Email marketing is one of the most cost-effective tools in a digital marketer’s arsenal. But if your open rates are tanking, you might be unknowingly making critical mistakes that are sending your emails straight to the trash—or worse, the spam folder.
In this blog, we’ll explore the top 7 email marketing mistakes that are hurting your campaign performance and show you how to fix them before you lose more valuable leads and subscribers.
📉 1. Weak or Spammy Subject Lines
Your subject line is the first (and sometimes only) thing a recipient sees. If it looks like clickbait or lacks clarity, it’s getting ignored.
❌ Don’t:
Use all CAPS or excessive punctuation (e.g., “BUY NOW!!!”)
Use misleading statements (“You won a gift!” when there’s no gift)
✅ Do:
Keep it short (under 50 characters)
Spark curiosity or value (e.g., “3 Quick Fixes to Boost Sales”)
Use personalization when possible (“Hey Anirudh, ready to grow faster?”)
💻 2. Not Optimizing for Mobile
Over 60% of emails are opened on mobile devices. If your email isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re alienating the majority of your audience.
❌ Mistakes to avoid:
Long paragraphs and unresponsive layouts
Tiny fonts or oversized images
✅ Solutions:
Use responsive email templates
Keep text concise and scannable
Use buttons instead of text links
⌛ 3. Sending Emails at the Wrong Time
Even the best email can fail if it lands at the wrong time.
❌ Common Mistakes:
Sending during late nights or weekends without testing
Ignoring audience behavior patterns
✅ Pro Tips:
Use A/B testing to find the best time
Typically, Tuesdays to Thursdays between 9 AM – 11 AM work well
Consider time zones if your audience is global
📬 4. Neglecting the Preview Text
Your preview text is the second line your recipient sees—don’t waste it.
❌ Mistakes:
Leaving it blank or showing generic text like “View in browser”
Repeating the subject line
✅ Best Practice:
Use this space to add context or urgency:
Subject: “Missed our latest update?”
Preview: “We’ve got something exciting just for you…”
👤 5. Not Segmenting Your Email List
One-size-fits-all emails rarely perform well. If you’re blasting the same message to your entire list, you’re bound to see low open rates.
❌ What Goes Wrong:
Irrelevant content to certain groups
Higher unsubscribe rates
✅ What to Do:
Segment based on:
Location
Purchase history
Engagement level
Tailor your messaging for each segment
🧹 6. Not Cleaning Your List Regularly
A bloated list full of inactive or invalid emails hurts your deliverability.
❌ Dangers:
Higher bounce rates
Lower engagement metrics
Increased chances of being flagged as spam
✅ Maintenance Tips:
Remove inactive subscribers every 3–6 months
Use double opt-ins to confirm interest
Send re-engagement campaigns before pruning
📊 7. Ignoring Email Analytics
If you’re not tracking performance, you’re guessing. And guesswork rarely leads to improvement.
❌ Pitfalls:
Not knowing which subject lines are working
Blindly sending without understanding your audience
✅ What to Monitor:
Open rate
Click-through rate
Bounce rate
Unsubscribe rate
Use tools like:
Mailchimp
HubSpot
ConvertKit
ActiveCampaign
✅ Final Thoughts: Fix These & Watch Your Open Rates Soar
Improving your open rates doesn’t require magic—it just takes avoiding the mistakes that most marketers overlook. From writing better subject lines to segmenting your audience and cleaning your list, each change contributes to higher engagement and better ROI.
Remember: It’s not just about sending emails. It’s about sending the right emails to the right people at the right time.
Ready to fix your email marketing game?
Let me know if you want a downloadable checklist of these 7 tips or need help crafting high-performing email sequences.