How can you improve your email open rate? For starters, create an engaging subject line at the top of your email which is the most important element in the open rate. Your subject line should be descriptive, like an article headline, which arouses immediate attention. Avoid using spammy subject lines with all capital letters and exclamation points.

The header of an email also includes a “from” line so make sure your name appears clearly so recipients know who is sending the email. Put your website or company name in the from line, not just an email address.

The timing and frequency of your email will also impact your open rate. Certain days and times may be better for sending email and the number of emails you send is also crucial. You don’t want to send more than two emails per week or less than one a month.

With so much spam email and firewall and email guardians that block unwanted emails, you also need to insure recipients have agreed to receive your emails. Keep opt-in records of your customers.

You can also test your emails before sending them to your mail list to insure they’re not tagged as spam. You can also test different subject lines to determine which one works best.

Work with your agency or web design firm on your email marketing program to insure your emails will be opened consistently.