Let’s get real: email marketing can either make you a ton of money, or it can be a giant waste of time. Most businesses get it wrong because they overcomplicate the hell out of it. Fancy funnels, 27-step automations, and spammy sales tactics—none of that is necessary.
If you want to actually get email marketing right, there are 3 things you must do. Skip these, and you’re dead in the inbox.
Thing 1– Build a Real Relationship (Not a Transactional One)
Here’s where most businesses screw up: they treat their email list like an ATM. Constant promotions, endless “BUY NOW” emails, and not a single piece of real value in sight. Guess what? People don’t like being sold to every five seconds.
What people want is a relationship. They want to open your emails and feel like you’re speaking directly to them, like they’re part of an insider club. They want to hear stories, get insights, and feel like they actually know you or your brand. It’s why they subscribe in the first place.
Send valuable content. Make them laugh, tell a good story, share a tip they can use TODAY—even if it’s not directly tied to a sale. If you treat your subscribers like real people and give them something they care about, they’ll trust you. And once you’ve built trust, selling becomes a whole lot easier.
Thing 2– Write Like a Human (Not a Robot) … AI will not help you here
This one’s big. If your emails sound like they were written by a committee of robots, people are going to stop reading. Fast.
You know those emails you get that sound all formal, stuffed with corporate jargon? “Dear Valued Customer,” “We are pleased to inform you,” “Our records indicate…” Yikes. If your emails read like that, stop everything and fix it.
Write like you talk. Keep it casual, conversational, and fun. Your emails should feel like a one-on-one conversation between friends, not some robotic sales pitch. Even if you’re selling something, do it in a way that feels natural. Think about it—when was the last time you actually wanted to read something stiff and formal?
People want to read emails that sound human. So be human. Use humor, personality, and most importantly, be yourself. Your readers will love it, and they’ll keep opening your emails because it feels like talking to a friend, not being pitched by a corporate suit.
Thing 3– Make Offers They Can’t Ignore
You’ve built the relationship. You’re writing like a real person. Now it’s time to sell—but don’t just throw out any old offer and hope for the best. Your offers need to be so good that people feel stupid for not taking them.
That means giving them more than just “10% off” every other week. Offer something that’s too good to pass up. It could be a killer discount, a bundle, or even an exclusive product they can’t get anywhere else. The point is, the offer needs to create urgency and excitement.
People love to buy, but they hate feeling like they’re being “sold.” So, make your offer irresistible. If you do it right, they’ll feel like they’re getting the best deal in the world—and they’ll thank you for it.
There you have it—the 3 simple secrets to getting email marketing right. Build relationships, write like a human, and make offers they can’t refuse. Do these, and you’ll not only get people opening your emails, but you’ll have them begging to buy from you.
Talk soon,
Daniel Matievich