How to Improve Your Email Open Rates in 3 Simple Steps?

If you want more people to read your emails, you need to improve your open rates. This article will show you three easy and proven steps to get better results from every email you send.

Step 1: Write Subject Lines That Get Clicked

The subject line is the first thing your reader sees. It decides whether they open your email or ignore it.

Keep It Short and Simple

Short subject lines are easier to read, especially on mobile. Aim for 6 to 10 words or fewer than 60 characters. This keeps it readable in inbox previews.

Add Personal Touches

Include the recipient’s name or mention something relevant to them. Personalized emails perform better because they feel more targeted.

Focus on Clarity or Curiosity

Use one of two strategies:

• Be clear about what value the email offers
• Create curiosity to spark interest without being misleading

Avoid all-caps, too many emojis, or spammy words like “urgent” or “guaranteed.”

Step 2: Choose the Right Time to Send

When you send your email matters just as much as what you say.

Best Days to Send Emails

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays tend to perform better than Mondays or Fridays. People are usually more focused midweek.

Ideal Time Slots

Try sending your emails:

• Mid-morning (9:00 AM to 11:00 AM)
• Early evening (6:00 PM to 8:00 PM)

Always test different times with your own audience to find what works best.

Use Email Scheduling Tools

Most email platforms allow you to schedule emails. This helps you send at the best time for your audience, even if you’re not online.

Best Times to Send Emails Based on Industry Research

Day	Ideal Time Range	Notes
Tuesday	9 AM – 11 AM	Highest average open rates
Wednesday	10 AM – 12 PM	Consistent performance across sectors
Thursday	8 AM – 10 AM	Good for promotional content

Use this data to guide your scheduling, but test and adjust over time.

Step 3: Maintain a Healthy Email List

A clean email list ensures your emails reach the right people and keeps your sender reputation strong.

Remove Inactive Subscribers

If someone hasn’t opened your emails in six months, it’s time to clean them from your list or try a re-engagement campaign.

Use Double Opt-In

This confirms subscribers really want your emails and reduces the chance of fake or mistyped addresses.

Don’t Buy Email Lists

Purchased lists usually include uninterested recipients and can damage your open rates and deliverability.

Re-engage or Remove

Send a last-call email to inactive subscribers. If they don’t respond, remove them to keep your list fresh.

Email List Hygiene Checklist

Task	Why It Matters	How Often
Remove inactive users	Lowers bounce and improves open rates	Every 3–6 months
Verify new subscribers	Keeps list clean and improves targeting	Always (double opt-in)
Segment based on behavior	Sends more relevant content	Ongoing
Delete invalid addresses	Protects sender score	Monthly

Following this checklist helps you build a stronger list that gets better results.

Final Tips to Improve Email Performance

• Test different subject lines with A/B testing
• Use preview text to support your subject line
• Segment your list by interest or behavior
• Make sure your sender name is recognizable

If you want to learn how to improve campaigns further, the Marketing and Business Certification from Universal Business Council offers hands-on training. To dive deeper into data-driven performance tracking, explore the Data Science Certification by Global Tech Council. And for technical marketers working with smart automation, the Deep tech certification from Blockchain Council is a valuable resource.

Conclusion

Improving your email open rates doesn’t require guesswork. Start by writing subject lines people care about. Send emails at the right times. And make sure your list is clean and active. These simple steps can increase your results and help you get more out of every campaign.