How to Increase Email Engagement: 9 Proven Strategies That Actually Work

Introduction: Why Your Emails Aren’t Getting Opened (And How to Fix It)

You’ve spent hours crafting the perfect email—clear messaging, a strong call to action, maybe even an exclusive offer. But then… nothing. Low open rates, barely any clicks, and little to no engagement.

This isn’t just frustrating—it’s a sign that something in your email strategy isn’t connecting with your audience. With inboxes more crowded than ever, businesses need to do more than just send emails. They need to send emails that people want to open, read, and act on.

The good news? There are proven ways how to increase email engagement, ensuring your emails don’t just get seen but actually drive action.

Let’s start with the first step—getting your emails opened.

1. Subject Lines That Drive Higher Open Rates

Your subject line is the first impression your email makes. If it doesn’t grab attention, your message will be ignored, no matter how valuable the content inside is. Studies show that nearly half of recipients open an email based solely on the subject line.

What Makes a Strong Subject Line?

• Clarity over cleverness – If people don’t understand the message instantly, they won’t open it.
• Curiosity – A well-placed question or intriguing statement can spark interest.
• Urgency – Time-sensitive language encourages quicker action.
• Personalization – Emails with personalized subject lines have been shown to increase open rates by 26 percent.

Examples of Subject Lines That Work

• “You’re missing out: 24 hours left to claim your offer” (Urgency)
• “We need to talk about your email strategy” (Curiosity)
• “John, this offer was made for you” (Personalization)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Overuse of capital letters and excessive punctuation, which can trigger spam filters.
• Misleading statements, such as “You’ve won!” when there is no actual reward.
• Subject lines that are too vague, like “Check this out!”

Real-World Example

A B2B software company tested two subject lines for a new feature launch:

1. “Introducing a smarter way to automate workflows”
2. “Save 10 hours a week with our new automation tool”

The second version saw a 33 percent higher open rate because it focused on a clear, tangible benefit.

Mastering subject lines is the first step in how to increase email engagement—but getting an email opened is just the beginning. Next, let’s look at how to keep readers interested once they’re inside.

2. Hook Readers with a Strong Opening Line

Getting an email opened is only the first battle. The next challenge? Holding attention.

Most people skim emails. If the opening line doesn’t immediately capture interest, they move on.

A generic opening like “Hope you’re doing well” or “We’re excited to share an update” is an easy way to lose your audience. Instead, the first line should create a reason to keep reading.

How to Write a Strong Opening Line

• Start with a bold statement – “You’re probably making this mistake in your email strategy.”
• Call out a pain point – “If your emails are getting ignored, you’re not alone.”
• Ask a thought-provoking question – “What if you could double your email click-through rate overnight?”
• Make it feel personal – “I noticed you checked out our email automation tool but didn’t sign up—let’s fix that.”

Example: Before vs. After

Before:
“We’re launching a new product that we think you’ll love!”

After:
“Imagine cutting your email workload in half—without losing engagement. Here’s how.”

Which one are you more likely to keep reading?

A compelling first sentence keeps readers engaged and makes them want to see what comes next.

3. Make Your Emails Feel Like a One-on-One Conversation

Emails shouldn’t feel like mass marketing blasts. The most engaging emails feel personal, like a direct message from a trusted source.

Think about it—when you receive an email that sounds scripted or overly corporate, do you engage with it? Probably not.

How to Make Emails More Conversational

• Write like you talk – Avoid robotic or overly formal language. Instead of “We would like to offer you a special promotion,” try “I wanted to make sure you saw this deal before it ends.”
• Use second-person language – Speak directly to the reader with words like “you” and “your”.
• Keep it simple – Short sentences and easy-to-read formatting keep engagement high.
• Show personality – Don’t be afraid to add a little humor, warmth, or casual phrasing.

Example of a Human-Centered Email

Instead of:
“Growalrus is offering a 20 percent discount on email marketing software. Click below to learn more.”

Try this:
“Hey [Name], I just saw that you checked out our email marketing tools but haven’t signed up yet. If you’re still on the fence, here’s a little incentive—20 percent off for the next 48 hours. Let me know if you have any questions!”

Why This Works

• It sounds natural and personal, not like a corporate announcement.
• It directly addresses the recipient, making them feel valued.
• It includes a reason to act now without being overly aggressive.

The best way to increase email engagement is to make emails feel like they’re written for an actual person—not just another name on a list.

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4. Design Emails for Maximum Readability

Even if your content is great, a poorly formatted email can kill engagement instantly. If an email looks cluttered, has dense paragraphs, or lacks clear structure, readers will abandon it before they even reach your call to action.

One of the simplest yet most overlooked ways to increase email engagement is to optimize readability.

How to Make Emails More Readable

• Short paragraphs – No more than 2-3 sentences per paragraph to improve scanning.
• Use bullet points – Helps break down key takeaways.
• Clear headers and subheaders – Makes content easier to navigate.
• Whitespace matters – A clean, uncluttered layout keeps readers focused.
• Big, clickable buttons – Small text links can get lost—use bold CTA buttons instead.

Before vs. After: Formatting Example

Before:
“Our new email automation feature is designed to streamline workflow, improve response rates, and help businesses achieve better ROI. We’re excited to share that you can now create custom workflows with our easy-to-use templates, available immediately in your dashboard.”

After:
New Feature Alert: Smarter Email Automation

• Create custom workflows effortlessly
• Improve response rates with automated triggers
• Get better ROI with intelligent email sequences

Try it now in your dashboard—no setup required!

Why the second version works:
✔ More scannable
✔ The key benefits stand out
✔ The CTA is clear and actionable

If you want to increase email engagement, make sure your emails are easy to read and interact with.

5. Call to Actions That Actually Get Clicked

A well-crafted email means nothing if no one takes action. Too many emails either bury the CTA at the bottom or use weak, uninspiring language like “Click here” or “Learn more”.

How to Create High-Converting CTAs

• Make the CTA benefit-driven – Focus on what the reader gains.
• Use action words – “Get started,” “Try it today,” “Claim your discount” perform better than “Click here.”
• Limit choices – A single, clear CTA is more effective than multiple competing buttons.
• Make it visually distinct – Use bold buttons with contrasting colors.

CTA Placement Strategy

• One near the top – For readers who skim.
• One in the middle – Reinforces the message.
• One at the end – Captures those ready to act after reading.

Example: Weak vs. Strong CTA

Weak:
“Click here to check out our new automation tool.”

Strong:
“Save 10 hours a week—try our new automation tool today!”

The second version drives action by highlighting a clear benefit.

A well-placed, compelling CTA can significantly increase email engagement by ensuring readers don’t just skim—they take action.

6. Send Emails at the Right Time for Maximum Engagement

Even the best email will fail if it lands in an inbox when no one is paying attention. Timing plays a huge role in engagement, affecting both open rates and click-through rates.

If you’re sending emails at random times, hoping for the best, you’re leaving potential conversions on the table.

When Is the Best Time to Send Emails?

There’s no universal answer, but data-driven insights reveal patterns:

• Tuesday and Thursday mornings (8–10 AM) tend to perform best for open rates.
• Midweek afternoons (1–3 PM) often work well for B2B audiences checking emails post-lunch.
• Evenings (6–9 PM) can be effective for eCommerce, entertainment, and newsletters.

But instead of relying on general stats, your audience’s behavior matters most.

How to Find the Best Send Time for Your Business

• Analyze past campaign data – Look at when your highest open and click-through rates occur.
• Segment by time zone – Ensure emails arrive at a reasonable hour for all audiences.
• Use A/B testing – Test different send times and track performance.

Real-World Example

A SaaS company tested three send times for a product update email:

• 8 AM – 20% open rate
• 12 PM – 18% open rate
• 6 PM – 29% open rate

Evening emails performed best, leading to 12% more product sign-ups. The takeaway? Your audience’s habits dictate the best send time—test and adjust accordingly.

If you want to increase email engagement, start by making sure your emails arrive at the right moment.

7. Use A/B Testing to Optimize Every Email

Marketers often guess what works, but guessing isn’t a strategy—testing is. A/B testing (also called split testing) allows you to compare different elements of an email to see what actually drives engagement.

What Can You A/B Test?

• Subject Lines – Test different tones, lengths, and styles.
• CTA Wording – “Get started” vs. “Try it free” can produce very different results.
• Email Layout – Long-form vs. short-form, single-column vs. multi-column.
• Send Times – Mornings vs. evenings, weekdays vs. weekends.

How to Run an A/B Test

1. Change only one variable at a time – If you test multiple things, you won’t know what made the difference.
2. Test with a statistically significant audience – A small test group won’t give reliable insights.
3. Measure the right metrics – If you’re testing subject lines, track open rates. If you’re testing CTA wording, track click-through rates.

Example of a Successful A/B Test

A retail brand tested two versions of a promotional email:

• Version A: Subject line: “Limited-Time Offer – 20% Off Everything”
• Version B: Subject line: “20% Off – Your Favorite Items Are Waiting”

The second version resulted in 14% more opens and 22% more clicks, proving that personalization and familiarity drove better engagement.

A/B testing removes the guesswork from email marketing, allowing businesses to refine their strategy based on real user behavior rather than assumptions.

8. Keep Your Emails Mobile-Friendly to Maximize Engagement

Over 50% of emails are opened on mobile devices, yet many brands still design emails for desktop users. If your email looks cluttered, takes too long to load, or forces readers to zoom in, they’ll delete it immediately.

A mobile-first approach isn’t optional—it’s critical for increasing email engagement.

How to Optimize Emails for Mobile

• Keep subject lines short – Mobile screens cut off long subject lines. Aim for 6-8 words.
• Use a single-column layout – Multi-column designs don’t scale well on small screens.
• Make buttons large and clickable – Tiny text links frustrate mobile users.
• Use concise copy – Mobile readers skim—get to the point fast.
• Optimize images for fast loading – Slow-loading images increase email abandonment rates.

Before vs. After: Mobile Optimization Example

Before (Desktop-Focused Email):

• Wide layout with multiple columns
• Long paragraphs with dense text
• Small CTAs that require zooming

After (Mobile-Optimized Email):

• Single-column, easy-to-scroll format
• Short, skimmable paragraphs
• Large, tappable buttons

Real-World Impact:
An eCommerce brand redesigned their weekly newsletter for mobile users by reducing text length and increasing CTA size. The result? A 21% boost in click-through rates and a 15% lower email unsubscribe rate.

If your emails don’t adapt to mobile, you’re losing a massive chunk of potential engagement.

9. Build a Relationship with Your Email Subscribers

Engagement isn’t just about one-time clicks—it’s about building long-term connections with your audience. The best-performing email campaigns don’t feel like marketing; they feel like a conversation.

When subscribers trust and enjoy your emails, they look forward to opening them.

How to Build Subscriber Loyalty

• Consistency matters – Send emails on a predictable schedule.
• Mix value with promotions – If every email is a sales pitch, people will tune out.
• Make emails feel personal – Use past interactions to craft relevant messages.
• Encourage two-way interaction – Ask for feedback, reply to questions, and engage in real conversations.

Example: From Transactional to Relational

Before:
An online store only sent discount emails. Engagement dropped as subscribers felt bombarded with promotions.

After:
They started mixing in valuable content—tips on product care, customer stories, and exclusive behind-the-scenes updates. Engagement increased by 28%, and unsubscribes dropped significantly.

Why This Works

Customers don’t just want promotions—they want content that educates, inspires, or entertains.

If you want to increase email engagement, treat your subscribers like people, not just potential buyers.

Final Takeaway: Why Email Engagement Is the Key to Success

Email marketing isn’t just about sending messages—it’s about building relationships.

By using these nine proven strategies, businesses can:

• Improve open rates with better subject lines and send-time optimization.
• Boost click-through rates with strong CTAs and mobile-friendly design.
• Create long-term engagement by making emails valuable and personal.

The brands that win at email marketing don’t just send emails—they send messages people want to read, click, and engage with.

Q&A: Your Email Engagement Questions Answered

1. What is the best way to increase email engagement?

The best way to increase email engagement is to focus on three key areas: getting emails opened, keeping readers engaged, and driving clicks. Use strong subject lines, mobile-friendly designs, and personalized content to make emails feel relevant and valuable.

2. How do I prevent my emails from being ignored?

Avoid generic, sales-heavy messaging. Instead, mix in educational content, interactive elements, and conversational tones. Subscribers engage more with brands that send useful, entertaining, or insightful emails—rather than just promotions.

3. How often should I send marketing emails?

It depends on your audience, but for most businesses, 1-3 emails per week is the sweet spot. Too many emails can lead to unsubscribes, while too few can reduce brand recall. The key is consistent, high-quality messaging that keeps your brand relevant without overwhelming subscribers.

4. Why is my open rate low, even with good content?

Low open rates usually mean your subject lines aren’t compelling enough or your emails aren’t landing in the inbox (due to spam filters). Improve deliverability by using a verified sender domain, avoid spammy words, and experiment with different subject line styles to see what resonates with your audience.

5. What should I do if my email engagement is dropping?

If you notice a decline in engagement:

• Re-engage inactive subscribers with a special offer or feedback request.
• Improve personalization—segment your list based on behavior.
• A/B test different formats to see what works best.
• Audit your send times—timing can drastically impact engagement.

Conclusion: Why Email Engagement Should Be Your #1 Priority

The success of your email marketing isn’t about how many emails you send—it’s about how many people engage.

By implementing these proven strategies, you can:

• Write subject lines that drive higher open rates.
• Design emails that are mobile-friendly and easy to scan.
• Use A/B testing to refine every element of your email strategy.
• Build stronger relationships by sending relevant, valuable content.

When done right, email marketing isn’t just a tool—it’s a competitive advantage.

Now it’s time to take action and start increasing your email engagement today.

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