One of the highest return on investment digital marketing mediums is even email marketing. Recent studies indicate that companies get an average return of $36 for every $1 spent on email marketing. Low open rates are a bane for most marketers though. After all, best content or not, if people aren’t opening your emails, it is not going to work.
The game has changed due to stricter privacy laws, AI-driven inboxes, and shifting user behavior. These are some helpful, achievable strategies to assist you in staying ahead of the curve and boosting your email open rates in 2025.
1. Start with a Clean and segmented Email List Make sure your list is up to date and properly segmented before you write the first sentence of your email.
Clean out your list of bad addresses and non-active subscribers on a regular basis.
Segment your list based on user behavior, geography, interests, or previous purchases. Personalized emails compared to non-segmented blasts had an open rate that was 26% higher.
???? Pro Tip: Streamline list segmentation and hygiene using tools such as Klaviyo, ActiveCampaign, or Mailchimp.
2. Craft Engaging Subject Lines
Your first impression is made through the subject line. It determines if people open your email or not. Subject lines in 2025 should be:
Short and to the point (ideally under 50 characters)
Emotionally engaging (use humor, urgency, or curiosity)
Personalized (insert the recipient’s name or anything relevant data)
✅ Examples that work:
- “Hey Sarah, we’ve got a gift just for you 🎁”
- “⏰ Limited-time deal: 40% off for 24 hours only”
- “Your free digital marketing checklist is inside!”
Avoid spammy words like “FREE!!!”, “ACT NOW!”, or “GUARANTEED” – they can trigger spam filters.
3. Make Use of the Potential of Preheader Text
As the preheader, use the second topic line. It is the preview text that shows up to the side of the subject line in the majority of email inboxes.
Make sure it is interesting and relevant to the subject. Avoid the “View in browser” or blank screen.
Great example: The subject is “Need more leads?”
The preheader states, “Here are 5 lead generation strategies you haven’t tried yet.”
4. Use AI Tools to Optimise Send Time
Money is time.
Rather than just guessing, utilize AI-based tools like Seventh Sense, Moosend, or HubSpot’s Smart Send to learn the best send times for each subscriber based on their behaviour.
General trends for 2025 show:
- Best days: Tuesday to Thursday
- Best times: 9 AM–11 AM or 1 PM–3 PM (recipient’s local time)
5. Make Your Emails Mobile-Friendly
Over 70% of emails are opened on mobile phones in 2025. Your email will likely be deleted within seconds if it’s not optimized for mobile.
1.Handy mobile-friendly tips:
2.Utilize responsive design
3.Keep your subject lines short.
4.Utilize large, tappable buttons.
5.Utilize graphics and bullet points to space out the text.
6.Test your emails on mobile phones or use preview functionality within your email tool prior to sending.
6. Beyond Name Customisation
Employing a person’s first name in isolation is not enough in 2025. Some of the smart personalisations include:
Location-based offers
Behavioural emails
Purchase or browse suggestions
For example, instead of writing, “Look at our new products,” write, “Are you still thinking about that red jacket? Take 10% off now.
???? Stat: Compared to general emails, dynamic content emails have an open rate 29% higher.”.
7. Write Humanly, Not Robotically
Genuineness appeals to many people. Speak as if you were conversing with a friend rather than employing a stiff, corporate voice.
✅ Act:
Use everyday language.
Ask questions
Use some story or humor.
Don’t:
Excessive jargon
appear overly promotional
Use generic material
The Hemingway App is a great tool for checking whether your writing is readable and clear.
8. The A/B Test
You can find out what works for your readers by A/B testing everything.
Look at each element individually:
Lines of subject
Send times
Designs
CTAs, or calls to action
(Yes, even that!) from name
???? Monitor open rates, click-through rates, and conversions by using analytics features in tools like ConvertKit or Mailchimp.
9. Check Your E-Mails
With ISPs increasing their battle against spam, email deliverability is more critical than ever in 2025.
Configuration:
Sender Policy Framework, or SPF
DomainKeys Identified Mail, or DKIM
DNS-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance, or DMARC
These ensure that your e-mails reach the recipients and help build your sender reputation.
10. Always Offer Real Value
Finally, building a reputation is the best way to get open rates up. Your subscribers will open more of your emails if they feel that every one is worth it.
Ideas for valuable content:
Special discounts
How-to guides or lists
Early access to products
Free downloads of tools or templates
???? “Would I open this email if I received it?” ask yourself.
Bonus Tip: Smarten Up Campaigns with AI
AI-based tools like Customer.io and Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) help with mass personalization, behavior tracking, and even subject line suggestions based on performance metrics.
You can send more intelligent and effective emails without spending more time by using AI.
conclusion
Email marketing is far from dead. In fact, it is stronger than ever if done correctly. You can dramatically boost your open rates in 2025 by mixing mobile optimisation, intelligent personalisation, powerful subject lines, and clean list practices.
Remember that the three golden foundations are value, relevance, and trust. If you can get those three right, your subscribers will be anticipating your emails with excitement. and even subject line suggestions based on performance metrics