How to Write Emails People Actually Read to the End

How to write emails people actually read to the end is an art that anyone can learn over time and by testing various versions.

The first thing you need to understand about email marketing?

People don’t read emails. They scan, skim, and—more often than not—delete without a second thought. So if you’re going to demand even 20 seconds of someone’s attention, you’d better make it worth their while.

Forget the corporate jargon and fluffy intros. The inbox is a street market at full volume—you’re fighting with 50 other voices yelling, “Pick me!” If your email doesn’t grab attention in the first two seconds, you’ve lost. Period.

1. Start with a subject line that stops the scroll

Imagine this: You’re in a noisy coffee shop. Your friend walks in and shouts your name across the room. You look—not because you planned to, but because your brain is hardwired to respond. That’s what your subject line should do.

❌ “Monthly Newsletter – February Edition”
✔️ “You’re Missing Out on This”
✔️ “I have 2 questions for you…”

Curiosity, urgency, or a direct benefit—pick one, or blend two. Your goal isn’t to summarize the email; it’s to earn the click.

2. Ditch the “Dear Sir/Madam” formality

Nobody wakes up excited to read a letter from a robot. Use their name if you can. But more importantly, write like you’re talking to them over a drink.

Instead of:

“We are pleased to announce our new product line…”

Try:

“You’ve got to see this—we just dropped something you’ll want.”

If you wouldn’t say it out loud, don’t write it.

3. Make the first line irresistible

Here’s the ugly truth: your first sentence is competing with the “back” button. If it’s boring, they’re gone.

Bad:

“I hope this email finds you well…”
(They’ve already stopped caring.)

Better:

“This might be the fastest way to double your results without spending a cent.”

Think of the first line as your second subject line—it’s often visible in the preview before they even open it.

4. Keep it visually snackable

Nobody loves a wall of text. Break it up with short paragraphs, bullet points, and the occasional bold phrase to anchor the eye.

Example:

You want people to read your email, right?

Then don’t hide the good stuff.

• Put benefits upfront.
• Use short sentences.
• Make scrolling effortless.

Your reader should never feel like they’re working to understand you.

5. Tell a story

Yes, even in marketing emails. Stories are sticky—our brains light up when we hear them.

Example:

“Last week, I almost threw in the towel.
Sales were flat, my inbox was a graveyard… and then I tried something new.

Within 48 hours, my open rate jumped by 62%.”

That’s a hook. People will read on because they want the resolution.

6. One big idea per email

Your reader doesn’t want a buffet—they want a bite that satisfies. Pick one message, one call to action, and hammer it home.

The mistake most people make? They try to cram in the blog post link, the webinar invite, the coupon, and the behind-the-scenes update. That’s how you end up with readers doing… nothing.

7. Tease, don’t dump

If your email is the whole meal, there’s no reason to click the link you’re sending. Give them enough to get invested, but hold back enough so they need to take the next step.

Example:

“There’s one tweak I made that unlocked 90% of my results. I shared the full breakdown here.”

8. Use the P.S. like a secret weapon

A postscript is the most-read part of your email—second only to the subject line. People scroll, their eyes catch it, and boom—attention is back on you.

Use it to:
• Restate your offer.
• Add urgency.
• Drop a personal note.

Example:

P.S. This link expires at midnight. After that, it’s gone.

9. Format for mobile first

Over 60% of emails are opened on phones. If your beautifully designed desktop layout turns into a nightmare on a small screen, you’re toast.

Rules:
• Keep lines under 40 characters.
• Use buttons for CTAs, not tiny links.
• Test before sending.

10. End with a clear next step

Don’t make people guess what you want them to do. Spell it out.

❌ “Let us know what you think.”
✔️ “Click here to grab your spot now.”

The more specific, the better. And don’t be afraid to repeat the CTA once or twice in the body.

The human side of this

Back when I started email marketing, I wrote these long, painfully polite messages, thinking people would be impressed by my “professionalism.” I’d spend hours perfecting grammar and layout. And you know what? Nobody cared.

The breakthrough came when I wrote an email like I was texting a friend—short, blunt, and a little messy. My click-through rate doubled overnight. Not because I suddenly learned the “magic words,” but because I stopped hiding behind a corporate mask.

People don’t read perfect. They read real.

So, your job isn’t to impress them—it’s to connect with them.

Bottom line: Your email isn’t competing with other emails. It’s competing with TikTok, dinner, the dog barking, and a dozen other distractions. You win not by being the loudest, but by being the most relevant, the most human, and the easiest to say “yes” to.

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About the Author of “How to Write Emails People Actually Read to the End” …

The Author of: The art of the irresistible CTA

John, is the founder of “Living The Laptop Life”©. He has been earning online for over 20 years and built this website to help his readers avoid scams and find genuine work-from-home opportunities.

Because of unexpected life circumstances, he left school at age 10 and became a self-taught man who seldom had a boss. His fortune was made mostly by promoting affiliate programs while traveling the world with his laptop.

He is now retired in the South of France with his wife, but he still enjoys mentoring privately at no charge:
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