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Email Copywriting: Write Emails That Get Clicked

The copywriting principles behind emails that get read and clicked — subject lines, openers, body and calls to action, with examples.
  • How to write subject lines and openers that pull
  • The benefit-led way to write body copy
  • Calls to action that actually get clicked
  • Simple edits that make any email stronger
Email copy being written and refined

Email copywriting isn’t about clever words — it’s about clarity. The best emails read like a message from a helpful friend: one idea, plain language, and an obvious next step. Master a few principles and your clicks climb without any extra design.

The fundamentals

6 principles behind emails that get clicked

Master these and your clicks climb without any extra design. Each is a habit you can apply to the very next email you write.

1

Write to one person

Use “you”, picture a single reader, and ditch corporate “we are pleased to announce” language.

2

Lead with the benefit

Nobody cares about your feature; they care what it does for them. “Cut your admin in half” beats “new dashboard available”.

3

Hook in the first line

The opener decides if they keep reading. Start with the interesting part, not pleasantries.

4

Keep it short & skimmable

Short sentences. Short paragraphs. One idea. Cut every word that doesn’t earn its place.

5

One clear call to action

Tell them exactly what to do and why now. One ask, repeated, beats a buffet of links.

6

Edit ruthlessly

Write it, then cut 20%. Read it aloud — if you stumble, so will your reader.

Anatomy

The 4 parts of an email that gets clicked

Each part has exactly one job — to earn the next part. Get all four right and the click takes care of itself.

Subject line

Earns the open. Specific and honest — see 50 subject line examples.

Opening line

Earns the next line. Skip “Hope you’re well” and start with the point.

Body

Earns the click. One idea, benefit-led, skimmable — built for a 10-second read.

Call to action

Earns the action. One clear button, one job, phrased as a benefit.

Rewrites

Before & after

Same message, two ways. The left reads like a person who wants to help; the right reads like a press release. Spot the difference.

Human & clear

You can now do [thing] in one click. Here’s how it saves you an hour a week:
Your report is ready — see this month’s wins:
Grab your spot — only 8 left:

Corporate & vague

We are excited to inform you that our latest product update is now available with several new features.
Please find attached the requested documentation for your perusal.
We would like to take this opportunity to invite you to register for our upcoming event.
The one ask

Calls to action that get clicked

Your button is the most important words in the email. Make it specific and benefit-led, not a vague “click here”.

Gets clicked

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Gets skipped

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Click rates revealing which email copy performs best
Email Marketing

Let clicks tell you what copy works

Great copy is learned by sending and measuring. BrandBits shows the click rate on every campaign and link, so you can see which subject lines, hooks and calls to action your audience responds to — and write more like them.

  • See clicks per campaign and per link.
  • Test different subject lines and openers.
  • Find the calls to action that convert.
  • Improve your copy with every send.
Before you send

The copy checklist

Run through this before every send

  • One idea per email — everything supports it
  • The benefit is clear in the first two lines
  • Written to “you”, in plain spoken language
  • Short sentences and paragraphs; skimmable in 10 seconds
  • One clear, benefit-led call to action
  • Cut by 20% and read aloud once

Email copywriting FAQs

What makes good email copy?
Clarity over cleverness. Write to one person, lead with the benefit, keep it short and skimmable, and end with one obvious next step. Plain language that reads like a helpful friend beats polished corporate copy.
How long should a marketing email be?
As short as it can be while doing its job. Most emails work best at a 10-second read — one idea, a few short paragraphs, one call to action. Long only earns its place when the story or value justifies it.
How many calls to action should an email have?
Usually one — repeated if needed. A single, clear ask out-converts a buffet of links because it removes the decision. Build the whole email to point at that one action.
How do I get better at email copywriting?
Send and measure. Watch which subject lines, hooks and calls to action earn clicks on your own list, then write more like the winners. Reading your email aloud before sending catches most weak spots.
Is it free to try BrandBits?
Yes — create an account and send your first campaign for free, no credit card required, and see exactly which copy gets clicked.

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