E-mail marketing is a great way to spread the message about your campaign. Newsletters or messages can be designed to have attractive appearances, filled with classy design, images, video clips and much more. However, the copy that you use in your message is still the most vital component of the message. It is the most concrete aspect of the message, and also the portion that will most reliably convey your intentions. Make sure you give it the necessary attention while crafting it. Here are a few tips to improve your copy.
Tip 1: The Importance of the opening sentence
Readers don’t give much of their time or attention to mass e-mails. This is the reality. The first impression that you make, therefore, has to be compelling, engaging and provoking. The first sentence of your message should have some kind of shock factor. It could be a statistic, a quote, a question. It is also a good idea to have your opening sentence separate from a dense paragraph – make it stand on its own, so that it has both a visual and contextual impact.
Tip 2: Get to the point, and fast!
There’s no time in a newsletter to take your time making pleasantries, describing your company or yourself for that matter. If the reader doesn’t see what the purpose of this letter is within the first few sentences, it’s an immediate delete. If there is some kind of promotion, state it as soon as possible. Don’t wait until a paragraph later – this is not like a formal letter. If there are other benefits to the offer, list them immediately, either as a
numbered or bulleted list. Keep these short and informational.
It is also important in this paragraph to include how the reader can respond to the offer. These are the critical aspects of the e-mail. It could be a link – upon clicking on it, the reader would be taken to a series of steps to sign up. It could be a toll free number to call to receive more information. Or it could be a personal e-mail to contact to sign up. Whatever the method is, it should be made clear and accessible.
Tip 3: Keep Your Message in Readable Sections
It’s visually difficult for readers to see big chunks of dense text. Large paragraphs of gray will be an instant way to lose your readers’ attention. Don’t compromise on including information; just arrange it in a way that is conducive to the reader. Break the text into sections, short paragraphs. The short paragraphs help the reader focus his or her attention on the important facts. Don’t shy away from using bulleted or numbered lists. These are very helpful tools to process information in a short period.
Copy is very critical – never underestimate the importance of spending time to craft sound and compelling copy. Even more than design, it is the copy that you ultimately rely on to get your message across.