If you missed our recent webinar Crack the Code: How to Boost Email Open Rates in 2025, hosted by email marketing legend Jay Schwedelson and the BBD Boom team, don’t worry - we’ve got you covered! Whether you couldn’t attend or just want a quick rundown of the key takeaways, this blog breaks down the most valuable insights Jay shared during the session.
Email remains one of the most effective marketing channels, but the rules of engagement are constantly changing. With inboxes more crowded than ever, understanding how to stand out and capture attention is critical for success in 2025. In our recent webinar, Crack the Code: How to Boost Email Open Rates in 2025, Jay Schwedelson shared powerful strategies and real-world examples that can transform your email campaigns.
In this blog, we’ll dive into some of the key takeaways to help you refine your email marketing strategy and hit those open-rate goals. Let’s get started!
Ah, the subject line - a tiny snippet of text that carries huge weight. It's like the cover of a book, if it's boring or vague, your email? Straight to the dreaded trash folder.
An engaging subject line though? It's like the golden ticket to getting your email opened. Think of it like it's your first (and sometimes only) chance to make a good impression. You've got milliseconds to grab their attention before they scroll on - don't waste it!
Time is a powerful motivator, especially in today’s fast-paced world. People are busier than ever, and when deciding whether to open an email or attend an event, knowing exactly how much time they need to invest can make all the difference.
Including time in your subject line isn’t something many marketers think about—but it should be. For example, simply stating how much someone can learn in just 30 minutes could be the difference between your email being opened or ignored.
This principle becomes even more critical when promoting webinars or events. Jay Schwedelson highlighted during our webinar that the perceived time commitment can significantly impact registration rates. His data shows that shorter, clearly communicated durations drive more sign-ups:
Let's talk urgency in subject lines - when done right it jolts your audience into action. Why? Because FOMO (fear of missing out) is real! No-one wants to miss an opportunity that is time sensitive or exclusive.
Here's some data form Jay to back this up:
Content offers promoted as expiring in a 30 day period have been found to have a 145% higher consumption rate than non expiring content offers within the first 30 days.
Use phrases like "Last Chance!", "Final Day to Download" and "Times Up!" to really get that sense of urgency across to your audience and boost your open rate.
Your email's subject line is the gateway to its content. It's often the deciding factor in whether your email gets opened or ignored. Crafting compelling subject lines is an art and science, requiring a blend of creativity and strategic thinking.
To optimise your subject lines, consider incorporating keywords that align with the time of year or current trends. For instance, terms like "2025 Trends" or "Future Outlook" can resonate well during the early months of the year. Such keywords tap into the natural curiosity and planning mindset of the audience during this period.
Additionally, subject lines that evoke curiosity or promise value tend to perform better. Questions, lists, and statements that highlight benefits can catch the reader's eye. Test different styles and structures to see which resonates best with your audience. Remember, the goal is to pique interest and encourage the recipient to learn more by opening the email.
Conventional wisdom says "Don't send on the weekends, they're for relaxing not working". But here's the plot twist: weekends are the new weekdays.
Think about it, your audiences inbox is a battlefield on the weekdays. Work emails, newsletters, promotions, that random meme from Steve in HR... it's chaotic. Your carefully crafted email will get lost in the noise quicker than you can say 'unread'.
Now weekends? Whole different vibe. People are sipping on their coffee scrolling on their phones actually reading their emails instead of just skimming them. They're relaxed, their attention span may be slightly longer than normal and your email may just be the star of their morning.
Of course knowing your audience is key, if you're targeting busy business owners, chances are the email will hit better than employed Monday to Friday workers - we all know they're not checking their emails past 5pm Friday. But as inbox habits evolve, more and more people are checking their emails in their 'downtime'.
PRO TIP: Don't forget to differentiate between your Weekend and Weekday results, these are completely different at should be looked into separately.
So give it a shot, B2B weekend email click through rates have risen by 62% from October 2023 to 2024. So test an email for a Saturday morning or a Sunday afternoon and who knows, your open rates may soar - and who doesn't want that?
When planning weekend sends, ensure your content is relevant and valuable. Use subject lines that reflect the leisurely tone of the weekend, such as "Catch up on the latest industry insights" or "Weekend reads: Top strategies for success". By tapping into this trend, you can engage your audience at a time when they're more likely to absorb and respond to your message.
The name you give your content can completely change the way it is perceived. Are you offering a guide or is it a toolkit? The same piece of content can make people feel a certain way depending on what you call it. For example, a swipe file feels like you're giving away insider secrets, maybe perfect for creative professionals, whereas an infographic is sleek and straight to the point however super old-school and people don't really use them anymore. A toolkit promises practicality and value, while a blueprint is the map to success. Have a look at these results Jay shared with us on how the sign-up rate on different content types has changes recently.
Let's face it, webinars are everywhere and they're not really something that stands out in an inbox. Simply calling it a webinar just does not cut it anymore! Rename it as a masterclass, insider session or virtual event and suddenly it exudes authority and expertise. Truth is, this small change of the name can spark curiosity and draw in the exact audience you want, so don’t hesitate to experiment.
On-demand sounds great, in theory. Watch whenever you want, no pressure, super flexible. But in practice? It often translates to never getting around to it. Life gets busy, emails pile up and suddenly that recording you planned to watch is all the way at the bottom of your to do list.
That's why the key is live attendance and making it feel exclusive for the audience. "Attend live to receive [exclusive resource]" suddenly changes the whole dynamic. It's no longer a 'maybe later' but a 'I cannot miss this' situation. Whether it's a free checklist or eBook, you're now giving people a reason to not only open your email and register for your live event but actually prioritise attending.
Lets get this out there, I know AI can feel as though it's gunning for your to do list (and maybe your job too). But hear me out - what if it's not here to replace you but elevate you? Utilise ChatGPT to it's full potential, allow it to essentially be your very own email consultant, at the ready 24/7.
Input a screenshot of your email to ChatGPT and write this prompt:
"I'd like you to review the following email marketing message and provide actionable feedback on how to improve it. Please consider elements like clarity, engagement, call to action (CTA) effectiveness, and overall persuasive power. Additionally, provide at least 5 very specific critiques and test ideas I can try based on what you find from this email specifically. And also provide suggestions for improving the subject line provided here as well.
Subject Line of this email is - PUT SUBJECT LINE HERE!"
It will then break down your email, highlight the good parts and help you cut out any of the fluff. So let AI shred your emails (gently) and you'll come out looking like a pro - and your audience will definitely notice too.
For those eager to dive deeper into the world of email marketing and uncover more data-backed strategies for 2025, I highly recommend watching our comprehensive webinar. It's packed with insights and actionable tips that can elevate your campaigns to new heights. Don't miss out on the opportunity to learn from industry experts and stay ahead of the curve. Watch the webinar now and transform your email marketing approach!