🌴 What I Learned About Email Marketing at Social Media Marketing World

I just got back from Social Media Marketing World in sunny San Diego — and wow, was it packed with gold. From AI to automation to email strategy, it was a marketer’s dream. (Also, the palm trees weren’t bad either 🌴).

But now I’m back in the DC area, wrapped in a hoodie, surrounded by gray skies and a to-do list that magically grew while I was gone.

Sound familiar?

It’s just like this in our business.

We go to conferences, join programs, listen to podcasts, get inspired… then come home and wonder how we’re ever going to implement all the things.

So today, I want to share one area you can focus on right now that’ll give you a real return on your time:

👉 Email marketing.

✨ Enter Jay Schwedelson: The Email Wizard We Needed

Jay Schwedelson is one of the top email marketing minds in the country. He’s the founder of SubjectLine.com, where he’s tested over 15 million (yes, million) subject lines, and he runs massive email conferences through his company, GURU Media Hub.

His session? Pure gold. Here are my biggest takeaways — and if you’re sending emails (which I hope you are!), these tips are must-knows.

📬 6 Email Marketing Tips That Actually Work

1. Capitalize the First Word of Your Subject Line

This tiny tweak can increase open rates by up to 22% in consumer emails and 19% in B2B.

2. Use Numbers and Brackets

Subject lines that start with a number or include brackets (like “[New]” or “[Limited Time]”) are proven to grab attention. Numbers make content feel clear and actionable.

3. Create FONF, Not Just FOMO

You’ve heard of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), but Jay recommends dialing into FONF: Fear of Not First.
Use phrases like:

• Just Announced

• Preview

• Early Access
  These signal exclusivity and make your readers feel like insiders.

4. Go Beyond Basic Personalization

Using someone’s first name is a good start—but real personalization digs deeper. Think:

• Geographic location

• Job title or industry

• Purchase history

• Interests or behavior
  The more relevant the message, the better the engagement.

5. Use First-Person CTAs

Switch up your call-to-action buttons. Instead of “Start Free Trial,” try “Start My Free Trial.” That small shift can boost click-through rates significantly.

6. Send at Off-Peak Times

Avoid sending emails exactly on the hour. Why? Because most businesses do. Jay’s data shows sending at off-peak times can increase opens by 15–17%.

🙅‍♀️ Email Marketing Myths? Jay Says These are LIES!

Jay also busted some popular myths floating around the inbox world:

🚫 Myth: Unsubscribes are bad.
Truth: They are good. They help clean your list.
🚫 Myth: Getting in email promotions tabs are bad
Truth: Getting in promotions tabs does NOT impact performance (having your stuff end up there can actually HELP because people know you've got something to sell and they're more likely buyers).
🚫 Myth: Adding name personalization in the subject line is good.
Truth: it does NOT work.
🚫 Myth: Spam filters are triggered by “spammy” words.
Truth: Use free, buy now, special offer, etc. in your emails and subject lines.

🐚 Shell, Yes! Here’s What to Do Next

Feeling overwhelmed by all the strategies? Take a breath. You don’t have to overhaul your entire funnel overnight. Start with one or two of these tweaks—like adjusting your subject lines or sending at a new time—and track what changes.

Want help refining your emails, automations, or call-to-action strategies? I offer VIP intensives and done-for-you solutions to simplify and elevate your marketing the easy-breezy way.

Because running your business should feel more like a day at the beach… and less like trying to surf in a hurricane.

Need help? Reach out here →

Uplevel your marketing with ease and grow a profitable business.

If you feel tangled in a web of overwhelm, with marketing, platforms, tools that don’t work and systems that fail, it’s time to get you unstuck.

Let’s get you to “shell, yes!” momentum!

Work with Me

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