My 29+ Advanced Email Marketing Hacks to Skyrocket Your Open Rates in 2023
Ever feel like your emails are shouting into a void? Drafting a masterpiece, hitting send, only to watch open rates flop? Frustrating, right? It’s not about the hustle; it’s about the hacks—the inside scoops. I’ve been down the rabbit hole, tinkering and tailoring.
What I’ve got for you? A collection of 29+ email marketing secrets so potent, you’ll think they’re magic.
Looking to elevate those open rates to unprecedented heights? Buckle up, because we’re about to change the email game.
What Is Email Marketing?
Do you know the basics of email marketing? If not, it’s important to get up to speed before you start making changes.
Email marketing involves using email to send messages related to your business or services. This could include promotions, updates, newsletters, and more. It’s a great way to stay in touch with customers, build relationships, and ultimately make more sales.
With the right strategy in place, it’s easy to nurture leads, boost engagement, and keep customers returning for more.
For my clients, email marketing isn’t just “send and forget.” Nope. I use it as their backstage pass to skyrocketing website hits, supercharging conversions, and building a loyal fanbase that sings their praises. It’s all about nurturing old pals while making the new ones feel like VIPs.
Reasons You Need To Know How To Optimize Email Marketing
You may be wondering why I should bother learning how to optimize my email marketing?
Well, any business that wants to succeed online needs to know how to use email marketing effectively. You would be missing out on a huge opportunity if you don’t. Not only that, but your competition may have a head start.
Optimizing your email strategy can help you:
- Generate more leads
- Increase conversions
- Reduce the cost of customer acquisition
- Improve customer engagement
- Automate processes and save time
- Increase brand awareness
- Grow your customer base and reach new audiences
I know how it feels to be overwhelmed by the thought of optimizing your email marketing—trust me! Much less creating a strategy from scratch. It can be incredibly daunting.
That’s why I’ve put together this guide to help you get started. I’ll be covering the key tactics and techniques that are proven to work for small businesses. Once you’ve got these down, you’ll be well on your way to building a successful email marketing strategy!
Step-by-Step Instructions to Optimize Your Email Marketing
There’s no one right way to optimize your email marketing, but there are clear and effective steps you can take. I’ll show you our unique approach and how we use it to optimize email campaigns. You will see the results as you follow along.
1. Preview Text Trick
The preview text is the snippet of text that appears after the subject line in most email clients. It’s usually taken from the first few words of your message.
Think about this: when someone gets the gist of what you’re about to say without even opening the email, if they aren’t interested, they won’t bother. But what if there was a way to get rid of the preview text?
People are naturally curious—if you hide the preview text, they’re more likely to open your email and see what you say. All that’s left is your email address and the subject line. Do you see where this is going?
Yes! If you write an intriguing subject line and hide the preview text, the reader will be curious to discover what’s inside. This will result in higher open rates and, hopefully, more engagement with your content.
To hide the preview text, here’s what you need to do:
1. Copy this text
<div class="divPreheader" style="display: none !important; mso-hide:all; visibility:hidden;"> </div>2. Add it to the beginning of your email template’s text block in the source code.
3. Empty your preview text
See? It’s that easy! Give this trick a try and see how it improves your open rates.
2. CRO strategy for improved conversion rates
As you’re well aware, the key to Conversion Rate Optimization lies in smoothing out any bumps in the road to purchase. You want your customer’s journey from browsing to buying to be as seamless as possible.
You’ve likely offered discount codes to incentivize purchases. While that’s an excellent strategy, it’s not without its hurdles. Customers must remember the code, type it correctly, or copy and paste it – an extra step in the process that could cause a hiccup.
There’s a technique that allows you to automatically apply discount codes through URLs. This means the discount is seamlessly applied without your customer having to remember or enter any codes.
If you’re a Shopify owner, this will work in your favor.
✅ For any other page on your website
if you’re using static coupons 👉 mysite.com/discount/CouponName?redirect=/new-pathif you’re using dynamic coupons 👉 mysite.com/discount/{% coupon_code ‘CouponName’ %}?redirect=/new-path🏡 For the homepage
if you’re using static coupons 👉 mysite.com/discount/CouponNameif you’re using dynamic coupons 👉 mysite.com/discount/{% coupon_code 'CouponName' %}🛍️ For abandoned checkout
if you’re using static coupons 👉 {{ event.extra.checkout_url }}&discount=CouponName %}if you’re using dynamic coupons 👉 {{ event.extra.checkout_url }}&discount={% coupon_code 'CouponName' %}Incorporate these codes into your workflows or campaigns where discounts are offered, to simplify and make your purchasing process hassle-free!
3. Plain text with interactive visuals
Let’s face it – we all got bored of plain text emails a long time ago.
So, why not combine the two? Plain text gives your email an organic and personable feel, while interactive visuals can help engage readers and get them to take action.
It’s not as complicated as it sounds – you can easily include interactive visuals in your plain text emails. We take a simple text email and breathe life into it with a vibrant, dynamic image, specifically tailored to those who’ve abandoned their carts.
By adding a touch of authenticity with a title like “Message from the Founder,” we create a powerful email concept. This strategy consistently outperforms other emails in driving conversions. It’s simple, personal, and incredibly effective!
The process is really simple – you have to go into your plain text email editor, click “Source” and paste this code:
<p><img src="[image code]" /></p>
You have to replace [Image code] with the appropriate code.
So for Shopify abandoned checkout, you’d use:
<p><img src="{{ event.extra.line_items.0.product.images.0.src }}" /></p>
For Shopify browse abandonment, you’d use:
<p><img src="{{ event.ImageURL }}" /></p>
For Shopify added to cart, you’d use:
<p><img src="{{ event.ImageURL }}" /></p>
To adjust the image size simply add width=”x”height=”y” into the code like this:
<p><img height="300" src="{{ event.ImageURL }}" width="300" /></p>
I know, all these codes may seem a bit overwhelming at first, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll see results in no time!
4. Solutions for Dark-mode
Dark-mode is the trend du jour, and for good reason.
It conserves battery life on your device and reduces strain on your eyes. While this may be great news for readers, it can cause headaches when creating an email design that looks right in both modes.
You see, when your final design is rendered in dark-mode, your colors may look dull, washed out, or unreadable. That’s why it’s important to make sure that your emails look great and are legible in both light and dark modes.
Fortunately there are several solutions you can employ to optimize the user experience for readers who have their devices set to dark mode.
Trick #1: PNG images
PNG images are like stickers with no background.
You can put them on any color (like on a light or dark mode) and they’ll look good because they blend in.
So, they can help your stuff look nice in both light and dark settings!
Trick #2: Background image
Alternatively, I found that you can use a background image to add some flare to your email design. So, regardless of the mode, you can add a tasteful or eye-catching image to your design.
Without Dark mode
With dark mode
Can you spot the difference?
Here’s how to do it:
1. In the updated builder, all you need to do is select the background of your email.
2. In the settings area, activate the image toggle and proceed to upload your desired picture!
Voila, you have a stunning email design that will look great in any setting!
5. Product Listings
One of the latest enhancements to Klaviyo is an update to their product feed function and it’s a real game-changer.
Gone are the days when you were forced to manually insert your top-selling items at the end of your email using Photoshop. Even more frustrating was the need to update them each time there was a new best-seller.
Back then, if it wasn’t impossible, then trying to show your recently viewed or recommended items was a nightmare.
But now, you can easily incorporate product listings into your emails with just a few clicks! Here’s how:
In your Klaviyo builder – select “Product” option
Then click create product feed
You’ll have a few choices inside the list of products.
Edit the looks
Recently Viewed Products
Having the option to look back on products you’ve already viewed can be a great way to remind readers of products they may have forgotten about or been tempted by.
Klaviyo has made it super easy to add this feature to your emails with the “recently viewed product” block. Just add the element, and all that’s left is customizing the appearance of your products. It’s a simple and convenient way to showcase recently viewed items to your customers!
You can choose what customers are able to view:
Or you can choose a default display choice for situations where they either have no previous product interactions or have minimal browsing history.
The process is pretty much the same for other options. Whether you want to show Random Products, Newest Products, or Top Sellers – all you have to do is add the element and customize the appearance.
6. Increase loyalty
Loyalty is something that can take a long time to build, but it pays off big in the long run.
Our businesses don’t exist in a vacuum – they depend on our customers to spread the word and keep coming back. That’s why it’s important to find creative ways to reward loyal customers for their support.
Email marketing is a great way to increase loyalty by rewarding repeat purchases, offering special promotions, or providing exclusive discounts.
You can also use email to build relationships with your customers. Whether it’s providing helpful tips, offering useful resources, or simply making them feel valued – there are lots of ways to keep your customers coming back for more!
Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Offer coupons or discounts for returning customers.
- Create a rewards program that awards points for each purchase.
- Host exclusive events, like webinars or Q&As, for loyal customers.
- Send out special offers or content to select groups of customers who have bought from you in the past.
- Showcase customer stories in your emails to demonstrate the value of your product or service.
- Personalize messages to make customers feel heard and appreciated.
By taking the time to foster loyalty with your customers, you can create a more meaningful relationship that will help keep them coming back for years to come!
7. Referrals
Word-of-mouth referrals have a ripple effect.
Your customers can act as your brand’s greatest advocates, spreading the word about your business and driving more sales.
So why not make it easy for them to refer their friends and family?
Incorporating a referral program into your emails is a great way to maximize the reach of your message. By offering incentives such as discounts, coupons, or points, you can encourage your customers to refer their friends.
Why are referrals effective? Let’s break it down:
- Trust and Credibility: When customers refer their friends or family to a business, it carries a high level of trust and credibility. People are more likely to try out a product or service if it comes recommended by someone they know and trust.
- Targeted Audience: Referrals often result in reaching a highly targeted audience. Customers tend to refer those who share similar interests or needs, increasing the chances of attracting potential customers who are genuinely interested in what the business offers.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Referral marketing is a cost-effective strategy. Instead of spending significant resources on advertising and acquisition campaigns, businesses can rely on satisfied customers to spread the word, saving time and money.
- Higher Conversion Rates: Referred customers tend to have higher conversion rates. They are more likely to make a purchase since they already have a positive perception of the business from the recommendation.
- Brand Loyalty: Referrals contribute to building strong brand loyalty. Customers who refer others are often loyal advocates who feel a genuine connection to the brand, leading to repeat business and long-term customer relationships.
To make your referral program stand out from other brands, you need to generate interest and attract users. Here are some effective ways to introduce your referral program to customers:
- Send campaigns to returning customers, explaining what the referral program is and how it works, and direct them to a dedicated landing page.
- Include emails in your post-purchase flow encouraging customers to use the referral program after their second purchase, as returning customers are more likely to engage.
- Add an email to your loyalty welcome flow to introduce the referral program and create more awareness among customers.
- Place a concise and informative banner at the bottom of your emails and select post-purchase flows to communicate the referral program clearly.
- Implement a pop-up logic for returning customers when they visit your website, displaying a referral pop-up to draw their attention.
- Use a teaser or floating button as a non-intrusive visual cue to entice customers to explore the referral program further.
However, I can only do so much to share these tips with you. To really make your referral program stand out from the crowd, you need to be creative and think outside the box!
And of course, manage your expectations. The gradual increase in referrals may take some time, so be patient and stay consistent with your campaigns.
8. Gmail Annotations
Gmail Annotations is a special feature in Gmail’s Promotions folder. People often see the Promotions folder like spam or junk, but Gmail Annotations can change that.
Think of it as a way to add extra information to your email, making it stand out in the Promotions folder and enticing readers to open it.
When you scroll through emails, brands using Annotations catch your eye with images before the sender’s name and subject line.
Gmail Annotations turn your Promotions folder into a lively bulletin board of exciting offers and information. It makes checking promotional emails a more enjoyable experience!
When you click on the name of the sender or the subject line in the email, it will open the email as usual. But when you click on the pictures in the email, it will take you directly to the brand’s website or a specific URL that is embedded in the email.
To make this happen, we can add a small piece of code (JSON code fragment) into the email’s header. This code generates an Annotation, which replaces the default preheader text with pictures.
These pictures make the email more visually appealing and can lead subscribers to the brand’s website or a specific link with just a click on the images.
The task requires a bit of programming knowledge, but don’t let that discourage you. You can follow this detailed guide: https://developers.google.com/gmail/promotab/overview
Annotations in Gmail are currently accessible only to those on an “allow list.” Ordinary users cannot use them, and testing annotations on an individual basis is not feasible.
Google is conducting trials with a select group of renowned brands for the Annotations launched during their mid-February update. Brands interested in being on the allow list can contact Google for assessment of their content and standards to avoid potential misuse.
So, if you don’t want to miss out on the latest email marketing trend, apply for Annotations today! It could be a game-changer for your brand.
9. Trust through Google Reviews
Reviews about a product or service are essential to build trust among consumers. They also play an important role in search engine optimization and customer retention.
Google Reviews is one of the most popular review platforms today, as it allows customers to rate businesses on a 5-star scale.
Getting reviews on Google can be very beneficial for your business, as it helps build trust and credibility among potential customers. People are more likely to purchase from a business that has positive reviews on Google.
Here’s how you can create a Google Reviews page for your business:
- Sign in to Google My Business: To get started, you’ll need a Google account. If you don’t have one, create an account first. Then, go to the Google My Business website (https://www.google.com/business/) and sign in with your Google account.
- Add or Claim Your Business: If your business is already listed on Google, you’ll need to claim it as the owner. Search for your business name on Google Maps through the Google My Business dashboard and click on the “Manage now” button to claim it. If your business isn’t listed yet, click on “Add your business to Google” and follow the instructions to add it.
- Verify Your Business: Google will need to verify that you are the owner of the business. This can be done through a verification process, usually via mail, phone, or email. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the verification.
- Set Up Your Google Reviews Page: Once your business is verified, you can access the Google My Business dashboard. Navigate to the “Home” section, and on the left-hand side, click on “Reviews.” Here, you can manage and respond to customer reviews.
- Encourage Customers to Leave Reviews: To start collecting reviews, encourage your customers to share their experiences on your Google Reviews page. You can do this by adding a direct link to your Google Reviews page on your website, in email communications, or on social media. Make it easy for customers to leave reviews by providing clear instructions.
- Monitor and Improve: Regularly monitor your Google Reviews page to stay updated on customer feedback. Use this feedback to identify areas where your business excels and areas that may need improvement.
Building trust with consumers is crucial for both small businesses and large corporations. One way to do this is by displaying authentic ratings that represent your brand. To achieve this, integrating review platforms like reviews.io, Okendo, or JudgMe with Klaviyo is a vital step for success.
You can set up triggers that urge customers to leave a review on a thank-you email after they have made a purchase. Alternatively, you can also embed customer reviews directly into emails using product blocks and send personalized follow-up emails with relevant offers.
This is an easy and effective way to boost your online credibility!
A call-to-action link in an email is an important element to get customers to convert. If you want to harness the power of reviews and boost your click-through rate, adding a link to your Google Reviews page is a good idea.
The link must be clearly visible in the email body so that customers can easily find it. For example: ‘Let us know what you think about our products by leaving a review on our Google Reviews page.’
10. Happy hour
Everyone loves happy hour specials online – discounted drinks and food, freebies, and fun contests! It can be a great way to boost sales for restaurants or bars.
The limited duration of Happy Hour creates a sense of urgency and excitement among customers. They know they have only a brief period to grab those enticing deals, which motivates them to act quickly and make a purchase.
As a result, Happy Hour promotions can significantly boost sales and drive customer engagement. It can even contribute to building brand loyalty.
Here’s an example:
Even if someone isn’t exactly looking for a happy hour deal, the promotion can still entice them to make a purchase. You can create an email campaign that promotes your Happy Hour specials and drives people to your website or restaurant!
11. Enhanced front-end customer experience
In the world of email optimization, enhancing the front-end customer experience is paramount.
By focusing on creating visually appealing and user-friendly email templates, businesses can deliver seamless and personalized content to subscribers. A clean design, intuitive layout, and responsive formatting ensure a hassle-free experience for recipients across various devices.
Some people consider the “Did you forget something?” or welcome messages in email marketing to be outdated. As customer preferences change, there’s a growing need for more personalized and relevant interactions.
There’s a way we can work around these old-fashioned methods and create a more compelling email communication. You will need four flow filters:
In email marketing, actions speak louder than sign-ups. If a customer signs up but shows interest in a product, pivot from a welcome email to sharing product details.
This increases the chance of a sale. When an item lands in their cart, encourage the purchase with a follow-up email. If they start but abandon the checkout process, focus on reminders to complete the purchase and pause other emails.
Once a purchase is made, shift the conversation from selling to providing information about their purchase. In essence, tailor your emails based on the customer’s actions to boost sales and maintain customer satisfaction.
12. Personalization
Personalization in email marketing is no longer a novelty—it’s a necessity.
It’s more than just having a first name and a last name in the subject line. It’s about understanding your customers better and having data-driven insights to create truly personalized experiences.
Zero-party data gives you the power to create more targeted and valuable experiences for customers. Brands can access customer preferences, values, opinions, and so much more by leveraging surveys or collecting data directly from their website.
If you still don’t get what I’m talking about, don’t fret – what I’m about to show you doesn’t require any zero-party data.
Here’s how you can use it:
Make an email feel more personal
You can address the recipient directly using their email in the message. Something like, “I just checked out your profile, (yes, you, {{ person . email }}), and (rest of the content goes here)
Catchy subject lines
Use the recipient’s email in the subject line to make it stand out. This could look like “Email for: {{ email }}” or “Special offer for: {{ email }}”.
Doing this can really grab someone’s attention among all their other emails, so they’re more likely to open yours!
13. Minimize customer support inquiries
Delayed responses, unanswered queries, and long wait times can be an obstacle to success for any business.
But when your business is experiencing long delivery times, it’s no surprise that customers will be concerned about their order’s whereabouts. To prevent a surge of customer inquiries, here’s a solution:
Make a flow that has a “Fulfilled order” trigger
Depending on your shipping time, put a slight delay (could be hours, days, or weeks)
To make sure a customer doesn’t get the same email twice if they buy again quickly or in the same week, just add a Flow Filter. This will prevent them from receiving the same message repeatedly in a short time span.
Yes, delayed orders suck. But if you include a “Shipping Update” email, customers will stay informed and won’t feel neglected.
As long as you’re transparent about the delivery timeline and keep customers updated, they’ll be more likely to trust your business. A timely email update goes a long way in building customer satisfaction and loyalty!
14. Photos within plain text emails
Less is more – or so they say.
But when it comes to email marketing, sometimes more is more! Adding visuals to plain text emails can be a great way to stand out in people’s inboxes and grab their attention.
However, some of the reasons why plain text can beat an email with a design that you spent hours on is that these types of emails look more personal and conversational.
You can still spice up a plain text email with visuals by adding relevant images or GIFs to spread your message. This could be anything from product pictures, illustrations, or logos.
You can boost their impact even more by adding images. It’s possible to embed pictures in a text-only email!
I can hear you, “Another code?!”
Hey, I wouldn’t ask you to do something if I knew it was impossible.
If you want to add a picture to a basic text email, you first need to put the picture online. This is because these emails use web code and need the picture to be on the internet to display it to your readers.
There are lots of apps, both free and paid, which can help you do this. This site is a go-to: https://imgbb.com/!
Here’s how to use it:
Upload your image
Select when you want your image to be deleted & upload it
Copy the HTML full linked embed code
Go into your text editor and select “Source”
Paste the code you copied before
Remove this part: <a href=”https://ibb.co/zFJzNYD“>
Click “Source” again and you’ll have your image uploaded
To edit the size of your image use this code:
width="400"height="500"Put it at the end of your code. The final look should look like this:
<p><a href="https://ibb.co/zFJzNYD"><img alt="Screenshot-2023-04-07-at-23-09-34" border="0" src="https://i.ibb.co/sCHZtGz/Screenshot-2023-04-07-at-23-09-34.png" width="400"height="500" /></a></p>15. Resends
“Don’t double-message someone!”
Your best friend’s words of wisdom may be true when it comes to texting, but that doesn’t mean the same applies to email marketing.
In fact, resending emails can be a great way to reach out to your customers if they haven’t opened or clicked on any of your previous messages. All you need is to send the same email with a new subject line and you’re good to go.
If your open rates didn’t meet your expectations the first time around, try testing different subject lines. Play around with emojis, use power words to boost engagement, or even test personalization for a more customized approach when you do your resends.
In the photo, replace “EXAMPLE” with the name of the specific campaign you want to resend.
During this, you can edit anything from send-out schedules, content, and subject lines to make sure your next attempt is a success.
Be careful of the frequency of resending emails though. You don’t want to annoy your subscribers with too many emails in a short period of time, so make sure you’re mindful when considering how often to resend.
16. Avoiding hyperlinks
A hyperlink is a great way to make your emails more engaging.
But when it comes to email marketing, using too many links can have detrimental effects – like hurt deliverability and lower open rates.
A “fake dot” is a great way to get around this issue.
In computer language, this fake dot is called ‘ONE DOT LEADER (U+2024)’, while the regular dot is the ‘FULL STOP (U+022E)’.
17. Urgency with timers
In your marketing campaigns, the last call to action can pack quite a punch if paired with an enticing countdown timer gif.
Whether it ticks away for an hour, half a day, or a full 24 hours, the sense of urgency it creates can be a game-changer. Such a feature doesn’t just grab your customer’s attention, it also adds an element of excitement and urgency, motivating quick action.
The addition of this ticking clock can result in surprising upticks in sales, making your final reminders far more impactful for your campaign outcomes.
Imagine the power in your follow-up and last call emails when they end with a timer counting down to the expiration of the offer. Take advantage of this tool and see your sales soar!
If you’re using it for campaigns, gifs won’t be enough. You’ll need to use an actual timer widget or plugin to make sure you’re delivering a real-time experience.
To wrap up your sale campaign, send an ending email with a countdown. Here’s how:
- Put in any email address (it doesn’t need to be yours)
- Pick the time zone for your customers
- Set the timer to stop when your sale ends
- Pick your preferred language and colors
- Agree to the terms
- Hit ‘generate’
Easy as that!
You’ll receive your timer HTML code.
Copy this code, go to your Klaviyo builder, select a text block and press </> button
Paste your code HTML timer code from above here
Enjoy your new countdown timer!
18. Upload your font
Having your own font can give your email campaigns an extra level of originality and personality.
The new Klaviyo builder lets you easily upload your own fonts. However, not all custom fonts are supported by email providers. While some brands use their unique fonts successfully, finding a fully compatible custom font for all email providers is rare.
You can choose a regular font like Arial or Helvetica to use if your special font doesn’t work. If there’s a problem, it will automatically change to the regular font.
Here’s how to do it:
Switch to the new Klaviyo builder for a seamless experience – it’s incredibly simple to use!
With Klaviyo’s newest builder, select a text block, then hit “fonts” to explore a myriad of font choices.
Scroll down to the bottom on the dropdown and click on “add font.”
At this point, you can either opt for Google Fonts to discover your desired font, upload your own font from Adobe (for users with an Adobe subscription), or import a custom font using files.
Next, choose a fallback font, which serves as a safe option in case any of the email providers do not support your custom font.
Click on “add font,” and you will see your custom font listed in the font drop-down under “Your Fonts”.
There will be no need to repeat this process again; your font will remain in the dropdown for every subsequent email you edit!
19. Discovering the open rates
Did you know the iOS 15 update kind of messes with how we see email open rates?
It makes them seem larger than they are. A quick tip to get a better grasp of your real open rates is to separate your Apple and Android users when sending emails. This way, the high rates from Apple users won’t impact the normal rates from Android users.
If your users are mostly Apple device users like in the USA, Canada, or Australia, this tip might not make a big difference. But if your audience is a mix of Android and Apple users, this method could give you a clearer idea of your actual open rates.
You need to remember that this is split into two parts:
- The first part is aimed at subscribers who are actively using Apple devices, as they tend to show a higher open rate due to the iOS system.
- The second part targets other active subscribers who don’t use Apple devices. This gives a more realistic picture of the open rate because it doesn’t include the high iOS open rates.
You send the same email to both groups, then wait a couple of days and compare the open rates. This can help you understand your true email open rate better.
20. Preference pages
Klaviyo’s “Preference page” feature lets you pick what kind of emails you want to get and how often.
Instead of unsubscribing entirely, you can choose to receive fewer emails or only certain types. Some brands even let you share your birthday or interests, so they can send you more personalized emails.
This is like having your own remote control for the emails you get from a brand!
Follow along:
At the bottom left corner click on your account & select settings
Then find email preference & subscription tab, edit the “preference page”
You can play around the page depending on what you need
Whenever you want to send it to someone, use this as an URL:
{% manage_preferences %}This feature allows you to get extra info from your subscribers, like their birthdates, which you can use to send them personalized content.
To do this, create a special page where they can share their birthdate. You can also ask for this information in an email after they buy something.
21. Back-In-Stock Flow
Good for you when the product you’re selling is in high demand and runs out quickly!
But how do you keep customers updated on when the item will be back in stock?
Yes, people can usually sign up for notifications from the website, but you can go a step further with a back-in-stock flow that’ll make sure people don’t forget about you and your product.
How do you do it? Just set up an email to be sent 5 minutes after someone signs up to be notified when a product is back in stock.
This email should tell them they’ll be the first to know when it’s back, and also suggest they check out other similar products in the meantime.
Don’t underestimate the power of a good layout and a follow-up email!
22. Subdomains
If you send a lot of emails, using subdomains can be a smart move.
Subdomains let you keep your main website’s reputation safe, even if you run into email issues, like getting too many spam complaints. They are especially handy when emailing less engaged customers, or when you’re running tests or less important campaigns.
Think of it as having a special, separate mailbox for certain types of emails. This way, any problems with those emails don’t affect your main mailbox.
Here’s when to use a subdomain for your emails:
- When emailing people who haven’t been active lately.
- As part of your daily tasks.
- When trying to re-engage with customers.
- For any task or process that isn’t getting much attention.
- For emails that aren’t getting many responses.
Setting up a subdomain can be different depending on your email service provider, so it’s a good idea to reach out to their customer service for guidance. But here are some general steps:
- Make sure your new subdomain is verified.
- Start slow. New subdomains need a ‘warm-up’ period. Start by sending a few emails, then gradually send more over time.
- Make rules for handling responses to emails from your subdomain.
In summary, using a subdomain for your emails can help improve your email delivery rates, especially if you have a large email list.
23. Increase AOV
AOV is an important metric for any e-commerce store. It stands for “Average Order Value” and is the average amount customers spend each time they buy something from you.
Here are some easy ways to increase your average order value (AOV) with email:
- Show off your best products: Regularly highlight your top-tier items in your emails. Include them in your welcome and popular product emails.
- Sell product bundles: Group products together in a package deal to encourage customers to buy more. Promote these bundles in your emails and sometimes give special offers on them.
- Tiered discounts: Offer bigger savings when customers buy more. This can be in the form of percentage discounts, dollar amount discounts, or even free items. For example, “Buy 3 items, get a 15% discount”, or “Buy 4 items, get 3 more for free”.
- Discounts on big purchases: Give a discount when your customers spend a certain amount. For example, “Get a 10% discount on purchases above $100 using the code SAVE10.”
- Gifts for big purchases: Offer a free gift when customers spend a certain amount. For example, a free pair of socks with purchases over $50.
- Bigger discounts on abandoned carts: Offer larger discounts to customers who left high-value items in their carts. For example, instead of a regular 10% discount, give a 15% discount if their cart value is twice your average order value (AOV).
24. Get more email replies
Boost your email delivery rate and guarantee that your emails land in the main inbox by actively encouraging your customers to reply. Excite their curiosity by inviting them to be the first to know about exclusive product launches or sales! Just reply with “ME” to stay in the loop.
Remember, you can use tools like Klaviyo to help manage these strategies. With filters, you can easily target specific customers based on their shopping behavior and preferences.
Let’s look at some examples of how we used these methods for introducing new products and creating excitement about sales:
25. Sophisticated A/B trials for process sequences
In the past, you had to manually check all your A/B tests in different email flows, decide which version was better and turn off the not-so-good ones.
This was time-consuming if you had lots of tests running. Now, Klaviyo has an update that automatically selects the best version for you.
It’s great for A/B tests such as those on welcome emails, cart abandonment flows, and other automated sequences.
Setting up your A/B test is easy. You set up your test as you always do, but now, go to “Test Settings” in the A/B testing tab.
There, you can decide how to distribute your emails; 50/50% is common. The key part is the “Winner selection.”
Click on ‘configure’ to see your options. Use ‘open rate’ for subject lines, preview text, or sender names, and ‘click rate’ for all else. Also, choose ‘End test by statistical significance’ and remember to save.
From here, each A/B test will pick its winner and switch off the other versions automatically.
There you go, now you have more time to build even better campaigns!
26. Order tracking emails
Order tracking emails have been around for ages – when an order is fulfilled, Shopify automatically sends an email, and again when the order is delivered. But there’s a big gap between these two events where customers aren’t updated!
Previously, apps like Shipstation or Shipmonk stepped in to notify customers when their order was on its way. But that was still not enough. You had to use separate apps and customers were still confused about where their order was.
Customers appreciate being updated on every step of delivery, enhancing their overall experience.
You can read more about order tracking emails on this article. This is a great way to keep your customers updated and build trust in the process.
Be in the shoes of your customers and think about how you’d like to be informed. That’s the best way to craft convincing emails that will make them feel taken care of.
27. Pop-ups
In email marketing, pop-ups are tools used on websites to gather visitor’s email addresses.
When you visit a website, a box may appear (pop up) asking for your email address, often in exchange for a discount, free content (like an ebook or guide), or subscription to a newsletter.
Make sure to keep the pop-up short and sweet, with a clear call to action. Use language that encourages readers to make the commitment of submitting their email address!
28. Hosted pages
Klaviyo’s “Hosted Pages” is a cool tool that lets you build stand-alone web pages directly within Klaviyo. It means you can make things like landing pages, forms for signing up, or surveys without needing any other platform.
Put simply, you can whip up a page for your brand just using Klaviyo.
While not many people are using this yet, it’s definitely something to consider. The only hiccup is that you need to know a bit about coding.
Here are some simple pages made by other brands using this tool, which might spark some ideas for you.
These simple, early-stage webpages had their purpose back in the day. Here’s what you could do with them:
- Landing Pages: Develop dedicated pages for specific marketing drives, product roll-outs, or deals to boost success rates.
- Sign-up Forms: Create tailored sign-up forms to expand your subscriber base, organize your audience, and provide tailored content.
- Surveys: Get important feedback from customers, measure happiness, and obtain insights for future marketing plans.
Here are some articles to deepen your understanding of these webpages:
Starting out:
https://help.klaviyo.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005251848
Grasping custom pages:
https://help.klaviyo.com/hc/en-us/articles/360057676272-Understanding-custom-hosted-pages-in-Klaviyo
How to program them:
https://help.klaviyo.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005077067
29. Buttons for profile properties
This Klaviyo tool is a game-changer, helping to improve personalization, fine-tune segmentation, and increase engagement and click-through rates.
Not many marketers are using it yet, which might be why it’s new to you. This tool’s beauty lies in its simplicity: it collects data based on the buttons clicked by a customer in an email.
Let’s give you an example:
How-to
Giving customers a choice will result in high click-through rates, as well as higher-quality data.
- Generate a regular button as you typically would.
- Input the provided code into the URL field.
{% update_property_link 'profile_property' 'property_value' 'redirect_link' %}Revise the code by personalizing each section as follows:
- Replace ‘profile_property’ with the profile property you wish to create
- Replace ‘property_value’ with the value that corresponds to the particular button
- Replace ‘redirect_link’ with the desired URL to which people will be redirected after clicking the button
Segment
After sending an email, categorizing interactions with different buttons can be done easily. Go to the ‘segments’ section, select ‘properties about someone’, and enter the specific property associated with your button (e.g., “profile”). Then, choose the value for your property.
Here are some practical ways to use this cool feature:
- Build a VIP list for special promotions and offer early access to those who sign up.
- Allow users to customize their email frequency preference to reduce unsubscribes.
- Gather valuable zero-party data directly from your audience.
- Create customized email flows based on the data you’ve collected.
- Utilize this feature on hosted pages to improve user engagement.
- Boost click-through rates by incorporating trivia or questionnaires in your emails.
Try setting up a special mailing list for big sales. Swap your standard website sign-up form with a fun “SIGN ME UP” button. Anyone who clicks on it can be added to your special list.
Also, let customers choose how often they get emails from you – this can stop them from unsubscribing if they feel they’re getting too many emails. This way, you can adjust your email strategy to fit different customers’ needs.
Make the most of zero-party data – this is info your customers willingly share with you. A good example is the BURGA campaign, which found out what phones people prefer. Knowing your customers’ needs and preferences helps you fine-tune your sales approach.
You can also boost your marketing efforts by linking buttons to custom web pages. These could have useful content like promotional articles or blogs, which adds value to your sales process.
Wrapping Up
I’ve been in the email trenches, and here’s the real talk: generic tactics are dead weight. These 29+ hacks? They’re not just tips; they’re game-changers, the secret sauce to dominating inboxes everywhere.
Why settle for average when the playbook for legendary is right here? It’s not just about opening an email—it’s about owning the inbox game, every single time.
You’ve got the tools. What’s next? Execution.
Here’s to transforming every ‘ping’ into potential!
Happy emailing.
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