reworded that as… “great copywriting” has almost nothing to do with your open rates.
You can’t multiply ZERO, but if you’re already getting results, then copywriting can rocket your open-rates and click-throughs through the roof!
[Reply]
Ilka Flood on May 25th, 2010
Hi Jason,
You have no idea how much I appreciate this. Thanks for sharing these great tips!
Bribe them, huh?
I’ll go and ‘bake’ some chocolate chip cookies now.
Have an awesome day!
Ilka
[Reply]
May 25th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
You know, the cookie trick might work even better on me that most people.
[Reply]
Dwayne Huggins on May 25th, 2010
Bribing kids with cookies. Is that why the younger generation are the way they are?? (joking)
A good bribe can go a long way.
The relationship part is the best for me. My open rate is quite good as I am always communicating with my list.
Thank you J
Have a productive day
Dwayne
[Reply]
May 25th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Awesome,
I have a feeling that is has a lot to do with the value you share.
[Reply]
Richard Kaulfers on May 25th, 2010
This brings up another thought. What I noticed is letters from Dollars are in html format with pictures and such. When someone is just starting to build a list. Show they focus on copy and getting click throughs while building more trust. Then slowly move to better looking layouts. Or from the start have a design implemented. What has worked for you?
[Reply]
May 25th, 2010 at 4:07 pm
The simple answer, but not the nice one, is “Test”.
There’s a lot of people making it work with or without HTML/designed e-mails.
Part of it has to do with branding too. The bigger you are, the more important your “image” is. But look at Dan Kennedy. He’s always gone for “butt-ugly” design and made it work like magic.
D on’t feel like you have to have everything designed up from day one.
I mean, what counts is that you’re making money. The rest is just tweaking and testing for better results.
[Reply]
Twila Jacobs on May 25th, 2010
Now this is a golden nugget I can grasp instantly…I have a 5 yr old! I bribe often ; )
Have a great day!
Twila
[Reply]
Mark Gubuan on May 25th, 2010
Bribery is definitely a good thing in the email world. Personally I’ve subscribed to so many email lists and I only open the ones that I know are going to have quality in them. Others just have to have the best headline, often those contain some kind of incentive.
Just a quick observation. Top internet marketers will even reuse their bribes. Not everyone opens every email. So this makes sense because maybe you missed something on the first go round.
Mark
[Reply]
May 25th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Definitely.
I’m the same. I’m on a lot of mailing lists. Some I read religiously. Others, I only open if the headline catches me.
[Reply]
Yadvinder Singh on May 25th, 2010
Hey Jason,
Perhaps that is the reason I open your email everyday. I had lot of cookies here. My two cents “Always ask you subscribers what is the biggest challenge they are facing and they will tell you which type of cookie they want. Cheers
[Reply]
Derek Alvarez on May 25th, 2010
Hi Jason,
There’s no doubt about the relationship aspect.
For example, I first came here because of MLM Traffic Formula 2… I was “spying” on how you were building your blog! LOL
Then, I started to take notice of the value of the posts, so I signed up for your emails…
Which I open everyday and come here to see what’s up.
Not only that, you even got me hooked on hanging out at Better Networker this way.
You are the King of Emails, Jason — I salute you!
[Reply]
May 25th, 2010 at 4:12 pm
Shucks…
More flattery.
Thank you Derek.
It took a while to get up and running, but there’s exciting things to come in the near future.
More reviews, resources, and such.
Got side tracked for a while.
[Reply]
Gayle Buchanan on May 25th, 2010
Hi Jason
love it, simple and sweet, thanks for the uncommon common sense especially the relationship to value.
nice to have you back
[Reply]
May 25th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
Yeah, I guess it’s more common to take the magical approach. But honestly, there are waaayyy bigger factors than just copywriting in e-mail marketing.
Although, when it boils down… copywriting is the one skill that helps the most.
[Reply]
Rhonda Miller on May 25th, 2010
Hey Jason,
You’ve obviously been visiting my blog. Food works everytime. LOL
I, too, think asking people what they want is key. People looooove giving their opinions. That’s obvious with this “Bunch”. It’s all good though:)
Rhonda
[Reply]
May 25th, 2010 at 4:15 pm
I have!
I’ve been keeping an eye on your posts, Rhonda.
Always something new.
[Reply]
May 25th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
All kidding aside, I feel honored.
Thank You,
Rhonda
[Reply]
Anne on May 25th, 2010
Hi Jason,
Do you agree the “tire kickers” won’t open your e-mails no matter what you write or how you write it? I have run into that. First, I thought it was me, but then I realized they hadn’t opened a single one…since the beginning.
I wish there was a tire kicker radar in the opt-in box.
Thanks for your valuable information again.
Anne
[Reply]
May 25th, 2010 at 8:24 pm
Maybe they keeled over after they opted-in?
It’s no shame to delete them. Or even send out
an e-mail saying that you keep your list clean and don’t want
to offend anybody who doesn’t want to hear from you… and then…
mention that every two months… you purge inactive names.
[Reply]
James Hampton on May 25th, 2010
Sooo…the old bribe trick aye? Well I have to say that it work ‘on’ me most of the time. But sometimes if the headline doesn’t grab me, I won’t open the email until days later…if then.
Jason, I’ll tell you…it was your headlines that got me to BetterNetworker.
Great post!
-James
[Reply]
May 25th, 2010 at 8:25 pm
Thank you James.
I’m happy to hear that.
Not every headline is a home run… but I get the occassional run of “luck”.
[Reply]
Matt Cassity on May 25th, 2010
Hey Jason,
I have a question on kind of on a similar line.
If you are setting up an autoresponder. Should you start out with a free gift?
Thanks,
Matt
[Reply]
Amy Starr Allen on May 25th, 2010
Yup. I love this. It’s, once again, all about relationships, and trust.
Such a valuable lesson… thanks so much, Jason!
-A
[Reply]
Jeff Faldalen on May 26th, 2010
Jason,
I love how you simplify things…
We can learn so much from a child..
Not that I am implying anything
Thought I better clarify
That haven’t learn rejection yet and
very good at getting what they want.
Look forward to you next post,
Jeff Faldalen
[Reply]
May 27th, 2010 at 8:14 am
And, it helps to write to that child too.
Our inner child.
Eugene Schwartz would call it the “monkey brain”.
[Reply]
Hey Jason,
This is great! So I don’t have to become a master copywriter like yourself. All I have to do is bribe…I’m good at that!
Chat with you later…
Josh
[Reply]
May 25th, 2010 at 10:38 am
BTW…I notice that you took off the social bookmarking buttons at the bottom of your post. Why is that?
I still can bookmark your material using OnlyWire.
[Reply]
May 25th, 2010 at 10:45 am
Hmmm,
I didn’t do it intentionally.
I’ll have to look into that.
[Reply]
May 25th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
Hi Josh,
Have you had any trouble submitting your posts since changing over to the onlywire application that you install on your computer?
I Contacted their support. I’m waiting for them to fix it. Just wondering if anyone else has this issue. My submissions are stacking up in a queue.
[Reply]
May 25th, 2010 at 6:16 pm
Peter,
I’m not having any issues with it. Some submissions will say that it needs finalizing when I go into my account. Besides that it works great!
Josh