From Nov 20th to Dec 20th, sending a personal letter-style email from a founder or executive to unengaged contacts can increase open rates by 40%. The key is changing the "from name" to a person, not the brand, and using a subject line that acknowledges their absence. This strategy works for both B2B and B2C brands.

A counterintuitive email marketing test is to have no preheader text. This creates visual whitespace in the recipient's inbox, making the email stand out from the clutter and potentially boosting open rates by up to 15%. A simple code snippet, which can be sourced from ChatGPT, is needed to prevent clients from auto-filling the space.

Don't use the same formula (e.g., personalization-problem-solution) for every email in a sequence. Mix in different structures, such as a short value-add email, a two-sentence direct ask, or a problem-social proof format, to keep the prospect engaged and avoid predictability.

Sending all your automated emails at a predictable time, like 9 AM, trains your audience to ignore them, turning them into "wallpaper." To break this pattern and make automations feel less robotic, vary the send times significantly, even using unconventional hours like 8 PM.

Users instinctively look for familiar names in their inbox, not company logos. Sending emails from team members, even if automated, creates a personal connection and improves open rates because it mimics a social feed experience where personal identity is paramount.

While varying your email "from name" is effective, creating too many versions can confuse subscribers, erode brand trust, and lead to complaints. The host advises a maximum of three or four distinct variations (e.g., for promotions, newsletters, events) to maintain consistency and effectiveness.

For critical announcements or high-importance messages, switch the "from name" from the generic company ("Acme") to a specific person ("Jay from Acme"). This humanizes the communication, signals urgency, and breaks through the noise, but should be used sparingly to preserve its impact.

Go beyond sending from a real person by creating a consistent "inbox persona." For example, framing messages as coming from an intern establishes a unique voice and a story that subscribers want to follow, making plain-text emails feel like an ongoing series rather than one-off communications.

Instead of a static brand name, dynamically change your email "from name" to match the content (e.g., "Acme Invite" for events). This simple, free tactic grabs attention in the inbox and signals value before the open, potentially increasing engagement by over 15%.