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95% of emails miss branding opps🤠

95% of emails miss branding opps🤠

Shane McLendon
October 21, 2024

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95% of emails miss branding opps🤠

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Today’s quick email marketing tip should lead to higher open rates. More opens means more clicks. More sales as a result of more clicks — yada, yada…

Then, check out Monday’s Marketing News section. Lotta insights and a new survey is in there too.

Now let’s get into “branding your email campaigns.”

This thought hit me this morning while walking my mutts and contemplating last week’s list of “Best Subject Lines in my Inbox.”

I talked about one brand using an “episodic subject line” in its emails.

Then it hit me that he’s basically branding his email campaigns into my brain.

But this business ain’t the only one using this email branding.

Let’s have a look at some more brainiacs doing similar things. Then I’ll list some unique ways to use email branding in your subject lines — and inside the email too.

Email Branding - Briefly

Professor Scott Galloway’s emails are instantly recognizable in my inbox. How? Look below at his subject lines.

One or two words are all he uses most of the time. It sticks out like a sore thumb - aka real easy to spot and likely to be noticed and get the email opened!

Preview-less Email Branding

The cat who created the 75 Hard program (Andy Frisella) uses subject lines and NEVER any preview text. I can pick his emails out of a lineup of 50 emails because it’s branded to be minimalistic.

The most important thing is the subject line, and he highlights it and it only, without fail.

Be careful with this because different ESPs (email service providers) will show preview text in different ways.

Test it out in your inbox to see how the preview looks to a real subscriber first.

Relentless Email Branding

This next thing goes against every bit of email advice and all the surveys you’ve ever seen.

But that’s what makes this type of unheard-of email branding work. Hardly anyone else does it, so it’s guaranteed to stand out from the crowd.

Ben Settle sends a daily email, 365 days a year, and sometimes he hits my inbox three or more times a day.

I see his name over 450 times a year in my inbox! I might only open 30% (maybe less). But I spend money with the guy.

Wait, there’s more. And this relates to the next section. Ben is selling something in 99% of his emails and makes no apologies for doing so.

Again, rare. It stands out.

Email Branding in the Email Signature

I know what to expect in the close of all three examples above too.

Galloway’s closing line “Life’s so rich,” and a P.S. with a course offer
Frisella leads readers to his YouTube channel
Settle’s vanilla “https website link” for his main offer

So. Take some time this week to find ways to wedge consistent branding into your email subject line, body, and email signature.

No, there’s not much room to work with in the subject line→ you’ll have to get creative (beer might help).

The good news is not many emailers will make that effort. So your email branding efforts will be even more noticeable and memorable.

Now for a few extra clever ideas you might wanna try…

More Ways To Brand Your Emails

Start subject line with a specific phrase like "[Your Brand] Update"
Design a consistent header with your logo & change it seasonally or for special events
Unique sign-off
Use brand colors in email body, links, and buttons
Create recurring segments with branded names (e.g., "Get Hacking" in our Wednesday editions)
Branded GIFs or animations
Drop a consistent hashtag in your emails to encourage social sharing
Include one newsletter section that’s off-topic but valuable to the audience
Use words that you make up and use consistently (one of my go-tos is Googsters, ICYMI)