To Write An Email That Gets Your Content Read, Think Like A Journalist

Most email marketing campaigns are doomed to fail before they begin, and that’s because most companies don’t think like journalists.

They send emails full of bloated content and long-winded copy that puts their subscribers to sleep before they even read the first sentence.

If you want your email to get opened and read and if you want it passed around by people who receive it, you need to follow these rules:

How to Write GREAT Articles Like a Journalist Does!

Takeaways
1. Capture Attention: Craft subject lines that intrigue and mimic journalistic headlines.
2. Provide Value: Present content in a concise and engaging manner, offering immediate value.
3. Personalize: Tailor emails to recipients’ interests, showcasing why the content is relevant to them.
4. Highlight Relevance: Showcase the newsworthiness and significance of your content.
5. Clear Call to Action: End with a compelling call to action that prompts recipients to engage with your content.

Use Your Subject Line To Sell The Email

Use the subject line to sell the email. You can’t just copy and paste a link into the subject line and expect your reader to click on it. So what is the best way to capture attention in such a short space?

The simplest way is with a compelling question, which will make them want to know what answer you’ve come up with. An example might be: “How To Get Your Content Read On Medium.”

Keep it short and descriptive. If you’re sending an email from one person’s account (say, from someone named John Smith at [email protected]), then say so in your initial greeting or even better include their name (even if it’s not necessary.)

Crafting compelling emails requires a strategic approach. To enhance your email outreach efforts, consider exploring strategies such as those found in our guide to Cold Email Strategy on Reddit, where you’ll discover techniques to maximize your outreach on this platform.

Don’t Forget To Include A Call-To-Action

When it comes to asking for the sale, remember that you’re not just writing an email. You’re writing a piece of journalism. The goal of your emails should be to inform and entertain, not to sell.

The call-to-action (CTA) is where things get complicated. If you find yourself getting caught up in details, don’t forget that all this stuff the CTA and its placement is meant to serve one purpose:

Get readers to read your content, so they can see how awesome it is and want more! So keep it simple.

Make sure your CTA is clear and concise; if there’s room for interpretation on what someone has been asked or why they should do it, then check in with them first before sending the message out!

A link will always work best when paired with content in this way because it gives readers another reason besides “Hey look at me!” for taking action themselves by clicking through (and hopefully staying). That being said…

Optimize Your Content For Mobile

If you want your content to be read, it needs to be easy for the reader. This means optimizing your content for mobile. Here are a few things you can do:

Use a responsive design
Use a mobile-first approach
Use a mobile-friendly email template
Use a mobile-friendly email service (like Litmus)
Make it easy to scroll through the content by using links that don’t require zooming in or clicking on buttons that take up too much space.

Try adding some white space between lines so readers can get where they want without having to zoom in and out of emails!

You can also use bullet points instead of paragraphs if possible; this makes it easier on those who read on their phones while standing or walking around throughout most days during their normal routines (vs sitting at home).

Use fonts that are easy on the eyes when reading from small devices such as tablets or smartphones like Arial Narrow.

Rather than Times New Roman which is better suited towards printed materials due to its a heavy weighting towards bold strokes yet still maintains legibility even at smaller font sizes.

Such as size 10pts/8pts depending upon whether one uses serifs versus sans serif typefaces respectively.

This means there needs less ink coverage when printing documents containing these fonts since there won’t be any overspill onto neighboring letters thus saving more paper resources which helps save money overall.”

Crafting effective emails involves understanding the nuances of email marketing. If you’re looking to refine your approach, our insights on Email Marketing Strategy can provide you with actionable tips and methods to achieve higher engagement and conversions.

Write An Email That’s Easy To Skim

To make your email easy to skim, you’ll need to break up the text as much as possible. One way to do this is with headers and subheaders.

These are ways of marking sections of an article or email that can be summarized in a few words and make it easier for readers to keep track of where they’re reading. For example:

Section Header 1

I’ve written an article called “How To Write An Email That Gets Your Content Read.” The first section of this article explains why writing an email that gets read is important when sending content through email marketing campaigns.

Subheader 2

In my experience working with companies that use email marketing campaigns, I’ve seen many people fail at getting their content read because it’s just too difficult for readers to follow along with the thread of their message.

This is particularly true when there’s no clear flow from one paragraph or sentence into another if there isn’t a clear theme running through them all (which sometimes happens if the person sending out emails doesn’t have an editor).

Segment Your List And Customize Your Content

Segmentation is the process of breaking down a large group of people into smaller groups. This allows you to target the right message to the right person at the right time, which can help you create highly targeted content and increase engagement with your audience.

Segmentation is important because it allows you to tailor your message based on specific factors like geographic location, job titles, or industry. Segmenting by these kinds of characteristics helps ensure that your content resonates with its intended audience.

Elevate your cold email game with a holistic approach. Dive into our guide on The Ultimate Cold Email Marketing Strategy to uncover a comprehensive framework that covers everything from writing compelling subject lines to nurturing leads effectively.

Always Be Testing

Whether you’re using a service like MailChimp, Campaign Monitor, or anything else, always be testing.

That means testing different subject lines, different times of day, and different days of the week you get the point.

Testing is essential to growing your email list and getting better results from your campaigns over time.

This process doesn’t have to be complicated: just start with an A/B test where you send one version in one campaign and another version in another campaign (note: I haven’t run an A/B test yet but I plan on it soon!).

The next step would be creating multiple variations of each template so that when someone opens their inbox they see a few different versions based on what they’ve clicked on previously (e.g., if someone has opened several emails about SEO then they might get an extra link to our SEO resources).

Include Social Share Buttons In Your Email

Social media is a great way to spread the word about your content and build your brand. But don’t stop there you can also use social share buttons to help increase the reach of your content, as well as increase its engagement.

Here’s how it works: When someone clicks on one of these buttons, they will find themselves taken directly to your social media platform and presented with an option for sharing this piece of content on their profiles.

This allows you to expand your reach and build relationships with new audiences who might not have found you otherwise!

Be Consistent With Your Branding

The first thing to do is make sure you’re consistent with your branding. This means that the look and feel of your email should be similar to the rest of your marketing materials.

Same fonts, colors, and images should be used throughout all of your emails as well as in other channels like social media channels or even on your website.

Similarly, the content in these emails must be also consistent with what you are known for.

If you have a cheeky tone and voice in one email campaign then make sure that this tone continues through all other emails you send out during that campaign.

It’s also a good idea to use similar call-to-actions (CTAs) across different types of emails so readers know what they need to do next when they read each one.

Cold emails can bear fruitful results when executed strategically. Learn from real-world experiences in our article on How I Leverage Cold Email to Get Real Fruit in the Basket and gain valuable insights on turning cold outreach into tangible outcomes.

Make Sure It’s Personal (And Opt-In)

The most important thing you can do when writing an email is to make sure you’re sending it to the right person.

Don’t just blast out a bunch of emails to people who don’t know you or have any reason to care about your content. Instead, try contacting them individually and ask if they’d be interested in receiving updates from you on a specific topic or from your company in general.

Using this method will ensure that whoever gets hit with your next email will be more likely to open it, read it, and click through because they want what’s inside!

Don’t Send Unsolicited Emails

It seems like common sense: If someone doesn’t ask for something they don’t give it (or at least not without asking first).

The same goes for email marketing campaigns if someone hasn’t signed up for updates from you yet they don’t bombard their inbox with offers unless they’ve asked for them directly first!

This rule also applies when sending newsletters: only send those once per month unless subscribers specifically request more information from your brand by opting in through an online form (more on this later).

Find A Rhythm And Send At The Right Time(S)

You’ve got a great list, a killer campaign, and beautiful content. The only thing left is to send it out at the right time(s). I recommend using tools like Mailchimp and Intercom to schedule campaigns and track results.

If your company’s small enough, consider using Google Analytics instead of Mailchimp or Intercom it’ll save you money while still giving you the same level of reporting power.

If you have more than one email list (like if one is for newsletter subscribers and another is for blog signups), then consider using Mixmax or Salesforce as tools to segment subsets of contacts so that each group receives different emails at different times.

Keep It Short And Sweet

Keep it short and sweet.
Make it easy to read.
Make it easy to skim.
Keep the content relevant, personal and consistent with your brand values. It doesn’t have to be wordy or fancy.

Just make sure that you’re using the right words in the right places so that people can understand what you’re trying to say without having to work too hard at it. (For example: “This is a great article about how I got my start in writing emails that get opened.”)

Crafting persuasive email content requires strong copywriting skills. Enhance your writing prowess with our guide featuring 10 Tips for Better Copywriting, which can help you create emails that resonate with your audience and drive desired actions.

Conclusion

By following these tips, you’ll be on your way to writing better emails that get read and shared. Remember to keep it short and sweet, include social share buttons in your newsletter, and always be testing with A/B tests or other experiments.

FAQs

Here are some commonly asked questions related to email pitching and journalistic writing, along with their answers:

How can I improve my email pitches to journalists?

Craft personalized and concise pitches that address the journalist’s interests. Highlight the relevance of your story and offer unique angles to capture their attention.

What are the key elements of an effective press release?

An effective press release includes a captivating headline, concise summary, relevant details, quotes, and contact information. It should be newsworthy and well-structured.

How can I make my emails stand out in a journalist’s crowded inbox?

Use attention-grabbing subject lines, keep the email body concise, and provide a clear value proposition. Personalization and relevancy are essential to stand out.

What should I avoid when writing emails to journalists?

Avoid using jargon or overly promotional language. Ensure your email is error-free and respects the journalist’s time. Sending mass emails without customization can also hinder your efforts.

How do journalists prefer to receive press releases?

Journalists prefer press releases sent as concise, well-formatted emails. Include essential information in the body of the email, and provide attachments or links for additional details.

Costantine Edward

Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.