As an email marketer, you may be tempted to write every message like a press release. After all, it’s not like anyone is reading these emails. Or you may be struggling to make emails conventional, right?
You can use a reliable email automation tool like Mailchimp or any Mailchimp Alternatives that will help automate your emails and improve your relationship with your subscribers.
However, there are some simple tricks you can use that will help your emails sound more human and conversational—therefore increasing their readability and effectiveness. By using these tips in your emails, as well as those from vendors and partners in your marketing campaigns, you’ll get better results from every one of them:
Use the word “you” frequently.
If you want to create a more friendly tone in your emails, use the word “you.” This is an effective way to address your readers directly and make them feel like you’re speaking to them as an individual.
The word “you” also helps make your emails sound more conversational, which can help alleviate some of the formality that might be present in other types of email communications.
The word “you” is a great way to make your emails sound more friendly, but you also want to be careful not to overuse it. If you use the word too frequently, it can begin to sound unnatural and distracting. Instead of using “you,” try replacing it with other words that can have the same effect.
One example is the word “we.” While “you” refers to one person, “we” can refer to more than one person. If you’re writing an email where you want the reader to feel like they are part of a group, use the word “we” instead of “you.”
Don’t be afraid to start sentences with “and.”
If you’re writing a long email, feel free to use ‘and’ to connect ideas. If you’re talking about something that happened on Tuesday and something else that occurred on Wednesday, it’s okay to write:
- “I went to the store on Tuesday and bought some groceries.”
- “When I got home from work Wednesday evening, my wife told me she had good news.”
In this example, the second sentence doesn’t need an ‘and’ because there’s only one thing happening: your wife has good news.
However, if there were more than one thing happening in the second sentence—say you were telling someone what you did yesterday—then it would be easier for readers if they didn’t have to wait until they get to the end of the sentence before they understand what they’ve read so far. Using an ‘and’ adds variety and clarity and helps keep people engaged with your message.
Ditch “we” for “I” occasionally.
One of the biggest mistakes you can make in an email is to use “we” instead of “I.” It’s okay to do this, but why not try something different? Try writing your emails in a more conversational tone by using “I,” even if you’re writing to a group.
- If you’re writing to a specific person—say, someone who works on the other side of your company or works for a different department—you should always use the word “you.” This makes it easier for them to understand what they should do next.
- If something happened in your life—say, you went on vacation and had fun—it’s better for readers if those events are described using first person language (i.e., with “I”). That way, people will feel like they were there with you!
This can be difficult to get right, but it’s important to remember that your emails should sound like they’re coming from someone who cares. Using the word “we” can make it seem like you’re working with others but not caring about them. The same goes for using passive voice: Active voice is much better because it makes your sentences more direct and easier to understand.
Use contractions like you’re talking in person.
How you write and speak are two very different things. For example, writing an email to a colleague or friend can feel a little weird if you don’t use contractions like “you’re” and “we’re.” These contractions show that you’re putting your personality into your message—and it’s much more likely to be read if it feels personal rather than just cut and pasted from another source.
Use these tips to make sure that gets across in your emails:
- Use contractions like “you’re,” as well as “I’m” and “we’re.”
- Use contractions like “it’s” or “they’re.”
You can also use “we’ve” or “you’ve.” Use contractions to show personality.
In most cases, contractions make your writing more personal and conversational. If you’re writing an email that needs to sound professional, it’s best to avoid using contractions altogether. It might seem confusing at first, but once you get used to thinking about writing in this way—and ensure that your emails are free from errors before sending them out into the world—you’ll see an immediate difference in how people respond to you!
Avoid using company lingo.
One of the best ways to make your emails conversational is to avoid using company jargon and acronyms. While it may be tempting to use terms like “BYOD” (bring your device) or “ROI” (return on investment) in an email, this will make it difficult for the reader to understand what you’re getting at.
It’s better to use a few words that will be immediately recognizable by everyone than shorter words that are specific only to certain industries—and then use those longer words in other communications when they apply there.
This doesn’t mean you must avoid using acronyms or industry-specific terminology! You just want them used sparingly to avoid overwhelming people with over-the-top corporate speech.
Be yourself!
When you’re writing an email, one of the best things you can do is to be yourself. This means being authentic and genuine — it’s not about being overly dramatic or gushy when it comes to your messages!
But that doesn’t mean you should be boring, either. If there’s anything we’ve learned from all those cheesy romantic comedies we watched as teenagers, everyone loves a good love story!
So instead of playing it cool with your emails by making them sound like something out of a textbook or user manual, try injecting some bits of personality into them. This can range from using terms like “um” or “you know what I mean?” and ending sentences with question marks (or exclamation points!), depending on how comfortable you are being conversational in general.
Your email marketing will reach more readers if it sounds human and natural.
Your emails will reach more readers if you sound like a human, not a robot.
Here are some tips:
- Use the word “you” frequently instead of “we.”
- Don’t be afraid to start sentences with “and.” You’re talking to people, after all. They’ll understand what you mean.
- When appropriate, use contractions such as “don’t,” “won’t,” and “can’t.” It makes your writing sound friendlier and more natural.
- Don’t write in company lingo (e.g., no organization-speak like “Let me know if you have any questions”). Avoid business jargon—even terms like “touch base” or “let’s circle back” can make readers feel alienated! Keep it simple when possible: stick with short sentences that get straight to the point and don’t include complicated words unless necessary for accuracy (e.g., medical terms).
Conclusion
Marketers love to talk about how they’re “humanizing” their brand, but the truth is that humans will always remain a bit eccentric and unpredictable. It’s up to you to use those quirks to your advantage! Remember that if someone is willing enough to give you their email address, they deserve a little attention.
And if there’s anything I’ve learned from working with thousands of marketers over the years. It is that people respond well when they feel like they’re talking with someone who cares about them as an individual—and not just some faceless corporation trying desperately hard not to get caught spamming everyone’s inboxes.
And if you don’t have the time to invest resources into writing emails, you can use AI email writing tools or choose to hire an email marketing agency to do all the email marketing work for you!
AUTHOR BIO:
Ajay Rakshith
SEO Analyst of TargetBay, a SaaS company trusted by over 5000+ online businesses.
Website: https://targetbay.com