By Sean Tinney Might 30, 2024
As we write our electronic mail content material, the inevitable query of “how lengthy ought to my electronic mail be?” could pop in your head.
Personally, I are likely to get a little bit wordy with my emails, it’s simply the best way I talk.
So the crew at AWeber wished to be taught as soon as and for all – how lengthy ought to your electronic mail be?
To get that reply we analyzed 1,000s of emails from 100 of at present’s prime electronic mail entrepreneurs. Our purpose? Collect electronic mail advertising and marketing statistics that may reply how lengthy an electronic mail must be.
The 100 specialists we analyzed are the most effective of the most effective. Their electronic mail methods have interaction hundreds and drive thousands and thousands in income. A lot of them see extraordinary outcomes (like 80% open charges and 30% click-through charges).
The typical electronic mail size
Of the 1,000 emails we analyzed, we discovered that emails have 434.48 phrases on common. 434 phrases takes roughly 3.3 minutes to learn.
In order that’s it, your electronic mail size must be precisely 434.48 phrases lengthy. Not precisely.
Fact is, it actually is determined by your viewers and what you’re making an attempt to speak.
Why shorter emails
Greater than 50% of the emails we analyzed contained 300 phrases or much less (a 2.3 minute learn time). With folks receiving extra emails than ever earlier than, it is smart these electronic mail specialists are sending shorter emails. One would possibly argue that to face out to captivate your readers, shorter emails is likely to be an excellent technique for doing so.
Henneke Duistermaat is the founding father of Enchanting Advertising and one of many 100 prime entrepreneurs whose emails we analyzed. She typically sends emails with lower than 300 phrases.
“Have you ever ever heard somebody complaining they’re not getting sufficient electronic mail? Everybody’s inbox is overflowing. We’re all time-starved. So, we love succinct messages that assist us make a fast choice: whether or not to answer or not, whether or not to click on via or not”
Henneke Duistermaat is the founding father of Enchanting Advertising
Why long-form emails
But, 24.1% of the emails we analyzed contained 601 phrases or extra. And 11.4% of them had greater than 901 phrases, a learn time of roughly 6.9 minutes.
These specialists stand out by sending lengthy emails filled with precious content material, like Ann Handley. Handley is the Chief Content material Officer at Advertising Profs, a advertising and marketing schooling firm, and one other one of many prime 100 entrepreneurs we included in our analysis.
She sends her publication TotalAnnarchy through AWeber. On common, her newsletters include 1,838.5 phrases, which takes roughly 14 minutes to learn.
“It’s not that long-form emails are efficient. Slightly, what’s efficient is emails which have worth for the folks in your listing. I don’t set out each different Sunday with a purpose of writing the longest electronic mail I probably can. However I do have a purpose of writing an genuine, precious, enjoyable letter to each subscriber on my listing. I put my coronary heart and soul into it, and that’s why folks reply.”
Ann Handley, Chief Content material Officer at Advertising Profs
Matt Kepnes, creator and founding father of journey weblog Nomadic Matt, can also be on our listing of prime entrepreneurs. He sends long-form emails as nicely. On common, they include 802 phrases. As an alternative of linking off to posts on his weblog, he contains total articles inside his emails. These messages see excessive open and click-through charges.
“Individuals will learn longer emails if the subject is necessary sufficient.”
Matt Kepnes, creator and founding father of journey weblog Nomadic Matt
How to decide on your electronic mail size
So how do you determine whether or not to ship brief or lengthy emails?
It is determined by your distinctive enterprise targets, based on Andy Crestodina, a prime electronic mail marketer and the founding father of web site consulting firm Orbit Media.
“In case your purpose is solely consciousness, lengthy or brief is much less necessary. If subscribers see it, prefer it, smile, you met the purpose! In case your purpose is site visitors, then give the recipient the minimal quantity of knowledge wanted to determine to click on. The CTR (click-through price) is all the pieces and extra textual content simply means extra noise of their inbox.”
Andy Crestodina
Listed here are a couple of methods you may be taught what electronic mail size your viewers needs to obtain from you.
1 – A/B cut up check
Our advice is to check. Your electronic mail size technique must be primarily based on knowledge. So carry out an A/B cut up check to see what size electronic mail performs greatest together with your subscribers.
2 – Ask your viewers
Each Thursday, we ship a weekly publication and in every electronic mail we’ve a sentiment widget the place we ask our viewers “what did you consider this electronic mail”.
We get extremely precious suggestions. Not simply on the content material, however on the size. Try what this reader of our publication needed to say:
It’s not that the e-mail is dangerous for the content material, but it surely’s simply too lengthy. If I’m being sincere I see these emails each week and simply open and delete as a result of I see the quantity to learn and my mind shuts off.
This constructive criticism helps us make certain we’re being as concise and to the purpose as doable.
Electronic mail size tips
So the place do you begin? The one widespread theme we obtained from all our advertising and marketing specialists is your electronic mail wants to supply worth to your readers. When you can say the identical factor with much less phrases, then achieve this.
You shouldn’t be too involved about ensuring your emails fall inside a sure phrase depend. Backside line is that if your emails include precious content material or provides, your subscribers are going to wish to learn your electronic mail regardless of the size.
You may additionally discover the size of your electronic mail varies by the sort of emails you’re sending. Listed here are three kinds of emails and a few tips you may comply with:
Electronic mail publication
Your electronic mail publication size may find yourself being your longest. Why? As a result of you will have a variety of content material to share. However don’t overshare, your purpose with a publication must be driving site visitors to your web site or touchdown web page.
The important thing to an excellent publication size is to maintain every part temporary. Try this instance from Search Engine Journal. General the e-mail is lengthy, however every part solely has 1 – 2 sentences. To learn extra of the content material, it is advisable to click on to their web site.
Promotional electronic mail
I’d advocate retaining your promotional electronic mail’s brief. Use photographs and a robust headline to assist talk your supply. Get to your supply rapidly.
Right here’s a terrific instance from Grubhub. This electronic mail solely comprises 3 sentences. They’re making an attempt to drive an motion primarily based on the picture, unique supply, and name to motion.
Welcome electronic mail
Your welcome electronic mail could possibly be brief or lengthy format, it actually is determined by how a lot info you wish to share together with your new subscribers.
Listed here are two examples that present each a shorter model and longer model, that each work.
Begin creating your emails at present
Right here’s some further info that may encourage you to jot down wonderful emails:
Prepared to begin utilizing this info to ship higher emails? Get began with AWeber Free at present.