What makes email themes effective for sales

💡 SALES EMAIL DONE RIGHT💡 In a sea of uninspired sales emails, here’s one that actually got a response and here’s why: 📖 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲 This email had a clear, creative theme from start to finish. They played on my last name, connecting it to Roman strength, warriors, and resilience. They sustained this narrative with precision, showing a level of creativity you rarely see in cold outreach. Solid 10/10 on storytelling. 🎯 𝗛𝘆𝗽𝗲𝗿-𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 This wasn’t just surface-level personalization. They referenced a networking event we both attended at Commerce Roundtable: the Gaslamp Ghost Tour I went on with my wife and baby. That level of detail shows an actual connection. It’s the kind of personalization that can’t be faked. 💬 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 The subject line, "Sometimes a human needs to step in when AI fails us," directly referenced an email I had roasted from their company a few weeks ago here on LinkedIn. Instead of ignoring it, they leaned into it with humor and humility, showing they were receptive, aware, and ready to improve. 🔍 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Despite the creative touches, they didn’t lose sight of the main goal. They laid out clear, concrete points on how their service could solve specific pain points in our shipping claims process. And their ask was simple: a 15-minute call to show how it would work for BattlBox. Direct, respectful of my time, and confident in the value they could provide. This email didn’t just make contact; it made a connection. That’s what sets a truly effective sales email apart from the rest. #Sales #Storytelling #Personalization

Email design isn't just about aesthetics—it's about driving results. In today's cluttered inbox, your email needs to do more than just look good. It needs to convert subscribers into customers. Let's break down what makes a modern email template truly effective... RESPONSIVE DESIGN The majority of email opens happen on mobile devices, which means your email must look good and function seamlessly across all screen sizes. Choose templates that resize well, use fonts that are easy to read, and make buttons large enough to tap without frustration. A poor mobile experience leads to unsubscribes and missed opportunities. A SIMPLE, SCANNABLE LAYOUT Your audience isn't reading every word—they're scanning for key information. Use a single-column layout, plenty of white space, and clear section headings. Break up long blocks of text into short paragraphs or bulleted/numbered lists to make them easier to consume. Reducing cognitive load always increases conversions. A STRONG CALL-TO-ACTION Your CTA is the star of the show—it's what drives clicks and conversions. Use a button for your CTA, placed prominently above the fold and repeated at the end. Choose action-oriented language like "Shop Now" or "Get Started" –– and use size and color to direct the reader's attention. A CLEAR VISUAL HIERARCHY Good design tells the reader where to look first, second, and third. Use bold headlines, bright colors, and strategically placed images to guide the reader's eye to the most important content first. The decision between "I'll read this" and "Archive it" happens in a matter of seconds. Having a strong visual hierarchy maximizes your chances of getting read, not ignored. BALANCED AESTHETICS AND FUNCTIONALITY While beauty matters, functionality should always take precedence. After all, design awards don't pay the bills –– purchases do. Test your emails across multiple devices and email clients to make sure they're looking good and functioning properly. Creativity is great, but if it comes at the expense of functionality, you're going to regret choosing cleverness over clarity. The best email designs marry form and function to deliver outstanding results. Run every email through this checklist before you click "Publish," and you'll make sure they don't just catch the eye of subscribers, but also drive engagement and boost conversions. Need help? Drop me a comment or a DM.

Want higher email open rates and more revenue — without sending more emails? Here are 3 secrets for boosting open rates and 5 formats that can actually drive more sales: 1. Catchy Subject Lines Your subject line is the first thing your recipient sees — make it compelling and clickable. How to do it: • Keep it short • Offer a benefit • Add urgency • Personalize it Example: “I have one slot this week to talk about your business, Josh.” 2. Add Preview Text Preview text acts like a second subject line. It’s your second chance to grab attention. How to use it effectively: • Evoke curiosity • Tease what’s inside the email It helps pull people into opening the message. 3. A/B Testing Every email is different. You need to test to learn what resonates. Start by testing ONE of the following at a time: • Subject lines • Preview texts • Email copy • Marketing angles • CTAs Bonus: 5 Email Formats That Could Make You More Money Today 1. Plain Text Email Best for personal brands. Helps you feel human and build connection. Especially great for creators. Less flash, more trust. 2. Customer Review Email Great for warmer traffic. People know your brand but haven’t bought yet. Use social proof and close them at the end. 3. Story Email Best for colder audiences. Tell a relatable story → show a problem → show how your product solves it. End with a clear CTA. 4. Anniversary Email Good for building rapport. Share how long you’ve been in business → offer a promo to celebrate. Simple, effective. 5. Made-Up Holiday Email Need a reason to sell? Make one. • Go to NationalToday. com • Pick any quirky holiday (even loosely relevant) • Tie it to your product and email your list

🚀 B2B Sales Emails: Getting Your Foot in the Door! 🚀 Ever find yourself staring at your screen, wondering why your emails seem to vanish into the digital ether? Let’s change that! Here’s your quick, no-BS guide to crafting B2B sales emails that actually get you a reply. 1. Personalize, Don’t Templatize 🎨 Yes, we’ve all got templates. But guess what? So does everyone else. Take a minute to tweak that email. Mention a recent achievement of their company, comment on a LinkedIn post they’ve shared, or bring up a mutual connection. Make it so personalized they can’t help but think, “Wow, this person really did their homework!” 2. Value Proposition: Make It Snappy! 💥 Get to the point. What can you do for them? And no, “increasing ROI” isn’t good enough. Be specific. How have you helped a similar company achieve X% growth in Y months? Numbers talk. Fluff walks. 3. Subject Line: Your Make or Break ✉️ This is your foot in the door. Make it intriguing, make it short and personal, and for heaven’s sake, make it spam-proof. Questions work wonders. 4. CTA: Clear, Compelling, and Clickable 🔗 What’s your email’s endgame? A call, a demo, a free trial? Whatever it is, make it clear and easy. “Click here to schedule a call at your convenience” with a link is straightforward and respects their time. 5. Follow-Up: Persistence Pays 🏃 Didn’t get a reply? Don’t sweat it. People are busy. A gentle nudge a week later can work miracles. Just don’t be that person who sends a daily “Just following up” email. 🌟 Bonus Tip: Inject a bit of humor or a personal touch. We’re all humans here (until AI takes over, at least). A little personality goes a long way. Now, go forth and conquer those inboxes! Remember, the goal isn’t just to sell but to start meaningful conversations that could lead to fruitful partnerships. I would love to hear your success stories or epic failures (we’ve all been there). Share below! 👇 Make prospecting suck less. ✅ Subscribe to my newsletter 🔔 Ring the bell on my profile to follow me. ➡ Connect with me or DM me.

Your prospects don’t care about you. Most sales emails fail because they’re too focused on the sender’s product, company, or pitch. You have to #EarnTheRight to ask your prospects to care about you, your product, and your company. You can’t start from email one expecting them to give a heck. ***I've gotten feedback (from SDRs) that I'm being too hard on them when I say that their prospects don't care about them. If I have to be the "bad guy" to get sellers to realize selling is not about them, I will be. The emails we write need to center on our buyers, not us.*** During my How to Write Emails That Get Replies workshop, one seller had this exact realization: “I never thought about whether I’d earned the right to ask for my prospect’s time.” 📌 We reframed their approach using the Features-Advantages-Benefits (FABs) framework: FEATURE: What is it? ADVANTAGE: How does it work? Benefit: Why does it matter to the prospect? 🫨 80% of emails don't make it past feature dropping. Top sellers often talk about advantages in their emails, but they generally stop at how those features save time & money. Only the BEST sales email copywriters take the time to explain why those advantages matter to the prospect. This is top 1% shizz. If your team takes these steps, they'll be writing top 1% emails in 2025. 👉 Here’s why this shift matters: - FABs keep the focus on the recipient. Prospects need to see what’s in it for them—not what you’re trying to sell. - Benefits build trust. By solving a real problem or addressing a clear need, you create a natural path for engagement. - It’s actionable. Writing emails this way forces reps to think about the recipient’s perspective, not just their product features. How to Write Emails that Get Replies is one of my favorite Keynote decks. I am passionate about B2B outbound sales email copy. If you'd like me to share that passion and present this topic at your SKO, email me at leslie@salesledgtm.com so we can schedule a call.

The inbox is a battlefield. Your email’s enemy? The ‘Delete’ button. Between promotions, spam, and auto-blasted sales pitches, your email has seconds—seconds—to stand out and survive. So how do you write an email that doesn’t get sent to the trash right away? You make it personal and valuable. Here are 5 battle-tested tips to craft personalized, high-converting outreach emails: 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀. Ditch the “Hi, my name is…” opener. Show them you’ve done your homework. → “I saw your recent post about [specific topic]—your perspective on [insight] really stood out.” Lead with them, and they’ll be more inclined to care about you. 𝗕𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲. Generic promises like “We’ll save you time and money” won’t cut it. 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀: → “I noticed [pain point]. We helped [similar company] achieve [specific result]. Here’s how we can help you too.” 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲. Your email isn’t a novel. Busy people don’t have time to read paragraphs. → Use short sentences. → Break up text. → End with a clear ask (no more than one action). 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻—𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲. If it reads like a template, it is a template. Write how you speak. 𝗕𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲: → “Hope this finds you well—saw your team’s new project, and I’m seriously impressed.” Make the ask easy to say “yes” to. Don’t overwhelm them with a big ask. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: → “Do you have 15 minutes next week to explore this? I’ll make it worth your time.” Remember this: A great email isn’t about selling—it’s about starting a conversation. Show you understand their world, add value, and respect their time. --- Follow Michael Cleary 🏳️🌈 for more tips like this. ♻️ Share with someone who needs help with their emails #sales #emails #marketing

I've generated over $20 million with emails. While working with the biggest 8 & 9-figure brands. Here are the principles we REFUSE to break for emails. 1. Convince, don't push Use your emails as a vehicle for influence. Show how your products meet their needs. If you're overly pushy about your products customers will tune you out (aka mark you as spam and unsubscribe). 2. Tailor-made, don't templatize Every brand is unique. So every single flow and campaign strategy we build is tailored to our clients': - Markets - Customer fears - Customer desires 3. Test, don't assume What works for one brand may fail for another. That's why we're always testing assumptions. Never assume something works well or doesn't. 4. Tell stories, not pitches Emotional connections drive sales. It's because stories resonate deeper than pitches. This is basic human psychology. So use this to your advantage in emails. 5. Sell the outcome, not the product People want solutions, not just another gadget. This means your emails have to demo your product. People should know how your product solves real problems. 6. Segment for quality, not quantity Sending to your entire list is outdated. Sorry that I have to break this to you. I thought everyone already knew this. But you'd be surprised how many brands don't. Target specific segments for relevance and impact. 7. Create long-term customers, not one-time buyers Build loyalty through transparency. Show people that you value them post-purchase. If you rely on short-term tactics like fake scarcity, you're never going to build trust with your audience. These principles aren't just suggestions—they're rules we live by. Following them has led to: - Driving $20M in incremental revenue. - Building strong, loyal customer bases. - Getting results and outperforming clients' email sales 10/10 times. Consider following these principles. They've served our clients (very) well.

Why Most Email Marketing Fails (Even If Your Content Is “Valuable”) Email marketing still drives the highest ROI in digital — But most people are doing it wrong. The biggest mistake? 👉 They treat email like a pitch deck. Instead of a trust-building engine. Here’s what actually works in 2025 — especially if you want high-ticket conversions: 1️⃣ Warm the list before you sell ↳ Think of your email list like a dinner guest. You don’t ask for favors before they even sit down. ↳ Send 2-3 pure value emails before you ever mention your offer. Real advice. Real insight. No fluff. Pro tip: Make one of those emails pure storytelling — show your values through action, not slogans. 2️⃣ Package the “value” better ↳ Most people confuse value with volume. They write essays instead of breakthroughs. ↳ Real value = One sharp insight your reader hasn’t heard before, that changes how they see their problem. Ask: “What’s the belief this email is trying to shift?” If you don’t have a clear answer, rewrite it. 3️⃣ Move the needle before they buy ↳ Give them a small result before they pay you a dollar. ↳ That could be a mindset shift, a quick win, or a practical tip they can use the same day. When people get results from your free stuff, buying becomes a no-brainer. 4️⃣ Turn your offer into a story ↳ “Click here to book a call” isn’t enough. ↳ Show why the offer matters, who it’s for, what pain it solves, and the emotional cost of staying stuck. If you can write an offer email that makes someone feel like you read their mind, you’ll never struggle to convert. 5️⃣ Send with a strategy — not a schedule ↳ Don’t send emails because “it’s Tuesday.” ↳ Send based on the buyer journey. Map out what your audience needs to believe before they’re ready to act. Think like this: • Email 1 → Break belief • Email 2 → Introduce new possibility • Email 3 → Show proof • Email 4 → Make the offer • Email 5 → Handle objections That’s a campaign. Not just “sending emails.” Email isn’t just about showing up. It’s about showing up with intention. And when you do it right — Email becomes your most profitable, highest-leverage sales tool. Not just another thing on your content calendar.

Most sales messages look like this; instead, here is my 11C framework to get anyone to reply, in any channel, to any persona in any industry… Before we can understand bad (this) we need to know why it is bad specifically: 1. It’s descriptive (like presenting me a lunch menu before I have even said I’m hungry for food). 2. It’s not about me at all. 3. It tells me the entire menu, so not only may I not be hungry, it says… I am good at sushi, pizza, and paella… In this frame, do you see how deranged this sounds? I’m likely not hungry, you don’t know about me, and you’re claiming to be great at all food. Here are 11 things to do instead: 1. Competitors (if you can tell). Tell me about stuff I might already be using. Why it’s too expensive, what problems I may be having, and what other people pay, and who has switched recently. Educate me on a choice I already made. 2. Content (just for me). What can you create with AI at scale that I would find useful. This includes summaries of my pros and cons of my product from G2. It includes telling me about recently departed AEs of competitors if I am hiring. Etc. 3. Criminal. Are there things I am doing that are criminal? Like government fines, non-compliance, or other rules and regulations that you can help me follow that I might not know about. 4. Costly. What specially am I doing that’s costing me a lot of money. For example a client of mine can tell when you’re using a Cloudflare feature that’s too expensive and you don’t need it. And can say how much it cost. 5. Customer focused. Can you tell me about what my customers are saying? What about experience of my customer support team? Anytime you can connect me with my customers. 6. Cashy. Can you generate me a lead on email 1? Can you actually give me money that is believable? Sometimes it’s okay to simply pay your leads if you do it right. Prove it in cash in my pocket! 7. Corny. If you can make me laugh, there’s a higher chance I reply. 8. Current. Going to a conference? Some new law. Some new industry trend? What’s current in my space or maybe in my life that I will find relevant. The conference play is helpful because you can just meet with people. This also includes things like letting me know about renewals and such. 9. Compassionate. One of my best plays is to unemployed revenue leaders giving them access to my data for free. Be the person your customers want to work with and the money solves itself. 10. Counterintuitive. What does everyone in my industry believe that you do not believe? And do you have proof? Evidence. Destroy my world view. 11. Contextual. If you’re responding to something I said in context, I am likely to reply. But this requires you using a database to find contextual clues and responding to them. Follow my 11C framework and your leads will always reply!

👉 Unlock the secrets of consumer psychology to enhance your email marketing effectiveness 📧 In the crowded space of email marketing, understanding and applying behavioral economics can significantly improve the effectiveness of your campaigns. By tapping into how consumers think and make decisions, you can craft emails that not only get opened but also convert. ▪️ The Scarcity Principle ⏰ : Utilize the Scarcity Principle in your email campaigns to create urgency. Informing recipients that a deal is limited-time only or that only a few items are left can significantly increase the likelihood of immediate action. For example, "Only 3 hours left to claim your offer!" or "Just 5 items remaining at this price!" ▪️ The Paradox of Choice ✅ : Simplify consumer decision-making by limiting the number of options. The Paradox of Choice teaches us that too many options can overwhelm and deter decision-making. Optimize your emails by providing one clear call to action or focusing on a single product or service rather than multiple. ▪️ Personalization and the Liking Bias 🙋♂️ : Leverage the Liking Bias by personalizing your emails. People are more likely to engage with content that appears tailored to them. Use data to address recipients by name, reference past purchases, or suggest items based on browsing history. This not only captures attention but also enhances the feeling of intimacy and relevance. ▪️ Loss Aversion 🔚 : Capitalize on Loss Aversion by highlighting what your customers stand to lose if they don’t take action. Phrasing like, "Don’t miss out on this opportunity!" can be more effective than simply presenting the benefits of an offer. 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲: Review your current email marketing strategies. How can you implement these behavioral insights to increase open rates and conversions? Test different approaches in your campaigns to see what works best with your audience. #BehavioralEconomics #EmailMarketing #DigitalMarketing #ConsumerPsychology #ServingMarketing #SirviendoMarketing